Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great place for a large group and close to Disney!

Guest: Jim R. (Pompano Beach, FL)
Date of Stay: 04/26/12 Review Submitted: 05/02/12

We rented this place for a combination wedding and family reunion and there were 14 adults and 5 kids (under 6). Plenty of room to spread out and the pool area is really fantastic with plenty of seating, tables, etc! Suggest you call ahead day of arrival (I wish we had) because the place was not ready for us at our 5PM check-in. Somehow they expected us the next day! I will say that the mgmt office was very responsive and had cleaning staff and TV tech (the main TV was inoperable) at the office and all was made ready (but not until about 7PM for 5PM check-in). Other than that "glitch", the house was "as advertised" and provided comfortable accommodations for our large family group, in a nice setting.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Fantastic Villa

Guest: Jo (South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 04/22/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

Our team of 14 stayed at this wonderful Villa. The bedrooms were great and the pool area was fabulous. Highly recommend.

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Grandkids Best week ever!

Guest: Grandkids: Best week ever. (Houma, Louisiana)
Date of Stay: 11/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/02/11

My family of 16 spent the best week ever during Thanksgiving week at The Waters Edge. We all had a great time at such a remarkable home. Everything you would need is there or just minutes from there. There was so much space for all with 7 bdrms & 6 baths, a large kitchen, the pool & hot tub, the lake, fishing & game room!! This home is everything it is advertised to be, PLUS. I went out & purchased a sterno for extra coffee, there is an electric on in kitchen, We didn't have an infant but there is a crib, stroller,& whatever you need for one. Just talk to Alan & ask him all the "EXTRAS" in the home before you pack!! This place can save you so much money instead of staying at a hotel. It was so much fun cooking, or sandwiches or grilling by the pool each evening. No need to worry about rental online. It was so easy & Alan was helpful in everyway. My family had a wonderful time & I hope my Grandkids will always remember this special week. Thanks to the Godfrey's for such a great time.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

"The Waters Edge - Stunning"

Guest: Lovedit (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 06/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

I recently stayed at the villa and I have to say it was absolutely perfect.. we had 15 .. yes 15 people there, 12 adults and 3 kids and we had plenty of space. The view at the back was lovely in the evenings and you can spot some interesting birds around the lake - a real treat. The location is fantastic, easy to get to everything. The villa itself has everything you could need and the games room was a real treat.. we had pool tournaments in the evenings and that was great fun. We all travelled from Ireland, I dealt with alan directly and we spoke on the phone a few times - really genuine and nice people. If you have any reservations about this place dont, you couldnt get better than this. Go for it - you will love it!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fantastic place to stay for all ages

Guest: Hazel (UK)
Date of Stay: 03/09/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

We stayed for 11 nights at the Waters Edge in March 2011. Its our second visit to Orlando, and our second stay at this villa. Although my wife and I had stayed here before, we had friends with us this time which really added to the magic of staying in such a fantastic place.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kasi
Date of Stay: 02/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/04/11

Guest Review from kasi "Perfection" Could not have asked for a better house to spend a week in Florida!!! We had such a good time and we had enough room to spread out and enjoy!!! The House was the highlight for me!!! Pool rocks!!!

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Friends and Family - Jan 6-10, 2011

Guest: John (Norcross, GA)
Date of Stay: 01/06/11 Review Submitted: 02/01/11

We had a group of 16 friends and family from all over the country (Minnesota down to Georgia) head down for the Disney Marathon weekend. The place was fantastic and fit all of our needs - only one "negative" thing to comment on (and it really wasn't THAT bad) - the 4th "master" bedroom actually doesn't have a bedroom that connects to the bedroom - in order to use it you have to walk in a short hallway that connects to the kitchen/dining area. Other than that, everything was "as advertised" and we would definitely go back. The pool/hot tub felt GREAT - go with the heated option and you won't regret it. We had a couple of maintenance issues, but the management company resolved those expeditiously and completely. Having a grocery store and retaurants nearby was also very nice on the rare occasion we didn't eat in...

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children.

