Orlando Vacation Homes Rentals

posted by orlandovacationhome on Aug 5

Orlando, Florida is a great place for a family vacation:

• World class theme parks
• A plethora of kids educational and entertainment options
• A bevy of restaurants
• A multitude of vacation rental lodging options

Orlando is unique. Unfortunately, many travellers do not consider family friendly vacation rentals as a viable lodging option.

Family vacations in Orlando are made even better by staying in an area vacation rental. Typical rentals range from 3 bedrooms up to 7 bedrooms sleeping a maximum of 17 persons. Villas are an especially good lodging option for larger families with private bathrooms/bedrooms and large living spaces. Just like hotels, there are many rental choices available for every family.

Let’s look in depth at a few reasons why vacation home rentals are such a popular selection for families:

• Security and Privacy – Many gated and guarded communities offer the ultimate in security and privacy for your family. Every Mum will be pleased with the safe and secure environment vacation home communities have to offer.
• Location and Convenience- Most rental homes are located in Davenport, Clermont, Orlando and Kissimmee. Many of these neighborhoods and subdivisions are located just minutes from popular Disney and Universal Studios attractions which saves valuable transit time for your family. This will keep any Dad from losing his wits while otherwise driving in traffic.
• Space and Size – Instead of staying in a shoebox, why not enjoy the luxury of multiple bedrooms and baths? Large living areas allow your family to spread out and relax. This will keep the siblings from fighting and otherwise jangling the parents’ nerves.
• Sun and Fun – Comfy amenities such as private individual pools, home movie theatres and game rooms provide the recreational opportunities that every family will enjoy. Instead of fighting over lounge chairs at a crowded hotel pool, why not enjoy your very own private accommodations?
• Resort Amenities- Family oriented playground areas and public area amenities such as tennis, ping pong, arcade games, billiards and more are often available in resort style club communities. This will keep the kids occupied while enjoying good clean fun.
• Quality and Value – Rental rates for Orlando vacation homes can vary quite a bit. However, doing your own research can provide you peace of mind and instill confidence in your rental options. We rate most of the existing vacation home communities from 2 Stars to 5 Stars so you can make your own “value” based reservation decision. This is good for Mom and Dad’s overall satisfaction.

Our site is designed to provide you do the tools and details necessary to accomplish just this. Over 80 Orlando resort reviews are exclusively posted on our main page with detailed profiles. Each review includes photos, pictures and video to help you visualize each resort community. We professionally and carefully rate each resort community on attributes and criteria that are important for families. These critiques are designed to give every family a better sense of expectations. You’ll be glad you stayed in an area vacation rental!

Family Friendly Vacation Rentals Orlando

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 30

Taking a large group on vacation to Orlando can be a challenge and a larger vacation home (or two) may be required.

Such groups can be sports teams, church affiliations, musical groups, or more commonly family reunions. Vacation homes in Orlando can be a perfect choice for these groups from both a functional and value perspective.

Most vacation home communities are a short drive from Walt Disney World® and Universal Studios®. Team sports or cheerleading groups can stay in the comfort of a vacation rental and be at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® in 10-20 minutes. Large families or extended family reunions will enjoy the home comforts of a vacation villa.

As we recently looked at daily and weekly rates for Orlando rentals, let’s sample a few rates for larger vacation homes. This time we polled rates from “Orlando vacation rental by owner” websites. The accommodations we evaluated were 6 bedroom villas and 7 bedroom vacation rentals sleeping a range up to 16 persons.

An average range of rental rates in the off season for larger vacation homes in Orlando, Kissimmee or Davenport with a private pool:

• 6 bedroom/4 bath rental -   $270 to $290 nightly/$1890 to $2030 weekly
• 7 bedroom/4 bath rental -   $300 to $320 nightly/$2100 to $2240 weekly

These accommodations were in highly rated 4 and five Star resort communities such as Emerald Island or Windsor Hills with full amenities.

Orlando vacation home rental rates are quite dynamic, so changes from these averages will occur. Moreover, homeowners with large homes may often place some great deals on the web, although we always recommend renting from a professional management company to reduce the risk of any potential problems.

Large rentals in Windsor Hills are esepcially attractive due to the community amenities most family members enjoy. Consult our photos and review of Windsor Hills to see why the resort is so acclaimed. Additionally, over 80 community reviews are posted on our main page. We do the research for you!

Large Orlando Vacation Home Rentals

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 28

What can you expect to pay for a rental home in Orlando?

We did a quick sample of daily and weekly rates for premium vacation rentals for non-peak periods in 2010-2011. This was designed to help spot deals on vacation rentals during this time period.

The estimated ranges are from posted rates on reputable management company websites. Moreover, we have only included rates on vacation homes located in our top rated Four or Five Star rated communities.

