Which villa to choose?

[matty624]

Ok, due to reasons I wont go into, we booked flights months ago, but not the villa! Aaarrrggghhhhh.
Left it late, and struggling to find really nice villas with everything we want, for the long duration we want.
We have found two outstanding ones however.

Just cant decide which one to go for! HELP!!!!!!
Both are within £50 of one another (for a month stay)

The first is at Tuscan Ridge. Big 5 bed, lovely looking house, with a games room, big tv and pool/spa (heat for pool and spa included, esp for my dw who likes it warm, even in blinkin July!). Backs on to open ground on an elevated position.

The second is a smaller 4 bed (we dont need 5 beds anyway) on Sunset Vista, again, a lovely house, backs on to a lake, only one neighbour to one side, no games room, but a proper out of ground spa (heat for spa included)

My question is, baring in mind distances to Disney, marketplace, outlets and Universal, which one to choose???

What is I4 really like? It seems to be the main route for Hwy27 estates, infact from Tuscan Ridge, we'd have to take I4 to go just about anywhere.

Any ideas?
Please???
Matt

 

[psharrock]

I'm not sure where Sunset Vista is, but the I4 will be fine for travelling on during your holiday.
You could always use Ronald Regan Parkway, through Championsgate and then onto Old Lake Wilson Road to get to Disney.

Paul

 

[Jakey Rowling]

If you're going to Disney I wouldn't use the I4 from Tuscan Ridge.
Better just go north on the US27, east on 192 to Black Lake/sherbeth Road road shortcut to AK and other Disney parks. 20 minutes typically to AK.
See here for a rough idea
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...~Point.nqc5q785vbr8_Tuscan Ridge___&encType=1

As for Universal and the outlets you'll end up on the I4 anyway.
Go south on the US27 via Loughman road and Championsgate to get onto the I4. Again a rough idea
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...___~Point.nrbsc286b476_Universal___&encType=1

You could use Old Lake Wilson Road to get to Sherbeth Road this way as well
Sunset Vista will mean you have to go along the 192 to join the I4.
Depending on time this can be a bit of a drag.

Normally the I4 is OK, it slows down regularly around the LBV junctions and can be slow moving at rush hours but you will hit this for both.

Overall I'd say Sunset Vista, but TR wouldn't faze me if the property suited me better.

 

[matty624]

Thanks Paul and Jakey Rowling.

I was hoping to avoid 192 as much as possible, still have bad memories of road works from past visits!

As for I4, seen so many accidents on it, and in recent years we've been spoilt by staying off Poniciana, so never had to use it when going to Disney, only on Universal trips.

Just to make life even mroe complicated, just been contacted by a villa owner off Liberty Village (just south of Eagle Point), so need to choose between the 3 of them now!!!!! Arrrrgggghhhhhhh....

Matt

 

[Tony Toon]

We were in a similar situation recently but determined to find somewhere closer to Disney. We like Indian Creek off Formosa Gardens 10 mins from WDW, so we contacted the owners asociation and had lots of replies (sounds as though your requirements are pretty much the same as ours and at the same time - 4 weeks in July). We are now fixed up with a lovely 4 bed/3 bath villa and still have offers coming in, suggesting that there are still properties out there.

Can I suggest 2 websites that should solve your problems.

http://www.indiancreekflorida.com/indian_creek.htm

www.vrbo.com

.... both of which I discovered on these boards so thanks to the DIS community.

We like you had held off booking accommodation until these last couple of weeks but are now sorted.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Sunest Vista is not one I am familiar with I am afraid. Where is the development?

Tuscan Ridge is a fair way south down the US27, personally not my ideal location.

Sorry but cannot really help you choose, if it was me I would try for one around the Formosa Gardens area, like Windsor Palms or Indian Creek, well situated for everything.

 

[matty624]

We were in a similar situation recently but determined to find somewhere closer to Disney. We like Indian Creek off Formosa Gardens 10 mins from WDW, so we contacted the owners asociation and had lots of replies (sounds as though your requirements are pretty much the same as ours and at the same time - 4 weeks in July). We are now fixed up with a lovely 4 bed/3 bath villa and still have offers coming in, suggesting that there are still properties out there.

Can I suggest 2 websites that should solve your problems.

http://www.indiancreekflorida.com/indian_creek.htm

www.vrbo.com

.... both of which I discovered on these boards so thanks to the DIS community.

We like you had held off booking accommodation until these last couple of weeks but are now sorted.

Thanks for that, love the vrbo site, spent a lot of time on that one. Cant believe I'd forgotten about that one!!!!

Sunest Vista is not one I am familiar with I am afraid. Where is the development?

Tuscan Ridge is a fair way south down the US27, personally not my ideal location.

Sorry but cannot really help you choose, if it was me I would try for one around the Formosa Gardens area, like Windsor Palms or Indian Creek, well situated for everything.

It's a little further West of the developments round Formosa etc, just south of 192. Thanks anyway. Cant quite believe how much time I've spent on this now!!!! Still no where nearer to making a decision (or for that matter finding a house we really like!)
Oh well...
Matt

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Matty,

I have stayed, viewed and enquired about many villas and have links to several, some may be available.

If you would like some of them please let me know.
I don't want to push them on you as you probably want to make your own choices.

What is it exactly you are looking for, south facing pool? secluded at the rear? close to restaurants, supermarkets and the theme parks?

Alternatively try these sites:

www.vr360homes.co.uk
www.villas2000.com

 

[CHEK]

We stayed at Tuscan Ridge last year, had a lovely villa at a great price , very quiet area & to be honest I didn't think it took us that long to get to parks (US27) , as you can see from the bottom of my page we've stayed in a similar area on almost each occasion, apart from the 1st time. Good luck in your making your choice

 

[matty624]

Hi Matty,

I have stayed, viewed and enquired about many villas and have links to several, some may be available.

