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ORLANDO VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
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Why Vacation in Orlando |
| Orlando is home to the world’s most popular family attraction, Disney World®; however, that isn’t Orlando’s only attraction. Orlando and the surrounding areas offer many state parks, museums, nature preserves, lakes, and golf facilities which you can enjoy while vacationing with your family in a comfortable Orlando vacation rental. |
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Orlando Vacation Rental Information |
Orlando offers a wide range of vacation rentals, including villas, condominiums and apartments offering the best value and top quality. For small families, there are a wide range of 1 – 3 BR Orlando condos to choose from. Vacationers seeking more space can choose from the 3-4 BR townhomes or 4 – 6 BR houses which can sleep around 10-12 guests. Larger parties and families seeking some luxury living while in Orlando can opt for the vacation villas.
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While the Orlando villas are usually available in 2 BR and 2 BA sizes and sleep 4 to 6 people, you can also find 3 BR villas with 2 floors that can sleep 6 to 8 people. Villas and other Orlando vacation homes with 4 or more bedrooms include lofts, screened-in patios, balconies, secured and guarded entry, garages and ample parking space.
Gated vacation resort communities are within quick reach of Orlando. Besides excellent location and comfort, vacation resorts offer many amenities and activities, like access to swimming pools, golf courses, clubhouses with restaurants, movie theaters and much more. Most resorts also provide extra cots or beds in case an extra guest drops in. Some resorts provide regular shuttle services to Disney World and other tourist attractions. |
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Special Information for Booking Vacation Rentals in Orlando |
Orlando vacation rentals are available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, but their rates may vary depending on the season and time of the year. If booked 30 days in advance, some vacation resorts and vacation villas offer discounts. Most vacation home rentals in Orlando require a reservation deposit and charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your trip. If you do have to cancel your trip due to some unavoidable circumstances, it is advisable that you do it at least 35 to 40 days in advance so that you pay the minimum cancellation fee.
Other points to be taken into consideration while booking an Orlando vacation rental include the extras, taxes, and other terms and conditions. Local sales and occupancy taxes can range from 11.5% to 13%. The majority of the Orlando vacation rentals also levy security deposits which are fully refundable and cleaning charges as well. While some vacation rental owners include these in the rates, some may levy these as extras. Also, some vacation resorts and vacation villas charge extra during the Christmas and New Year holiday season.
Most vacation resorts, condominium communities and vacation villas in Orlando do not allow pets. So if you want to enjoy an Orlando travel with your pet, then ensure that the Orlando vacation rental you are choosing is pet-friendly. Smoking also is not allowed within the majority of the vacation homes. |
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Must See in Orlando |
Orlando, a city where fairytales come to life and dreams come true, weaves an enchanting spell on people of all ages. A trip to the Magic Kingdom® in the Walt Disney World® Resort is undoubtedly first on your things to do list just after you settle in your vacation rental home. You can experience thrilling roller-coaster rides, enjoy the signature Disney parade, dine with the Disney characters and, of
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| course, shop in the World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney store. You might think you have seen it and done it all, but this isn’t the end as Disney’s tour is incomplete without the fabulous fireworks display that lights up the sky over Cinderella’s Castle every evening. Had enough of Disney? Head to Universal Studios® where you can enjoy some thrilling rides at the Islands of Adventure, catch the stunning Epcot® show, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and dine at the largest Hard Rock Cafe® in the world. Then there are all the splashing rides at the Blizzard Beach and the Sea World. Besides the theme parks, you can also experience the magic of flying in an open-air flight or enjoying a hot air balloon ride and all kinds of interesting water sport activities at the Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Nature lovers can breathe in all the fresh air they want and explore nature’s myriad gifts at the various state parks including the Blue Spring State Park, where you can enjoy tubing and snorkeling. |
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Sights and Attractions in Orlando |
| Theme parks, galleries, museums, lakes, beaches, State Parks, all-year-round carnivals and festivals, one can go on and on about Orlando and all that’s to see in Orlando. However, one can never get enough of Orlando, as there are so many things to do and see, making one tempted to book an Orlando vacation rental again and return to Orlando to see it and do it all.
• Magic Kingdom®
• Epcot®
• Disney-MGM Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park
• Blizzard Beach
• SeaWorld
• Universal Orlando®
• Discovery Cove
• Wet 'n Wild
• Sky Venture
• Fantasy of Flights |
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Outdoor Recreation in Orlando |
| Besides being home to enchanting theme parks, Orlando has another treasure in store, its national state parks, which give you plenty of reasons to enjoy the outdoors.
• Hiking and Bikling
• Fishing
• Water Sports
• Scuba Diving and Swimming
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Golfing in Orlando |
Golfers will love Orlando, as they will find over 150 golf courses to choose from in and around this charming city, most of which can be easily accessed from the majority of the Orlando vacation homes. Even though its most often promoted as a premier family vacation spot, Orlando offers some of the best golfing anywhere and host several golf tournaments as well. Professional golfers from all over the country have been coming to play on its world-class golf courses for decades which include the Hawks Landing Golf Club, Champions Gate Golf Club, and the Riverwood Golf Club.
