Orlando Vacation Homes Rentals

posted by orlandovacationhome on Dec 28

Authors Mike and Julie Neal recently announced a new edition of their award winning Disney World guidebook series entitled “The Complete Walt Disney World 2010” which is published by Coconut Press.

The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

Julie and Mike are proud of some of the new features of the book which particularly help parents in touring the Walt Disney World® Parks. This includes child-focused “fear factors”, height requirements for attractions, and estimated wait times for every ride. These practical tips also help any parent plan the details of their magical getaway including new ticket tables, touring plans and important keys for saving time and money. Mike and Julie have also doubled the book’s color photos, increased the size of the Animal Kingdom section and as mentioned above, added many money saving and practical tips to the book.

We recommend any Disney traveler purchase this guide if you are planning a Disney World® vacation in 2010 or beyond. The money you spend on this guide is a great investment. For more information on purchasing The Complete Walt Disney World 2010 guide online, please BUY IT HERE.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Oct 14

A recent noteworthy article by the Financial Times indicates that the Blackstone purchase of SeaWorld is a marked indicator that the world’s largest private equity firm has now turned optimistic on the economy and the worst is behind us. More specifically, and as the prestigious publication notes, Blackstone is selling assets in other areas to focus on industries and lines of business that could improve significantly in the coming years. This would certainly include theme park attendance, as indicated by its accumulation of $2 billion in assets in this area. Click here for the Blackstone Asset Group’s corporate website.

Why is this noteworthy? This is an important indicator because Blackstone has been traditionally very good as a market barometer, especially when picking companies in improving industries.

All sources acknowledge that Blackstone has been tops at exploiting opportunities and picking market winners before they become apparent. Some indicate that the roughly 2x sales purchae price was very cheap, and that it was simply a “fire sale” purchase. We believe that this purchase might be at a sweet spot - low valuation metrics and at a time when business conditions are set to turn up noticeably for the theme parks. The latter would not only be good for Blackstone, it would also be good for the local economy.

Improved amusement park attendance would certainly bolster occupancy at a time when Orlando hotels and resorts have been struggling. Peak booking periods tend to come around spring break / Easter and a little good news is needed to restore confidence.

Some of the best resorts in the Orlando area are running enticing holiday specials to kick start business moving into 2010. This will hopefully be the beginning of an improved business cycle, and one that the Blackstone Group has presciently predicted by its actions.

This could be great news for Orlando vacation rentals which are typically an outstanding way to stay in Orlando. For reviews on over 80 vacation home communities, consult our unbiased community reviews section. Each community review includes a quality rating, amenity information and distance to major attractions to help you make an informed decision. Our goal is to provide independent research to save you time and ultimately help you enjoy a pleasurable vacation in Orlando. Vacation rentals can provide you an opportunity to do just that.

Aquatica Sea World Orlando

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jul 5

Is September the Best Time to Visit Orlando?

One might ask, when is the best time to visit Orlando, Florida?

As the  best months go, the answer is generally September. There are several reasons for this:

1. School is back in session – The parks are empty.
2. Weather – It will begin to cool down and be more comfortable, but sunny enough to get a tan.
3. Rental rates for vacation homes are low in September. These rates typically offer a lot more value than  hotels.
4. Heavy incentives – When business is as slow as it is in September, renters pull out all the incentive stops to attract tourist dollars (i.e. two for the price of one, kids eat free, early bird specials, etc…)

Therefore, the best time to visit Orlando is September for several reasons. It is the slowest month of the year for tourism, the weather is typically great, and you can save a bundle.

Best Time to Visit Orlando

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jun 9

Disney Gay Days 2010 is scheduled for June 1-7, 2010. Perhaps the highlight of the Disney Gay Days is the Gay Parade down Main Street USA June 5, 2010 at 3.00 PM (weather permitting).

This year’s Disney Gay Days was packed with gay and lesbian couples from all over the world. The parks were awash with a sea of red T-shirts. An estimated 150,000 people attended spending an approximate $100,000,000 in the Orlando market.

Orlando Gay Days is now the single largest event in Orlando, larger in attendance than many of the of the well recognized conventions such as PGA, and The Home Builders Association.

Disney Gay Days

Orlando Gay days has now become one of the most courted events by local hospitality purveyors as its economic impact and scope becomes fully understood.

Enjoy below our Disney Gay Days video we took at the 2009 event. Feel free to reproduce any of the Disney Gay Day photos, just credit www.orlando-vacationhomerental.com as the source.

Orlando Gay days

If you are coming to Orlando Gay Days, consider renting Orlando vacation homes , as these offer more space and typically sleep from 6-17 people. They often offer private pools along with all the comforts of home in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. An entire vacation home can often be rented for about the price of a reasonable hotel room.

