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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Recommendations for villas near Disney, Orlando wanted

64 replies

Claireandrich · 07/09/2003 21:48

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.

OP posts:
jmg · 18/09/2003 12:01

We have been to Disney before and are going at half term with our DD and DS, luckily DD's school has 2 week half term. Last time we stayed at Vistana Villages (which is different from Vistana resort) you can find details of both on the Sheraton hotels website. We loved Vistana it was very close to Disney and very near a lovely designer outlet shopping centre!! I would definately recommend it - lovely pool and nice childrens play area. Its only about 2 years old and so villas (apartments really) are very new. Very spacious with well equiped kitchen and massive whirlpool bath. Anyway we liked it so much we are going back again! We are spending the second week in the Keys at a hotel called Hawkes Cay (anyone been?).

sunchowder · 18/09/2003 14:51

Yes Twig, I have been on the Disney Cruise, it is great fun. Lots for the kids to do,and they have a lovely little spa and adults only restaurant that you must book when you get on board. We really enjoyed it, it s the perfect type cruise to take with the kids. They have kids centers, you get a pager and they call you if any problems-they will eat with your children or you can all eat together, very flexible and fun. I also love the location of the Vistana Village as it is so close to Disney and the Orlando Outlet Center which has wonderful shopping! Hawkes Cay- I have never been there jmg, but I have heard great things about it, you get to swim with dolphin (I believe you have to give them all of your before you get to do that!). There is also an interesting hotel that I want to go to that is under the sea!!! It is on the Florida Keys. I can't get my hands on it right now as I am trying to work (believe that or not!). I will post something later. The Sanibel thing, I have never been on the "wrong side"--just ask if you are on the Gulf of Mexico side and you should be safe to get the best shelling.

sunchowder · 18/09/2003 14:53

Sorry Trip for calling you Twig--lots of typos in mine too!

leese · 18/09/2003 19:32

Sorry claireandrich - just logging back on after a while being very busy! If you want to check out the website its championvillas.com. We'e going to Indian Creek

CnR · 19/09/2003 15:10

Thanks leese - will have a look later this weekend.

triplets · 25/09/2003 22:25

Hi jmq,
I have been out of circulation for a couple of weeks, to much stress.....need a holiday! Which Vistana is best would you say? The one on Lake Buena Vista seem to have more facilities, would they not be too posh for my trips who will only be 6?

triplets · 14/10/2003 20:26

Hi Sunchowder,
Im back again! We have taken the plunge and have booked a flydrive to Orlando for three weeks from Oct 11th 2004! I have also booked a 4bed house on the Rolling Hills Est 2 miles from Disney, looks bliss, and the owner lives in Ireland and has been very helpful. So now I am looking for somewhere nice on the coast for 8 nights, I have in mind a sweet beachfront cottage, with shops and restaurants within walking distance, dont want somewhere big and sprawling, have looked around Fort Myers area but its quite expensive, can you help? Where are you? Thank you too for your mesage on the other thread.

sunchowder · 14/10/2003 21:35

Heloo Triplets! I live in Longwood, about 45 minutes north of Disney. I happen to LOVE Sanibel and I went through a company called Resort Quest International to get my booking there which was quite reasonable. It can be very expensive. Alternatives to Sanibel and much closer to Disney are Longboat Key, Sarasota, and the Venice Beach area. Take a look at this advert on the internet:

a9elgoog.vrbo.com/20559

We have never stayed at La Coquina, but it is right next to the Sanibel Inn which is a very quaint, laid back hotel - not luxury, but quiet, sweet and clean. Again, I would like to see the room, we are booked to stay there at the end of May, so I can let you know what I think of it then. Check the prices and availability of this unit and then you can move around the website to check out other listings from there. I got in touch with the owner and then the owner directed me to ResortQuest for the actual booking and deposit. Good luck and let me know how you make out. Would love to see you when you come and am available to help with anything else.

triplets · 16/10/2003 17:07

Hi Sunchowder,
Thanks for your info, how I envy you living where you do, its sooo cold here in England today. We have made a couple of rental inquieries on Anna Maria Island, it sounds so lovely and laid back and the rental prices are alot less than Sanibel area, will look at the site you have suggested, thanks!

sunchowder · 16/10/2003 23:06

I believe Anna Maria Island is just north of Longboat Key--that is much closer tot he Disney area than Sanibel. It is lovely and quite natural, very relaxing. I have not staued on Anna Maria Island so I can't tell you for sure, but we have driven across on our way to Longboat Key. The winters are lovely here, they are. The summers are a bit of hell though! Good luck and tell me how you make out.

triplets · 19/10/2003 16:50

Hi Sunchowder,
We are going to book the house on Anna Maria Island, we could go on forever looking, to me it looks just perfect. So all that leaves us to do now is sort out the disney/seaworld tickets, there seems to be so many options its baffling!
A whole year to wait, a whole year to save!