"very good home for a large group"

Guest: John. (Washington State)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

Guest Review from - Jan 4, 2012 Alan was very helpful and organized as we made arrangements to rent his home. The home is in good condition and everything worked! The pool was great, however the hot tub could have been a bit warmer. Everyone stated that the beds were very comfortable and we would not hesitate to rent this home again if the occasion to need this large a home again arises.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Stacy
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/11/10

Best part of Disney was coming back to the house each night! We had 13 of us staying, all family with middle to teenage children. The house was perfect for location, space, size layout. Alan was excellent to book with and every need was taken care of. I don't think we could have survived Disney without this wonderful sanctuary to return to each evening! Most definately would recommend it for anyone who wants a beautiful home to stay in that is close to everything, with absolutely no hassles or issues from booking to getting damage deposit back. We feel fortunate to have had such successful experience. Thanks so much alan and Joye · By Stacy from Calgary Alberta on 12/4/2010 for a stay in 11/1/2010

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Guest: gz
Date of Stay: 07/01/10 Review Submitted: 08/16/10

Perfect Comfort The Water's Edge was exactly what we expected and more. Owners alan and Joye have a lovely home and were very easy to work with. Alan went so far as speaking with us on the phone to answer any questions and ease any concerns we had about renting a home. We were a group of 16 and we could not have been more comfortable, or have had a better location. In the event of a return trip to the area, it would not be without another stay in this home. Absolutely beautiful! • By Guzneydingerman from Brockton, MA on 8/9/2010 for a stay in 7/1/2010

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Guest: Linda
Date of Stay: 06/06/10 Review Submitted: 08/16/10

Wonderful!!! Wonderful house in a great setting on a lake away from it all but very close to the action , Disney Parks, Shopping, Minature Golf, restaurants and so much more!! We saw amazing birds and enjoyed the huge pool with a screened in Lanai! The four master suites were wonderful with the most comfortable beds. The older kids loved the game room and the pool alarm allowed our 3 year old grandson to be safe:) The house is perfect for large families with a huge living room and excellent kitchen. We enjoyed our stay so much we didn't want to leave. Renting this house was without worries! The Knowles", Quigley, and Carter Familes • By Linda from Woodstock, Georgia on 6/28/2010 for a stay in 6/1/2010

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All the comforts of home

Guest: FBfamof6 (Flowery Branch, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/06/10

Thank you Alan. My family and I really enjoyed spending the last week in your home. Everything was as stated in the ad. We had everything we needed. We regularly stay at VRBO homes and yours was one of the nicest (and largest). You have thought about every need. Very close and convenient to all Disney parks. Pete

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Melissa Cowherd
Date of Stay: 12/29/09 Review Submitted: 12/28/09

Our vacation stay at The Water's Edge during the holidays was wonderful! The most important thing to report is booking with Alan was easy because he is honest, professional and efficient, entry to the house a breeze, and the furnishings so nice that it made accommodation worries non existent. The house easily held the 11 members of two families and friends, aged 18 to 55. After enjoying theme parks, outlet malls, and other Orlando offerings, we came home to talk over our day around the hot tub and heated pool and played a little pool. Our older kids never felt the need to go clubbing with this house! It is located right at Disney, groceries, drug stores and restaurants. After our stay, we will never go back to hotels and will book again for an Orlando vacation! Thanks Alan and Joye!

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Guest: Melissa Cowherd
Date of Stay: 12/26/09 Review Submitted: 12/25/09

Email from Melissa Dear Alan, We had so much fun! Your house is just amazing for a large group. We all slept well, and the older "kids" had tons of fun in the pool and with the pool table. Visited about every theme park in the Orlando area, found the outlet mall, and found the acquatic YMCA for my husband who swims laps. Best news was my # 3 kid found out he was admitted into the UNC School of Medicine WHILE we were all at the MAGIC kingdom! We will never forget this vacation! Toasted in your living room that night! Thank you for making it happen for all of us! Happy Holidays to you and your family! Melissa

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Guest: Joe Gaska
Date of Stay: 12/01/09 Review Submitted: 11/30/09

