Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

FloFlo

blue_monkey wrote: »

Exactly Floflo, it's $50 for a limo for an hour so we are going to look into that and hire one to take us from the airport. How fab is it going to be for the kids (and us!!).

Hubby drives for a living too. I can't see the point in having a car or villa myself - unless it's to get you to Walmart quicker, 24/7.

I don't even unpack and spend the whole holiday living out of suitcases. My friends all think I am nuts. I'll hang shirts up but we only take 2 of 3 of those.

OMG! We could be holiday twins :rotfl:hubby is the unpacker I would just press things as I want to wear them out of the case.

We had a limo for DD from hard rock hotel to WDW when we changed hotel last hols, it was great but not cheap.

I'm not a shopper (other than Disney souvenirs, lol) and we don't go often enough to get bored with the parks.

The virgin preview brochure for 2011 should be out tomorrow so will checking prices for next year, asked hubby would he like a car this time and he said NOPE.:p

blue_monkey_2

LOL. I do not shop as such, just look really, but get hubby some t-shirt and odds and ends for the kids that are cheaper than WDW. Now we found them in Wal-Mart (why I did not bother going before I have no idea!!) we'll get them there though. I always but one 'proper' WDW t-shirt for them, usually with the year on that we have been. And I always buy a 'proper' WDW fridge magnet, trading pins and photo albums with the year of visting on them.

However, I am going to get 2 pairs of Uggs this year, one pair for the case and one to wear home.

Limo from SeaWorld to WDW for us too. And we spend most of our time in the parks too. Early til closing. I usually fall asleep before the kids because I am so exhausted at the end of the day. Love it!!!

He reckons this year he is not taking much in the way of clothes and is going to buy them out there but I cannot see that happening, I am not going to spend hours traipsing round for clothes he has not bought enough. And then he said 'you are not taking much either are you'. Er..... right. Not a chance.

sap79

blue_monkey wrote: »

Some people will tell you different about hotels/villas.

However, I found a great deal on WDW Villas when I was looking. I've booked a 1 bed apartment in OKW Villa, including meals, for £996 Have a read of this, the first 3 posts tell you how to get the best deal on tickets and accomodation: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2259151

That's a really good price - I tried kidani village with the 14day ultimate ticket and got price of £3,200 fly drive with VA also over £3k - going last week of june 1st week of July (stay disney 5th july for dine offer) - villa offer sounds like a good option cos of breakfast / also making picnics etc but it is more than double the price of caribbean beach resort!!! Any tips for reducing it and cheaper flights would be welcome - started out with a budget of £5k for 2 adults and 2kids but looks like i'll struggle!!!

schristine06

Would def recommend travelcitydirect. They are now owned by virgin. We booked through them for 2 wks leaving 26th April staying in IDrive and total for 2 Adults and 3 children including transfers and Virgin Atlantic flights was a bargain £2000.:)

blue_monkey_2

sap79 wrote: »

blue_monkey wrote: »

Some people will tell you different about hotels/villas.

However, I found a great deal on WDW Villas when I was looking. I've booked a 1 bed apartment in OKW Villa, including meals, for £996 Have a read of this, the first 3 posts tell you how to get the best deal on tickets and accomodation: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2259151

That's a really good price - I tried kidani village with the 14day ultimate ticket and got price of £3,200 fly drive with VA also over £3k - going last week of june 1st week of July (stay disney 5th july for dine offer) - villa offer sounds like a good option cos of breakfast / also making picnics etc but it is more than double the price of caribbean beach resort!!! Any tips for reducing it and cheaper flights would be welcome - started out with a budget of £5k for 2 adults and 2kids but looks like i'll struggle!!!

Just play with dates to be honest - if I get a few minutes I will have a look*. You need to try Old Key West and Saratoga Springs as they have offers on these.

Kidani is new and has not even been open a year, they'll not have offers on this but you might find someone selling their DVC week/points on eBay.com to enable you to book it cheaper.