triplets · 19/10/2003 16:50

Hi Sunchowder,
We are going to book the house on Anna Maria Island, we could go on forever looking, to me it looks just perfect. So all that leaves us to do now is sort out the disney/seaworld tickets, there seems to be so many options its baffling!
A whole year to wait, a whole year to save!

triplets · 19/10/2003 16:50

Hi Sunchowder,
We are going to book the house on Anna Maria Island, we could go on forever looking, to me it looks just perfect. So all that leaves us to do now is sort out the disney/seaworld tickets, there seems to be so many options its baffling!
A whole year to wait, a whole year to save!

helenmh · 20/10/2003 14:08

Hi Just to say we stayed on ana maria island early this year. we followed this with a week on sanibel. Both islands were lovely. There are some relly beutiful beaches on ana maria with soft white sand. The boys loved watching the pelicans diving for fish on the piers. It is very easy to visit other places. Sarasota is a great city. We went to the mote marine aquarium- their boat trip is worth doing- great views of the city and a chance to watch the dolphins. St armands circle near sarasota is a really nice shops/restaurant area. You can easily visit Busch gardens if you want theme parks. Ask me if you have any questions.
helen

sunchowder · 21/10/2003 03:08

Good for you Triplets! You will love it, you can visit Longboat Key (which I love) which will be just South of you and Sarasota as Helenmh said, great shopping and lots to do. You will really enjoy it.

triplets · 24/10/2003 11:04

Thank you both, good job its not this Oct as I am down with the flu bug off of the kids! Just bought the Rough Guide to Florida so will do lots of research. Any tips of best places for tickets for Disney/Seaworld?

helenmh · 29/10/2003 15:02

hi, We got our disney passes from the local disney store. it is worth making sure you dont pay for more than you need ie the passes include days to water parks. we had to buy seaworld tickets separately. Some people have got tickets over there but we found it convenient to have them already bought. It is a good idea to have a rough plan of what you want to do. A good book was Simon Venness "Brits Guide to Orlando". I used a really useful website I think it was www.wdwinfo.com- there lots of advice on planning your trip. I also have this flu bug -horrible isnt it!
helen

leese · 30/10/2003 19:14

triplets - try onlineflorida.co.uk for park tickets. I did loads of searches for the best price tickets, and to be honest most charge around the same, but this company were cheaper than most - saving £22 per adult per 5 day hopper pass as compared to local Disney store - not to be sniffed at! Seem a reliable company - tickets were here within a few days.
Also got Universal tickets - on offer at the moment - buy 2 days, get 5 free (£67) or buy 3 days, get 11 free (£73). Thought this was really good value. even tho' won't spend days in the two universal parks, does give you the freedom to just pop in for a few hrs if you want rather than feel you've to stay all day coz you paid massively to get in IYSWIM. check, but I think the offer expires soon.
My dad bought an Adventure Pass (£59) which gives 21 days unlimited admission to either Seaworld or Busch Gdns (transport to Busch Gdns included). This also represents great value if you're a fan of either parke, and plan to go more than once.

triplets · 03/11/2003 22:30

Thanks Leese and Helen for your tips, sorry to hear you have got the bug Helen, I am now on day 14, we went to Durham for halfterm and I have never felt so ill, ended up in the local docs and put on antibiotics! A good holiday was had by all!

helenmh · 04/11/2003 14:03

Hi triplets Hope you are over the flu. I am also into the second week of it and I had the flu jab. We also went up to visit relatives in half term in the north west which was hard going . Just think of all that lovely florida sunshine.
helen

Francine · 07/11/2003 12:27

Hiya,
any advice please... we are going to Florida from london next August. Going direct with BA is £2500ish, but going indirect via Atlanta or New York is nearly £1000 cheaper; my kids will be 13 and 10 and don't like flying! Is it so horrible changing planes, or is it worth paying the extra for the direct route? thanks so much.
PS. any tips or reasonable car hire whilst in Florida, cheers xxx

helenmh · 07/11/2003 14:32

Hi frnacine. sorry I cant answer your question about planes as we have only used direct flights. It could be an opportunity for a stopover and a chance to stretch your legs. We used holiday autos for our last florida trip which included all insurance. the time before we had used the companies so called "free car hire you have to be careful with these as insurance costs can bump the price up. Also some companies try and sell you upgraded insurance which you dont always need. We found holiday autos didnt do this
helen

SoupDragon · 07/11/2003 15:44

Personally, I'd fly direct but I have smaller children so it would be a nightmare changing planes.

Disney Tickets: One thing to remember is that the tickets last for ever as you can use your days whenever you like in the future. Also, a child's ticket "ages" with them so they can use it as an adult. There is also a market for second hand tickets in Orlando.

Francine · 07/11/2003 23:12

To Helen,
thanks for advice, taken on board.
cheers

Francine · 07/11/2003 23:13

Soupdragon,
thanks for reply.
I am thinking direct too, thanks a lot.