We are visiting Orlando as part of a trip to Florida December/January. We notice some rentals are on gated communities - can someone tell me exactly what this means. Is Kissimmee and Disney areas unsafe?

The concept of "gated communities" seems very much in vogue now, but it certainly has no bearing whatsoever on the safeness of an area. In fact, most gated communities are right in the middle of low-crime suburban neighborhoods.

Sarah---A gated community is a large neighborhood/subdivision enclosed by walls or a fence, something like that, and one must enter through a gate. I think there is some sort of guard in the gate house who OKs those entering.

Disney unsafe? Florida unsafe? Please don't let our resident commentator on this subject, AMS, get wind of this post. You'll get more than an earful of drivel about how unsafe Florida is because it's run by the Mafia, and that they spread asbestos everywhere, etc.
The real truth? Disney/Kissimmee is no different than any densely populated tourist mecca. It has its share of crime, but use common sense and you'll have a good time. Most tourists don't think twice about it unless they're from rural areas.
Gated communities, by the way, are simply subdivisions surrounded by a wall with restricted entry past a guardhouse. As noted above, you don't find a lot of gated communities in high crime areas. Just people who like the extra security of knowing thet traffic thru their neighborhood is restricted and screened.

I have two web resources to recommend: The Orlando Sentinel newspaper has a web site at orlandosentinel.com, you can read stories about the area & local news, including news about crime. I have visited the area many times over the years & never had any trouble. Lots of folks come to the area and many places are busy & crowded even at midnight during peak season. Another resource is Deb Wills unofficial WDW website at www.wdwig.com, with lots of trip reports from many contributors and lots of details to help plan your trip better. About gated communities: many people like this concept because it cuts down on door-to-door solicitations, traffic through housing development, etc. Also, Some semi- or real celebrities live in areas like this so fans will not track down their houses & then come & dig up the flowerbed (like some obsessed teen fans did to one of the Backstreet Boys) to get souvenirs! HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

Gated communities have become a matter of fashion in Florida, possibly because it's so flat that it's one way to make a community seem "cozier," possibly to imply exclusivity, sometimes because there's an arrangement to share costs of landscaping and upkeep -- and only third or fourth for safety. Most of them are situated away from areas that one might consider unsafe. Realtors like to specify "gated community" to add a few bucks to the price. Consider it a dubious "plus" to the property you're considering -- it's mainly a minus aesthetically and sometimes for convenience, because it means there is usually only one way in or out of the subdivision. Those communities have made large areas of Florida just mile after mile of walls, walls, walls.

Thank you to you all for taking the trouble to respond to my enquiry. I was very interested in all your replies. Out of interest which is the best area of Orlando to stay in with regard to the fact that we want to be just a few minutes from Disney?

The properties inside the Disney complex are really nice. I'd advise you to at least investigate them.

Hi Susan
Do you know if it is possible to rent actual condos/villas within the complex? Or is it just resort hotels! AT Xmas I expect prices are mad!
Thanks
Sarah