Gay Days

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posted by orlandovacationhome on May 30

New Roller Coaster Universal Studios Orlando

Orlando, Fla. – We just got back from previewing the state of the art roller coaster now under construction at Universal Studios Orlando. We also took some photos of the new roller coaster at Universal Studios Orlando.

The new Universal Studios rollercoaster is called - The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster.

The Roller Coaster is unique for several reasons. First, it actually goes through the theme park above the heads of tourists. Second, it has a record breaking loop. Third, the coaster has a staggering climb and drop of 17 stories with speeds up to 65 miles an hour.. Fourth, the ride is totally customizable to the rider – riders will be able to program their own music on the coaster and edit a video of their ride once they disembark to take home.

The ride will be an intense sensory experience with color changing LED/s and high energy visual displays.

Clearly, as the new roller coaster in Universal Studios Orlando, The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster will be the rollercoaster ride for 2009-2010 in Orlando.

See our new rollercoaster Universal Studios Orlando video preview below as well as a map of Universal Studios Orlando.

View Larger Map

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Apr 18

The 2010 Celebration Exotic Car Show is perhaps one of the greatest outdoor exotic car shows in America.

This event starts Thursday April 15th, 2010 through Sunday April 18th, 2010 and is a must for all our vacation home visitors in and around the Orlando, Davenport, Clermont and Kissimmee areas. The best days to go are Saturday and Sunday as it allows you to walk around Celebration (very close to Disney) and enjoy the show. Sunday at 10.00 AM is the car rally which is the highlight of the show.

The event is free and makes for a great family day out.

Free Things to do in Orlando

Celebration Car Show Photos

Orlando Events

Orlando Car Show Photos 2009

Orlando Day Out

Events Near Kissimmee Vacation Homes

Davenport Events

Celebration Florida

Celebration Photos

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Jan 12

Mardi Gras Universal Studios 2009 Orlando, FL
Select Saturday Nights February - April

Universal Studios Florida® , Universal Orlando®, Orlando, Florida

407-363-8000, 1-800-837-2273

Bands for Mardis Gras 2009 Include:

02/07/2009 KC & The Sunshine Band

02/14/2009 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

02/15/2009 Village People

02/21/2009 NE-YO

02/28/2009 Pat Benatar

03/07/2009 Barenaked Ladies

03/14/2009 Montgomery Gentry

03/21/2009 Collective Soul

03/27/2009 Boys Like Girls

03/28/2009 Kelly Clarkson

04/04/2009 MC Hammer

04/11/2009 Trace Adkins

04/18/2009 Nelly 

For the biggest party East of the Bayou, New Orleans comes to life in Orlando at Universal Studios. Guests can catch beads, listen to real New Orleans musicians, see the Mardi Gras parade with hundreds of costumed characters, stilt walkers and Mardi Gras Floats.

Mardi Gras has been held at Universal Orlando® for many years, and as with age, has become a well prepared and matured Orlando event.

Various concerts are held throughout the park. As you explore, experience some real New Orleans cooking and drinks.

You can enjoy all this with a regular Universal Studios Florida® ticket

Visit the Mardi Gras website to learn more or play our preview below.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Dec 19

In this article we will detail how deep the economic crisis is and might be for Orlando’s largest employer - the short term rental industry. This includes hotels, timeshare rentals and vacation homes alike. We will explain the impact on employment and the need to be fiscally prudent. We will conclude that Orlando is in an economic recession and a technical economic depression is possible, the consequences of which will be far reaching and significant to the local economy.

For November 2008, the Orlando CVB is reporting even bigger drops in metro Orlando’s hotel revenues of 30%+/-(2). This would indicate possible systemic future drops in the Orlando tax collections from the hotel and short term rental industry as a whole.

As a result, much of Orlando’s short term rental industry could be laid off. This is concerning as it is also Orlando’s largest employer(3). As short term rental companies see their gross profit margins plummet they will be forced to reduce their biggest variable cost – labor.

A 20% +/- drop in tax revenues generated by hotels and other short term rentals is a real possibility for 2009, and the implications to the local Orlando economy would be significant.

Projects such as the new $480 million basketball court in downtown Orlando financed in part by hotel tax dollars (5) puts into question the opportunity cost of such a project when thousands of hospitality workers are now losing their jobs(6). The credit crunch has already forced up the cost of the bonds to finance the new Orlando arena as much as $104,000,000 indicating the increased risk of such a project that is now perceived by bond investors.(6.1).

The solution to many of the local fiscal problems are now in the hands of the global economy. As we always explain, no one can predict the future, but the basic math of the immediate problems facing Orlando’s hospitality industry are significant and possibly systemic. If Orlando’s economic GDP drops more than 10% it would be considered by many economists a technical economic depression (7).

