Orlando Vacation Homes Rentals

posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 30

Pet Friendly Orlando Vacation Homes

One of the big advantages of renting an Orlando vacation rental is that you can enjoy the company of your pet while on vacation. Although some hotels do allow you to bring pets, they typically charge a significant pet fee.

In addition, if you are renting a Disney area vacation home with a pool, you can have your pet relax by the pool or possibly take a walk around the vacation home community with the family. This is not always possible in a hotel. Space for you and your family is also an issue. You and your pet are confined to a much smaller space in a hotel environment.

Moreover, when renting a vacation home, you do not have to worry about daily housekeeping or noisy neighbors disturbing you and your pet.

Pet friendly vacation homes in Orlando are more advantageous than hotel rooms for numerous reasons. Pets are part of the family. Wouldn’t it be great if they could come with you on your Orlando vacation?

Pet Friendly Orlando Vacation Homes

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 28

SeaWorld will continue to offer its well received SeaWorld After Dark enhanced food and attractions for the summer. This series of attractions features 3 additional hours of events with the same price of admission. The shows open at 7 p.m. and conclude at 9:50 p.m. with a thrilling fireworks show that everyone is sure to enjoy.

The first show of the evening for SeaWorld After Dark is “Sea Lions Tonight” which features the comedic sea lions Clyde and Seamore. These loveable creatures parody other Sea World Shows including other sea lions, walrus and walrus. The next show of the evening is “Shamu Rocks”, a fast paced show featuring killer whales set to rock n’ roll music. The final encore event is the “Reflections” fireworks show and water fountains display. The magnificent lights surrounding the show are accented in the comfort of Bayside Stadium during the display.

If the water shows and fireworks weren’t enough for you, Sea World has added a Mahahiki Luau for your entertainment and dining pleasure. The special luau features live entertainment and a Polynesian feast for an extra charge. Rides and attractions at Sea World are open for your enjoyment including the much awaited Manta that we have blogged about in the past.

Sea World After Dark

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 25

We recently sat down with a senior Orlando hospitality executive and were stunned that they had almost no understanding of the “new media” and its impact on tourism.

As an update to our post on Growth Opportunities for Orlando Tourism, the World Bank has cut its 2009 global growth forecast down 1.2% (from a 1.7% decline to a 2.9% decline) .This roiled many financial markets amidst sharp asset price drops.

The wild card among all of this news remains to be high levels of unemployment both domestically and abroad. As we indicated on the last post, forecasts are subject to changes at any time. Unfortunately, the continuing rise in the employment is driving down tourism forecasts.

Assuming these downward forecasts to be accurate, it portends continued weakness or stagnation for Orlando travel and tourism. Although there will be pockets of growth, the Orlando travel market will be challenging for the foreseeable future.

With shrinking tourism budgets, what will the strategy be in this negative travel climate?

Our contention is that all levels of Orlando (and Florida) travel and promotion will need to be innovative and resourceful in getting the message out to maintain market share. Gone are the days of inefficient allocation of expensive resources that reap relatively little direct benefits to area businesses and taxpayers.

From a private sector standpoint, Disney has thankfully opted to provide additional value to area visitors rather than cut services or attractions. This helps improve the value proposition for any potential visitor and increases the chance that tourism volume losses can be kept to a minimum.

We hope to do our part by blogging and podcasting about Orlando travel, and by specifically promoting the benefits of staying in Orlando area vacation homes.

Our belief is the “new media” is one of the most effective means to get the benefits of visiting Orlando out in a targeted way. A good example is the fact the Universal Theme Parks have created a “Vice President of New Media” position to creatively promote its parks. In addition, the new media can be an effective tool for the public/private funded travel promotional areas if it is used in a creative, adaptive and strategic manner.

Orlando Tourism

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 24

Although you may have booked your Orlando villa to be close to theme parks and area attractions, keep in mind that there are some great Florida beaches within a 2 hour drive from the vacation home corridor. The following are our top picks for “closest beaches from Orlando” with approximate travel time from Kissimmee.

Cocoa Beach (1 Hour)

Cocoa Beach is the closest drive from most area vacation villas. It is roughly 65 miles due east on the Beeline 528 Expressway.  The major attraction in Cocoa Beach is the pier which extends out some 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. There are currently four restaurants in the area that serve anything from seafood to sandwiches. At times of the year when the weather is pleasant, it’s a treat to enjoy outdoor dining.

The best place to park is at Lori Wilson Park. Facilities at the park include restrooms, pavilions, playground and a large boardwalk. At times the park and beachfront can get very crowded, but the on-site amenities make this beach very convenient.

