Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

sweetpeas_2

I think blue monkey has booked an apartment for that amount through a special offer with Disney (hence the link)

When I first read the post I thought blue monkey meant she owned an apartment That's just me not reading properly though lol. Thought- Jammy g!t..!

sweet

blue_monkey_2

LOL 'we have' ah that would be nice. However yes I did mean we have booked a one bed apartment for a week including free dining for £950 inclusing full dining plan, - you can do this via the Disney link I gave you. I got it in email as I am signed up for offers.

You might be able to find someone selling their timeshare week on eBay.com though - always an option. We have used our timeshare week to 'exchange' for a week in a one bed apartment Disney Animal Kingdom Villas for the whopping price of £175 for the week. You might find someone selling their week for the price of maintenaince fees so they 'break even'. Here are some I found but read through them carefully:

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+old+key+west&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=old+key+west&_osacat=0&bkBtn=1

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+boardwalk+villas&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=disney+old+key+west&_osacat=0&bkBtn=1

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/Travel-/3252/i.html?LH_TitleDesc=1&_nkw=disney+animal+kingdom&_catref=1&_fln=1&_nkwusc=disney+animal+kngdom&_rusck=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+saratoga+springs&_sacat=3252&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1311&_odkw=disney+animal+kingdom&_osacat=3252&bkBtn=1

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+beach+club&_sacat=3252&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=disney+beach+cub&_osacat=3252&bkBtn=1

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+bay+lake&_sacat=3252&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1311&_dmpt=US_Lodging&_odkw=disney+beach+club&_osacat=3252&bkBtn=1

http://desc.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=disney+wilderness+lodge&_sacat=3252&LH_TitleDesc=1&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1311&_odkw=disney+bay+lake&_osacat=3252&bkBtn=1

Do not be scared by the word timeshare, there will be no tours or presentations, you just go on holiday as usual using the apartment that someone has bought into for that week but cannot use this year. They sell it so they get their fees back.

There are a few resorts they class as luxury villa resorts - these are the ones that have apartments with bedrooms rather than just hotel rooms. IN these 'villa resorts' you get a full kitchen, 2 or 3 bathrooms, seperate bedrooms and a lounge area. These resorts are: Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, Bay Lake at Contempary Resort, Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club and Boardwalk Villas. All can be booked via the Disney website but they are usually mega $$ but SSR and OKW are on special which is why I gave you the link.

We have to pay $95 when we arrive for using the Magical Express and Disney buses so you *may* have to pay this when you arrive but we are boooking via our timeshare bank so this could be why.

The price was so good for OKW that we did not use our timeshare week and are saving that to go again next year to Boardwalk Villas.

Also, we are staying at another apartment opposite SeaWorld if that is something that interests you, they have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ORLSWGV-Hilton-Grand-Vacations-Suites-at-SeaWorld-Florida/accommodations.do;jsessionid=7F8AA6DF41384A79D00DA109E912D337.etc61 prices are very good there too.

Mikepcon

Thanks blue_monkey.

I have had a look at the ebay links, which was not something I had considered, but none seemed available in august.


I was wondering just what the special offers were on OKW and SSR? Is it just the free dining plans?

blue_monkey_2

Mikepcon wrote: »

Thanks blue_monkey.

I have had a look at the ebay links, which was not something I had considered, but none seemed available in august.


I was wondering just what the special offers were on OKW and SSR? Is it just the free dining plans?

Hi Mike, it is 48% off the price of accomodation using that link, you might have to play with dates to get the best prices.

You also get Free Magical Express so you bypass the 2nd luggage reclaim at Orlando International, Disney collect your luggage and you get on the special Disney bus at the airport and Disney take your luggage to your room.

We got 56% when we booked and these villas are usually around £2k pw but we paid under £1000. The disney dining plan thrown in (full plan because it is a top resort, not express which is 2 counter service meals) means it is an absolute bargain and cheaper to stay in the apartment than it is to stay in a tiny hotel room.

You get whirlpool baths in the villa resorts too. Perfect for relaxing after a day at the parks so I am told. All I have to do is sit down after a day at the parks and I fall asleep!!