The house is clean, quiet, spacious, and a fantastic location central to beautiful golf courses and parks. This will actually be our 5th year staying in this house and we could not recommend it more. The owners and management company for this house deliver simply the highest professional experience you will receive. The gated community, quiet setting, beautiful/clean house simply deliver a peaceful solitude to enjoy your vacation with zero worries. Do not hesitate to email me directly if you want a personal recommendation or questions. I live in Boston, Ma. we rent this house each year. Again, Thank You Alan the service and house are excellent and we do appreciate it. See you next year! Joe Gaska

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/02/09 Review Submitted: 09/02/09

Hi Alan, I just want to say we had a fantastic holiday which was largely due to the villa being absolutely perfect in everyway. There was more than enough room for everyone, needless to say the kids had a really good time in the pool and so did the Children ha ha. The decor and attention to detail was second to none, it certainly had the wow factor. The photos you have on your website do not do the villa justice it is far better than what the photos portray. We also had the added bonus of being really close to all the theme parks not to mention the variety of restaurants which were really close by. Thanks again Alan for the use of your beautiful home.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/22/09 Review Submitted: 07/22/09

Alan, We were pleased to discover The Water's Edge! After a day at Disney World it was an oasis for our four families! The pool, game room, and generous space for fellowship was welcomed each evening. Our first experience with VRBO has been a positive one! Thanks! Schip-s of CO, KS, and OH

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/04/09

Wow wow wow! Alan we had the best time ever staying in your beautiful villa, we felt we were in the lap of luxury. 11 of us stayed and we had more than enough room for us all. The pool and lanai were out of this world the kids lived in it and could not wait to get back to it after the parks and shopping. The men played poker every evening by the pool, and the games room was more than used. Every thing was catered for, the American washing machines and dryers were brilliant, never ran out of towels etc. My neice was made up to have use of computer so she could go on facebook and update her friends back home daily, more like make them jealous. We were so central to everything nothing was too far it was ideal. We wanted to stay there forever. We booked with you so many years ago and had such a build up to our holiday the whole family reunion, and we were not dissappointed one bit. You have been brilliant Alan, so helpful with everything we thank you very much. We definately have the Florida bug now and hope that we may return some day if we could stay in your villa again that would be the icing on the cake!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/11/08

Hi Alan All 13 of us had a fantastic time in your lovely villa. There was everything to accomodate us and the 5 children varying in ages from 4 to 15 from the pool to the games room and TV's in every room. The parks were located not far which meant the kids had time to do the pool (again & again) every night. My son got married when we were there and the rest of the family that were staying in the area had a great day and used the facilities of the house ie bar-b-q The local area has great bars and eating places however we found that the better eating was at International Drive. The shopping we found at the markets was just holiday 'tat' however the shopping outlets were great with great designer discount shops My family would highly recommend your villa or any of the villas in the Formosa Gardens area as they all look of a high standard and are well maintained The only problem we encountered was the oven - we put a pizza in and it took two hours but i believe that this is normal for american style convection cookers!!!! Thanks once again for a lovely holiday in your lovely home Elaine

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Guest: Heather Sessoms
Date of Stay: 10/22/07 Review Submitted: 10/21/07

Alan, Been so busy since we got back, I've failed to write you! Your house was absolutely beautiful and fit our needs so perfectly. Can't tell you how nice everything was. We had a WONDERFUL time, and I have to tell you, having a house big enough for all of us - and THE POOL - made it perfect. My boys didn't even want to stay at the Disney parks b/c they wanted to get back to the pool! I've attached a picture of one of the favorite things for the "big kids" to do - pool volleyball. They got me involved one time, but I have to tell you, it got vicious!!! We love the screened in lanai and the pool and hottub. I've also attached a group picture in front of the house. In case you wonder who you've been talking to all this time, I'm on the right side, curly hair, sunglasses hooked on the collar of my shirt. My oldest daughter is to the right of me, my husband has on a black ballcap standing behind me, the two middlemost boys in the front are mine, and the two girls behind them and a little to the right are ours. Our second oldest daughter is holding the baby (her baby; our first grandchild), and her husband is standing pretty much behind her. That's our family. Again, I can't thank you enough for helping us. I feel like you're my friend now! If you EVER need anyone to vouch for the wonderfulness of your vacation home, just send them to me!!! Thanks again for everything, Heather S.

