Reviews of Calabay Park Villas, Kissimmee


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Calabay Park Villas Holiday Reviews

Calabay Park Villas

Calabay Park In one of central Florida’s most enviable locations, Calabay Parc is just minutes away from championship golf courses, the Walt Disney® World Resort, Universal Orlando, Sea World and Busch Gardens. Set in a surrounding of pine trees and orange groves that back on to a conservation area, this tranquil executive community offers a recreation area, walking and cycle trails and many other sports amenities.
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   Reviews: 13


Calabay Park Villas Reviews

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Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Jul 2008
Tour Operator: Booked Independently
Submitted By: Miss K OConnell
Overall Rating: 9/10
Comments:

Villa location much better that last year when we were on 192, although this location is is a little further than 192 it was much easier to access the parks from I4.

The villa its self was spotless and the site has a large fishing Lake and Walmart next door which was great. The Villas here seem much more up market then others I have stayed in.

Karen

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Jul 2008
Tour Operator: Toolin Travel
Submitted By: Mr M Stanley
Overall Rating: 1/10
Comments:

The house was so dirty. There was cobwebs everywhere. There was cockroches inside running accross the floor as we watched TV. The bed clothes smelled so bad. The sink in the ensuite was blocked. The pool was so bad every morning there was bugs floating on top. When we spoke to the management company about the home they didn't want to know. They told us the pool was like that due to storms. We have been in florida a few times before and was not the case in any of the other houses. We were so dissappointed with the home it is a discrace to rent out such a home to anybody. There was so much more i could go on forever believe me be very carefull where you rent your home.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Jul 2008
Tour Operator: Booked Independently
Submitted By: Mrs P Burke
Overall Rating: 1/10
Comments:

This villa was so dirty we could not believe it. There was cobwebs everywhere. we could not use the pool there was so many bugs floating on the top of the water. there was cockroches everywhere even in thr living area. We spent the first 2 days making the home clean enough to stsy in it. The sink was blocked in the ensuite. Icould go on forever just take my advice do not stay at no 344 calabay parc.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Feb 2008
Tour Operator: owner
Submitted By: Mr W Ferguson
Overall Rating: 9/10
Comments:

It is exactly 23.2 miles to magic Kingdom gates from Calabay Parc Tower Lake 20 mins travelling time.

You take the exit on Interstate4 for Celebration and Disney because you are not coming in from the 192 the roads have a lot less traffic,so no traffic jams

During peak times it can take a lot longer to enter Disney if you are staying less than 5 miles away on the 192

Also coming home when the parks empty its a straight run interstate4 exit 55 to 27 ,7 miles and you are their



The train does not run hourly only 3 times a day [not weekends]and is well worth a visit to the crossing to view .apparently it was introduced to bring oranges from the area

In fact calabay Tower Lake is surrounded by orange groves still now



So if you are looking for a quiet peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle and the usual football shirted tourist try calabay park tower lake

Book directly through the owners not a tour company then you know where you will be staying

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: May 2008
Tour Operator: Travelcitydirect
Submitted By: Mr S Boldy
Overall Rating: 5/10
Comments:

Recently returned from a stay here. Have to say villa was shabby and dirty. Several items were broken which we duly reported. There is NO WAY only a 15 minute drive to Disney, sat nav showed 30 miles to Magic Kingdom, took at least 10 minutes to drive from villa to I4. Kept awake several times by trains passing nearby sometimes every hour tooting horn! Travel City not interested, indeed went to complain and girl at desk phoned management company, her side of conversation finished "yes just one complaint after another" This was our third visit to Florida so we were surprised to be so far away. Went to look at timeshare whilst there, bloke was surprised we were so far away and not in a nice part of town. We had a great time apart from villa so didnt let it spoil it for us. Would not stay at Tower Lakes again, too far away.

           
Board Basis: Full Board
Date of Holiday: Oct 2006
Tour Operator: Virgin
Submitted By: Miss B.o Ostle
Overall Rating: 1/10
Comments:

calabay park was a good resort but i am 9 i arrived at calabay park 9.00pm at night i just whanted my bed when my aunti and my mam pulled back the covers there where dead bugs in my bed allso my aunti was stung by a babby scorpian we allso found 5 babby scopians and a lized so look after the home ours was terrfabul f- so so bad

           
Board Basis: All Inclusive
Date of Holiday: Feb 2008
Tour Operator: owner
Submitted By: Mr W D Ferguson
Overall Rating: 9/10
Comments:

There are two calabay park developments the first being Calabay Parc 15 mins to Disney,and is four years older than Calabay Parc at Tower Lake 20 mins to Disney maybe more depending on traffic

However the drive is very straight forward for both,Also there is no one single management company for both Calabay Parc developments each home has there own company that may look after 5,10,20 homes depends on the company ,They are mostly 4 and 5 bed homes.If you are looking to rent a home book through home owners directly that way you know exactly where you will be staying