The apartments have washer driers and with the airlines having reduced the amount of luggage you can take, we can do washing and drying through the holiday too so you can get away with taking less in your case. I'll probably take clothes for a week instead of 2 weeks clothing. I always end up doing laundry when away on holiday - no matter how well I plan!!

blue_monkey_2

Also to add, you'll see a lot of these are for June and July - I was not sure when you are going. As you go through the year more will get released for sale as people will get to April and realise they are not going to get away for their break for whatever reason.

As I said before, we have timeshare and we could see weeks for around Jult time going into the 'bank' but we put a reserve on October and got a cancellation. Might be worth putting a search on eBay.com and getting first notice of them as they are listed.

FloFlo

Only the 1 bedroom apartments at OKW and SSR have whirlpool baths and a washer dryer. The studio apartments don't have these but are great value.

KarenG

FloFlo wrote: »

Only the 1 bedroom apartments at OKW and SSR have whirlpool baths and a washer dryer. The studio apartments don't have these but are great value.

Good point Flo

Though just to say that if you are staying in a studio you have access to free washer dryers too - all the DVC resorts have a laundry room that guests can use for free. You have to pay for the washing powder but the machines are free.

Mikepcon

Thanks for your help.

princess4

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. Had a look through this amazing thread! I couldn't find the following question (apologise if I have missed it and it has already been asked and answered).

My h2b and I are looking to go to Florida for our honeymoon this year in July. We want to have 10 nights near the theme parks and then are having 11 nights by the beach in St Petes/Clearwater. We have been looking at where to stay near the parks and can't decide whether to stay near Disney or Orlando. We know we definitely want to stay in either a Disney hotel or a Universal hotel but cannot decide which!

Just wondering if anyone could advise the benefits/disadvantages of each. We are young (I will be 22 and he will be 26) so we want a bit of nightlife/places to go at night. We also know we want to 'do' universal studios/IoA/MK/MGM etc. We are going to hire a car so we can drive to either so it doesn't make much of a difference in that sense. One of the things that put me off the Universal hotels is that they charge $15 per day for you to park your car there, where as the Disney hotel has free parking.

Any advice please? Im very confused! xxxx

KarenG

princess4 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. Had a look through this amazing thread! I couldn't find the following question (apologise if I have missed it and it has already been asked and answered).

My h2b and I are looking to go to Florida for our honeymoon this year in July. We want to have 10 nights near the theme parks and then are having 11 nights by the beach in St Petes/Clearwater. We have been looking at where to stay near the parks and can't decide whether to stay near Disney or Orlando. We know we definitely want to stay in either a Disney hotel or a Universal hotel but cannot decide which!

Just wondering if anyone could advise the benefits/disadvantages of each. We are young (I will be 22 and he will be 26) so we want a bit of nightlife/places to go at night. We also know we want to 'do' universal studios/IoA/MK/MGM etc. We are going to hire a car so we can drive to either so it doesn't make much of a difference in that sense. One of the things that put me off the Universal hotels is that they charge $15 per day for you to park your car there, where as the Disney hotel has free parking.

Any advice please? Im very confused! xxxx

I'd do both personally. Say seven / eight nights at Disney and two / three at Universal. Best of both worlds, plus you can't beat the FOTL access at Universal. If you are into rock music I highly recommend the Hard Rock Hotel - awesome place.

The universal parking fee annoys me but I just mentally add it onto the room rate.

If money is no object I would recommend one of the hotels in the Epcot resort area at Disney: Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, Beach Club or Swan and Dolphin (latter two not owned or operated by Disney). From here, you can walk or catch a boat to two of the four Disney theme parks rather than bus. If this appeals shout and there are sometimes cheaper ways to do this (discounts at the Swan/Dolphin for teachers for example, renting DVC points etc.) But I won't waffle on about that as it may not be of interest.

Much as I love Clearwater, I would find 11 days in July too long, but others may disagree with me. You know what you are like and what you will enjoy, anyway.