Recommendations for villas near Disney, Orlando wanted

[Claireandrich]

We have decided to go to Disney next year with my parents, brother and sister. I was wondering if anyone has any good recommendations for any villas they might have used/heard of.

We want to stay in a villa reasonably close to Disney, although we will have 2 cars. There will be 6 adults and a 2 year old, so need 3 bedrooms (and 2 baths ideally). We would like a pool too.

DH would love to be near to a golf course too he has told me to add

We are going to be going around the 10th August for 2 weeks. Peak time I know but I am a teacher We are wanting to get it booked pretty soon too.

Thanks in advance if anyone can point us in the right direction.

Anyone?

Hello Claireandrich, I live about 40 minutes north of Orlando. I have seen incredibly good offers on Ebay in the travel/vacation section. The Vistana Resort is nice as long as you are sure you will get the Vistana, there were adverts for several others. My husband's family has come over from the UK several times with a package and they have gotten Villas in Kissemmee that were very nice, but I thought they seemed "far away" from the action if you know what I mean. With several of the resorts that are off the main highway I4, you have access to Disney, Universal, Great shopping a the outlet malls, seaworld, etc. Let me know what you find on ebay and I would be more than happy to let you know if the place is nice enough for you to be able to enjoy your vacation here. They also flew into Sanford on Air2000 (which is 10 minutes from my house). It is a much smaller airport (less stress), but you have to drive a bit further to get to the attractions and your villa or condo when you arrive.

Thanks WendyRead.

My DH's colleague's parents apparantly have a condo/villa (?) at a place called Ventura Country Club, address is 3791 Atrium Drive. Do you know this area at all? If you have any info I'd be really grateful.

My parents have been to Orlando before and also recommended flying to Sanford. In fact they are coming with us which means we will at least have a bit of knowledge when we come over.

I will go and have at look on e-bay later on today too - cheers for that.

Have you heard of Travel City Direct? Apparantly they do good priced flights but not heard of them myself.

Getting quite excited already. Sad aren't I but I just think it will be so magical seeing through my DD'd eyes - she will be a little over 2 at the time.

I'm going to be no help whatsoever but we're off to Florida next month. 2 weeks on Sanibel Island followed by 2 days in Orlando to go to Disney with DSs (4.5 & 2.5). I'm so excited on their behalf!! DH and I have been several times

We've booked through Travel City Direct twice now and got really good deals. Prices vary every time you phone up, but we've paid £229 per person and £279 per person for a Fly Drive (but not in August and we booked just three months in advance). The first time the flight was Air 2000 and the second time it was My Travel.

We've stayed in a couple of villa's. First one was in Kissimee and quite a drive to the parks and I wouldn't recommend the second so can't help you there. There's a lovely one advertised in a post office I go to so will write down the website next time I go - might not be this week though as I don't have the car.

SoupDragon - let me know how you get on there, especially as DD will be around the age of your youngest at the time. Have a great time!

JemimaBobbins - thanks for that; not planning on bookinbg this week anyway just in the next month I think. We have been warned that August gets booked up pretty quickly.

I'll try to remember! I think he'll be just old enough to enjoy the magic of the Magic Kingdom.

DS1 went there at 15 months old and was definitely too young. He enjoyed it up to a point but no more than he'd enjoy a trip to the local park TBH. We had so much fun taking photos of him in the shops with lots of different hats on though!

Sanibel is one of my favorite places in the whole wide worldwhere are you staying Soupdragon? I would love to see you while you are here...let me know the specifics (if you are shy , you can contact me directly via email- if we are allowed to do that?). I like to stay at the Sanibel Inn, small and quiet very famili-oriented, I also got a great deal at the condos next door called La Coquina Beach. The price was fantistic763 American Dollars for week 5/29/2003 thru 6/4/2003. It is a steal for Sanibel Island. They had a terrible storm here over the weekend and I heard Lee County took alot of water. I hope all is well in Sanibel, I am sure the shelling is gorgeous right now due to the storm. I booked through a company called Resort Quest Int'l thru Priscilla Murphy Vacation Rentals. Anyway, truly would love to see you and have you for dinner and a swim--it would be great!

Claire/Rich--I will try to find the scoop on your parents husbands place and let you know what I come up with, OK?

Haven't a clue! We've traded 2 of our timeshare weeks in Antigua for somewhere in Sanibel. As for Orlando... um... does Universal Studios have a posh hotel in or very near it?

We stayed in the Snook motel on Sanibel last time (pre children) & it was just idyllic.

