Vegetarian Walt Disney
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Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando

Chapter 17 - Southern Orlando

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One of VWG’s mandates is to review not only places for vegetarians to eat while traveling, but places to stay, too. In the first edition of Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando, we included a few select hotels across a variety of price points. However, since the guide’s publication we’ve received requests from readers and visitors to our website asking for information about vacation homes.

On our most recent trip to Orlando, we decided to check out a few of the rental properties in the area. After preliminary research – speaking with local travel agents, fellow travelers, and the Orlando Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (and doing lots and lots of web surfing) – we found our ideal candidates, all of which featured the following: fully-equipped kitchens, private pools, two or more bedrooms, access to grocery stores featuring natural and organic products, 10-15 minutes’ drive to Orlando’s major attractions. Then, we set off for Orlando to put vacation homes to the test and to find out if they really ARE a good option for vegetarian and vegan travelers.

Hallelujah! We have seen the light!

After years of staying in hotels, youth hostels, and campgrounds in the greater Orlando area, we’ve become converts to the newest trend in Disney-area lodging. Upon reflection, the reasons are clear: lots of space, our own kitchen, private pool, close to attractions, and not a huge expense (especially when shared with another couple or small family).

In fact, if you have a big group vacation homes are hands-down the most affordable places to stay near WDW; during the off-season, rates can be as low as $99/night for a multiple bedroom home. Even the most expensive homes offered by Advantage Vacation Homes by Styles - our favorite property management company - rent for just $333 a night in high season. That may sound like a lot, but when you consider that a single room at Disney's Grand Floridian will set you back as much or more, $333 begins to sound pretty reasonable.

Most Advantage homes are less than 5 years old, and are owned primarily by British travelers who come to Orlando for their (generous) 4-6 week vacations each year. We stayed in two different properties, and both were well kept and thoroughly stocked with basic cooking tools, bedclothes, towels, washer, dryer, TVs, a VCR, fully-equipped kitchen, two-car garage, and private swimming pool that can be heated for an additional fee. With our own kitchen, we were able to create delicious vegetarian feasts whenever we wanted, for a fraction of the cost of dining out.

Advantage also employs a number of handypeople, office assistants, and pool experts to help keep things running smoothly. Whenever we called for assistance, someone was there that same day to fix a broken door handle, check a malfunctioning pool heater, and so on. Advantage's main office in West Kissimmee is also happy to receive and hold packages and faxes - perfect for a business traveler looking for a home base with built-in support system.

VWG SUGGESTS:

• If you’re going to be swimming a lot, make your reservation early and ask the staff for a home with a south-facing pool area. Otherwise you’ll be swimming in the shade for much of the day.
  
  
• If you're not in the Polar Bear Club - or if, like us, you've got a toddler you want to encourage to swim - splurge the extra $150/week to heat the pool between November and April.
  
  
• Most Advantage homes are within ten minutes' drive of a major grocery store, so don't bother sending food to yourself unless you've got a very restrictive diet. Most of Kissimmee's Publix supermarkets are (sort of) reasonably well-stocked with organics and health foods, and you can use the listings in Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando to find the nearest Chamberlin's or Whole Foods Market for a more comprehensive shopping trip.

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