The ranges are only used as a general rule of thumb and to provide rough estimates only for reference. Keep in mind that fees and deposits for Orlando vacation home rentals vary as well. If you have a specific vacation home community or date in mind, call a professional company to discuss quotes. Rates will vary and are quite dynamic.

The following average mid-point ranges were derived for the various sizes of vacation home rental accommodations with a private pool in non-peak periods:

• 3 bedroom/2 bath – $150 to $175 nightly rates/$1050 to $1225 weekly rates
• 4 bedroom/3 bath – $280 to $300 nightly rates/$1960 to $2100 weekly rates
• 5 bedroom/4 bath – $325 to $350 nightly rates/$2275 to $2450 weekly rates

Once again, these are “typical” posted current average rates from management company websites in top rated communities with the listed attributes. All sample rates included rentals with private pools.

Always consult each reservation listing for specific amenities on the rental you are interested in. Amenity choices can also include wireless internet, game rooms, home theatres and more. Rates on homes in good communities without private pools can dip considerably. The choice of amenity and rate options as a consumer is fully in your hands.

We also consulted several “rental by owner” websites and the rates varied widely. Due to the fact that cleaning and maintenance standards vary significantly from owner to owner, we always recommend renting from a good professional management company to ensure quality. Professional management companies may also run specials and discounts on Orlando vacation rentals, so check back with their websites.

Consult the main page of our website for reviews on vacation homes in Orlando, Kissimmee, Davenport and Clermont. In addition to quality reviews for each community, we have video, photos and pictures for many resort communities in Central Florida.

Rental Homes in Orlando

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 9

Eighties British invasion Tears for Fears is scheduled to play in Orlando on August 28^th, 2010.

Why is this good to know? Well if you are on vacation here in Orlando, you will be glad to know the concert is in downtown Orlando and FREE. Thus, you can turn this into a fun day out. First visit Downtown Orlando, go to the park, have dinner, and then show up to the City Hall Plaza (actual downtown location may change) which you can find on our map HERE.

This is part of radio station WMMO’s free concert series which has the show scheduled to start at 4.00 PM with various vendors, events, activities an other bands. The main act Tears For Fears does not start till 8.00PM. We recommend you check the WMMO Orlando web site to ensure the location and start time are correct, as they appear subject to change.

The nearest Orlando area vacation homes to the Downtown Orlando area are Vista Cay and the Isle at Cay Commons (condominiums and townhome style complexes) located on Universal Boulevard (just off International Drive near Sea World.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 7

Lake or water views are a luxury that can be enjoyed within a select group of resort communities in Central Florida. In fact, there are at least five lakefront resort communities that come to mind that are within minutes of Disney World. Since most rental guests focus on location, we’ll profile our favorite lakefront and water view vacation homes in Kissimmee, Florida which will be quite near the Mouse.

Our top choices for a lakefront water view vacation in Florida include:

• Sunset Lakes – Our favorite lakeside community with paddle boats, dock and excellent family fishing in the community lake. Sunrise over the lake is the “signature” of this resort community.
• Emerald Island Resort – Nice common areas including lake and pond views.
• Windsor Hills Resort – Award winning resort with limited number of lakefront water view villas.
• Cumbrian Lakes – Another 4-star community with well-maintained and family friendly community amenities.
• Seasons Villas – A small resort with nice lake rentals adjacent to a conservation area.

Keep in mind that this is just a sampling of lakefront water view vacation communities in Central Florida. Moreover, always double check the attributes of any vacation rental listing before making a reservation. Since the vacation homes in these resort communities typically have private pools, some lakes and ponds are not advisable for swimming. However, your family will most certainly enjoy fishing, picnicking and watching the wildlife from a lakeside screened porch area .

Lake Front Vacation Homes Near Disney

If you are looking for a lakefront or water view vacation rental while visiting the Orlando area, consider any of these resort communities. Many readers are often surprised by the affordable luxuries that rental homes have to offer. These available amenities include wireless internet, private pools, home theatres and self-catering kitchens. Consult our “Resort Reviews” on our main page for additional community details and profile information on over 80 resort communities.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 6

We wanted to make some observations around current market and consumer trends for Central Florida and Disney World vacation rentals. This is possible with the help of our many friends and associates that give us feedback including parallels drawn from other vacation rental markets. Some of the consistent trends or themes we are seeing in the rental market include:

• Offseason Values – Consumers seem to be looking for creative ways to rearrange their work, family or personal schedules to find booking times in the “offseason”. Of course, in Orlando/Central Florida that period of time is very limited. Everyone is looking for ways to find the best “value” for their money these days, and this is one opportunity.

