Honestly,  the summer of 2010 will go into the books as double-the-inventory-season for Discount Vacation Rentals Online. It has indeed been a busy and hot year here in Florida for DVRO, with Disney visitors wanting to see more of us and owners and management companies competing to get into our portfolio. You can’t please everyone and so we were determined to stick to serving our renters with the best possible service as a priority uno and wherever we had the time we would approve management companies and individual properties on a case by case basis, offering more options for our Orlando visitors.

We were able to add some properties in the How To Find Florida Homes page describing properties such as:

• This fabulous Hampton Lakes 5 bedroom home with game room
• Or how to rent a golf villa in Providence Florida
• and also this vacation villa on golf course in Orlando Florida Read the rest of this entry »

Legacy Park, High Gate. An often misunderstood concept of one huge piece of land that was developed by several different builders all at the same time, with one entrance way (Legacy Park Boulevard) and each neighborhood branching off of this lane. Legacy Park is the common name for the cluster of communities, one of which is High Gate.

High Gate is the only neighborhood in Legacy Park that is shielded from the public by a gate. Staying here means you have a gate code to enter and get to your home every day. Other non-gated sections within Legacy Park are:

• The Estates
• The Towns
• The Retreat Read the rest of this entry »

Discount Vacation Rentals Online likes to keep you updated and one way of doing this is to shout out to those who follow us on Twitter or Facebook, to inform our visitors of the new property add-ons into our system. In July 2010 we focused on mainly 5 bedroom private pool homes it seems.

Those new add-ons are normally already in our booking engine. The property as described on our web site here is a work in progress until all information is complete and the rental property has been updated with pictures, video, amenity lists and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

The pool water and spa water is the same volume. Therefore it is not possible to choose either one separately. The system can temporarily heat the spa by itself but this cannot be sustained for a long period of time as explained above. The cost for pool heating (and spa) is substantial. It is considered an additional utility that needs to be turned on by the management company. Bear in mind that a bath tub in your home will take 10 minutes or so to fill up with hot water. A bath tub inside a home is only a fraction of the size of an 8-10,000 gallon pool. A bath tub fills with readily available hot water, where a pool starts from cold water that needs to be heated. A bath tub is in controlled inside temperature settings; a pool is subject to the coldest outside temperatures at night. Therefore, pool heaters are much more powerful than any hot water boiler inside a home, it will still take 24-48 hours usually to get 8,000 gallons of cold water to a comfortable 80F.

Pool Heating, Spa Heating In Your Vacation Home

Having a powerful system run almost non-stop for the first 24-48 hours is the larger portion of the cost. It will cost the home owner between $80 and $110 per day until it the pool is up to temperature and it will cost between $12 and $20 to maintain (all depending on the outside temperature situations and depending on whether it is a gas heater or electric). For those who feel they would like to have (and pay) for pool heating for the Tuesday and the Friday of their stay… it does not work that way. Hopefully visitors can now understand as to why there is a fairly high charge for pool heating and why there is a minimum number of days to take for pool heating.

A wrongful assumption a hot tub is heated or that a vacation home in Orlando with a jacuzzi automatically comes with a pool may have everything to do with the language differences across the country and the differences in meaning of the word.

Orlando Vacation Rentals With Jacuzzi Have A Spa Too?

All 3 terms (jacuzzi, spa and hot tub) are used intermingled in the Orlando vacation market. The guests’ understanding of a jacuzzi may be different to what is understood by the home owner or management company advertising. Be ware and double check they mean what you desire.

Generally speaking, the Orlando vacation rental market will only use the word “jacuzzi” for a stand alone unit. This, however, may well be a jacuzzi outside on your patio or, as we have seen advertised, a bath tub that has an integrated jet system in you master bathroom. Therefore, check what is meant by jacuzzi for the advertised unit. Discount Vacation Rentals Online will not advertise a vacation rental home with a jacuzzi if it is not a stand alone unit on your patio or pool deck. Here is a great example of an Orlando town home rental with jacuzzi on the patio.

