Frequently asked questions

Who are we?

The owners Tommy and Suzanne Boyne Back in July 2004 we booked a holiday and headed off to Orlando with our son Karl and other family members. We stayed in a 4 bedroom villa close to the Disney area.

We loved the area so much we returned on four more occasions and in March 2009 we took over ownership of this villa. As soon as we stepped into the house we immediately felt at home. We would now like to share our home with you.

Why a villa and not a hotel?

Having your own villa gives you so much more freedom, space and privacy, and will enable you to relax with all the comforts of home around you, and of course it makes good financial sense too.

A villa costs about the same as 2 standard hotel rooms, but instead of 2 rooms and impersonal service you'll get 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a lounge & living room, fully equipped Kitchen, garage / games room, and of course all the home comforts like TV's, DVD, Hi-fi, Washing machine etc... and with no-one living above or below you.

Having your own fridge means that you can enjoy a cold drink whenever you want, you can have a cup of tea or coffee made with real milk, your children can enjoy their breakfast cereals, in fact all of the things you take for granted at home but are not possible in a hotel room. Your pool and spa are just the other side of your patio door not 8 floors below, and they are private. There really is no comparison !

Please feel free to compare our prices with those on the Disneyland website, we're sure you will be pleasantly surprised by what we offer.

Why visit Orlando?

Disneyland Orlando skyline If you have never been to the Orlando area before it will be difficult to imagine how great a place it is, it really is a fantastic holiday destination with something for everyone. Aided by the wonderful year round warmth of its climate. It has become one of the world's favourite vacation destination, and it just keeps getting bigger and better.

There is a fantastic choice of things to see and do for people of all ages. For anyone with children, or grandchildren, or just for the young at heart the fact that Walt Disney World's 4 main theme parks are located here is probably enough. Add Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, the Kennedy Space Centre and all the many other attractions and you simply have a must visit destination. - but be warned once will not be enough!

All the attractions are also regularly updated, and so even if you've been before there will always be lots of new things to see. If you are a golfer, then Florida is paradise, with over a 1500 beautiful golf courses to choose from, many of which are in the Orlando area and some just minutes from the door. It's the ideal winter destination when Europe's courses are cold and wet. Why play in the wind and rain when you can play a different course every day with the sun on your back! It can be terrific value for money, particularly out of peak season, when flights are relatively cheap.

There are lots of places to dine out inexpensively, and you can buy a wide range of goods at prices much less than the UK, for example CD's, DVD's sports equipment and designer clothes.

"It doesn't matter what age you are, Orlando has something for everybody"

How long do I need to spend in Orlando?

14 days is the minimum length stay that we would recommend for your first trip to Orlando, as there are so many things to see and do. If you take in all the main headline attractions, you could easily spend 4 weeks, and thats without taking any breaks, shopping or rest days. It is best to pace yourself by alternating theme park visits with rest/shopping/more relaxing days. If you can spend longer than 14 days in Orlando it will probably pay you to do so. 21 day flights can be bought for a similar price to 14 day ones, and occasionally they are even cheaper. But with an extra 7 days of villa and car rental this precious time will cost you relatively little more. However long you stay be prepared to go home exhausted and poorer but with beaming smiles on your faces.

Why should I book direct ?

By directly dealing with us, the villa owners, you have a more relaxed holiday with lots of information available before you go, you even save a considerable amount against brochure prices, and it is all very easy to do, we can help with flights, car hire and ticket purchase. Booking directly with us means, unlike with travel or booking agents you know exactly where you will be staying before you get there with all address and contact details. And without all of the commissions, you will pay less and have more to spend on having fun on your holiday.

Can I discuss this with someone?

We would be more than happy to discuss any aspect of your holiday with you. We are familiar with Orlando (and Florida in general) and can offer you advice on practically anything you need to know, even down to flights and car hire arrangements. Our contact page details phone numbers, email addresses, booking forms and query forms.

Are there any hidden extras to the prices quoted online ?

No, in a word! The prices quoted are the prices you pay. It includes all services such as gas, electricity & water, even local telephone calls are free. The only additional charge is for pool heating which we would be happy to arrange for you in advance - see our booking page.

