Have you been dreaming of a family trip to Florida, and a chance to visit Disney World and Universal but have a few questions before booking your accommodation and park tickets? Then read on – we’ll try and cover some of the most-commonly asked questions that we receive!

Why Should I Book a Villa Instead of a Hotel?

Although there are advantages to staying in a hotel if you are travelling in a small group and staying for a short time, for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to experience all of the attractions that Orlando has to offer, booking a villa will be the best option for most people. With the added space available, plus the chance to have access to your own private pool, not to mention the flexibility to come and go as you wish, a villa will work out very cost-effective compared to a hotel – especially if you are sharing with family or friends! There is also a massive choice of villas, town houses and apartments available, so there will be something to suit every budget. We cover the question of why you should choose a villa over a hotel in more detail in our previous blog so check it out for more information.

How Do I Pick the Right Type of Property for My Holiday?

Although we are called Debbie’s Villas, we don’t just offer villas to our guests, you can also book a town house or apartment for your holiday! All of these options give you the freedom and flexibility to make your visit to the Sunshine State a special one, but there are a few differences between them. A villa is generally a detached property on a community (gated or otherwise) with a private pool at the rear. Villas vary from two bedrooms all the way up to 11, so there is plenty of choice! Courtyard villas and town homes are very similar – tending to be part of a larger terrace. They may or may not have pools, and if they do these are not usually as big as those found at the villas. Generally these properties have between two and five bedrooms. The final option that we offer are apartments, which, as back home, are located in multi-storey buildings. These typically have up to four bedrooms and don’t have pools, but they do offer some great scenic views! You can use our website to filter your selections and see what is available.

What About the Community Facilities – How Important Are They to My Choice?

If you have travelled all the way to Florida, you probably want to visit all of the major attractions that the state is famous for. As a result, you are likely to have a pretty full itinerary already! Community facilities are great – there are sports courts, water parks and clubhouses available for your use, but do bear in mind that you will probably be exhausted after a busy day at the parks, and happy with just relaxing with the family back in the villa! If you see the perfect property that ticks all of the boxes, but are wondering whether you should book one with more community facilities instead, consider how much time you realistically think that you will be spending there before making a decision!

Does It Make Any Difference to Our Villa Booking If We Have Adults or Children in Our Party?

The short answer is no, your villa will cost the same whether you bring all of the family with you including great aunt Mavis, or just you and the kids! However, you must make sure that you don’t exceed the maximum occupancy of the villa, which is noted clearly in the property‘s details.

Do You Have Set Days for Checking In and Out?

No, you can start and end your holiday whenever you want and book a villa for any number of nights, as long as it is available! To check the availability, look at the bottom of the individual property’s page, and then click on your dates to get a total price for renting the villa. Standard check-in times are at 4pm, while checking-out should be completed by 10am.

I Want To Visit the Theme Parks - Which Communities are Closest?

All of our villas are within easy driving distance (less than 45 minutes) of the main theme parks, including Disney and Universal. Take a look at our Florida map to get an idea of all of the locations in respect to the popular attractions.

If you want to be extra-close to the Disney parks check out the following Orlando communities on our website:

• Emerald Island
• Encantada
• Formosa Gardens
• Indian Creek
• Indian Ridge
• Indian Ridge Oaks
• Rolling Hills
• Windsor Hills
• Windsor Palms

If you plan to spend a lot of time at SeaWorld and the Universal parks these communities are closest:

• Bella Vida
• Crystal Cove
• Lake Berkley
• Regal Oaks
• Seasons
• Storey Lake
• Terra Verde
• Windward Cay

What Park Tickets Do I Need to Get, And Should I Buy Them in Advance?

It all really depends on where you want to go, and how long you are going to be in Florida. There are plenty of places to visit, and you are really spoilt for choice; from the world-famous theme parks to shopping malls, beaches and state parks! The theme park combination tickets (which are available exclusively in the UK and allow you to visit multiple attractions) inevitably work out the best value for your money if you are planning on visiting a range of parks, offering you 14 consecutive days of use for each ticket. With combination ticket options ranging from 6-12 parks you’ll need to look carefully to see which package suits your needs best. If you are only interested in visiting the individual SeaWorld, Universal or Disney parks, you can also choose from a range of tickets allowing you access to these attractions. All Disney tickets we provide include the FastPass+ facility, so you can reserve attraction times and avoid the wait! In addition, every adult ticket also includes the Disney Memory Maker, which allows you to take home digital copies of your family photos captured by the park’s photographers. It is not just admission to the main theme parks you can buy from us, we also offer a range of other attraction tickets, such as Kennedy Space Center and Gatorland – check our attraction tickets page for a full list.

Am I Going to Need to Drive to Get Around Florida?

If you have a driving licence and are relatively confident with driving in another country, getting around in Orlando will be a lot easier if you do hire a car and drive; plus it offers you the freedom to come and go as you please. If you don’t have a driving licence or just don’t fancy driving, you can also make use of taxi services like Uber or Lyft, though this will probably work out more expensive in the long-run. We looked at all the travel options available, and give more information in our blog, which is worth checking out – and don’t forget, we also offer car hire – take a look at our prices and options.

We hope these commonly asked questions help you in planning your dream holiday to the Sunshine State. The Debbie’s Villas team are always here to help if you have any queries about our Orlando villas and the surrounding area. You can also take a look at our frequently asked questions page, if you’re in search of some more answers during your planning.