Orlando vacation motels are rarely the first thing on the minds of millions of tourists who visit Central Florida each year but almost all of them are excited about the chance to visit the home of Mickey Mouse, explore Universal Studios, and see Shamu the Whale at Sea World. No matter what age the visitors are, it is the vacation of a lifetime for almost everyone.

But accommodation is a very important issue for them to decide on at some point. Hotels and motels are the obvious choices and there are many of them to pick from. But a new industry has developed during the past few years that is becoming increasingly popular.

The area just to the south of Disney World now contains many thousands (yes, thousands!) of condos and single-family motels that are owned by investors and absentee owners and that are available to rent out on a short-term basis, just like a hotel or motel. They offer all the home comforts such as kitchens and multiple bathrooms, plus they generally have far more living space than hotel rooms can offer.

The majority of these motels are only a few minutes away from the gates of Walt Disney World. Property sizes and styles vary tremendously: some are as small as two-bedroom condos while single-family motels can have as many as six bedrooms or more. Some resort-style communities offer communal gyms, tennis courts, and even movie theaters to meet the demands of those vacationers needing entertainment every minute of the day.

So it’s true that there are many advantages to considering this option instead of just the standard hotel room – but there are some pitfalls to beware of.

Many owners and rental companies have made the booking process easy by presenting well-designed websites with lots of photos and information. But not all give you the whole story and there are often some hidden terms and conditions that you need to be aware of before reaching a decision. Apart from the obvious questions, be sure to ask:

• How many nights is the minimum I can book?
• How much deposit do I have to pay to secure a booking?
• When is the total rental payment due to be paid?
• What happens if I need to cancel a booking I’ve made?
• Can you confirm the total amount including tax and other charges that you will require?
• Are you confirming the availability of the home that I’ve seen on the Internet, rather than just allocating a random property when I arrive?
• How soon can I get into the home on the day I arrive?
• What is the check-out time on the day I leave?
• Can I pay by credit card?
• When and how do I pay any security deposit to cover any damages?
• Do they use Orlando Pest Control?

The key point to make in all of this is to treat an Orlando vacation rental just like any other major purchase: be sure you know what you’re contracted to pay for before signing up.