Daytona Beach (1.25 Hours)

A little further north, Daytona Beach is a popular recreation area for Orlando travelers. The city is famous for some large special events including the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Bike Week, and spring break. Make sure you check the Daytona Beach special event dates if you wish to avoid the occasional large crowds and traffic.

There are around 16 miles of cruisable beach in Daytona. If you simply want to drive and enjoy the ocean, this makes for a nice day trip. If you want to have a sandwich or food, the Ocean Walk Shoppes adjacent to the Daytona Convention Center on North Atlantic Avenue is a good spot.

Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach (2 Hours)

These beaches are considered to be a little more peaceful and relaxing, and not quite as busy as the others. They are a little further from the vacation home subdivisions in Kissimmee and Davenport. New Smyrna boasts a natural 50,000 acre Canaveral National Park which is great for the family to enjoy. Downtown Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna is a great option if you enjoy boutique style shopping and charming retail stores.

St. Petersburg Beach (1.75 Hours)

Heading the other direction towards Tampa, St. Pete beaches are a great option for the family as well. Our personal favorite is the Pass-A-Grille beach area which is lined with arts, dining establishments and shopping. If you like Old Florida architecture and design, it is fun to walk around the Pass-A-Grille area and enjoy the homes.

There are parking meters adjacent to the Pass-A-Grille area. You can enjoy easy beach access along with shops and restaurants nearby.

Clearwater Beach (1.75 Hours)

Also southward from Kissimmee and Davenport is Clearwater Beach. It’s worth mentioning due to its beauty and amenities, but it’s a little beyond our 1 ½ hour one way driving time limit.  If you don’t mind driving an additional 30 minutes each way, Clearwater Beach might be an option for you.

What is the Closest Beach to Your Orlando Villa?

 <A HREF=”http://www.siterary.com/transportation/transportation.html” > Car rental, cruise and air travel </A>

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 23

Friends of ours from the UK were recently interested in purchasing an Orlando Vacation villa, but found the current borrowing process to be significantly more challenging than it was just two years ago.

Conditions for second home financing can be rigorous (1) especially for foreign nationals, and one can expect the details of the loan to be scrutinized. Borrowers should be prepared for extensive documentation upon request from the lender at any time.

Although rates are historically low, the financing market for Orlando and Disney area vacation/second homes can sometimes be challenging.

Until the current supply imbalance corrects itself and the foreclosures are drawn through the system, it appears to be very difficult to predict what direction the market will take.

Vacation Home Financing - Can Be Challenging?

As always, read our disclaimer as we do not offer professional advice -  always consult a licensed real estate professional before making a decision of any kind. The author of this post is incompetent.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 21

We have received several reader questions lately regarding a detailed explanation of the “community reviews” area of our website. Although we consider the exact ratings formula award weightings to be proprietary, our community quality awards are based on the following:

• The quality of common area amenities (playground, pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, etc…) as defined by the cleanliness and maintenance of those amenities at the time of the on-site evaluation.
• The cleanliness and general maintenance of other common area grounds including buildings, landscaping, etc… at  the time of on-site evaluation.
• The cleanliness and maintenance of homes in the resort subdivision.
• Location to major parks and restaurants with an emphasis on proximity to the Disney parks.
• Other factors are also considered including whether the resort community is gated and/or guarded. The ratings system is dynamic in the sense that we will re-review each of the communities every six months in case of major community refurbishment which happens from time-to-time.
• The “overall” rating for a resort community is derived from all of the factors above.

Vacation Home Rentals

Our system is similar to the Mobil 5-Star Awards and AAA Diamond Awards for restaurants, spas and hotels albeit an adapted format for vacation homes. The critical component is that these awards should be based on objectivity as much as possible to the benefit of the individual travel consumer. The award system is also formulated to reward resorts for maintaining quality amenities also to the benefit of Orlando vacation rental guests. 

Vacation Home Ratings

Since word-of-mouth and referrals are key to building the repuatation of the industry, our 80+ independent community reviews and profiles are compiled to achieve this goal. The quality of the actual vacation experience with this product will ultimately be the reason whether vacation home rentals continue to emerge in the mainstream of travel and tourism accommodations.

Orlando Vacation Rentals - Do Your Research

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 20

Wet N Wild Orlando Water Park

6200 International Drive, Orlando, Florida
T 407-351-1800

Wet N Wild Orlando Florida is located in the middle of Orlando’s famous International Drive.

The Wet N Wild Orlando water park makes for a great day out and has something for all ages. Wet N Wild can be a thrilling ride, a relaxing experience or something for the kids.

