Disney World Vacation Homes Blog

Best Vacation Homes Sub-divisons near Disney World

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:11:34 +0000

I went to the internet to find how many vacation home communities gated and not gated there were near Disney World. I checked our site of course dwvacationhomes.com. I stopped counting when I got to 232. There are more than that I assure you. What I found….there are tons of sub divisions that house the 30,000 vacation villas, town homes, condos and private vacation pool homes.

Finding the best that is hard….I haven’t seen them all…quite frankly I haven’t seen but about 10% assuming there are some 400 vacation home communities. However, I can say for my money, I would love to see the community that could beat Legacy Park. The homes in this development are simply out of this world. It is a relatively new subdivision with construction starting in 2005 and completed in 2008. By the time of the downturn in real estate, they had sold 95% of their entire project.

Inside Legacy Park there are different sub communities most all gated where various developers sold their homes. All in all there are some 800 to 1,000 homes in this project. Most of them are upscale with prices ranging from $300,000 on the low end to over $600,000 on the high end. Most are private pool homes owned by an individual investor who is looking to profit from renting his home on a short term basis.

Proximity to Disney World is one of the reasons this project stands out over many other projects. With the new entrance to Disney World from State Rd 429, the commute to Magic Kingdom can be completed in about seven minutes.

All in all Legacy Park is a top notch development of first class homes with strong management companies. They for sure are tops on many a list. Check them out on dwvacationhomes.com.

Disney World Townhomes vs Disney World Vacation Homes

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:05:34 +0000

What is a town home and how does it differ from a vacation rental pool home near Disney here in the Disney World Market? This morning we received this question from a potential guest who visited our web site dwvacationhomes.com. The guest wanted to come to central Florida but had a larger than usual family.

A town home is a structure that is attached to another town home. It is not a condo where there are units (usually single floor) that are stacked on one another and have their next door neighbor share a common wall. A town home is usually two sometimes three stories high and due to the cost of land, the developer built them next to one another sharing a common wall.

A private vacation home is as one would imagine a single family house that is in a community where zoning allows for rentals to be on a short term basis. There are no zero lot lines as a rule and the homes are detached from one another.

For sheer privacy one can see that a vacation home would offer substantial privacy as to that of a town home. Size of the dwellings is a consideration. A town home usually is quite smaller than a private vacation home. Hence there is more under roof in a private home.

Most vacation town homes are built in a gated community where there are a number of amenities to attract guests. Here you would find: tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pool or pools, volleyball courts and in some even a lake for fishing.

In a private vacation home, they likewise are in communities, many of them gated….however, their big attraction is the attached swimming pool. That is the number one reason that most people select a private vacation “pool” home over a town home. Yes, the added space is attractive…however, when it comes to the family vacation to Disney World there is nothing quite alluring as your own private pool when you have kids in your party.

Cost is somewhat of a factor in the equation as well. Where town homes maybe closer to the attractions such as Disney World, they are smaller in size and therefore will carry nightly rents from $80 in low season to as high as $140 in high seasons. A private vacation pool home generally starts out in low season around $110 and goes upwards to over $200 per night in high season depending on the size and number of bedrooms in the home.

Both of the rental units in Orlando are owned by investors. A management company is hired by the “investor” home owner to maximize his rental income and to take care of his place when he is not there. A home will carry greater management fees for there is more upkeep….cutting the grass, tending to the pool, and raking of the leaves in the late fall.

For the family who is looking to spend the majority of time going to the theme parks, the best alternative might be a town home due to the low nightly rates. However, when a family is interested in spending some time at the parks and some time just being together especially around their private pool…then the vacation home with pool fits their bill to a tee.

All in all both fits quite well so much so there are over 30,000 vacation town homes and private pool homes in the Disney World market

Windsor Palms Resort advantages

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:05:07 +0000

One of the nicest vacation home communities near Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the Windsor Palms Resort. This resort offers executive style vacation homes, townhomes with private swimming pools, and condos.
Here are three advantages of staying at the Windsor Palms Resort.
1. Proximity to Disney World- The Windsor Palms Resort is located only 2 miles to Disney World which makes going to and from the parks very easy.
2. Security- The Windsor Palms Resort is a gated community with a 24 hour security guard on duty. Once you check in the security guard will give you a placard which has your departure date. This placard will allow you to come and go out of the community without having to stop at the guard gate.
3. Amenities- The Windsor Palms Resort offers all the amenities you would expect from even the nicest Orlando hotels. They offer a huge community swimming pool, basketball court, tennis courts, games room, pool tables, sundry shop and free internet.

