Renting a beach house in Florida for Spring Break

[Mr. SR500]

Any Ideas?

Needs to sleep 8 (2 families)
Relatively close to Orlando parks
On the beach would be nice, but walking distance is ok (hopefully a nice beach)
Nice Pool

We've looked and looked, but the one we found is starting to look a little rough, so getting cold feet.

Any help?

[kermit]

Since you said you wanted to be close to the Orlando parks, I am assuming you mean the 6 foot rat, Mickey. If thats the case have you looked into Fort Wilderness? Disneys campground, bus and ferry transportation to all the parks and pools, biking, tennis and trails. My husband and I love to camp there with the RV and the park is dog friendly. You can also look over near Daytona Beach for houses. That is Spring Break central for the college kids.

[OakLeaf]

Condos will be easier to find than houses, especially beachside.

"On the beach" and "close to the Orlando theme parks" is an oxymoron. Orlando traffic is a nightmare and it's about 45 miles at the closest point.

The closest beach to Orlando is Cocoa - toll road, but a straight shot.

I don't have a line on anything, but if you find something in Volusia County and you want a pair of local eyes to drive-by, PM me.

[katluvr]

St. Pete and Clearwater beaches are FABULOUS. I don't live on the beach but live in St. Petersburg. Weather has been fantastic...no real "winter" to speak of. It is about 1.5 hour drive to the theme parks from my house...so form the beach would be about 2 hours. Not a great drive, but very doable and pretty easy. Straight shot.
Downtown St. Peterburg and a cute waterfront town w/ a few things to do.
Busch Gardens is in Tampa--just across the bay, as is an Aquarium and a few other things. Although Tampa does not have the tropical feeling you get on "My" side of the bay.
Just a thought!

[wnyrider]

Did you check out Craigslist yet? Another possibility is to check with your local schools. Years ago when my family was planning a trip to Orlando, we found out that several of my Dad's coworkers (teachers) owned condos in Clermont, Florida-- an easy ride for us to Orlando. The complex had all the amenities we needed. The teachers bought these units for their vacations and as a retirement investment. They would only rent them out by word-of-mouth to help ensure more trustworthy people. They didn't advertise otherwise. I am not suggesting Clermont per se, I am just giving you an example for your search.

[SJCzar]

We just came back from a long holiday weekend down in Cocoa Beach and had a great time.

I used vrbo.com to find our condo. We were very pleased with the one we rented. I have used the website previously and have had nothing but good experiences.

I agree that it will probably be difficult to find an actual house on the beach since all we saw were condos. Our unit had 2 bedrooms, but there were other ones in the same complex with 3 bedrooms.

[stacie]

http://www.wrenbeachrentals.com/

These houses are located in the St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra area. The location is very nice. I've seen many of the houses and can probably answer most questions. Most are owned by one of my friends. Her son just started this company allowing them to rent additional homes as well. The question would be do you want to drive 2-2.5 hours to Disney. This location is much more laid back than Orlando. Happy to help with anything in the area.

Watercolors is my favorite of the ones I've visited. The kids have seperate quarters downstairs. It may be a bit big for you now that I think about it.

Good luck.

[Tuckervill]

If you really want to do Disney, you can't beat staying on the grounds. But, if you're going to Orlando for everything else, Cocoa Beach is the closest.

Florida-wide, I don't care for any of the beaches on the peninsula, except near Miami. My favorite place to go is Perdido. The beaches are pristine (although I haven't been there since the 'canes), but that's too far away from Orlando.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

If you really want to do Disney, you can't beat staying on the grounds.

Ditto - Particularly with the age of your kids. We stayed at The Polynesian...it was a blast...but the most fun we had was renting those little jet ski things and flying around the Lagoon! That was worth the trip!

[jobob]

Darn, and here I thought you were extending an invite to your TE friends.

[maillotpois]

Darn, and here I thought you were extending an invite to your TE friends.

I'll bring the beer! (Well, some of it.)

[channlluv]

If you have young kids, I second the suggestion of staying on Disney grounds. I and my now-10-year-old daughter have stayed at the All Star Movies Resort, All Star Sports, and the Coronado Springs Resort. Of all of them, we liked the All Star Movies the best.