What if I need more than one villa?

Then please contact us, we are in touch with other villa owners in the local Davenport area and would be more than happy to arrange a further villa nearby should you require one.

What if we need less than 5 bedrooms?

If you don't need 5 bedrooms contact us for reduced rates, we can offer discounts for 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms.

Is the villa cleaned and maintained?

One of the villa's bedrooms The villa is professionally cleaned and maintained by our local management company ready for when you arrive.

There is no cleaning service during your stay (although one can be arranged at an extra cost if required) but the villa will be cleaned once you have departed, ready for our next guests. During your visit they may come to the house to administer the lawns and pool.

Does the villa have a phone?

Yes, you can make free local and interstate calls from the villa. We will supply you with the villa phone number so that your friends and family can call you during your stay and we provide a telephone answering machine so that you’re not out of touch whilst you’re at the parks. We also have Internet access in the villa.

Do you allow smoking in the villa?

We are sorry but we do not allow smoking in the villa, but it is allowed on the patio area.

Is the pool heated?

The pool can be heated by request for a nominal charge, however this is generally not required between the months of May and November. See our page on Orlando weather for average temperatures and rainfall.

Do I need to hire a car in Orlando?

Yes! we would definately recommend you do. The bus services are limited and despite a lot of the attractions being very close to our villa, a car is definatley recommended. carrentals.co.uk is a very useful car hire search engine. Have a look at the built in car checker on our attractions page to compare the cheapest and best quotes for car hire in the Orlando area.

How many vehicles can be parked in the drive

There is room for 2 cars to be parked in our drive, we wouldn't recommend parking on the road outside.

Are there shops, restaurants and other conveniences nearby?

Yes, there are a large selections of shops and stores available close to the villa, we provide details in villa in our information book on local restaurants, takeaways, shopping malls, theme parks, golf courses etc. Also check out our page on nearby Orlando attractions.

What are the average temperatures for Orlando?

Picture of the 30 foot pool On the whole the Orlando climate is pleasant throughout the year. During the cooler winter months (December, January & February), it is advisable to have warmer clothing for the evenings. Our villa is fully air-conditioned for your convenience.

Have a look at our weather page for Orlando, detailing the average temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.

Do I need a VISA to travel to USA?

Check out the US Department of State's website for all VISA requirements.

Do we need to bring our own linen and towels?

No, a full set of both linen and towels, including pool towels is provided and there is a washer and a dryer in the villa for you to attend to any laundry.

What is the current exchange rate?

Have a look at our handy exchange rate calculator on our rates / booking page.

Is it far to get to the main Orlando attractions?

No, we are ideally situated just off Interstate 4 on US-27 south, its an easy 15 minute drive to Disney and just an extra few minutes to get to International Drive, Universal Studios & SeaWorld.See our attractions page for full details, or to see maps of the area see the location page.

How safe and secure is the villa?

The villa is located in a gated community and is regularly patrolled, therefore the villa is very secure. The villa is very safe and complies with all Florida state laws regarding private rental properties, for example for child safety each door that leads to the pool is alarmed.

Is the villa wheelchair friendly?

Yes, there are no stairs in the villa and is suitable for wheelchairs.

See our interactive floor plan for a complete layout of the villa.

How do I get the keys for the villa?

Once a booking has been made by you and the full balance paid we will send you an welcome pack on how to get the keys, directions to the villa from your arrival airport, and all other necessary information you will need for your holiday.

How to pay with Paypal

Once we have your confirmed booking, received either by the online booking form, or by phone, we will send across an invoice to your nominated email address, simply follow the instructions to pay via paypal the same way if you were purchasing an item on ebay. Any questions regarding Paypal or anything else, please feel free to contact us.

Where can i book tickets to the attractions in Orlando, like the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in advance before I leave for my holiday?

Yes, a good site for this is Themeparkticket.com where you can buy advance tickets for all the major attractions at a reduced price.

Another good site for buying advance tickets and also viewing online vids of Orlando's major attractions is orlandoflexticket.co.uk

We are both experienced with all aspects of the Orlando experience and happy to share this information, so if you are looking for any assistance from booking flights through to boooking excursions we are happy to help.