Hotel advice needed for Disney, Florida

[CeeBeeJay]

I have a dd who will be 13 when we go next year - she loves waterparks and swimming and is generally very active! Can anyone recommend which of the Disney hotels would be best to book into for next summer?? Have read the blurb on them all but doesn't really tell me what they are really like! Any advice on Florida welcomed as never been before

At 13 your dd will almost certainly prefer universal and poss Busch gardens so I would go with a hotel convenient for them. are you going to drive or rely on public transport. do you want just a room or somewhere more. have a look at the DIBB website to help narrow down what you really need. might want to consider a one or two bed condo so you can self cater as it can be more convenient.

Are you set on a hotel? If not, I would definitely rent a small villa. Loads more space, your own bedrooms, your own pool.... and I think it's probbaly about the same price as a Disney hotel.

thanks - hadn't really thought of a villa - where is Busch gardens near? Not set on a hotel - they just came up with the holidays!! Will be hiring a car to get around - PassTheTwiglets - any website you recommend for villas??

Busch Gardens is situated on the outskirts of Tampa.

For villas I'd recommended Loyalty Homes, a company owned and managed by a english lady who now lives in Kissimmee. She only manages luxury homes within 4 miles of Disney. Most have private pools and many have gamesrooms. www.loyaltyusa.com

This is one of the homes she manages www.ownersdirect.co.uk/usab/F1895.htm Depending on the time of year you are going and length of time (you'd get a discount for 2 weeks or more or off peak) it could be from £400 pw which would be cheaper than a hotel. You'd then have the freedom of a huge amount of space, a fully equipped kitchen which would meal you'd save a fortune by eating in sometimes instead of having to eat out every day and you'd have your own private pool.

From what I understand it's the location that it is important, as there are some dodgy areas (they are all in complexes, some of which aren't very nice). The only one I know that's good is called Tuscan Ridge but a quick Google should tell you the other good ones.

There are loads of lovely neighbourhoods within a few miles of Disney (beware of some adverts that say 'minutes from Disney' that are 59 minutes from Disney) Windsor Hills is lovely but expensive. Still lovely but less expensive are Rolling Hills, Indian Ridge and Indian Ridge Oaks. All less than 5 mins drive to World Drive.

We're staying on Highway 27 when we go in 2 weeks. Have stayed at All star Sports and Port Orleans Riverside. Loved POR.

For the Disney hotels, Disneys Beach Club is generally thought to have the best pool area - Stormalong Bay, which is a three acre water area with slides and a lazy river. But it's not cheap. Of course there are the two Disney waterpars which are great fun.

We stay in villas in Lindfields which is a true 10/15 minutes from the animal kingdom side of Disneyworld. Although we're trying the Saratoga Springs next year as well as a villa :)

Next May we are staying at orange lake resort in kissimmee which has 7 pools on site including a lake side sandy beach area, sludes and a lazy river. It is a 2 bed apartment we are staying at and only 10 mins from disney.. You will need a car if staying there but after looking at all other options this seemed great to me..

if you are going to busch gardens, then try to fit in a couple of days on the gulf coast. its absolutely gorgeous there. great beaches, warm sea, lots of wildlife.

Tampa ( Busch Gardens ) is probably about a 2 hr drive each way from Orlando. Busch is probably the best thing there! Orlando, as a base, has much more, Disney, Universal, discovery cove, seaworld, legoland, water parks.

We stayed first week in Animal Kingdom Lodge hotel, which is a Disney hotel set in a safari park and loved it. Not too sickly princess Disney, more educational and fab pool. They were doing free dining and transfers and early park entry to Disney at the time which was great and well worth it.
Perhaps second week could be in villa which also cuts down car hire costs as not needed if staying in a Disney hotel really.