At the Hawks Landing Golf Club, golfing enthusiasts can enjoy teeing off at the 18-hole par 71 golf course featuring water in play on 15 holes, Tifdwarf greens, and undulating fairways. The Champions Gate Golf Club, on the other hand, offers two 18-hole championship golf courses for vacationers seeking a blend of the traditional and modern styles of golfing. Another golf course of note is Disney’s Eagle Pines, a world-class golf course designed by renowned architect Pete Dye. Golfers playing in this course will love overcoming the challenges offered by this Carolina-style course with the secret of success lying in the touch rather than the power of the stroke. |
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Orlando Fairs and Festivals |
| Throughout the year, Orlando hosts some fabulous festivals and carnivals, which attract travelers from around the world. Join these popular celebrations to get a taste of the area’s local flavors while residing amid the locals in an Orlando vacation rental.
• Pleasure Island New Year's Eve
• Lake Eola Celebration in The Park
• Orlando Citrus Parade |
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Dining and Nightlife in Orlando |
Dreams come true when you and your child dine with the Disney characters. Have breakfast at the Cinderella’s Castle with Cinderella, lunch with Winnie the Pool at Crystal Palace or dinner with Snow White and Mary Poppins at the Restaurant Akershus in Epcot. The restaurants at Disney will definitely make your child's mealtime memorable.
Take your pick from a wide range of American, Asian, Continental, and contemporary cuisines, as well as barbecue and seafood. Try Todd English’s Bluezoo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin or savor made-from-scratch Creole cuisine and a stellar wine list at Emeril’s Orlando, in Universal CityWalk®.
Orlando’s restaurants also specialize in authentic cuisines from all over the world. Try an African meal at Jiko or devour delicious Oriental cuisine at Ming Court in the Mall at Millennia. Experience elegant French dining at Maison & Jardin Restaurant or go the German way at the Biergarten Restaurant.
The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down at Orlando, either. The House of Blues, DisneyQuest and Cirque du Soleil are the three hottest spots in the Disney’s hip outdoor complex of West Side. Watch the fireworks at Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney® or try one of the bars, pubs, dance halls, lounges, nightclubs or restaurants there. Groove to some rocky tunes at the Rock and Roll Beach Club or catch a live comic performance at the Comedy Warehouse.
Disney isn’t the only place in Orlando with a rocking nightlife. Universal CityWalk® houses some of the finest pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and state-of-the-art cinemas. Enjoy theme clubs and restaurants like Jimmy Buffett’s®. |
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Shopping in Orlando |
From themed shopping boutiques to outlet malls and flea markets to outlet shops, Orlando is a shopper’s paradise. The themed downtown style shopping parks are great place to shop. One can find everything from souvenirs to branded accessories when in Orlando.
Home to several major malls, Orlando has a few that are notable, like Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, which offers nearly 50 brand name outlets including Borders® Book Outlet, Dress Barn, Old Navy® Outlet, Rack Room Shoes, Welcome Home, Springmaid Wamsutta Bed & Bath Linens, Nine West®, Kay-Bee Toys® Outlet, Eddie Bauer®, Fossil® and Gap® Outlet. Another choice is central Florida’s largest and most popular shopping destination, the Florida Mall. Finally, we all know no Orlando shopping experience is complete without picking up one of those cuddly soft toys at the World of Disney® Store, the largest Disney store on earth which is located in Lake Buena Vista. |
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Best Times to Visit Orlando |
The busiest season is during the December holidays, spring break and the summer months from mid-June to August. To avoid the crowds, make your travel plans for the off-season, from September to mid-December, and the months of May and early June. During the off-season, you’ll miss added entertainment and parades of the busiest seasons, but you may enjoy the calmer environment.
Orlando has a sub-tropical climate and witnesses three major seasons—summer, a rainy season and winter. The weather stays warm in winters with less humidity and sunshine. Summers are very warm with high humidity. Rainfall is highest during June and July. This region has frequent thunderstorms and short rain showers, especially during mid-year. |
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Time Zone for Orlando |
| Eastern Standard Time |
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Getting To and Around Orlando |
| Orlando is easily accessible by air, road and train. The Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport are connected by air with over 37 scheduled planes connecting Orlando with the major cities of the world. From the airport, you can either catch the shuttles that ply regularly from the airports to the resorts and other accommodations. You can also consider traveling by bus to Orlando, but Greyhound is the only major bus service that connects Orlando with the other cities of Florida and has no shuttle service. Commuting within Orlando is relatively easy with buses, taxis and vans plying at regular intervals to various resorts. Another alternative is bringing your own car or renting one which gives you the freedom of enjoying a tour of all Orlando’s attractions without worrying about catching the last shuttle back to your Orlando vacation rental home. |
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