Which location?

[Young Pooh]

We are looking at villas for Xmas 2010 and have narrowed it down to a couple. Both have similar facilities and prices.

One is at Town Centre Reserve, the other Cumbrian Lakes. We have never stayed in a villa before, always onsite or DTD area, so do not know these locations at all. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

We won't really be doing Disney during the stay, but will probably do US/IOA and Seaworld and then spend the majority of the time relaxing at the villa or doing a bit of shopping.

 

[dougsmom98]

That is a tough choice. I haven't stayed in either of those developments, but on our last trip, we stayed in Windwood Bay which is near the Town Center development. We really liked that area. I-4 makes getting to things easy, you will jump on at exit 58 and get off between exits 62 and 64 for most things Disney. Up near the I-4 junction is a nice Publix, a Subway sandwich shop, a McDonalds with a 24 hour drive through and a pizza and Chinese food place. We used Lake Wilson Road to get to 192 so we could get to Golden Corral for dinner and there are tons of restaurants there to eat and it takes 10 +/- minutes. This map will show you some of those restaurants.
http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/map2/kiss192map2.htm
If you are looking to go to Wal Mart, take Ronald Regan Parkway west and then 27 north. It takes 10 +/- minutes. There is also an Applebees that way. If you take 27 south, you will get to a Target and JC Penney, that is also 10 +/- minutes away. I think there was a Chilis restaurant in that directions too. My in-laws made the mistake of going to the Kissimme Wal Mart and that took them quite a bit longer, so if you have a GPS and it gives you that location don't use it.

This map will show the location and all of the roads I was referring to.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

All that being said, Cumbrian Lakes might be closer to Universal Studios. Fellow Diser, Frothy, has stayed at Cumbrian Lakes several times and may be able to give you some advice on Cumbrian Lakes. Frothy commented on this thread, so I'll post it so you can find her a little easier.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2119009