1st family trip to Florida, any suggestions on where to...

Family of 5 (kids 8, 12, 14). We are plannin on going to Orlando the latter part of July to the 1st week of August. We don%26#39;t really want to stay in a hotel. We would like to have a villa or something of the like. I am open for ANY suggestions, have read and read and am just getting frustrated. We would like to go to WDW, Universal, Sea Wrld, Bush Gardens.

1st family trip to Florida, any suggestions on where to...

if you are hireing a car then kissimee will be the best place, close to disney and in easy distance of universal etc

1st family trip to Florida, any suggestions on where to...

I can recommend 3 rental agents that I have used:

www.allstarvacationhomes.com

www.blueribbonvillas.com

These agencies have the top of the villas.

www.floridasunshine.com The Alexander Homes agency websites that has more moderate homes.

The classiest subdivision, gated, is Formosa Gardens about 2-3 miles from Disney property, but a fair ways from International Drive. There are 4-6 other subdivisions on this road.

On the other end of RT 192 are another cluster of subdivisions. To get a general feel for their locations, go to the Alexander Homes website above, click on house tours and then click on Map under any subdivision name. The sub-divisions are named and numbered. Themap is not to scale, but is generally good. From Winward Cay location east of I-4, you%26#39;re about 15-20 minutes from DTD and the same from International Drive with Sea World also 15 minutes. From Formosa Gardens west of I-4 you%26#39;re 15 minutes to DTD, but 20-25 to International Drive. Consider where I-4 cuts across RT192 to be the dividing line and you%26#39;ll get the hang of it. both would be 20-30 minutes from Universal dpending o your route and traffic, which is really bad at times. They would also have equal access to I-4 west and Busch gardens.

There ar also %26#39;resort communities%26#39; these have condos and common pools and recreation areas. They may also have villas with pools.

The further from Disney and I-drive, the lower the price. If you provide a price range, I%26#39;ll try and help you narrow your choices. Relax. It%26#39;s surprisingly easy.

We rented a lovely Town house villa on Terra Verde for one of our two wek stays. But it was almost like being on a desert island. While there were plenty of people on site only 2 spoke to us. The community pool was also lovely but the grand kids never made any friends there like they had done the week before when we stayed in the Hotel.

It was Home from Home. Mum still making the beds, making breakfast. tiding uo the living area, doing the laundry.

Would hardly discribe it as a holiday for her.

The previous week, the kids got up, dressed went down stairs for the free breakfast. parants %26amp; grand parants followed. While we were having breakfast the kids were in the pool with the friends they had made who, were also on holiday. When we had finished we went out for the day. Left the bed making etc to someone who needed a job.

Seriously consider giving mum a holiday for 2 weeks. there is 50 others left in the year for her to practice her bed %26amp; breakfast making skills, without her having to do it on holiday

Here are some of the major villa companies in Orlando that all have some very nice villa communities:

Marriott Vacation Club International

http://www.vacationclub.com

Disney Vacation Club

http://www.disneyvacationclub.com

Hilton Grand Vacations Club

http://www.hiltongrandvacations.com

Hope that helped, checkout each of the above websites and browse for thier Orlando villa communities and rentals. You can also checkout more info on Orlando and order a free Orlando vacation planning kit from the Orlando/Orange County Convention %26amp; Visitors Bureau website:

http://www.orlandoinfo.com

I realize you said you don%26#39;t want to stay in a hotel, but if you should change your mind I have a couple of recommendations that are good for a family bugdet. As someone mentioned in a previous post, it is sometimes better to stay in Kissimmee which is the next town over from Orlando, but still in close distance to the major theme parks. Sleep Inn Orlando, and Days Inn Maingate East are both decent hotels that offer free shuttle service to the Disney parks. I have stayed in both of these hotels with my family of 4 and have enjoyed both of them. Sleep Inn offerts free continental breakfast, while Days Inn is right next to Old Town which has a bunch of shops, places to eat, and rides - something for everyone. Just some food for thought. Have fun on your trip.

Lots of places offer free transportation to the Disney complex or Universal. It%26#39;s great! No worries about traffic or parking. We were picked up and dropped off at the lobby of our hotel!

You sound like you are in the same situation I was in a couple of months ago. I also have three kids, almost the same age as yours. After much research and reading review after review, we chose to stay at Sheraton Vistana Villages in early July. 2 bedroom has king, 2 queens and sleeper sofa, full kitchen, washer/dryer, beautiful grounds and pools. Kids programs daily at the pools. Could not find a bad review. It is a fairly new resort. This resort is located in the nicer, quieter end of International Drive. Driving distance to WDW and Universal is about equal (8 to 10 miles away). I think Seaworld is less than 3 miles. Restaurants, grocery stores, right around the corner. Call to personally get reservations or book through a place like Expedia to get the best rates, rather than the ';rack rates';. Don%26#39;t get this one confused with Sheraton Vistana Resort in Lake Buena Vista if you decide to research. Most reviews for the Sheraton Vistanta Resort were negative unless they had requested to stay in the newer Cascades section. With the age of your kids, they will probably enjoy being around other families with children, so I would definitely research resort or hotel type settings for their benefit.

I wouldn%26#39;t suggest staying at Days Inn next to Old Town. It may be cheap, but it%26#39;s a dump! I have yet to read a decent report anywhere about this place! There are so many places to stay - it%26#39;s got to be one of the worst!

I second Vacation Ready%26#39;s recommendation. We just returned from a weeks stay at the Sheraton Vistana Village. Check out their page on this site - it%26#39;s everything you see and more. We were not bothered with one phone call regarding their time share presentation. I have already recommended this resort to family and friends.

Please give a quick look over at www.allearsnet.com Click on ';search';, type in Sheraton Vistana Vilage. Apparently they are offering reduced rates, I do not know what the going rates are but the reduced rates look very family friendly.

shiseido