Recommend a villa location!

[Claire]

For our 2010 trip we're going to stay in a villa. Obviously the choice of areas is vast and each place will no doubt have it's merits. Because there are so many I have no idea where to start! Can you nice people tell me what you think is a great place to base ourselves?

We obviously love WDW but also love to visit Seaworld, Celebration and shopping at the main malls. Somewhere handy to these places with minimum driving and I know this might be a tall order but if there is somewhere where you don't sit in hours of traffic queues morning and night would be a bonus!

I'm not familiar with road names etc but DH is so if you know of a place thats on 'this' road or 'that' road I can relay this to DH and he will no doubt say "Oh I know where that is"

Fank you lovely people!:birdie:

[ukwdwnut]

we have always stayed in the davenport area

sunridge woods
esprit
calabay parc

and next trip sunset ridge gated community from our own malcolm a bit further south near haynes city, but jusrt a quick drive away

[Tink]

I'd have to go along with Mick's recommendation. The Route 27 area just south of the 192 west intersection is going to be your best bet.

Very little traffic and just minutes from the attractions and shopping. If you wanted to head to the Tampa area for Bush Gardens, it's nicely located to start you on your way there, too.

The whole of the 27 corridor has built up over the years so it now has much better selections for dining and shopping.

[malcolm]

Hi Claire ...first thing to do is a "wish" list for example if you look for a 5 bed villa

2 master bedrooms ensuite
3 twin bedrooms
additional bathroom
south faceing pool not overlooked
spa
gamesroom
quiet location
easy access to main areas
shops restraunts close by
walmart/target/publix close by

this sort of thing you need to sit down and see with your family fits your needs then go onto a site and state your dates and flexability bear in mind most owners can be flexible a few days either way so you may want to book the villa and say to owner that you want a few days either side of your dates as flexability(pending flight dates)
A good site to "general request" on is www.villasneardisney.net address it to Tracy and mention my name...she has a good selection and is good to talk to.(Hope this is ok Keith/mods please edit if not)
The US27 is very up and comeing with a new mall area thats just opend opposite our estate and more modern than the US192 which is very tourist orientated. But they still have some very good estates on there so do check them out.
Hope the info may help
Malcolm

[Catherine]

We have stopped all over and to be honest, the best place for us, is as close to the 192 as possible. Somewhere near Old lake Wilson Road, this year we are staying at Sunset Lakes. This community is very close to the 192, (Formosa Gardens area) maybe 2 mins drive. In the past we have stopped in Davenport, Clermont, ect and even though they have been lovely, we have found the drive back to/from WDW a bit of a nightmare, especially Orange Tree in Clermont, just passed Cagan;s Crossing near the Walmart. I cant remember the slip you use once the 192 finishes but every night it was backed up and we got stuff in the most horendous traffic.

So having stayed at Indian Ridge oaks many years ago and loved the location we have opted for one much closer to the disney exit.

We have also stopped at Eagle Pionte, down the other end of the 192, which was ok, right near the Walmart on Oren Brown Drive, Medieval Times. Not a bad location really but prefer to be a little further down.

[Britchick]

i agree with Catherine, when we have stayed in a villa it has been indian ridge, although we spend more time in the disney parks than US and SW etc. Its only 20-30 mins to them though. Will be looking for one closer to disney next time so any suggestions of villas that will sleep 9 gratefully recieved for 2010.

[Dawn]

Will be looking for one closer to disney next time so any suggestions of villas that will sleep 9 gratefully recieved for 2010.

http://www.disneypalmsvilla.com/HOME.html

But you can't have it for August. :D

[Ursula]

we have always stayed in the davenport area

sunridge woods
esprit
calabay parc

and next trip sunset ridge gated community from our own malcolm a bit further south near haynes city, but jusrt a quick drive away

As you are going to be staying that far south then you MUST try Mannys chop house... the food is to die for. Plus there is a big WalMarts that way too.

[Britchick]

http://www.disneypalmsvilla.com/HOME.html

But you can't have it for August. :D

now you know i'm going in August :dozey:

[Tink]

I've heard that Manny's is very good! Never been there, but may take a drive one fine Sunday! :D

The section of 192 west that leads to 27 can indeed back up. :( There is the Black Lake Road cutoff, but that only saves you from having to travel part of the 192 stretch. 'Course part is better than none, eh? :yes:

[Jodie]

Chosing a villa is hard, the first time we weren't involved in the decision making but Gavin's dad picked a perfect location which is the same location we chose for this year.

