Townhouse location

[florida_2012]

We are looking for a townhouse for around a week in August. We are staying on idrive the first week to be close to universal. The second week we want to chill out more so thought a townhouse might suit. We had originally wanted to do gulf coast on 2nd coast but we prefer a pool than beach and are put off by the possibility of red tide.
We may take day trips to legoland, clearwater and Kennedy during the 2nd week.
We are 2 Adults plus 2 kids (10 and 6) so we don't need a big villa and want to keep the costs down.

So can anyone recommend nice townhouses?
Not doing disney so nearness to disney isn't important and would consider further out beyond Orlando.
A pool is really important with pool slides(s)
Walking distance to restaurants would be nice but OK too if its just a resort restaurant and bar
A small private pool would be nice.

I have considered balmoral resort, Windsor hills (private pool is a bonus) regal Oaks, enchantada, regal palms.

Any thoughts on which location would suit us best? Any others beyond the immediate disney area?

[Mel49]

I've stayed at Encandata 3/4 times through Club la Costa who own and manage some of the units and booking direct with a DIBB owner and love the Resort. While there are a lot of restaurants and shops minutes away by car the only one's in walking distance that I can think of are McDonalds and a Garage at the bottom of the street. While most privately owned townhouses here have a pool the CLC one's have a Jacuzzi and there is use of the communal pool but no slides.

I've visited Regal Oaks but never actually stayed there and while there are restaurants nearby I personally wouldn't fancy the walk with young kids but there might be a short cut through the resort. Once again there is an owner(s) on the DIBB and from memory the resort's pool does have a slide.

The locations you've mentioned would all be within easy travelling distance for your last weeks activities and it may boil down to the resort facilities which you are looking for. If this is more important to you then even an apartment/suite in a larger resort could do the trick and keep the costs down. Maybe decide what is the most important to narrow your choice down and don't discount a villa with your own pool as there are some 3 bedroom one's. Have you tried doing a search in the dibb villas as it includes townhouses too ? Good luck as there is so much choice hard to narrow it down.

[stepmead]

We rented a townhouse in Solterra Resort last year which was lovely. Despite being a townhouse, it was very spacious with our own small private pool. It was also within walking distance of the clubhouse and pool with slide and lazy river.

This year we are renting another townhouse at the Retreat at Championsgate which has good facilities again such as water slide, lazy river etc for our children.

Story Lake and Westside at Windsor are two other resorts with townhouses and great facilities for children.