Portofino Bay Hotel is gorgeous, it is right on the Universal Property, I believe therates start at $189 American Dollar a night, they also have the Royal Pacific Resort which is a bit less expensive. For a loud and crazy time, they have the Hard Rock Hotel which I have heard is quite fun. You can get more info on the Universal Studios.com website. I have never seen the Snook Motel---I'll have to look the next time I am there. Anyway, my offer is open, [email protected]. We just had some company from Burkinghamshire, we had such a good time with them. I just met them through friends, they were married down in Naples and the photos were so gorgeous, they just left on Thursday. Let me know if I can go anything else.

Claireandrich - we're off to Orlando on Nov 1st for two weeks, staying in a villa I picked after poring for hrs thru the 'Holiday Villa' magazine from WHSmith. There are six adults and three small kids. We've booked a five bed villa with pool, which looks fantastic in the literature and website (virtual tour), but have obviously not been yet. It's just off Hway 192 in Kissimee.

Leese - you will have to ley me know how you get on.

Hi Wendyread,
Very interested to read your mesage as I was in my local travel agents just today and she really recommended the Vistana Village, not Resort on I Drive near Sea World. We have been seriously thinking of braving it and bringing our trio over next year, they will be six in Jan. There seems to be so much to do, so many different acccomodation options that it is baffling. We would like to come for three weeks, and have 10 days to do the parks, and then 10 days to relax. I would just love to go to Sanibel, Rebecca would be in 7th heaven with those shells! If we could take the kids out of school what months would you recommend? Also any other tips on suite type accomodation, I dont want just a hotel room, nor just a house. Somewhere really nice to come back to but with things to do for the kids, havent got a clue as to which resort on the beach, they all sound too wonderful, lucky you for living there!

We are in fact staying at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando - nothing to do with universal at all! Can you tell I didn't book it??

The big disappointment with our Sanibel accomodation is that it's on the wrong side of the island for the best shelling!

WendyRead changed her name to: sunchowder at the prodding of I believe the beetymum. What do you think of the new name? Triplets here is my novel: I believe the Vistana Village is the same place as the Vistana resort. It is not as private as some of the "villas" off of 192, those villas are actually homes in neighborhood subdivisions and they are quite lovely alsoit just depends on what makes you feel comfortable. The reason that I prefer the "resort" type atmosphere is that I don't feel pressured to make it all happen for the family. The units have a kitchenette, fridge, micro and a washer & dryer and you are not stuffed into one room. They have the pools and places to shop and eat so close nearby and your children have a chance to meet other kids so easily in that atmosphere also. My husband's family has come over twice, both times they rented a villathe first one was off 192 and was fairly close to the Disney propertybut when they came last year (again to a villa), it was miles away out in the boonies as we call it, still off 192, but it was a bit creepy and so quiet being so far outit made for a longer trip for us to get out there to be with them which was tough also. I was putting dinners together and cooking at least a bit of homemade food for several of the days I knew they would be at the resorts and too tired to even deal with negotiating a meal somewhere (that's what is nice about having family in Florida I guess!) I would try to get to Sanibel if you could, Naples is also wonderful (a bit farther south). The accomodations at Sanibel range from deluxe of course to very sweet and laid back. The SunDial Resort has alot to offer and it is a bit upscale from the Sanibel Inn. The Sanibel Inn is very sweet and family-oriented, they have nature programs for the kids, it is very quietthey have an area to grill outside if you enjoy that also. It is located straight off the causeway bridge so it is so easy to get to also. The main supermarket on the island is "Jerrys"at the market they have these fabulous parrots in cages and also a little restaurant inside (food not bad and price is right). The months I recommend: May (it is very hot, but you might be lucky enough to see a turtle nest) and October. I love October here because that is when the weather changes a bit so it is not so humid and gets a bit cooler. For those trading timeshare time, I think you might be placed in lodging at the Sanibel Harbor Resortthe hotel is pretty with a tiny beach, but you have to drive over the bridge to get to Sanibel Island to access the beachesyou can still have a GREAT time anyway. If you are at the Harbor Resort, it is very easy to get to the pier. You can book a boat ride with Captain Tom and go to Cayo Costa which is a barrier island about 40 minutes away by boatwe saw dolphin on the way, it was fantasic!! The shelling is great on the island depending on the tide and weather. I believe there is only one home on the island which is owned by Carol Sellers who must be in her 90's, she is a shelling expert. An also must-see is the Ding-Darling Nature Refuge. Captiva is also wonderful, eve more natural and quiet. The main resort there is the South Seas Resort, again lots to do, activities for the kids, etc.it is more expensive and you are quite far out to get to the other attractions on the island (but it is gorgeous!) If you can get accommodations on Land's End it is like being on your own private islandI love the feel of Sanibel and Captiva I am sure you will also. The shopping is great fun, they a nice spa where I had this fabulous wrapSanibel Day Spa I believe and a sweet little shell museum also. Let me know if I can do anything else in terms of research, etc. I would be glad to do it. If you can combine this with a 3 night Disney Cruise on the Wonder that would be a blast also. The cruises are tailored to the children and adults alike. We went and we loved it!