The location is Hampton Lakes which is on the US27, the location was perfect for us as we spend almost equal time at Disney and Non-Disney parks and this is around halfway between Disney and Universal.

After the location is decided you need to make a wish list of what you want from your villa as there are so many to choose from you need some way of eliminating them.

Our list was .....

4 Bedrooms - two of which needed to be ensuite
Games room
Lots of space around the pool for chairs and tables, Plenty of room to relax outside

It could take a long time to find the right one for you but keep at it 'cos it will be there, somewhere!

:)

Jodie

[malcolm]

I've heard that Manny's is very good! Never been there, but may take a drive one fine Sunday! :D

The section of 192 west that leads to 27 can indeed back up. :( There is the Black Lake Road cutoff, but that only saves you from having to travel part of the 192 stretch. 'Course part is better than none, eh? :yes:

WWW.MANNYSCHOPHOUSE.COM :bike2: a must every visit!!!

[Britchick]

what more could you want? meat and margaritas!!!!


i have drool running down my chin:sigh;

[Dawn]

Why have I never been to Mannys? :eek:

[Britchick]

Why have I never been to Mannys? :eek:

too busy starving hippos

[malcolm]

Why have I never been to Mannys? :eek:

Maybe you should take of that Habit and not lead such an innocent life..:g020::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Ursula]

Even before you get the tender meat they come out with delicious bread rolls that come with a little pot of cinnamony honey butter.... deeeeeeelish.... then the salad, the bottomless salad.... is mixed up in a bowl at your table in a dressing and that is also delicious.... then when you have stuffed your faces with that you think oh heck... where am I going to put the meat?.... but you just have to find room for that delicious melt in the mouth meat. The themeing is loud and they have a loud jukebox but if you can block out the sound it's worth it for the food alone.... Just wear casuals.

[Claire]

Thanks all! Much to look at and think about. I know we need 4 beds and the less time spent in a car the better. A pool is a necessity and a games room isn't! Malcolm, thank you for the link. How do you choose?

Do all villa's come with a security gate type affair leading to the pool? Plus, would we be better going for a gated community?

[Wendy]

We only stay in the Formosa Gardens area, which is Rolling Hills, Formosa Gardens, Sunset Lakes, Oak Island.

There is a brand new development in Windsor Hills with is on Old Lake Wilson Road, you are only one set of lights away from shortcut then, which saves a lot of time.

[Keith]

Why have I never been to Mannys? :eek:

I was thinking the same!

[Ursula]

It's a long way down the highway towards Haines but if you stay straight it's eventually on the right hand side.. setback from the road a little bit so keep your eyes peeled because it doesn't stand out and you could so easily go past it. Their amoretto sours are (slurps) yummy too! especially when it's 2 for 1 time...

[malcolm]

It's a long way down the highway towards Haines but if you stay straight it's eventually on the right hand side.. setback from the road a little bit so keep your eyes peeled because it doesn't stand out and you could so easily go past it. Their amoretto sours are (slurps) yummy too! especially when it's 2 for 1 time...

Just near the Police station and they do have one of those tall iluminated signs now....

[malcolm]

Thanks all! Much to look at and think about. I know we need 4 beds and the less time spent in a car the better. A pool is a necessity and a games room isn't! Malcolm, thank you for the link. How do you choose?

Do all villa's come with a security gate type affair leading to the pool? Plus, would we be better going for a gated community?

Just information... we have all the exits to our villa(inc windows) linked into alarm system so if a child was to open the bathroom door or patio door to go to the pool there is a rapid series of loud beeps to warn you that an exit has been opend.

"How do you choose?" When we first went and stayed in a villa we chose not to be close to Disney as we wanted to be in a position of visiting Disney or explore and drive to the West coast, we drove down to Sarasotta to Siesta Key and spent the day there (beach is like a scean from Baywatch) and this influenced us when we decided to buy ours where we did as the US27 is so modern and up and comeing and with a new mall opposite our estate now partialy compleate it was a wise choice to buy where we did....
I am glade i did buy as met many nice people over there and often have owners meet ups, i then set up a villa owners forum and with over 170 owners on it, if mine is booked i have no problem finding somewhere to stay !!

[Tink]

I often wondered about that. How a villa owner who rents organizes the stays, I mean. I couldn't get past the need to schedule your own holiday way ahead of time so that you could have use of your own villa?

I'm a planner to some degree, but also really like being spontaneous, so couldn't figure out how you would do that. Having a forum and staying elsewhere just might do it, eh? :yes: