Summer in Orlando is hot by nine in the morning and stormy by three in the afternoon on many days. A summer house needs to handle both, and a few of ours are especially good at it.
The storm hours
When the afternoon rain rolls in, the family comes home. Houses with something to do indoors earn their keep: the pool table at Meet. Play. Stay., foosball and table tennis at Entertainment Home, the game room at Piedmont, and the themed mystery bedrooms at The Clue House. Every home is air-conditioned.
The wet gear
Water parks, springs and pools mean a pile of wet towels and swimsuits every evening. Every home has a washer and dryer.
The cool water
Wekiwa Springs State Park and Kelly Park at Rock Springs stay at spring temperature all year and are the local answer to a July afternoon; Wekiwa Home is named for the drive. Universal's Volcano Bay and SeaWorld's Aquatica are the water parks, on the south side of town.
The early mornings
Summer park days start early to beat the heat. A kitchen for a six o'clock breakfast and a driveway to leave from make that easier than a hotel buffet line.
Book the dates early
Summer weekends and the weeks around the holidays fill first. See live rates and dates for every home, and read the honest notes on each home page before you choose.