When you are planning your vacation to Disney World check out the Windsor Palms Resort. You can stay in a condo for as little as $70 a night and a town home for as little as $83 a night. These are outstanding deals!

Disney vacation home specials August 2010

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:50:36 +0000

Late summer is a great time to take a vacation in Orlando. Before your kids head back to class, treat them to a long weekend or a week at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and all of the other amazing attractions in Florida.
For years, many families couldn’t afford a vacation to Disney, due to the high costs for lodging. Today, vacation homes near Disney World are available at rates lower than many national hotels. Popular vacation home subdivisions near Disney include Terra Verde Resort, Emerald Island Resort, Towns at Legacy Park, Terrace Ridge, Encantada Resort, Fountains Resort, Regal Palms Resort.
For families, vacation homes are the perfect alternative to resorts. Vacation homes offer more space and far more amenities than most resorts, which will help your group feel comfortable.
At the Terra Verde Resort, your family can stay within 10 minutes from Disney, in a gated community with a swimming pool. If your family needs a a break from the parks and spend a lazy day by the poolside, and you won’t even have to leave for lunch. There’s cabana bar conveniently located next to the pool which sells cocktails, beer, cold cut sandwiches and grilled food such as hamburgers and hot dogs.
A family of four can book five five nights at Terra Verde for only $83 per night. When you compare the cost per night in a vacation home to a resort, you’ll realize the incredible savings. In a three bedroom Terra Verde townhome, your family will have 1,300 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms on the second floor, along with a full kitchen, microwave, stove, silverware, pots, pans and dishes.
For larger groups, four bedroom town homes, which have approximately 1,500 square feet of living space, are available in August for rates as low as $98 per night. One of the best features of the four bedroom home is a private swimming pool. You’ll also enjoy all of the amenities offered in the three bedroom townhomes, including the fully equipped kitchen.

Churches near Disney Vacation Homes

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:50:01 +0000

During your Disney Vacation in Orlando, your family may want to spend a Sunday morning or Sunday evening at a local church.Regardless of the denomination you’re looking for, there are plenty of churches near your Walt Disney World Vacation Home.
Baptist churches within five miles of Disney World include;Cornerstone Baptist Church, Chapel Baptist Church, Four Corner Baptist Church, Lighthouse Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Vineland.

Cornerstone Baptist Church is located at 9100 Teacher Lane Davenport, FL 33897in the heart of midway between US 192 and I-4 just off US 27 in Davenport. The ministry team at Cornerstone Baptist Church makes an effort to welcome vacationers from out of town. Cornerstone offers a classic style service at 8:15 A.M. on Sunday mornings, a 10:45 P.M. Contemporary Service and a Saturday night service at 6:30 P.M. Cornerstone held its grand opening on Easter Sunday March 30, 2002 and is a is independent, self supporting, and self governing. . Dress code at Cornerstone allows casual attire.
Presbyterian Churches near your Disney vacation home include:
Community Presbyterian Church on 511 Celebration Avenue,River of Life Presbyterian Church on 8323 West Sand Lake Road, First Presbyterian Church on 15 Church Street, in Kissimmee,12550 Marsfield Avenue, Pine Ridge Presbyterian at 3900 South Hiawassee Road, and Presbyterian Church of the Lakes, on 4700 Lincoln Avenue.

If you’re looking for a very traditional style setting and service, head to First Presbyterian Church, Established in 1884, First Presbyterian is Kissimmee’s oldest church, and services are held in the same chapel that was built in 1884.

One of the largest and most popular choices for Catholic tourists it the church known as Mary: Queen of the Universe Catholic Church. Weekday masses at Mary Queen of the Universe are at 8 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass is at 6 p.m. , Sunday masses are at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 6 p.m.
Another Catholic Church in the Disney area is the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. a Roman Catholic parish, within the Diocese of Orlando. Established as a Mission Church in Kissimmee, Florida at the turn of the 20th Century. Holy Redeemer’s weekday masses are at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday Vigil Masses are at 4:00 p.m. and a Spanish service is offered at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Masses are at 8 .m. 10 a.m. and 12 noon, with a Spanish service at 2 p.m. and a Portuguese service at 7 p.m.

Shingle Creek United Methodist Church was founded in 1865 and is known as the best kept secret in Osceola County. During the past 142 years, the 10 acre campus has grown to six buildings. Shingle Creek United Methodist Church offers services in English and Spanish. Traditional service is at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, Spanish services are at 6:30 p.m., on Sundays.