What Is A Spa In My Vacation Rental

A spa in a resort normally means there is a sauna and/or massage services available at the clubhouse. A spa in a vacation rental normally means a separate section within the private pool itself that is attached to the pool, using the same pool water volume. The spa is raised from the private pool in most cases and overflows into the pool. This spa has jets that can be manually switched on or off by the guest. A spa is not heated! If you would like the spa to be heated you will need to order pool heating with your reservation. There is no option to only heat the spa since it is the same water volume as the pool. However, when switching on the jets of your spa, the system will automatically turn valves that will take water from the spa and return it to the spa. This bypasses the pool and if you would leave the spa setting on for -say- a week, the pool would get no circulation and evidently would turn green. Read the rest of this entry »

With more than 50 pet friendly rental homes in the Orlando Disney area alone, Discount Vacation Rentals Online is no doubt the largest supporting pet friendly vacation rentals provider in Orlando Florida. There are however a few things a traveler needs to know when it comes to traveling with pets.

Pet Limitations In Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals

Where some owners are pet lovers themselves, many will make a distinction between the pet Chihuahua and the pet elephant or Boa. Evidently, the example is surely exaggerated but you get the point: there are differences when it comes to pets. Reasoning for taking pets in a home may vary however as to size of the pet, size of the home, the contents and furnishings of a home and the location of the property itself. True, when a kids playground is located next door it is understandable there are restrictions to the pet size in relation to the liability of possibly harming kids next door. Read the rest of this entry »

Vacation Homes With Pool In Orlando

Swimming pools in Orlando vacation homes are always in-ground swimming pools, concrete walls and bottom, finished with a fine quarz type surface. The quartz type of surface can be made from different materials as well as different grain structure and different color choices naturally. In Orlando vacation homes are built for short term rental purposes (with an exception here and there) and will automatically have a pool built with the home at the same time. The homeowner can choose the type of pool at the building stage and can go for a special shape pool or a rectangular version. Most swimming pools you will find are an approximate 28 ft long. This may differ for special shaped pools however. An upgrade to the home would be a 30 or 32 ft swimming pool. Click the link for more information on vacation homes with swimming pool in Orlando.

Vacation Homes Pool Depths

A frequently asked question is the depth of a swimming pool in our vacation homes. Fairly all basins start from 3 ft deep and gradually run into 5 or 6 ft depth maximum. The deep end is depending usually on building codes and more specifically how close/far the digging is done from the house foundation. In all fairness, filling up the pool to the top of the skimmer or bottom of the skimmer will make a difference to the depth of the pool anyway.

Skimmer and drain

Water from the pool is circulating through the pool pump. It depends on the size pump but on average your pool pump will turn over the entire water volume of your pool in 6 hours. Water is drawn from your pool through 2 sources: the main drain at the bottom of the pool which will officially suck the dirt from the bottom floor. The second source is the skimmer, which ‘skims’ the water from the surface in an overflow gate. All water goes from the pool to the pool pump housing basket through the pump, to the filter and then through the pool heater to return to the pool. The pool pump is noisy and will shut off in the evening and consequently will automatically come back on in the morning. When your pool pump is not working, your spa will not be working either because both pool and spa operation go through the same pump.

Pool Water Quality And Balance

All pools in vacation homes are (should be) regulated by a pool company with a CPO, Certified Pool Operator, in charge. Although this is not a legal requirement for residential pools such as vacation homes pools, most companies will have such a CPO in their service. Mixing chemicals may create a dangerous environment, however it is fairly impossible to have a pool maintenance in place and a chemically dangerous water balance. Against many beliefs, shocking a pool is a necessity from time to time and actually a good thing. Most pool operators will advise guests not to enter the pool for a number of hours after shocking but it is completely safe to enter the pool say with 10-15 minutes after shocking. In simple terms, shocking means raising the chlorine level by 10 in order to make the water molecules release the captured (and therefore inactive) chlorine molecules. The milky white result is exactly that process of water releasing the inactive chlorine which makes the chlorine active again and a sudden “explosion” of chlorine is visible in the pool. A stir of the water by the pool pump will distribute the chlorine over the entire water body and you are good to go. You may end up with a chlorine smell to your skin if you enter the water too early after shocking but that is more of an inconvenience than a danger. We could discuss acidity (PH level) and alkalinity levels briefly: the PH level should be an approx. 7.4 to 7.8 which makes the water quality adjustable to the acidity of your eyes. Tears have a PH of 7.6.  Alkalinity is a buffer to maintain PH levels and indirect the active chlorine level and serves to avoid itchy skin or burning eyes for the swimmer.

