Where on earth do I start?

[FraserLynn]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by worthago
Hi, well I have spent the last few weeks looking for suitable villas with availability for August and so far have been dissapointed with what is on offer. Are all villas in Florida on what looks like housing estates? We are used to villas in Greece or Spain which are on their own piece of land with no neighbours and would really like something which is not crammed in - any chance or am I on a wild goose chase?
[/quote]

The villas we rent in Florida are very different to the type of place we rent in the summer in Spain etc.

You won't be able to get a villa built into a hill with amazing views and loads of personal space in the same way you can in the places you name, the villas in Florida are more like the Polaris type resorts. If you are thinking roof terraces and interesting gardens, unusual views then (in my experience) this will be almost impossible to find in Florida. You can often get a view across a smallish lake or a conservation area, but in my experience these are more like small areas of waste land. Orlando is pretty flat and so you don't really get any natural spectacular views. Individuality is also pretty hard to find, most developments will have a few different house types repeated regularly, but you do get some other great benefits

Firstly, they are often beautifully furnished and include every type of home comfort you can imagine

secondly they are often a good deal cheaper than a decent villa in Spain

thirdly, they are big and really well set out in a way which is easy to live in

But most importantly, they are in Orlando and all the great activities, places to eat, experiences that only Orlando can provide. I have never had a bad holiday here.

We still do both every year because although my wife enjoys herself in Florida, given a choice she would choose a spanish or greek villa every time. On the other hand, i couldn't do without my "Florida Fix" and so I have never asked her to make that choice[msnwink]

[CERICROWLEY]

One more place to add to your list, if your teens are energetic and love water. You could always try the Orlando Watersports complex nicknamed the OWC, it is a waterski and wakeboard centre.

[LL]

3 weeks is an ideal amount of time to spend especially in the summer when its hotter.
Our 4 kids all like different places so there is always a vote for each of the main attractions. I would suggest a few days at Disney with a hopper ticket, that way you can move between the parks if you find one is busy or you want to just do certain rides. By buying non expiry tickets you can always use them another year. UNiversal and Busch gardens are great for older kids and I vote for Sea World for the shows.

We easily do the drive to Busch Gardens, its just over an hour from our villa. Guests last year were uncertain whether to spend one week in Orlando and one week on the Gulf Coast. In the end they spent the 2 weeks in Orlando and travelled to both coasts so they could see which they prefered and said it did give them the freedom to choose which days to do beach type activities and which ones to do them parks rather than one week of each type of activity.

You could spend a few days on the coast to unwind when you arrive then do the theme parks then end with a few days at the coast.

[eirian thomas]

Hi, We have been to Orlando twice and going back in 3 weeks. I would say for the age your boys are your best bet would be Universal, it's got better rides for their ages, Disney do have good rides but they concentrate more on the theme. We did Disney the first time we went, Universal the last time and we are getting an ultimate ticket this time with one day in discovery cove then 14 days to enjoy Busch Gdns, Aquatica and Sea World. [edited out] is a good site to check the tickets out, we have had our tickets from there each time, they are with the cheapest around.
Have a lovely time.

[mollymolly]

Why not have a look at the Gulf Coast villas on this site for your third week. There is a wonderful selection ( but I must admit to being a biased [msnwink])

Speaking from experience many of my guests come down to Rotonda West to chill out after the excitement and hectic pace of Orlando. There you will find beautiful beaches to help you unwind. You can play golf, sail, fish or just relax by the side of the pool. As others have said Busch Gardens is only 1.5 hours away.

You could look through the Gulf Coast section in the forum for information on the area.

Bernadette

[cmcruck]

HI

First of all you are going to have a great time! I have 3 teenage boys and this is what we like to do. We buy a 4 day Disney ticket (no hopping) with water (Typhoon Lygoon and Blizzard Beach and a Universal 7 day 2 park pass or a Flex ticket so you do not miss Seaworld, inluding Aquatica, thats a great water park. We would then buy a Discovery cove with the Bush Gardens option as the boys love the rides and the park. That gives you 12 full days it you do all the major attractions and then time to enjoy the villa and relax in between, so you could easily use up your 3 weeks. If you leave Discovery Cove and some water parks until towards the end of your stay that would give you a chance to wind down maybe! We have done Discovery Cove before and yes it is expensive but if this is your trip of a lifetime then why not, we are going again this year, we loved it.

As far a villa's go you will not go far wrong booking one off this site, the villas are usually in communities but some communities are more spaced out than others, and have great community facilities as well do a search and take a look. Decide what your villa requirements are and go from there, you could ask for a large pool with privacy and possibly a games room for the teenagers, mine spend their evenings playing pool etc, then enjoy the response you get from owners. Happy Holidays!

Cindy

[sammibabe]

You have had so many responses I will not bore you with more except to add that Discovery Cove is well worth the expense. We went last year with ages ranging youngest age 8 to my husband age 40 something! He didn't want to swim with the dolphins but the rest of us did and we ALL had a fantastic day. Book your car and tickets from the links on this site. Best value tickets we can find and outstanding customer service. Enjoy