Episcopal churches near Disney World include: St John’s Episcopal Church1709 North John Young Parkway, St Joseph Episcopal Church12601 Balcombe Road, in Orlando,St. Marks Episcopal Church102 North 9th Street,on Haines City, St Nicholas Anglican Church1729 Business Center Lane, in Kissimmee, Church of the Messiah-Episcopal,260 North Woodland Street, in Winter Garden.

Concerts in August near Kissimmee vacation homes

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:51:10 +0000

If you’re vacationing in Orlando with your friends or family in the month of August, you’ll find plenty of incredible concerts of all genres. World renown music stars such as Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson and Justin Bieber are all performing at venues near your Disney vacation home.
On Sunday, August 1st, Cyndi Lauper and David Rhodes play at the Orlando House of Blues in Downtown Disney.
Cyndi Lauper with David Rhodes. Lauper is known for her hit singles in the 198s, including:”Money changes everything”, “Girls just want to have fun”, “When you were mine.” Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
One week later on August 8, another’s 80’s hit comes to Orlando, as Cinderella, heavy metal band, Cinderella, comes to Orlando. Cinderella is known for its hit singles:Night Songs and the Last Mile. Tickets cost $24 in advance and $27 day of. Doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:30.
Youth soul singer superstar Justin Beiber comes to Amway Area for the Justin Bieber My World Tour at Amway Arena on Wednesday, August 4, 2010,at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $29.50 to $49.50. Bieber is the epitome of an overnight sensation. The 15-year old became an international superstar after posting dozens of homemade videos on YouTube and drew 10,000,000 views purely from word of mouth.
Punk rock fans can see the band, “Something Corporate”,one of the decade’s most successful bands on Monday, August 16, at the House of Blues. Something Corporate is known for its hit singles:
Another international star performing at Amway Arena in August is singer-songwriter, surfer, filmmaker, Jack Johnson.On August 24, Johnson’s Away to Sea Tour comes to Orlando. Johnson has sold 8 million albums worldwide, including 4 million copies of . Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George.

Hunting spots near Kissimmee Vacation Homes

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:47:31 +0000

Outdoorsmen on vacation in Orlando may be suprised by the number of hunting sports within a short drive of their Walt Disney World vacation home. Central Florida is known for its collection of deer, wild turkey, ducks, alligator, wild board and waterfowl.
Seminole Ranch Conservation area, located on County Road 420, features a hunting ground that’s part of a 28,000 acre reserve on both sides of the St. John’s River.The hunting schedule includes archery and muzzle guns from October through November, general gun in the third weekend of November, small game in November, December and January, hog season in January and Febuary, and Spring turkey season in late march and early April.
If you’re planning to visit the Orlando area during turkey season, you can book a guided hunt with Jim Seymour Hunting. Seymour’s hunting grounds cover 20,000 private acres of fields, swamps and ridges, which are home to the coveted Osceola turkey, hardwood swamps, hammocks, scrub oaks and pine flatwoods.
The Florida Osceola turkey hunting season begins the 3rd Saturday of March and runs thru 3rd Sunday of April. Bird hunting and large game hunting is offered starting in the fall and small game hunting is offered year ’round. Please contact us for seasons and available dates for deer, wild hog, quail, dove and pheasant hunts.
Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area covers 23,000 acres in eastern Osceola County, near the town of Holopaw.18 miles west of I-95 on U.S. Highway 192. Look for the brown Bull Creek sign on your right. Turn left on Crabgrass Rd and follow the dirt road until it dead ends (about 6 miles). In addition to the tremendous hunting grounds for turkey and deer, Bull Creek Wildlife Management area is also a favorite destination for hikers, with a 13.8 mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Archery season begins September. 26 and continues through October. 25