• Shorter Stays – Although international vacation rental guests continue to stay much longer than the norm, domestic guests seem to be staying in the area for a shorter period of time. This will perhaps coincide with park passes and privileges surrounding usage at Disney World and Universal Studios.

• Cooking in the Rental Home – One of the big benefits of a vation rental is self-catering kitchens. The savings from cooking or preparing group or family meals in the home can really add up. Of course, this is not good news for many local restaurants. Families still mostly opt to dine at the parks during the daytime hours (lunch periods).

• Extended Families Vacationing Together – Another huge benefit of vacation rentals is the ability to book larger homes which can often sleep up to 16 persons. Due to current economic circumstances, sharing expenses works out quite well for these extended families or groups. Vacation homes are a great choice as the number of travellers typically increases.

Although this list is not inclusive of all trends in the vacation rental marketplace, it does reflect some of the shifting demographics taking place. Obviously many of these trends are economically driven.

There are plenty of vacation rental options close to Disney World and Universal Studios. Apart from the luxuries mentioned above, vacation rental amenities include home theatres, wireless internet, private pools and community clubhouses for recreational pleasures. Disney World area vacation rentals provide the ultimate combination of value, convenience and comfort. Always check the reservation listing for the specific amenities your selected rental home possesses.

Disney Area Vacation Homes

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 23

The Wall Street Journal Online Edition reports that Disney plans to develop a luxury vacation home community within the gates of the theme park. Click here for this Disney luxury development news. The development features villa homes from $1.5 million on up to several million dollars. This development will be located within the Golden Oak resort and will ultimately be comprised of four different subdivisons/communities. The Golden Oak resort community will be located in the northern quadrant of Disney World on the land of the former Disney Eagle Pines golf links .

On the surface, this does seem puzzling as we possibly enter a “double dip recession”. However, when you scratch the surface, this may give Disney an entryway into the upper-end vacation home villa segment.  Sometimes the best opportunities are at the bottom of a business cycle?

If you are an optimist, and we certainly are, in our opinion the Central Florida market could turnaround in time for the opening of this vacation home resort development, but this may be many years in the future.

Disney always does things first class, and this will be no exception. Celebration, FL is a great example of this dedication to a residential home/lifestyle development. If you are a contrarian, this would be the right time for this strategic move. Our own personal business maxim: Conventional wisdom is rarely correct.

However, if you are looking for more affordable Orlando area vacation homes adjacent to the major parks, check-out our “Resort Community” reviews section located on our main page. There are several luxurious vacation home communities such as Windsor Hills, Emerald Island , Bella Vida, Watersong and Windsor Palms among others to choose from.

We review over 80 resort communities and provide detailed information to simplify the decision process. Most of these resort communities are located just miles from the major attractions.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on May 5

POW WOW 2010 – Yes its that time of year again. One of the worlds largest tourism shows is about to be held in Orlando May 15-19, 2010.

This year POW WOW 2010 Orlando is to be held at the Orange County Convention Center. Many delegates attending this year will skip the traditional hotel and opt for an Orlando vacation home rental.

The closest vacation homes to the Orange County Convention Center are Vista Cay and The Isles at Cay Commons.

POW WOW 2010 Orlando

View Larger Map of Orange county convention center

View Street map for POW WOW 2010

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Apr 26

Many people like to vacation for the summer in Florida. In many parts of Florida, renting vacation homes is a fairly straightforward process, but can be a little overwhelming in Orlando given all the choices that are available.

One of the easiest ways to do this is decide on what type of vacation you are looking for while in Orlando. Once you know what you plan to do while visiting the area, renting a vacation home in Orlando is convenient and relatively easy to do. Vacation homes will provide you with all the benefits of a home, but once your summer vacation is over, you just simply pack up and leave.

Summer vacation rentals in Florida can offer a variety of available amenities such as additional housekeeping services, private pools, golf course locations and some with locations very close to all of the world famous Orlando theme parks. All this fun also allows for plenty of options for the kids.

Summer Vacation Rentals in Orlando

Summer Villa in Orlando

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Apr 6

Yes, it’s true. If you have a pair of 3D (three dimension) glasses, you can now tour some Orlando vacation home community street maps in Google 3D before you make a reservation. Currently, the new Orlando vacation homes and street maps feature is only offered in non-gated communities, and is a service provided for free from Google®. This enhancement is a nice tool for any prospective vacation home renter.

To see an example of this amazing feature, visit our Lindfields community review. At the bottom of the page, one will see a street scene. In the photo frame, just click on the character with glasses, and voila you can move around the community in three dimension when you put on your 3D glasses and click on the arrows.

Other communities where one can see this feature on this website include Indian Creek, Glenbrook and Clear Creek to name a few. Have fun with this new technology!

Tour Lindfields in 3D by clicking on the character and putting on your 3D specs and clicking on the directional arrows

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