Soupy: The Hyatt Regency has a wonderful spa and great golf--a bit far out of it for me, but there is great shopping nearby and Disney is fairly close also. I've got to run before I get fired.

Triplets - I did a hugh post for you with info on Orlando--don't know if you got to see it yet. Hope it is helpful for you.

This post brings back memories. we have had two trips to florida. First was to Orlando and then 2 years later this jan to ana maria island and sanibel. Sanibel was wonderful. our boys loved all the nature and there were great kid friendly restaurants. We stayed at a small inn/motel called the sunshine island inn- we had a two room appartment- there was a lovely warm pool hared with four other units but in effect we had it to ourselves most of the time. We had kitchen/ 2 bathrooms/ fridge/ b-b-que etc and free use of washing machine. We booked direct and rates were very reasonable for sanibel- I cant rem,ember the website address but I am sure it will come up on a search. We ate in the bubble room on captiva, the mermaid room, lazy flamingo- all great run. The boys loved the shell museum, j ding darling, cabbage key, seeing dolphins in the sea. We hired bikes whch was a great way to get around- parking can be expensive and there are plenty of cycle trails
helen

Hi Sun chowder.
Just got chance to catch your message, wonderful to have inside info! The Vistana Village is different from the Vistana Resort, the village is I drive nr Seaworld, and the resort is Lake Buena Vista. From what I can see the Vistana Resort offers more in the way of facilities for kids and has restraunts, so more what we are looking for. Oct sounds good if we can get the ok from school, they are getting funny here about taking the kids out at term time, I don`t see any harm in it at their ages, they will be turned six. Any more good ideas?

We're actually staying in the Lighthouse Resort & Club on Sanibel. Which is still on the "wrong side" of the island for the shelling beaches but is (I believe) on the "right" side of the bridge!

I just love Sanibel. We stayed in a hotel right on the beach with a huge wrap around balcony- waking up to the sound of the waves aaaahhhh!!!And watching everyone with the 'Sanibel stoop'- from shell collecting.
I do remember that I was well bitten by noseeums- little tiny sand bugs- which is best prevented by Avon skin so soft - apparently little blighters just don't like the smell(and it works for the misquitos)So take some in your bags.(however I am someone that bugs just love- didn't bother my dh!!)
We're also going next year, and will be mainly in Boca Raton, although planning to take kiddiewinkles to Disney for about 4 days. Got the brochures for the Disney hotels and am planning where to stay. Last time stayed in KeyWest resort which was great.

Triplets, lots more ideaslet me think on it, I have chamber of commerce stuff from the Sanibel area and I can pick up brochures on anything you would like and send them out to you or scan them or something. I am a bit overwhelmed with work and getting ready to do a craft sale in November (Mumsnet chat is putting me WAY behind!). I am thinking that Vistana must have purchased some existing property to do the resort, it sounds perfect to be in Lake Buena Vistayou are going to love itI didn't realize they had two properties. The perfect balance would be a week at Disney, a 3 day cruise on the Disney Wonder and then a week or so relaxing the in Sanibel area. There are beautiful beaches at Longboat Key and Siesta Key which are much closer to the Disney area for driving, these are located on the West coast so that the water is much calmer for the babies to swim in than the beaches on the East side. Sarasota as wonderful shopping for Mommie and I believe a horsetrack for Daddyfabulous golf if Daddie enjoys that also. They have a beach a bit further south in Venice that has zillions of shark teethas long as you don't mind driving I would take everyone to Sanibelif you want something closer those are great alternate beaches. Alot of folks enjoy St Petersburg, but I find it much too crowded, commercial and built up--not my thing at all. Early November is the best time for Disney - this is the slowest time of the year for them, after Thanksgiving in America- last week of November, it gets crazy busy. I will post again soon.

www.orlandosanfordairport.com/
Found this website if you want to research airline prices at bit on your own and then work with an agent. Click on airlines and go into the charter portion below.

Hi Sunchowder,
Thanks for all your help. We have got lots of brochures now, but you really have to go over and over them to compare them all. Working out whether its cheaper to book it all independantly or through an agent. Why is there a right and wrong side of Sanibel, as mentioned by Soupdragon. Have you one the cruise?

Oops sorry, can you tell I am tired? That should have read, have you been on one!