Bill


           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Mar 2008
Tour Operator: GoldenHolidays.com GoldenFlorida.com IPG
Submitted By: greenm3gt
Overall Rating: 1/10
Comments:

We booked through a Company called Golden Holiday company which you can find there site at www.goldenholiday.com, it was far from this. When we arrived in Florida we where given the keys to are supposedly 4 star Plus 4 bed villa situated at 307 orston road Calabay park. We reported immediatley to Golden holiday company by email that the villa was filthy and cockroaches had the run of the place, the stove was broken and there was no kettle. The guest book showed comments from previous guests saying they had problems with the cleanliness and the bugs and it didnt rate a 3 star. We had booked a 4star plus?? We where given a alternative property the following day which was a take it or leave it option. A town house on a building site. IPG situated on I192 are renowned for having a couldnt care less attitude and as for The Golden Holiday company? We complained on return and have recieved our reply from Golden, we know you ended up in a town house, we no you didnt recieve your free phone calls to the uk we no you didnt get the swimming pool you ordered and paid for but hey its over now!! We have reported them to ABTA, how far we get i dont no but i wouldnt book with The golden holiday company again if my life depended on it.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Sep 2007
Tour Operator: Travel City Direct
Submitted By: Mr C.A. Brocklehurst
Overall Rating: 10/10
Comments:

I was a member of a party of twelve. We booked two four bed villas. It turned out that they were both the same apart from the decor. Both villas were in excellent condition with all mod cons as previously stated on other reports. Infact my villa was for sale and I must admit I did think about it.



I would fully recommend the Calabay Park Estate and will probably return next year.



Just to add there is a 24 hour Wallmart down the 27 just past the junction with the 19, it even sells George clothing but at far cheaper prices than the UK.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Apr 2007
Tour Operator: Booked Independently
Submitted By: Mrs M S Stanley
Overall Rating: 5/10
Comments:

Although this was not our first holiday in Florida, we had never stayed in Calabay Park Villas before. Prior to this year we stayed in Disney hotels, and for our last holiday we took a villa in Highlands Reserve. Unfortunately our experience in Calabay was not a good one.



While the villa was spacious, clean and well decorated in a typical, generic floridian way, we found the level of service from the management company nothing short of abysmal. Shocking when one considers that its almost impossible not to get great service in Florida!



In a polar-opposite experience of Highlands Reserve, Calabay management were unhelpful, rude, wholly disinterested in people who were renting villas and dishonest. I don't use any of these words lightly...I only feel pity for the people who have invested in rental properties and are depending on this group to represent them. I have extensive experience of property management companies in Europe, indeed it is my business, and I have yet to find one more inept.



My final comment is to anyone considering taking a villa in Calabay...Perhaps you feel that in a self-catering situation its not necessary to have a good management service. However you'll be very relieved to have a voice at the end of a phone if you're lost late at night having travelled for 12hours; or having an attentive manager to help rid your villa of insects; or have your pool heated straight away at your request; or have valuable goods returned safely if left behind. Unfortunately none of these 5 star services are available at Calabay Park Villas.



Not surprisingly, I will never stay there again.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Mar 2007
Tour Operator: Booked Independently
Submitted By: HW Bex
Overall Rating: 9/10
Comments:

We had booked a 3 bedroom Villa. We actually got a four bed roomed Villa. The villa was privately owned, spacious and very well maintained.



There were 4 bed rooms, 3 bathrooms, and a family lounge with patio leading to the pool. A very well equipped kitchen with dishwasher, coffee maker, blender and all other mod cons. The biggest oven I have ever seen and never used.



There was a utility room complete with washer and tumble dryer. All linen was included with spares for our 3 week stay.



The villa is situated on the US 27. I thought we were going to be a lot further away, but with the 192, and the I4 less than 5 minutes drive away, parks shopping and everything else was less than 15 minutes away. Far enough out, but still close enough for convenience.



The local Publix was just a 2 minutes down the road. Along with eateries and other shops/takeaways.



Calabay Parc is one of the newer estates and thus reflected in the price of the villa.



Groundsmen were in attendance every day; the whole area was very well maintained.



The pool was cleaned/checked once a week. I would suggest for the time of year late March early April that you take up the offer of pool heating. It was freezing!



Although the weather was good, the water temperature wasn’t. We heated the pool for the last week of our holiday, as we had exhausted all the parks and pool days were more frequent.



To the parks, I’m really not sure I can add any further info to those who have written about them already.



Our first week we were spoilt with the waiting times. Most of the rides were less than a 10 minute wait. When I say 10 min wait, that was the time it took us to get to the ride. They are certainly geared up for the queues.



