Not sure this is the forum for it but it doesn't fit anywhere else!
Thinking of planning a trip (albeit in about 3 years due to having to save up big time!) to Florida.. has anyone been and can recommend a good location in the orlando area? Looking on the villa sites is like a mindfield... we just don't know where/where not to start tredding!

I stayed in a villa in the Davenport / Kissimmee area for New Year. Very nice place, and only a short drive from Orlando and the theme parks.

hiya
i went and stopped in Kissimee which was great - but you did have to drive everywhere (although I understand there are busses I didnt take them)
On reflection I would stay for longer than 7 days (we were outn everyday at 7am and not back till 10pm) and
I think I would probaby opt to stay in one of the disney hotels - it does of course depend on budget etc but we came back exhausted!

If you're going to Florida, and don't have any particular reason to go to Orlando then go to the Keys instead. :)

We are going to Orlando next July(2006) I have already booked a villa that I found on www.lastminutevillas.net and another for a 3rd week on the gulf coast. The villa in Ordlando is costing £434 per week for a 3 bedroomed 3 bathroomed house and the one on the gulf coast £350. The one in orlando can be found on http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/floridaholidayhome/323.htm and the gulf coast on www.gulfholidays.com. The owner of the house in Orlando is in the UK and the owner of the other one in Ireland. From what I gather most bookings are done direct with owners for Florida. I also know of another one in Orlando that I can get you details for if you need them. Pm me and I'll send you the website for that one too.

Hope this helps.

I went in July 2003 it was excellent.

I would recommend going for 2 weeks, renting out a villa and remember to have a days relaxation at the villa once in a while.

Going to the theme parks is exhausting!

Originally posted by drp215
Not sure this is the forum for it but it doesn't fit anywhere else!
Thinking of planning a trip (albeit in about 3 years due to having to save up big time!) to Florida.. has anyone been and can recommend a good location in the orlando area? Looking on the villa sites is like a mindfield... we just don't know where/where not to start tredding!

You have to watch out for those "mindfields", don't you. :thumbsup:

We went to Florida in Nov. 2004. We stayed at the bottom of International Drive in Kissimmee (although we stayed in a hotel) We found just about everything for night time that we needed on International Drive. As mentioned before it is only fairly short drive to the theme parks, but also as mentioned before allow some time to have days away from the parks it is very tiring to go everyday.

Originally posted by mojoworking
You have to watch out for those "mindfields", don't you. :thumbsup:
LOL... slip of the finger on the keyboard!

Thanks for those ideas... will check out Kissimee and Davenport...
Wendy that villa looks fantastic but doesn't have it's own pool..does the other orlando one have a pool? With 2 young boys we looking at everything to make our holiday an 'easy' one!

Hi drp215

Yes it does here's a link www.chathampark.co.uk It's owned by a lady I speak to on one of the msn groups. Drop Pippa a line and I am sure she will let you know what availability she has.

I know the one we are going to doesn't have a private pool but it does have one in the complex along with many other facilities such as games room etc. As we don't really expect to spend that much time in the pool because we intend to make full use of our park tickets we were happy to share especially as it has the other facilities.

We went last year, our last visit to Disney was 10years ago, i found kissemmee very dirty this time, it's realy gone down hill,
i would recomend staying someplace away from kiss, theres also a place called Cellebration it's on route to Disney, it's well worth a stop, lots of Brits have bought houses there, quite expensive though, but your pounds up to 1-91259 to the dollar now, your moneys going to go a long way this year you should find every thing dirt cheap.

Has anyone been to the town of Celebration ?

Kissimee has loads, check around, on the net/papers/friends.

International Drive has hotels /rooms at competitive prices.
If you go to Florida get down to Clearwater beach, near Tampa Bay, one of the best in Florida, or Cocoa Beach.

...And don't forget them 'eat as much as you can Breakfasts ' before you go in the morning from $3.99-$6 at most places
excellent value. You will never want to come back after a holiday there!

It seems the villa where I stayed fpr New Year has it's own little website:

http://www.orlandofunandsun.com/property_a.htm