Coronado Springs is a bit more expensive, but the grounds are really sprawling and you'll have to walk a lot. The zigurrat/pyramid at the pool has a water slide, but doesn't open until 10am - you might as well skip going to the park that day because you'll never get your money's worth.

All Star Movies is all decorated with classic Disney animation and live action films. The pool is huge and has a Sorcerer Mickey that shoots water out from behind him, just like in Fantasia.

The Toy Story wing has four-story Woody and Buzz Lightyear dolls, and a checker board your kids can climb on. The Dalmations has this little TV set that they can play in. There are Disney movies playing non-stop in the lobby, so even if there's a line at check-in, the kids can go watch those.

They allow pizza delivery to the room, but don't have room service. In the morning, you can get Mickey-shaped waffles at the commissary. My daughter really liked that. The breakfast buffet at Coronado Springs was okay - basic buffet food - and was expensive, and she, at 9, was charged as an adult. Too much.

I'd stay at the All Star Movies again, though. And they have on-site transporation that will take you anywhere you want to go on Disney property.

Also, if you haven't been to their water parks, those are fun, too. Typhoon Lagoon and - what's the other one, Ski Beach? One is tropical-themed and one is winter-themed.

And there's the Richard Petty Experience, if they've still got that going, where you can ride shotgun in a real Nascar car at top speed. The joke is that a woman got into the car and the driver was giving her instructions:

"Once we get our helmets on and I get the engine running, I won't be able to hear you, so if you want me to slow down, do this (makes a signal with his hand)."

"Okay," she says, "What if I want you to go faster?"

He laughs. "You won't."

My favorite beach in central Florida is Flagler Beach. It's coquina (a pinkish-orange shell) and the town is this funkly little Old Florida beach town. Very laid back, but there are condos, houses, and B&Bs. Not many, though. If you go, try to hit the farmer's market in the town square near the pier on Friday mornings.

Cedar Key used to be really nice, too, on the Gulf Coast. Also a funky little beach town, at least the last time I was there, which has been years ago. Pretty rustic as I recall, and more funky than fashionable, but I liked it.

St. Augustine is full of historic sites - it's the nation's oldest European city - and you can go on some really fun ghost walks there, and climb the lighthouse (219 steps - did it!), and there are some great restaurants, but it's a good three hours north of Disney.

I ditto the St. Petersburg suggestion, too. Beautiful beaches there, and if you go, check out the Salvador Dali museum, assuming it didn't get washed away in the hurricanes. It's magnificent.

Have a great trip!

Roxy

[Mr. Bloom]

Darn, and here I thought you were extending an invite to your TE friends.

It would be fun! SR & Mr.SR are wonderful people!

[Mr. SR500]

Thanks all, we go back and forth on what to do. We are still leaning toward 2 days at the parks and the rest at the beach. There are 4 kids ages 6-9, but none are really into disney. It's more the parents saying we need to take the kids to disney at least once. I think staying at the park is the lowest cost option (at least for rent and tickets), but the adults are not very excited about going to parks for 5/6 days. We've also found some houses close to disney that look great. Pool is a requirement. Kids would like to take the bikes, and I'm hoping to sneak a road bike in the car :-).

So still torn between staying on the beach or walking distance in a house were we could all relax and spend a couple days going to disney, or bitting the bullet and going to the park for the week. I think the kids would be fine either way, but the parents need a little R&R as well.

I think we've nailed disney down to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Safari for our 2 days (maybe get park hopper passes the second day?) I know there is a lot more to see.

Once I nail down our place, and if the bike makes the trip, I would love to ride with any local TE members.

Mr. S, we've found a couple very nice places that sleep 12 - you in?

[Mr. Bloom]

Mr. S, we've found a couple very nice places that sleep 12 - you in?

Alas, we'll be at the Redneck Riviera (Gulf Shores) instead...Out spring break is the last full week of March...is that yours as well?

BTW, from what I hear, with the state of the market down there, you could probably buy a house for less than the rent...

check out the Salvador Dali museum, assuming it didn't get washed away in the hurricanes. It's magnificent.

Now, that's my speed right there...