Our second week the queue’s were about 30-40 mins, still not that long and bearable.



But by the 3rd week, oh my gosh! Spring Break had bloomed and it was the UK’s Easter holidays. The whole place erupted. Literally. The estate we were on, the parks and the restaurants.



Not sure I would like to go in the summer time. I think it would be too much.



All the theme parks at Disney were brilliant. My 6 year old didn’t know which way to go. The characters were out in force, he especially liked meeting Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper. The Parades, the Fireworks, the list goes on...



The Disney hospitality is second to none. I can’t fault a thing within the parks. The queuing system, the cast members, the characters, all great. I found that most of the cast members were over 50, and this made the difference.



We noticed several members of management walking around, and even they had litter pickers (long handled tweezer type thingy’s) attached to them. So I guess even management have to pick litter.



All the rides were to be expected, some scary, some wet and some just plain out of this world.



Not sure I have a favourite although Everest comes a close 1st, followed by Buzz Lightyears Ranger Spin – I did have a 6 year old with me.



Blizzard Beach was like swimming in a sardine shoal. Again I think we chose the wrong week. They shut the park on one occasion; it just couldn’t take anyone else.



Downtown Disney was good, lots of last minute shopping… lots of last minute shopping.



We had chosen to do a Character Dining at the Swan Hotel in the Epcot area. That in itself was a little bit of a letdown. Goofy was there walking around doing his thing and was great. Pluto on the other hand didn’t fancy showing himself until we actually asked for him to come out!



Unless you are staying at Disney, my opinion is to give this a miss. It wasn’t worth the money. Food was OK but nothing special.



After the dinner we chose to have a wander around Disney Boardwalk. That was a lovely evening topped off with watching the fireworks from Epcot.



Gatorland was fun. We got to feed the alligators with hot dogs, my son thought that was fantastic.



Sea World was just fantastic. We all enjoyed it. The shows were fantastic. All the whales had their babies with them; they were trying to do the tricks. So cute.



Universal Studios was a letdown for me. I didn’t like it. The hospitality wasn’t quite the same. No smiles, no people helping you with directions, it just wasn’t the same.



This might have something to do with us choosing to go in the last week. Our fault, maybe it will be better next time. The Back To The Future ride is no more. They were closing it down for good. The MIB ride was a laugh, as were most of the others.



International Drive was good. Wonder Works was strange in a fun way; it’s the upside down building with loads of interactive science bits going on inside. Race Rock was another interesting place.



We also managed to do a Helicopter flight for 4 minutes.



This took us over Sea World, Discovery Cove and a few other places. What a buzz! And it wasn’t the best of days either, slightly windy but that added to the fun.



Shopping – WOW! Mall at Millennia. Fantastic! Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Tiffany’s, the lot. Got lost in there for a few hours.



Kennedy Space Centre – a 6year olds dream come true (and his parents quite liked the day as well). We chose the Up Close Tour that took us to within yards of the launch pads. They were due to have a launch the day we arrived, however that was put back as the shuttle had storm damage.



Old Town on the 192 - WOW! We had the opportunity to visit on a Saturday night when they had all the old classic cars on show - it was fabulous! All old cars from yesteryear, bumper to bumper - just fantastic! Same with the bikes, old and new, brilliant. A definite for everyone.



Food wise, there are just lots and lots of places to eat. I can't name them all.



Walmarts. Just once in everyone's life they should visit a Walmart. It took us 2 hours to get round about a quarter of the shop. An experience in itself. Try it!



I think that’s about all for now.



All in all we are thoroughly exhausted. I feel like I need another holiday to get over this one.



Just can’t wait to go back.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Nov 2006
Tour Operator: Booked Independently
Submitted By: Mrs S Fielding
Overall Rating: 8/10
Comments:

The villa itself was very clean & tidy, excellent condition throughout.



However, the villas are situated on US27 and it is quite a travelling distance to get to Disney, SeaWorld etc and the 192 road where the vast majority of the restaurants, outlets and Kissimmee Old Town are.



But all in all if you don't mind driving it's worth staying there.

           
Board Basis: Self Catering
Date of Holiday: Jul 2006
Tour Operator: Tavel City Dirct
Submitted By: Miss H Love
Overall Rating: 9/10
Comments:

Had a fantastic holiday in Orlando, Florida in the Kissimmee area, our Villa with pool was so well used by the children that got up first thing in the morning for a swim and play before we all got ready to go to the Disney park that where about 30 min away.



All the parks had their own special things about them and having a range of age satisfied everyone, it was a very hectic and very tiring holiday to be on the go for the whole 2 weeks but very worth it!



It is definitely a holiday to go back on if possible, there was nothing that we would not do again.



If you have young, old, or teenage kids, or even if you don’t have any children it's a must of a holiday, and you won’t realise until you go and experience it for yourself.