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Dec 9

Given all the hoopla that often comes with a new hotel entering the metro Orlando market, we thought we would offer some thoughts different from our usual vacation home industry analysis. A friend of ours in Orlando wrote the following about the hotel industry. The parallels to the vacation home industry can also be drawn.

Some new larger hotels who entered the Orlando market as “newbies” went after the “convention market” and frowned upon regular theme park tourists as not being a viable market. Typically, a new hotel will learn within a year of opening they need to have a comprehensive business mix if they are to survive.

Many large convention hotels in the metro Orlando area are now experiencing significant declines in their “pick up rates”. Given the global recession, this is to be expected. But worse, some convention groups (i.e. many financial services companies) no longer exist. The Orlando CVB documents hotel room revenues dropping 30% +/- in November 2008 for the metro Orlando area. Orlando hotels who have never expereinced a big Orlando market downturn will now learn what it is all about.

The well seasoned and super efficient players such as Harris Rosen understand only too well how the Orlando game works. His world famous Rosen Hotels and Resorts operates debt free to make themselves recession proof even during dire times.

When business is slow, it is not uncommon for some upper level convention hotels to sell inventory for well under $100 a night through various distribution channels. For some newer hotels with debt levels at costs north of $100K (and in some cases more than $200K a room), this can be a devastating thought. Often, even under the best due diligence, failure to plan for economic recessions (on average every seven years) can be a rude awakening for both new hotel owners and their lenders alike.

If you are thinking of developing a hotel in the metro Orlando area, take several local hoteliers out to lunch first and get their opinion. You may also want to join some of the fantastic local hospitality organizations before you launch a project of any kind. Such simple things could be the best pre-investment you make. Relying on MBA type financial analysis by people who do not know the market at an intimate level is always a sure path to disaster.

Many of the plans to build new convention hotels in Orlando have now been shelved, but those that have opened in recent years or are about to open will soon understand why tourism experts in the area call Orlando a “unique market”. Good luck.

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posted by orlandovacationhome on Dec 6

If the most recent data is to be believed, hotel revenues in Orlando are dropping at possible catastrophic rates, and this could be an indicator of what some may have already felt in the metro Orlando vacation home industry.

Data for Orlando vacation home occupancy and rate is difficult to collect, as the industry is very fragmented. However, as market indicators, we are inclined to consider hotel data trends to help as a mirror to the vacation home industry.

Recently SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH, a provider of hotel industry data, reported that revenue per available room tumbled 13.2 percent nationally during the week Nov. 9-15, 2008 compared to a year earlier. Revenue per available room, or RevPar as it is termed, is a key gauge of a hotel’s revenue performance.

At the local level, metro Orlando has begun to see the largest drops in both rate and occupancy across the board for the hotel industry since 2001. For the week ending November 15^th, 2008 hotel Rev PAR dropped by a whopping 27.3 % according to the ORLANDO CVB records .

So what are the ramifications for the Orlando vacation home market? Hotel data now tells us that a short term combination of rate and occupancy are in a state of significant decline. Not a surprise given the current economic environment, but the level and rate of the decline is much more devastating than what is being reported on some media outlets. It remains to be seen if these short term indicators become longer term trends for the Orlando market and can provide some basis for an Orlando tourism forecast.

Possible ramifications in the vacation home industry could include:

1.     Rev PAH (Revenue per available home), is going to most likely drop significantly, as occupancies decline and some owners and home managers alike, quickly drop their rental rates.

2.     This could impact vacation home prices due to the fact that vacation homes would have a lessened ability to generate income, which would logically be reflected in the underlying home sales prices.

3.     Like any business, those homeowners that are best positioned to “hunker down” will be the ones that survive. Such factors could include: limited levels of debt, high rental occupancies, good locations and marketing strategies, excellent maintenance, and the overall experience of a good vacation home management company.

The good news for families, and even some event type groups seeking economic alternatives to hotel rooms, is that they may now logically consider the benefit of vacation homes. This helps the vacation home option become more mainstream. Please see our other posts detailing the economic viability of renting Orlando vacation homes and the value they provide to consumers. In addition, the best run vacation home management companies will most likely survive and the services they provide will become more essential.

In conclusion, there is no sugar coating the data. The drop in both rate and occupancy appears to have come so quickly and deeply that major media, and even many in the tourism industry, do not yet recognize. Expect possible systemic failures in Orlando’s tourism industry if these trends continue. Unfortunately, no one can preidict the future including us.

As always, our blog tries to inform you objectively, so subscribe.  Check the ORLANDO CVB data here.

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