Algae In The Pool

Believe it or not, algae is used as a treatment in a health spa and is/should not be dangerous at all. It may be nasty looking and we would not recommend entering the pool. However, algae is a natural live organism and will not eat men alive. Chlorine is an effective algae controller and if the always present algae gets a chance to attach itself to the sides and of the pool as a first signal, a shock will resolve that issue without a problem. Chlorine is normally added to the pool manually and weekly to control this algae growth. Many installations at the pool pump will have a chlorinator as well, a by-pass that releases chlorine through tablets as the pool pump shoots the filtered water back to the pool. The sun rays dissolve chlorine in a pool and a constant monitoring and adjusting/adding chlorine is needed.

If you would like to know more about pools for your own home, you can visit the Nationwide Pools web site to learn how easy it is to install a pool (in-ground or above ground) with a package delivered right to your door. They are in-ground and above ground swimming pool experts and will be more than happy to help you choose and advise in regards to pool building and maintenance.

Are you searching for a great vacation rental in Orlando for your traveling party this year but you feel bombarded with the hundreds of thousands of sites, searches, and endless listings? Are you looking for a comfortable condo or town house near the Disney area, or even a private pool home near Orlando but tired of searching through hundreds of homes that don’t offer the amenities you were hoping for? It is a long road traveled, believe us we know what you’re encountering when you’re searching for a vacation rental in Orlando and yes, there are countless options but you do have a simple option that can take all the work out of this vacation planning…who said planning a vacation was suppose to be work? You should be daydreaming of lying in the warm sunshine next to your sparkling pool with friends & family, or thinking about that crazy shopping spree at the local outlet malls in Orlando. I’m sure the ladies of your party are smiling no doubt!

Take advantage of that “easy button” once in a while and book a Best Value Rental (NO WORK involved!). Discount Vacation Rentals Online offers a Best Value Rental Option which simply means, you tell DVRO what you’re looking for, and they find it for you. Guests are always searching for the best deal but they want a vacation rental home that is affordable AND has the amenities they were seeking for their stay in Orlando. The Best Value Rental Option does just that.

For example,by booking the Best Value Rental Option you have 3 easy steps to finalizing your reservation:

Choose your rental: Condo, Town House or Pool Home

If you’re not sure what you’d prefer, or even what the difference is between the 3 options, just call the reservations department for details (407-492-0094) or here’s a quick tip: a condo is a unit with a single story floor plan, typically within a resort-style atmosphere. Each Condo is within a building that can range from 3-5 stories tall and the condo can be located on the ground floor or a higher level. A majority of these condo resorts have elevator access in all buildings. A town house is a 2 story floor plan, typically within a resort atmosphere (think row house).  A pool home is a stand-alone, private home with your own screened pool and patio area.

Choose your number of bedrooms

You can choose condos with 2 to 4 bedrooms, or town houses with 2 to 4 bedrooms, or a private pool home can be 2 to 8 bedrooms in size. If you’re not sure how many bedrooms you need, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you choose the best option. Each size home will specify the number of guests permitted.

Customize your vacation rental

You can customize your vacation property with booking options–which is just another term for upgrades in the vacation rental market. You may choose upgrades or specific amenities that you want in your property (based on availability). For example, you may choose a town house, with 3 bedrooms, and you can also add a spa on your private patio or a splash pool (based on availability). If you opted for a private pool home, with 3 bedrooms, you can choose amenities to be included in the home such as: a spa, a game room, internet access, pet friendly, a game console (such as a Play Station or XBox), or you may upgrade to a Premier home (simply means you will receive a home that has a number of these amenities included without having to select each amenity separately). All guests, no matter the rental property type they choose can also add:  crib or high chair rental, BBQ rental, or pool/spa heat if applicable.

That is it!

3 Easy Steps:

1. Choose a Condo, Town House or Pool Home

2. Select your Number of Bedrooms

3. Customize your Vacation Rental

All of our vacation rentals are located only 3-15 miles from the Orlando Disney area. Our rentals are located within private residential communities, gated communities or resorts located in Kissimmee and surrounding areas. SeaWorld, Universal, Aquatica and all other local attractions surround the Disney theme parks, which means, no matter where you’re headed with friends, family or even coworkers–you’re just a short drive from the action of the city. The Best Value Rental Option is great for traveling parties who are looking for a rental that is affordable, comfortable and convenient. DVRO provides the quality and service you’ll appreciate while making your reservation with an agent or if you prefer, you can choose to book online 24 hours a day. If you have any questions, please call our office at (407) 492-0094 and we’ll be happy to help you plan your magical Orlando Vacation today!

