Best Disney & Orlando Area Vacations
Whether you're planning to hit the lake, the golf course, Universal Studios, or spend every minute at Disney World, HomeAway has the Disney/Orlando area accommodation for you - from Disney to Davenport vacation rentals. Read on for a helpful guide on what to do in the Disney Area.
Disney Area Vacation Rentals
Disney area vacation rentals bring the joys of Mickey Mouse and his pals right to your front step. Book a condo right by your favorite park, or give yourself and your family some space from the colorful chaos. There's something for everyone to see, do, and eat on Disney Area vacation, whether you're a toddler, teen, parent, or grandparent. Where else can you go from a legendary theme park ride to a championship golf course to a top-rated show (Cirque du Soleil, anyone?) or a five-star restaurant (perhaps the Grand Floridian hotel's AAA 5 Diamond-awarded Victoria & Albert's)?
Disney World Parks
Did you know there's a total of six (seven, depending on how you count) Walt Disney World parks to choose from? Magic Kingdom offers up the quintessential Disney experience: this is where you'll find Cinderella Castle, it's a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and other classic, kid-friendly rides. It's also home to some of Disney's best parades and fireworks, including the vintage Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes. The big draw now is the New Fantasyland expansion, featuring a slow-moving Little Mermaid ride, and Beauty and the Beast-based restaurants and meet & greets. Epcot is more adult-friendly, with a focus on food, featuring eleven international pavilions that showcase the cuisine and culture of countries from Japan to Italy. There are also some excellent rides here, like Mission:Space, Soarin', and the recently re-imagined Test Track. Disney's Hollywood Studios transports you back to Tinsletown's heydey in the 30s and 40s. Highlights of a day here include free-falling on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, traveling at light-speed to Tatooine or Hoth on the updated Star Tours, and playing 3-D carnival games at Toy Story Mania! Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is essentially a zoo and theme park in one, with an especially unique collection of rides and shows - don't miss the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Experition:Everest, and Dinosaur rides. Last but not least, Disney area vacationers can pick from two elaborately themed water parks for those hot summer days, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, along with a "virtual theme park" video arcade called DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney.
Cheap Disney Vacations
With Disney area vacation rentals on HomeAway, it's easy to book an affordable trip. Keep an eye out for last-minute deals and special offers, and enjoy the peace of mind that a vacation home with lots of space and amenities often goes for half the cost of a hotel or Disney resort accommodation! Another tip for saving money on Disney area vacations is to book during the slower months, January through March, or September through November.
Orlando Vacation Rentals
Orlando is worthy of many vacations per lifetime, as there's such a large amount of things to do, and new attractions are popping up all the time. Here's an overview of what to expect from Orlando vacation rentals.
Orlando Theme Parks
Whether you're supplementing a Walt Disney World vacation with a few days outside of Mickey's domain, or bypassing the Mouse altogether in favor of Orlando's other theme parks, you won't be disappointed. There's Universal Orlando Resort, featuring Universal Studios Florida (with the Transformers, Simpsons, and Despicable Me) and Islands of Adventure (home to Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, and Spider-Man); SeaWorld Orlando, including Aquatica and Discovery Cove; WonderWorks, Gatorland, and more. Drive a bit further afield and you'll find Legoland, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Adventure Island.
Best Orlando Golf Courses
Orlando golf courses range from pricey to casual, with high-quality as a common denominator. Some public highlights include the Grand Cypress Resort, the Hawk's Landing Golf Club, the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, and the Grand Pines Golf Club. Popular private Orlando golf courses worth checking out are the Bay Hill Club & Lodge and the Golden Bear Club.
Best Orlando Restaurants
Because such a wide variety of people visit Orlando, there's a great selection of dining options. For a charming intro to the local flavors, don't miss out on Chatham's Place. (Makes for a great date night!) If you want some good old American food with a lake view, head to Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road, great for adults and big groups. Families on a budget, however, will appreciate the Yellow Dog Eats Cafe. Craving something more unique? Enjoy Cuban at Padrino's Cuban Bistro, Brazilian at Texas de Brazil, German at the Bauern-Stube Authentic German Restaurant, or Vietnamese at Pho 88.
