Which villa to choose?

[psharrock]

We always use the kids club at the Beach Club, but I know there is one at AKL. You can do anything whilst they are in the club, we have been to Universal whilst our kids have been in the disney kids club.

Paul

 

[matty624]

We always use the kids club at the Beach Club, but I know there is one at AKL. You can do anything whilst they are in the club, we have been to Universal whilst our kids have been in the disney kids club.

Paul

Sounds good. may try being closer to the club first time round, to make sure all is ok...
Really excited at the prospect of a couple of child free evenings now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt

 

[Corky Morris]

I know you have made your decision, but i have stayed at Tuscan Ridge & found it a great location. Applebees, Chilis, Publix, Wal Mart, Dominoes, Beef o Brady's all within 5 minutes.
Personally an extra 5-10 minutes have never bothered me. I also dont like how close the villas at some of the closer communities like Indian Creek are right on top of each other. Actually by using I4 we were at Universal inside 25 minutes. When we stayed at Indian Creek it took the same length of time because of the traffic lights on the 192.
I also liked the fact that Champions Gate & other quality golf courses where 10 minutes away.
I hope you really enjoy your holiday.

 

[matty624]

I know you have made your decision, but i have stayed at Tuscan Ridge & found it a great location. Applebees, Chilis, Publix, Wal Mart, Dominoes, Beef o Brady's all within 5 minutes.
Personally an extra 5-10 minutes have never bothered me. I also dont like how close the villas at some of the closer communities like Indian Creek are right on top of each other. Actually by using I4 we were at Universal inside 25 minutes. When we stayed at Indian Creek it took the same length of time because of the traffic lights on the 192.
I also liked the fact that Champions Gate & other quality golf courses where 10 minutes away.
I hope you really enjoy your holiday.

lol, wish you'd posted a few days ago!
The house we chose to be fair to this particular estate, only has one neighbour to the right, and none behind, over looking woodland and lake, looks really nice.... But I agree with you, some estates really pack them in (not like Uk houses, which are so spread out!!!lol)
Still, there's always next year...
Thanks,
Matt

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It's all about personal preferences really, some like us prefer to be close to the 192 others prefer to stay somewhere else.

Most developments are fairly quiet anyway and it's common to drive around a lot of them and not see anyone.
I have stayed at numerous villas and never have both homes to the side of us been occupied during our stay.

We never choose a villa that is overlooked by other properties and always get one that has a privacy fence around the pool area.

For us with a son who likes familiarity a base around Formosa Gardens is best, I wish they could build something to replace Splendid China and the area could be improved for sure.
However, in 'my opinion' Tuscan Ridge is too far south, but that's just me - if we all felt the same it would be pretty dull.

 

[matty624]

It's all about personal preferences really, some like us prefer to be close to the 192 others prefer to stay somewhere else.

Most developments are fairly quiet anyway and it's common to drive around a lot of them and not see anyone.
I have stayed at numerous villas and never have both homes to the side of us been occupied during our stay.

We never choose a villa that is overlooked by other properties and always get one that has a privacy fence around the pool area.

For us with a son who likes familiarity a base around Formosa Gardens is best, I wish they could build something to replace Splendid China and the area could be improved for sure.
However, in 'my opinion' Tuscan Ridge is too far south, but that's just me - if we all felt the same it would be pretty dull.

Totally agree, most developments are quiet, when we have stayed in estates with lots of locals, there tends to be a mass exodus around 8am! School buses, the works!
We try to get houses which aren't over looked, not always possible. And again, tried really hard to get a house with a privacy fence, surprisingly difficult, as only a relatively small proportion have them. In some zones there are no fences at all, as they aren't allowed to erect them!

The thing we avoid at all costs though, is a house which backs on to a few other pools!
It only takes one family to be inconsiderate, and use their pool very early in the morning or the middle of the night, shouting and screaming for hours on end, and your holiday can quickly turn into a nightmare! We've experienced this a few times over the years, usually for only a few nights, as they tend to be shorter term rentals. Horrible when it happens though! Which is one of the reasons we opted for the house we did this year. It only has one neighbour at all, and they are apparantly american...
Matt

 

[UKDEB]

I'm not keen on the privacy fences, although we have rented villas with them once or twice. We've never rented one which backs onto another villa, though. Even the first time, when we booked a package and didn't know what villa we would get, we lucked out because it was brand new and there were just empty lots behind us. Since we've been booking privately, we like to book those which back onto lakes, conservation areas or golf courses.

 

[Corky Morris]

Totally agree, most developments are quiet, when we have stayed in estates with lots of locals, there tends to be a mass exodus around 8am! School buses, the works!
We try to get houses which aren't over looked, not always possible. And again, tried really hard to get a house with a privacy fence, surprisingly difficult, as only a relatively small proportion have them. In some zones there are no fences at all, as they aren't allowed to erect them!

The thing we avoid at all costs though, is a house which backs on to a few other pools!
It only takes one family to be inconsiderate, and use their pool very early in the morning or the middle of the night, shouting and screaming for hours on end, and your holiday can quickly turn into a nightmare! We've experienced this a few times over the years, usually for only a few nights, as they tend to be shorter term rentals. Horrible when it happens though! Which is one of the reasons we opted for the house we did this year. It only has one neighbour at all, and they are apparantly american...
Matt

I agree completely. I have seen other houses on developments that are back to back & potentially you could have 5 groups of people in the pools all around you. My wife hates being overlooked!
I also can not stand the white fences some people put around the garden. They look so cheap & tacky.
From what you say Johny your son has particular needs & I understand your desire for familiarity, but i would never stop at Indian Creek again. Have to admit it was 4 or 5 years ago & it may have changed, but it felt claustrophobic to us.
The houses on Formosa Gardens were a different story indeed. Very nice indeed.

 

[T16GEM]

Is there a site which shows you specifically where each development is? I am looking through all these great web sites that you guys are posting but I only really know the locations of the ones that we have stayed at.

 

[Goofysmate]

I'm not keen on the privacy fences, although we have rented villas with them once or twice. We've never rented one which backs onto another villa, though. Even the first time, when we booked a package and didn't know what villa we would get, we lucked out because it was brand new and there were just empty lots behind us. Since we've been booking privately, we like to book those which back onto lakes, conservation areas or golf courses.

Like you Deb not keen on the fences & our first villla was a package holiday & ours was in the Davenport area & was fantastic & was not over looked at all.
The last two villas we have had was from a privately in Clermont and over looked a conservation.
Perhaps we have also just been lucky

 

[TraceyL]

I think Sunset Lakes is a great choice - have staye dthere twice & if it wasn't for family visiting atthe same time - we'd be staying there again this October

Having stayed at 2 developments on the 27 - I much prefer the Indian Creek/Sunset Lakes area

 

[matty624]

Is there a site which shows you specifically where each development is? I am looking through all these great web sites that you guys are posting but I only really know the locations of the ones that we have stayed at.

This is a good map of most (if not all!) the developments...
http://www.orlandovillas.com/Map.aspx
We also use google earth a lot! Once we have a road name anyway...

I think Sunset Lakes is a great choice - have staye dthere twice & if it wasn't for family visiting atthe same time - we'd be staying there again this October

Having stayed at 2 developments on the 27 - I much prefer the Indian Creek/Sunset Lakes area

Good to hear... thanks
Matt

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Is there a site which shows you specifically where each development is? I am looking through all these great web sites that you guys are posting but I only really know the locations of the ones that we have stayed at.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

The one we have used the most.

 

[T16GEM]

Thanks Johnny and Matty!