August vacation home deals

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:42:42 +0000

If you’re planning a late summer getaway to Orlando and Walt Disney World with your family and you’re on a strict budget, you should consider a vacation home near Disney. For a fraction of the price of a Disney resort, you can reserve a long weekend or a week at a Disney vacation home, where you’ll have much more space to relax and undwind, along with extra amenities like a private pool.
One of the premier subdivisions for vacation homes in Orlando is the gated community of Emerald Island Resort, located in Kissimmee. All of the townhomes in Emerald Island were built in 2000 or more recently, with models ranging from 3 bedrooms to 7 bedrooms.
You can choose to stay in one of the two sections in Emerald Isle: The townhome section or the vacation home section. In the townhome section, you’ll find a gazebo, grills, basketball courts, tennis courts a large, community swimming pool and a clubhouse. Standard amenities in the townhomes include a complete kitchen with pots pans and dishes, a microwave oven and a stove. The Emerald Island Resort is not only one of the nicest vacation home communities in Kissimmee, FL, but it is also one of the largest. The Emerald Island Resort was built by Park Square Homes in 2000 and it features 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes plus 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 bedroom kissimmee vacation homes.The four bedroom townhomes have a little over 1,550 square feet of living space.
If you reserve a house in the vacation home section of Emerald Island, you’ll have access to a grand clubhouse, as well as a sand volleyball court, a huge community swimming pool, hot tub, game room, a free internet computer room at the clubhouse and concierge service.
Due to recent conditions in the real estate market, rental prices for these vacation homes and townhouses are at historic lows, which makes this an ideal time to reserve a few days for your friends and family. For $83 a night, you can reserve a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom Townhome at Emerald Island , or if you need more space, you can reserve a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhome for $139.per night, which is less than you would pay to stay in most two bedroom hotels and resorts.For $179, you can rent a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom executive private pool home and for only $10 more, you can rent a 5 bedroom, 4 bedroom executive pool home. When you compare the living,space amenities and proximity to Disney World, there’s simply no hotel or resort that can compete with a Disney vacation home.

Canoeing spots near Disney vacation homes

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:23:49 +0000

If you and your family enjoy a day on the water, you can take a half day or a full day canoeing or kayaking down a lake or creek near your Disney World Vacation home. in various county parks and state parks across Orange County, Lake County and Seminole County.
Two of the longest rivers in central Florida are Econlockhatchee River and Wekiva River. Econlockhatchee is divided into two sections, known as Big Econ and Little Econ. The entrance to Econlockahatchee River starts on State Road 419. Wekiva River is 25 miles long and the canoe path starts at Wekiwa State Park, and flows north 8 miles to Katie’s Landing, then off to the St. Johns.
Other canoeing routes in the Orlando area include Rock Springs run, which has been designated an Outstanding Florida Waterway. It starts at Rock Springs in Kelly Park, six miles north of Apopka, and flows outh through the middle of Wekiwa State Park.
Obviously, most families vacationing in the Orlando area won’t have their own canoe, but fortunately, there are plenty of canoe rental companies to equip you and your group with everything you’ll need. In the Apopka area, there’s King’s Landing Canoe Rental. King’s Landing is conveniently open 7 days a week, from 8:30 to 5:30. The typical river adventure package from King’s Landing, known as the River Run package, cost $30 and includes canoe, paddles, flotation device, a whistle and pickup at the Marina. King’s Landing is located at 5722 Baptist Camp Road in Apopka, approximately 25 miles or 20 minutes from Walt Disney World.
Another option for canoe rentals in central Florida is Florida Outback, which is also located in Apopka, at 1242 Majestic Palms Court. Florida Outback Adventures offers custom eco-tour packages for groups of 4 or more.Pricing starts at $35 for a 1/2 day with equipment and guide on the Wekiva, or Econ River.

State Parks near Disney World

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:09:36 +0000

While you’re relaxing in your Orlando vacation home, you may get the urge to see the incredible wildlife that Florida is known for. You may be pleasantly surprised by the amount of State Parks in Orange County and the rest of the central Florida area.
One of the most popular state parks in central Florida, Turkey Lake Park, is only a few miles from Universal Studios on Hiawassee Road. (From I-4 Exit 75 take Kirkman north, turn left onto Conroy then right onto Hiawassee)Turkey Lake is a 300-acre park, with picnic spots, seven miles worth of hiking trails and a three mile bike path, a playground with a wood and car-tire maze, gazeebos and a 100-year old barn that exemplifies Florida’s agricultural history.

Only a short drive from the Orlando International Airport, you’ll find Moss Park. Over 1,551 acres large, Moss Park is home to one of Orlando’s largest freshwater lakes, Lake Moss, you’ll find numerous hiking trails, two boat ramps, two playgrounds and a dock for freshwater fishing. Moss park is four miles southeast of State Road 15 (Narcoose Road), just a few miles east of Orlando International Airport.
Another fun outdoor destination for our family to explore is Lake Louisa State Park. Located seven miles South of State Road 50 in Clermont, Lake Louisa State Park offers one of the longest trails for hikers to enjoy, with 20 miles worth of walkable paths for wildlife viewing. Dixie Lake, one of the six lakes on the site, has a fishing pier, and canoe/kayak launch,
Blue Spring State Park, located at 2100 W. French Avenue in Orange City, Florida,Blue Spring is an official Manatee Refuge and the winter home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees.Blue Springs covers more than 2,600 acres including the largest spring on the St. Johns River.The river is popular for fishing, canoeing, and boating, and river boat tours are available by calling St. Johns River Cruises at (386) 917-0724.