Wet N Wild Photos

Thrill Rides:

-Brain Wash

-Der Stuka

-The Storm

-Mach 5

-The Bomb Bay

-Wake Zone

Multi Person Rides:

-Brain Wash

-Disco H20

-The Surge

-Bubba Tub

-The Black Hole

-The Flyer

-The Blast

Take It Easy:

-Lazy River

-Wave Pool

For The Kids:

-Bubble Up

-Kids Park

We have added Wet N Wild videos below as well as Wet N Wild photos and a Wet N Wild Orlando Map.

Wet N Wild Orlando Water Park

For our Orlando FL vacation home guests, there is ample parking across the street from the Wet N Wild park (for a fee). Be sure to call ahead if you need prices.

Wet N Wild Orlando

After you have enjoyed a full day out at Wet N Wild, enjoy one of the International Drive’s restaurants as well as a huge variety of shops and shopping centers.

View Larger Map

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 18

Orlando’s newest attraction is the Aquatica ® Orlando Water Park by SeaWorld ®. Of all the Water Parks in Orlando, the Aquatica Orlando Water Park is one of the most spectacular.

Aquatica Orlando Water Park

Located on International Drive in Orlando Florida, Aquatica is set on 59 acres combining a Sea World theme with amazing water park features.

Aquatica Photos

The Aquatica Orlando Water Park has 36 water slides at last count, side by side wave pools, a huge 80,000 square foot white sandy beach, racing slides, lazy rivers and many more features to name just a few. The main wave pool at Aquatica is large and produces some outstanding waves.

For those looking for a bit more relaxation, private cabana rentals are also available. Aquatica Orlando Water Park also offers an array of dining outlets and gift shops.

Aquatica Dolphin Plunge

Perhaps the highlight of the Aquatica Orlando Water Park is the Dolphin Plunge water slide that takes the rider through a glass tube in an aquarium with black and white dolphins. Amazing!

Aquatica Water Slide

Above and below you will see our Aquatica water park videos and Aquatica water park photos to get a better idea of the experience.

Some of the rides at Aquatica include:

Loggerhead Lane

Dolphin Plunge (48″ tall to ride)
Roa’s Rapids
Big Surf Shores & Cutback Cove
Taumat a Racer
Kata’s Kookaburra Cove
Hooroo Run
Walhalla Run
Tassie’s Twisters (42″ tall to ride)
Whanau Way

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 17

As it becomes apparent that slow domestic economic growth may be with us in the short term, attention turns to where economic and visitor growth opportunities may exist for 2009-2010 and beyond. This will be critical for forecasting growth opportunities for Orlando travel and tourism with the strong indication that the domestic American economy will be negative to sluggish for at least the remainder of the year.

Although somewhat controversial in its application, national GDP growth is a relative indicator for the health of an underlying macroeconomy. According to EU, OECD and IMF national statistical offices, the following forecasted country growth estimates are applicable for 2009:

• United States – 1.5%
• Canada – 1.2%
• Western and Central Europe – 1.7%
• Mexico – 1.0%
• Brazil 1.0%
• Much of Latin America 0-1+%
• China and India 5-6%

The problem for Orlando travel and tourism growth in 2009 is that the top countries with negative economic growth are the biggest current contributors to Orlando’s baseline level of visitor activity.  

Although projections can change at any time, Latin American economic growth should help stimulate the middle classes in those countries with the benefit of higher discretionary incomes and subsequent increased travel.

Moreover, there will be some pockets of growth and opportunity for Florida travel, but not enough to offset those areas that contribute such a significant amount to the local economy and provide needed resort tax revenues.

Orlando Travel

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 14

On a previous post, we established that Florida was the third leading state for international travel to the United States  according to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI). In fact, Florida was only 50,000 international visitors behind California in 2008 for the second spot. With California’s budgetary woes and most certain forthcoming state park closings, Florida will surpass California for the lucrative international travel tourism market.

On the table is a plan to close 220 of 279 California state parks effecting some 80 million domestic and international visitors. This would include such icons as Big Sur and the Redwoods State Park. This is all in an attempt to close the state budgetary shortfall for roughly $400 million spent on the parks system. More than likely, California will end up passing higher user fees to theoretically close the gap, but this will most likely have a net negative overall economic impact on the state.

Luckily Florida tourism vis-a-vis the state park system does not face these same challenges. The problem California has is that it’s magnificent parks are an implicit part of many international traveler itineraries. Closing or dramatically raising park fees will have a spillover effect on overall international travel volume and further lower state revenues. In fact, many economists calculate a positive 2 to 1 benefit to cost multiplier ratio for California state revenues.

Although Florida tourism is down, travel to Disney and other parts of Florida are still highly viable. As value to the average international traveler increases via discounted tickets, increased attractions statewide and improved international air service, Florida will most certainly surpass California for total international travel volume. Rather than reducing attractions and park services that lure visitors and bring in tax revenues, California should follow Florida’s lead.

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