We are staying in Kidani as we have trading in our timeshare week so are only paying the exchange fee (£175). I knew it was expensive, usually around £3,500 for a one bed apartment there with a Savannah View.

* ETA: Ouch I did take a look and the villas are expensive. If you go to Disboards or allears.net you might find a code as I read someone had used a 40% off code a few weeks ago. The Carribean Beach is £700 for a week with Quick Dining Plan (2 Adults, 2 kids, was not sure what you was looking for).

The other thing you could do is speak to Disney and see what they are charging you for a Fly Drive with the Disney stay on week 2. Make sure you get the prices of a fly-drive from their website before you call them so you can make sure they are not doing you over for the hotel, we wanted to add a 7 night stay to our fly drive and they were charging us the price of 2 weeks accomodation for it.

Ive got my VAT return to get done otherwise I'd have a look for you but I do not have time atm.

sap79

Thanks - it seems to work out cheaper to book flights with virgin and a cheap hotel for 2 weeks even thou only want to stay in it for 1week - I can use my Tesco vouchers then as well!! Still comes in at £4k thou and then £1,700 for the disney hotel, that includes 14days ultimate disney ticket and dine package, car hire, 2 days tickets for universal and breakfast in harry potter land!!!! All very expensive in my opinion (sure the OH will agree when i tell him) but will be FANTASTIC i'm sure!!

head is hurting from hunting for cheaper deals!!!!

blue_monkey_2

Me again, said I was busy, LOL.

I've looked at the day you want to fly and did you know the only seats left are Premium Economy - these seats cost around £300 more than the standard seats so this is why you are being charged so much for your flights.

If you go too the Virgin Atlantic website and search on the days you want to fly you'll see that most of the seats have gone for June/July and this is why they are so expensive. Fly on the Sunday and it is much cheaper. Have a look and work the best day to fly using this.

blue_monkey_2

sap79 wrote: »

Thanks - it seems to work out cheaper to book flights with virgin and a cheap hotel for 2 weeks even thou only want to stay in it for 1week - I can use my Tesco vouchers then as well!! Still comes in at £4k thou and then £1,700 for the disney hotel, that includes 14days ultimate disney ticket and dine package, car hire, 2 days tickets for universal and breakfast in harry potter land!!!! All very expensive in my opinion (sure the OH will agree when i tell him) but will be FANTASTIC i'm sure!!

head is hurting from hunting for cheaper deals!!!!

Don't forget you have to book the 14 day ultimate ticket from the same place you get your WDW Hotel from - so if you get the hotel from Disney you MUST get the 14 days ticket from them too else you'll not get your Free Dining Plan.

You can also use your Tesco Vouchers if you book a Fly Drive - check the prices out online as the kids flight prices go down and you can get rid of the car. You will get the same price to pay with vouchers but you will not get the online discount IYSWIM. Then call them to book it. The Hilton at Seaworld have Suites for £700 a week if you want a suite on International Drive too: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ORLSWGV-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Suites-at-SeaWorld-Florida/index.do

Just to add again - check out flight prices on VA website because the dates you want to fly there is only Premium Economy available on the outbound flight and it costs much more for this.

giovanni

blue_monkey wrote: »

You can also use your Tesco Vouchers if you book a Fly Drive

Don't you have to book a full package?

sap79

Thanks blue_monkey
Had checked into flying the day before and then only staying at disney for 6nights (dine offer only starts on the 5th july), with the weekend supplement flights only work out just over £200 cheaper (overall not pp) - figured the price of the V room would be more than this and it would be a FAB treat for the kids (and me LOL) to travel premium economy!

I was informed by Virgin that I wasn't allowed to use my Tesco vouchers unless booked a FULL holiday (ie hotel etc) I only have £450 but 'every little helps'.

The 14day ticket isn't a problem cos planned to get that anyway even before I saw the dine with me offer - I was just going to buy it outright the other week - tis lucky I didn't!

Also - where did you put the offer code for VA in?? I haven't / can't see anywhere that allows me to submit one

Thanks