Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

vivatifosi

KarenG wrote: »

What do you mean? If you are talking about shipping stuff home, it is rarely cheaper to do that than just to pay for extra baggage. That's the only link I can think of for shipping containers and a Florida holiday.

I wasn't sure what the poster meant either Karen, but what sprung to my mind was totally different! I know that there's a company in Orlando that will hold your stuff for you and deliver it when you go on holiday there, so you can store and ship to yourself things that you want - your own coffee machine, hair straighteners, pillows - all sorts.

Maybe the poster can give us some more detail about what they meant so we can have a bash at helping out.

KarenG

vivatifosi wrote: »

I wasn't sure what the poster meant either Karen, but what sprung to my mind was totally different! I know that there's a company in Orlando that will hold your stuff for you and deliver it when you go on holiday there, so you can store and ship to yourself things that you want - your own coffee machine, hair straighteners, pillows - all sorts.

Maybe the poster can give us some more detail about what they meant so we can have a bash at helping out.

I'm glad it wasn't just me that was confused

I never thought about them meaning something like an Owner's Locker, despite having one!

u109230

Fruity1 wrote: »

Just another quick ESTA question.

I'm going with my 2 DDs and my BF. Whilst we are travelling as a family we don't live together. Should I fill in 1 white form for all of us or a white one for myself and the girls and a green one?

Many thanks.

We (2 adults & 2 children) had to complete a separate ESTA for each passport holder, so 4 in total.

On the plane to the US we also completed a separate green I-94 for each passport holder (4 in total) http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/filling_out_i94.xml along with one white Customs declaration form for the family group.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml

vivatifosi

KarenG wrote: »

I'm glad it wasn't just me that was confused

I never thought about them meaning something like an Owner's Locker, despite having one!

Brilliant! Then I can ask you what you think of it and whether its something worth having - plus what would you keep in it? Its something we toy with each time we visit but I've sat on the fence for so long that I have splinters in my bottom. Its one of those things that seem a good idea, but I just don't know...

KarenG

vivatifosi wrote: »

Brilliant! Then I can ask you what you think of it and whether its something worth having - plus what would you keep in it? Its something we toy with each time we visit but I've sat on the fence for so long that I have splinters in my bottom. Its one of those things that seem a good idea, but I just don't know...

Well, the jury's still sort of out...! It is a really good idea, but whether it is value for money I can't quite decide. We've left stuff in it like shorts, vest tops, swimming costumes that we only ever wear in Florida, random things like the squirty fan we take to the parks; shower gel, shampoo etc.

Originally we weren't going to have a car for the first week of our next trip so I also loaded it up with breakfast goodies, water etc to avoid some of the WDW prices (as it's turned out, that was a waste of time as we are now having a car the whole time but that's another story...! )

I hear of people just taking carry on luggage because they have a full complement of holiday equipment in their Locker, but I'm afraid I can't see how that would be possible for me (2 adults and 2 children).

There are deals around which give you money off and an extra "visit" to your locker in the first few years of having it, so if you do decide to get one, let me know and I'll dig out what I know (but I'm sure you'll know ... usual suspects!)

vivatifosi

Thanks Karen. DH works for an airline, so baggage allowances aren't an issue for us (except when we struggle off of Disney's Magical Express on the way back), so I think we'll still carry on thinking about it.

My problem at the moment is that I think "is it worth the cost when I could use the same money to go to Universal Studios?" or "is it worth the cost when I could use the same money towards longer car hire". If I didn't have these financial conundrums then maybe we'd do it in a shot. But on the other hand, if we didn't have these financial constraints then I'd stay in a bigger DVC property with more amenities. Ho hum...

KarenG

LOL... well if you don't have to worry about baggage allowance, I guess that's one of the more significant benefits made redundant

I've only had it for one trip, so I'll let you know if I swing over to the definite "it's worth it" crew. Most people seem to rave about them

kerrymay

Hello everyone,

We returned from Florida mid March and I had a lot of help from people on here regarding my trip. We are itching to go back and think we might be able to scrape enough together to go next October - as long as we eat Value everything and deny all treats from now to then anyway!!

Having been there now I feel quite confident in booking everything separately - flights, villa, car hire, park tickets - if it means we will save some money - so my query is as to whether people find it is cheaper to do it this way? Can you just hire a car from the airport on arrival and would this be cheaper for instance? I am a bit confused as to what level of insurance I would need if I sorted this one out myself though. I looked on the website of one company and a higher level of insurance can add as much as £300 onto the cost of the car - where could I find out more information as to what is really required? This is something we let the travel agent take care of last time and I believe we paid for the highest insurance on offer.

To confuse matters, I have £600 worth of Tesco deal tokens that I could use if I booked it through Virgin or Cosmos - would this make it cheaper to do it this way, or would I still be better off doing it separately? I would usually use the deals tokens over the six weeks hols for the kids days out, but would save them towards the cost of the hols if this is the best option?

Any help much appreciated - I like to plan in advance!! I would ask my other half his opinion but he's watching the FA semi-cup final and can't possibly be disturbed! !xx

KarenG

Hi Kerrymay

OK so this is just my opinion, others may not agree

To confuse matters, I have £600 worth of Tesco deal tokens that I could use if I booked it through Virgin or Cosmos - would this make it cheaper to do it this way, or would I still be better off doing it separately

If you mean £600 converted Deals then it will almost certainly not be cheaper to do it this way. If you mean £2400 (ie £600x4 conversted) then it may be. If you use Deals you lose any other online discount so I wouldn't use £600 personally, as it'll be sucked up by any savings you could have made.

I've never heard of waiting to do car hire at the airport but this sounds like a guaranteed way to pay massively over the odds, to me. I just go for the standard "Brit abroad" car hire which includes all the necessay CDW etc.

I'm glad you had a great time :T

chickie123

Hi Kerrymay

We have gone to Orlando every year since having the kids (10 yrs ago ) we always had package deals but were finding the villas chosen for us were deterating ie. dirty pool, smelly and damp rooms, enough wrong to spoil the holiday. So I now use this website www.holiday-rentals.co.uk you can deal with the owners direct, we stayed at ref. 402226 great for us as the estate is fairly new andwalking distance to Walmart . It is the little things in the villa that makes a huge diff to our holiday huge tv, internet connection, tv in every room with dvd, games room as we use the villa alot in the eve as I have a little one that so needs his bed !

We now fly Ba, I know they are getting alot of bad press but the planes are newer and the tvs always work overall fab IMO ! We used to fly Virgin but every time we were having awful experiences with them but used them as they were cheaper.

Car hire either Alamo or Dollar book as soon in advance its much cheaper just make sure u get CDW. This way of holiday does cost more but its so worth it as were getting fussier as were getting older. Enjoy ur plannin xx