If you would like some of them please let me know.
I don't want to push them on you as you probably want to make your own choices.

What is it exactly you are looking for, south facing pool? secluded at the rear? close to restaurants, supermarkets and the theme parks?

Alternatively try these sites:

www.vr360homes.co.uk
www.villas2000.com

Yes to all of the above!!! We particularly want a secluded pool area, maybe even fenced, and a spa. Location is obviously important, wanting to avoid 192 as much as possible. Thanks for the links, excellent sites!

We stayed at Tuscan Ridge last year, had a lovely villa at a great price , very quiet area & to be honest I didn't think it took us that long to get to parks (US27) , as you can see from the bottom of my page we've stayed in a similar area on almost each occasion, apart from the 1st time. Good luck in your making your choice

Thanks for that. I'd almost come round to the idea it was too far! to be honest, if it's miles nicer than the other 'closer in' offerings, I think an extra 5-10 minutes will be worth it. One year we stayed in Bridgewater Crossing, now that was far off the beaten track!!!!!
Thanks...
Matt

 

[JohnnySharp2]

This one is the only one of the one's I have a link for that is shown as available for your dates.
Having said that the calendar may not be up to date.

July is a popular time, both links below refer to the same home.

http://www.villas2000.com/frbvo/homes/1325.php
http://www.indiancreekvilla.com/

 

[matty624]

This one is the only one of the one's I have a link for that is shown as available for your dates.
Having said that the calendar may not be up to date.

July is a popular time, both links below refer to the same home.

http://www.villas2000.com/frbvo/homes/1325.php
http://www.indiancreekvilla.com/

Thanks for that. Surprisingly, we have a few choices, and 2-3 in particular. The Tuscan Ridge house is still the nicest, but is still that bit further to travel. We MUST make a decision today however, otherwise, I think we'll be left with something we dont really want!!!!!!
Thanks again...
Matt

 

[psharrock]

Thanks for that. Surprisingly, we have a few choices, and 2-3 in particular. The Tuscan Ridge house is still the nicest, but is still that bit further to travel. We MUST make a decision today however, otherwise, I think we'll be left with something we dont really want!!!!!!
Thanks again...
Matt

If you think you'll be happy with a 25-30 min drive then go with the villa that you like best. If it gets booked you'll be kicking yourselves, the driving out there is really easy, and you have at least 3 routes you can take to disney if there are traffic problems.

Paul

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks for that. Surprisingly, we have a few choices, and 2-3 in particular. The Tuscan Ridge house is still the nicest, but is still that bit further to travel. We MUST make a decision today however, otherwise, I think we'll be left with something we dont really want!!!!!!
Thanks again...
Matt

It is difficult sometimes, to be honest we go for location first and then try and find the right home for us.
We have stayed in a couple more than once having been offered discounts but we do like to stay in different one's usually for a bit of variation.

Tuscan Ridge is nice - but we had a look around Calabay Parc once and felt it was too far away, TR is even further on down.

Still feel Formosa Gardens area is the best all round location, but we are all different in our preferences.

 

[psharrock]

Still feel Formosa Gardens area is the best all round location, but we are all different in our preferences.

To be honest we feel the same about location, as thats why we are staying there , but I know others have different priorities when looking for a villa.

Paul

 

[JohnnySharp2]

To be honest we feel the same about location, as thats why we are staying there , but I know others have different priorities when looking for a villa.

Paul

With Joshua's autism familiarity is a big thing for us, he doesn't like change.
We try and vary the holiday but we are restricted, we have driven around many of the developments but there is a comfort about Indian Creek for him...this August we are staying next door at Windsor Palms so touch wood he is happy there.

Whilst I genuinely believe Formosa area is the best if others feel differently then that's not necessarily a bad thing - would be boring if we all liked the same thing.

 

[Tony Toon]

I agree with the Johnny and Paul. For us it has to be location first. Our reasons ...... although there may be even nicer properties a little further away we have always found beautifully maintained and luxurious villas in the Formosa Gardens area with everything that we require and just a stones throw away from the action. It is just so practical to be able to pop back to the villa for a rest or a shower before returning to the World for, say, a late Fantasmic show/Wishes/Illuminations or an ADR for dinner at one of the resort restaurants.

It works for us but vive la difference.

Tony

 

[matty624]

Thanks all!
We went ahead and booked Sunset Lakes, very close to Disney (on Google Earth looks about 5-10 mins to AK), just south of 192. We loved the house we'd found at Tuscan Ridge, but felt (rightly or wrongly) that to go just about anywhere we were almost compelled to use I4, and it was going to take quite a while. Considering how often we usually go to places like LBV, DTD and shopping outlets in the evening, it wasn't a good place to stay.
Thanks again,
Matt

 

[psharrock]

Thanks all!
We went ahead and booked Sunset Lakes, very close to Disney (on Google Earth looks about 5-10 mins to AK), just south of 192. We loved the house we'd found at Tuscan Ridge, but felt (rightly or wrongly) that to go just about anywhere we were almost compelled to use I4, and it was going to take quite a while. Considering how often we usually go to places like LBV, DTD and shopping outlets in the evening, it wasn't a good place to stay.
Thanks again,
Matt

Sunset Lakes is in an excellent location, you will be able to get to AK in less than 10 mins from there.

Paul

 

[matty624]

Sunset Lakes is in an excellent location, you will be able to get to AK in less than 10 mins from there.

Paul

Thanks, and the real beauty is that we dont need to go along 192 too far to go anywhere either!!!! Just need to find the nearest kids club on property now, and figure out what/where we can go whilst there in there?
Matt