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Guest: Rennee Reichart
Date of Stay: 06/22/07 Review Submitted: 06/21/07

Hi Alan, Please don't worry about the other guests, I am only sorry that they had so little respect for your beautitul home. However, the cleaning staff was so wonderful and so friendly, they did a magnificant job of bringing the place back to life. We also sat and chatted with them for a bit and Christie was so helpful in giving us wonderful information about the local restaurants and shopping. We were most grateful for her. We had a wonderful time there, and everyone wants to make plans for a return tip. Your home is lovely and very tastefully decorated. We had not a single problem during our entire stay. The house is so very accomodating, and everyone from the 83 year old great grandmother, down to the one year old tots, had a splendid time. The pool got lots of use, and it was a beautiful relaxing time. Caleb had a great birthday celebration and he was overjoyed to wake up and go swimming every morning. I cannot thank you enough for allowing us to use your beautiful home. We are certainly looking forward to returning in the very near future. It's a wonderful place, and truly the best in Formosa! Best Regards, Renee

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/31/07

Just to let you no we had the most fantastic holiday ever and your villa was amazing. It all made our holiday/wedding very special. Thanks again for letting us stay in your villa.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: janny22 (woodford green)
Date of Stay: 10/01/05 Review Submitted: 10/20/05

Hi Alan and Joye Just wanted to say how fantastic your villa is and to thank you for letting us have the opportunity to stay in absolute luxury for two weeks. Our plan was to go and enjoy the theme parks but to be honest we didnt want to leave the villa. When the children would prefer to stay in a villa than go to a disney park then it really must be special . One complaint ......why is it so full for next year !!! I honestly know the answer to that one ..................

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Guest: Dreama Gray
Date of Stay: 07/22/05 Review Submitted: 07/21/05

Hi Alan, I just wanted to say "thank you" and to tell you that my family really enjoyed your beautiful home last week. Your home is so special and offers a little something extra for everyone. The men enjoyed the game room, the women enjoyed the massage chairs, and the young adults enjoyed having DSL internet access. When the pool was repaired on Thursday, we all enjoyed it especially my 8 year old granddaughter. Thanks for everything. Dreama

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Guest: Kathy McKeever
Date of Stay: 06/25/05 Review Submitted: 06/24/05

Alan, I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed staying at your house. I didn't think we would ever get the kids out of the pool to go to any of the parks. On Wed night we set the trash out for pickup but for whatever reason they did not pick it up on Thur. We had both bins full by the time we left on Sat. I felt bad but didn't know what else to do. We did have one issue with the spa heat not working and called the management company who were very helpful and gave us the pool maintenance co to call. My husband finally found that the spa heat was turned off and fixed it. I also fixed the internet connection which someone before us had messed up. I have told everyone I know what a great deal (money wise) staying at your home was with as many people as we had. To be perfectly honest, we had a lot of problems during this vacation. From finding our way around following each other in two vans, to some personality conflicts and issues that coming back to your house after each "event" was so great. I know everyone felt that way. As soon as the kids hit the house it was the fastest change into a swimsuit I have ever seen. Then a group of adults would grab drinks and snacks and relax around the large table on the patio watching the kids and chatting - for hours. I many time found myself locked up in the large master bedroom in the massage chair. It was truly one of the bright spots of our vacation. Once again your house was great!!!! Kind regards, Kathy McKeever

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Guest: Mrs Marianne LaMonica
Date of Stay: 04/28/05 Review Submitted: 04/27/05

Hi Alan, Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much we enjoyed your home on our recent trip to Orlando. Everything was wonderful and the kids loved swimming every day and night in your beautiful pool. There was plenty of room for all 14 of us and still space to spare. As I told you when we rented from you............we have stayed in that area on numerous occasions, but never in a home as lovely as yours. It has everything you could ever need or want on vacation. We can't wait to return (hopefully in the near future). I am sure that your management company found the condition of the home acceptable after we left. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful home. Kind regards, Marianne LaMonica