Kissimmee Vacation Rentals
It's an often overlooked fact that the closest city to Walt Disney World isn't Orlando, but Kissimmee. Kissimmee is one of the more underrated Disney area destinations, but with Kissimmee vacation rentals, you'll discover how much there is to explore and enjoy. You'll probably run into Kissimmee's Old Town throughout your trip, as that's the home to many of the city's top attractions, shops, and restaurants, as well as popular weekly classic car cruises.
Things to Do in Kissimmee with Kids
While carnival rides cant quite compete with multi-million-dollar E-Tickets, Kissimmee is packed with attractions that steal away some of Disney World's limelight for a lot less money. If you like dinner theater, you and the kiddos will love Medieval Times (with a brand new storyline but the same sword-swinging stunts) or the graceful equestrianism at Arabian Nights. There's also many mini golf options, like Congo River Golf and Pirate's Island. Meanwhile, the Fantasy Surf and Mindy O water parks are great for a splash. Other Kissimmee attractions little ones will take to are the Green Meadows Petting Farm and the Fun Spot Action Park.
Kissimmee Golf Courses
There's not just mini golf in Kissimmee, but plenty of green for the big kids to play on, too. Top public Kissimmee golf courses include the Kissimmee Oaks Golf Course, the Kissimmee Bay Golf Club, the Kissimmee Golf Club, the Legends Golf Course, the Remington Golf Club, and the Falcon's Fire Golf Club. The best private courses are located at Reunion Resort and the Lake Region Yacht Country Club.
Kissimmee Restaurants
Kissimmee has no shortage of family-friendly dining. For pizza, try the Broadway Pizza Bar. For steak and seafood, there's no better option than the Kobe Japanese Steakhouse. Other favorites include El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant, and Boston Lobster Feast for those craving all-you-can-eat crustaceans, Of course, there area also many chain restaurants with menus you and your children will find familiar.
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Davenport Vacation Rentals
Davenport , a quiet community southwest of Walt Disney World, offers a great alternative to more expensive homes and condos located right by Orlando and Disney World attractions. Golfing is one of the most popular activities around here, as Davenport features the Riverwood Lands Golf and Country Club , the Highlands Reserve Golf Club , and the ChampionsGate Golf Resort . There's much more to Davenport than mastering your swing, however.
Things to Do in Davenport for Kids
In addition to its proximity to Disney, Davenport is less than 20 miles from Legoland. the former Cypress Gardens has been given a building block make-over, making it the area's hottest destination among the under-8 crowd. Otherwise, it's all about outdoor relaxation here. Why not spend a day at Lake Davenport, or Jamestown Park? If you're feeling antsy, there's always nearby Kissimmee and its mini theme parks.
Best Davenport Restaurants
The comfort food standbys are often frequented here, like Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. International food is also available in Davenport, with dining options ranging from Exotic Thai to Azteca to Mantra Indian to Kumo Sushi. Families in particular ought to check out the Bob Evans Restaurant and Beef O'Brady's. Drive short way to Haines City to find high-end steaks at Manny's Original Chophouse.
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Clermont Vacation Rentals
Replace theme park rides and characters in costume with lakes and orange groves, and you've got Clermont. are the ideal way to experience this soothing, scenic town. Stock your rental with fresh oranges from the Showcase of Citrus tour, relax with some vino at the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard , play a round of golf at one of the many local courses, or chill out by the water at the Lake Louisa State
Park. Before you head back home, make sure to stop by the must-see museum, the Presidents Hall of Fame.
Best Clermont Restaurants
Clermont's got a great and unique selection of food for you and your crew - for great Florida seafood, try the High Voltage Oyster Bar. R&C Italian Bakery and Deli has great pizza, and San Jose's and Ay Jalisco both server superior Mexican fare. Meanwhile, the Green Garden offers up the best Chinese food in town. If you prefer sushi, head to Akina Sushi or Fancy Sushi.