Looking for a crib rental in Orlando or a BBQ or any special needs for your party? We understand, some of the homes will have a freebie in the home but not all come that equipped. No problem, for only a few bucks you rent a crib or a BBQ or a high chair here in Orlando. A simple phone call and your rental will be waiting for your arrival in your vacation home that day.

More information on different types of toddler bedding and high chairs for children simply scroll down to learn what to expect upon your arrival. Discount Vacation Rentals Online can opt to rent from the management company who oversees the property or use an independent rental service if a full size crib is needed, depending on the guest request.

Crib Rental In Orlando

A lot of families obviously travel to the Orlando Disney area and not just a few have the biggest Mickey Mouse fans amongst the kids traveling with them. Some kids don’t even know exactly how big of a fan they are on the whole Disney World theme! They may be a little young, like 4 months old or so? No worries, there is an ‘app’ for that too. You can rent a crib or high chair (or both) with Discount Vacation Rentals Online. As of writing, the price of a rental would be around $30 for a week.
Crib rentals are cleaned and sanitized when they arrive. The cleaning issue of cribs is in particular for the new parents of utmost importance. What we have found that although cleaners in general do a great job in our vacation rentals, the cribs provided by the owner of the property are first of all pack ‘n play type of deals (see below) and when nicely folded back and tucked away not all cleaners will be as meticulous to go search and find it under the stair case and open it up to check whether it has been used or not. If the crib provided in the vacation home would not be up to the guest satisfaction it will suffice a single phone call to the management company to have that taken care of.

Free Owner Cribs Vs Rental Cribs

First of all there is the language differences in definition of the infant bedding. Here locally in Orlando we call a crib anything that will sleep an infant or toddler. Depending on where you are from you may call that also a “cot”. The vast majority of the cribs you will find in the owner homes or those that are provided by the management companies will be “travel cots” or “Pack-’n-Play” types. Easy to set up, easy to stow away, easy to deliver.
The true rental companies however will deliver a sturdy type of full size crib with mattress normally. In most cases the linens are not provided and if need be the guest can use the back up linens in the vacation home for that purpose. Or if you prefer to bring your own linens for the baby, fine for everyone too!

Give us a call if you need more information on Orlando crib rental and see our other pages in regards to BBQ and other rental options. Or use the home button or this link to go back to review vacation homes in Orlando.

Sure, blame the economy! You don’t need to be a politician it seems to highlight a positive factor when your company just lost 4% over the last quarter! Expedia reported earlier this month a decline of 4% profit margin, Hotels.com earlier reported a loss… who doesn’t? It’s the economy…

There are the exceptions: the people who display flexibility, who gear their efforts towards the market and the consumer positions. And the winner is… the one who is happy he found an ‘explanation’ for his bad numbers? The one who takes a chair and waits till it blows over? Or the one who says: here I am, I can help!

Discount Vacation Rentals Online will let you be the judge. Feel free to comment at the bottom, please do! We love your reaction, we love your ideas.

Orlando Human Search Engine

Here is one idea which makes us stand out to ANY one on our market: As much as we have owners and management companies that offer their inventory to us and the market, we gather that information and offer it to the market as well, at discounted rate because of the volume we turn. However, we could not possibly put all homes on our web site without becoming just another rental listing company. We now offer a service that we like to call: The Orlando Human Search Engine. We ask people blunt what they are looking for. That is vacation home, condo or town home, what price range or budget they are working with, how many bedrooms and which bedding is required, if they need internet or a games room, if a spa would be preferred, or if distance to the parks is a bonus etc. Discount Vacation Rentals Online then crawls their web site as well as other web sites totaling a few thousand vacation rental properties and match the requirements of the guest and offer these options to them.

And the cost to the guest is… gratis. If we don’t find anything that matches, we will offer options anyhow and the guest will decide. Don’t like what we found? Here is a few more options… There is no obligation, there is no down payments until we have found what you like. You do like one or more of the options, only then you will proceed and make the reservation. If not, best friends and hopefully we can help you next time you come to Orlando.

Give it a try? Shoot us an e-mail at reservations@discountvacationrentalsonline.com or give us a call at 407-492-0094. If all of us are busy, please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as someone is available to assist you fully. Look forward to hear from you soon!