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Guest: Bob Ryan
Date of Stay: 05/12/04 Review Submitted: 05/11/04

Hi Alan I wanted to let you know that my wife and I along with our friends had a great time at your house. It is everything that is on the web site plus more. My friends and I went fishing in the lake and caught about 15 large mouth bass the smallest being around 3 pounds and the largest around 10 pounds. We did release them back into the lake so that other people can try their luck catching them. I think we will be planning a return trip in February, this time with the kids. We did however cut our trip short as a couple of our party had to get back to New York. The only problem we had was with the TV in the living room. I guess that the access card had expired. I talked to the management company about the problem and Julie Johnson said that she was going to talk to you and direct TV and stop by and get the deposit check and we never saw her. That was the only problem we had and it was a small one. I am sure that you will find every thing in order. My kids will have a great time at your house. We did meet a number of people in the community from the UK and all of them were very kind and friendly. Thanks again Bob Ryan and guests

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/01/04 Review Submitted: 05/11/04

Our family has made numerous visits to Orlando, and generally we rent homes in Formosa Gardens. Of all the homes we have stayed in, yours is the best by far. I was also quite impressed by your management company; those folks went the extra mile to have everything ready for us. They are still trying to remedy the DirecTV problem, and hope to have it resolved tomorrow. However, with all of the other TVs in the house, it's hard to feel deprived. Besides, we were still able to enjoy a dvd movie in the main lounge. How thoughtful of you to provide a selection of both movies and music CDs. My teens were also thrilled that you not only have an xbox in the games room but also a selection of games for it. That is rare. Everything in the house is first rate. The beds are comfortable and the unique fans provide a perfect breeze. Unlike some properties that have too many rooms squeezed into too few square feet, this house is spacious and well designed. The multiple en suite bathrooms provide plenty of privacy for all. The pool area is beautifully landscaped and well furnished. The twin fans in the roofed lanai are a bonus on hot afternoons. Guests who visit in the winter will find the pool heat to be more than adequate. Watching the birds glide over the lake and fish for their supper has been a treat. I could happily spend several weeks just enjoying the pool and lanai, and forget all about the rest of Orlando. The only negative in our entire experience happened when I checked your availability calendar and found that a lot of people have already booked well into next year; few weeks remain open. I'd guess that many folks are repeat visitors. As soon as I can verify our scheduled breaks for 2005, we will start checking other dates. I hope we will be able to plan a return to Water's Edge soon.

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Guest: Sean Powers
Date of Stay: 03/23/04 Review Submitted: 03/22/04

Dear Alan, Just a short note to say many thanks for our stay in your magnificent home. All our team had a great time and we were all most grateful for your kind help and advice. Also many thanks to Dave from Florida Dreams for his assistance. Once again, Many thanks, Sean Power P.G.A. Professional Enville Golf Club Stourbridge W.Midlands

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Guest: Mr. Ian Selby
Date of Stay: 02/25/04 Review Submitted: 02/24/04

Dear Alan, This is just a quick line to let you know that we had a great time in Florida and found the villa more than matched our expectations.There were no mishaps and everything was left as we found it.I will certainly recommend you to family/friends/clients.

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Guest: Wally & Sharon Cetera
Date of Stay: 12/27/03 Review Submitted: 12/26/03

Dear Alan and Joye, I just had to tell you what a wonderful time we had at your house in Florida. the house was just perfect for our needs. Our children couldn't believe how beautiful it was. The grandchildren loved the pool and the game room. You hardly knew that they were around they had so much to do. Our grandson said that we stayed in a nice place last year but this one was a bonus. Our 13 year granddaughter was taking pictures of the house to show her friends. When we tried to vacuum the house the hose was all stuffed up with carpet so my son cleaned it out and it worked fine after that. I hope the management found everything to be in order after we left. We stacked up all the sheets and towels in the laundry room. I will recommend your house to other people as we were very pleased. Thanks again, we really enjoyed it. Wally and Sharon Cetera P.S. Our grandchildren looked forward to coming back to the house from Disney World. Thats really a compliment from them.

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