| Each winter I escape from the frozen tundra of | | | | enjoyed a cup of coffee at the dining room table. |
| Michigan to the warm, sunny climate of central | | | | I should note that housekeeping is not generally |
| Florida. For the past three years, I've chosen to | | | | included in vacation home rentals, though you can |
| stay at a vacation home in Kissimmee (very close | | | | often purchase the service for an extra fee. |
| to Walt Disney World) rather than my usual | | | | Honestly, I don't need it -- I have no problems |
| Disney resort hotel. Why? Because a vacation | | | | hanging my towels up to dry or popping my |
| home feels like a retreat and allows me to really | | | | dishes into the dishwasher. I must also admit that |
| relax, rather than run myself ragged. I still go to | | | | I like the lack of interruptions from a housekeeper |
| the Disney parks (of course), but my day starts | | | | -- I always find it a bit annoying when the |
| with an inexpensive breakfast made in my home's | | | | housekeeper knocks on my hotel room door too |
| kitchen and possibly a dip in the pool, and ends | | | | early, or I feel pressured to leave the room so s |
| with a movie on my home's big-screen TV and a | | | | he can clean. But if housekeeping is important to |
| soak in the hot tub. This is a REAL vacation ... I | | | | you, do keep this in mind. |
| get the Disney parks for fun and the vacation | | | | Separation. |
| home for relaxation. | | | | Not only does all the space give us some |
| This is not to say that I dislike or discourage | | | | separation from each other when needed (hey, |
| others from staying at Disney resort hotel -- | | | | when you live and work together 24/7 like my |
| quite the contrary. But each vacation is different, | | | | husband and I do, you need some space once in |
| even those taken by the same person. Disney | | | | while!), but it offers separation from the hustle |
| resort hotel stays are great when you want to | | | | and bustle, too. When I came "home," I left behind |
| be in the middle of the magic (and avoid seeing | | | | the frenzy of the parks and the glare of the |
| International Drive or US-192), take advantage of | | | | tourist traps. It's quiet and peaceful at a vacation |
| on-property perks like Extra Magic Hours, and | | | | home. No kids running along the corridor outside |
| have easy access to the services of a hotel. But | | | | your room; no loud TVs or alarm clocks in the |
| when you want (or need) to relax, it isn't always | | | | room next door. |
| the best choice -- when you stay on-property, | | | | On my most recent trip, I really appreciated |
| there's often a sense of urgency to get to the | | | | coming home at night to a quiet house. Putting |
| parks early and stay late (especially with evening | | | | my son to sleep was easy as he had his own |
| Extra Magic Hours), and the resort hotels are not | | | | room (he likes it dark and quiet). After he was in |
| usually quiet, calm places, what with their | | | | bed, we had the run of the house and didn't need |
| popularity. So what makes a vacation home so | | | | to worry about waking him up. When I was in the |
| relaxing? Read on... | | | | mood for some magic, I looked out the back |
| Space. | | | | window -- I could see "Mt. Everest" (Expedition |
| Probably the single most compelling reason that I | | | | Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom) in the |
| stay at a vacation home is the space it offers. | | | | distance. I really felt like I could breathe easier at |
| My family can spread out without stepping on | | | | this vacation home. |
| toes. Depending on the vacation home you | | | | Savings. |
| choose, you can have separate bedrooms for | | | | It's easier to relax when you're saving money, |
| adults and kids -- including separate bathrooms -- | | | | and vacation homes can offer excellent savings |
| plus dedicated kitchens, living rooms, game rooms, | | | | over Disney resort hotels. You'll find the savings |
| TV rooms, and even a pool and hot tub. There's | | | | are especially good when you travel with a large |
| nothing quite so luxurious as being able to take a | | | | family or a group (but, of course, with all those |
| dip in your private pool before breakfast, or to | | | | people it might not be quite as relaxing!). Rates for |
| watch the morning news (or, in our case, "Mickey | | | | Orlando vacation homes generally start at around |
| Mouse Clubhouse") on a big-screen TV while you | | | | $100/night for condos/townhomes and around |
| fix breakfast in a full-size kitchen with full-size | | | | $200/night for vacation homes with their own |
| appliances. | | | | pool and spa. You can stay at a motel or |
| On my latest vacation home visit, my family and | | | | (occasionally) a Disney value resort for less, but |
| I returned to the exact same house that we | | | | that's it -- everything else is more expensive and |
| used the previous year. I already knew I loved | | | | usually offers FAR less room (and beds) than a |
| the house from our previous visit, and the home | | | | vacation home. |
| was now familiar to me and my family. The | | | | When you stay in a vacation home, you do need |
| vacation home has several bedrooms and | | | | to rent a car -- if you don't normally do this, you |
| bathrooms, living room, kitchen, game room, | | | | need to factor it into the cost comparisons. You |
| home theater room, computer with Internet | | | | may be able to get a free rental car with your |
| access, washer/dryer, a screened patio with a | | | | vacation home rental. |
| pool and hot tub, and even a kids' playset in the | | | | The most telling factor is how I felt AFTER my |
| backyard. It was nice for my husband to be | | | | vacation. Unlike most other trips when I return |
| checking mail on the computer upstairs while my | | | | home feeling like I need another vacation, after a |
| son played with Legos in the living room and I | | | | stay at a vacation home I always feel well-rested. |