Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

adamrow

pcyuljr wrote: »

Hi all,

This is my first ever post on the forum although I have been a long time reader.

I am going to Florida on the 5th June and plan a week in Orlando and a week at St Petes.

I have been going round in circles trying to get the best value theme park tickets for our first week and would like some advice.

We are planning to hit four parks, with both Universals being definites. Here comes my first two questions;

• Based on our itinerary we will be doing each park for one day once. Advice seems to be to pre-book tickets to save money. However the only ones I can see to book for the two Universal Parks are the '14 day unlimited access' ones, the best value total so far being £162 for 2 adults, which works out at just over £40 each person for each Universal park. Is £40 an average/low/high daily entry price to the park? I am wondering that as we are only visiting one day each park whether we would be better buying gate tickets/booth tickets or if the 14 day pass is still the best value regardless of us only using it for 2 days.
  

• If we were to purchase the above 14 day tickets how easy/likely is it to be able to sell the remaining days on the pass (probably 9 days left on it as doing the two parks within the first 5 days) to a booth or alike? Would we get any value or just a nominal amount like $5?
  

The other two attractions are probably going to be Seaworld and Discovery Cove (with Dolphin Swim). I haven't read much on the forums about Discovery Cove. I have read good reviews on Trip Advisor, but from a Money Saver user perspective, is it good value?

• Best value I have found for these two parks is £358 with dolphin swims. The best/cheapest site appears to be 'Floridatix'. Does anybody have any experience/views on this site or know any better value sellers?
  

Thanks a lot for any help.

(Oh and I'm still on the lookout for any good car offers for our second week at St Pete's!)

I am off to Orlando in 2 weeks (fingers crossed) and I booked all my tickets through Attraction Tickets Direct.

I booked the Dolphin swim package at Discovery Cove and you get entry to Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens included. Not sure if this was the same with the company you looked at. I had a free under water camera with my booking aswell. You need to book the day you want to visit Discovery Cove in advance as they only allow a limited number of entrants per day.

The Universal tickets price you have is what i paid, not sure about the cost on the gate as I haven't been before.

Adam

Fruity1

Booked my Ultimate swim package to swim with Dolphins with Charter Travel I found them to be cheapest at that time. As with Adam above it includes entry to Sea World, Busch Gardens and Aquatica.

I rang them stating the day we want to swim and they rang me back later that day confirming it was available. If its this June you're going I'd suggest booking soon.

pcyuljr

Thanks for the advice guys.

As we only have chance to do 4 parks in Orlando, the Ultimate Swim Package won't be worth it for me.

The best deal I have found so far is with Travel Republic (who I think Charter Travel are a subsidiary of) and is £512 for Discovery Swim/Sea World and both Universals. I don't think I am going to beat that, but will await for somebody to prove me wrong!

debbie21_2

Hi im off to Orlando at the begining of June but only want to go to a few of the parks, maybe 1 universal park and 1 waterpark. What's the cheapest way to get tickets? Also is there anybody going just before me, maybe I could buy any unused tickets from you? x

wishies_x

u109230 wrote: »

We recently returned from Orlando (a week before a certain volcano erupted ).

A month prior to our trip, I bought 14 day Disney tickets from their UK website for 3 adults & 2 kids using my Visa card. I printed out the A4 receipt & took it with me on holiday.

On the first day we arrived at Magic Kingdom & went over to the Will Call booths. Only I had to show photo ID (passport) as the transaction was on my card & no other names showed on the A4 receipt anyway. I collected all 5 tickets & we then individually signed each ticket.

Thanks everyone for your help! - I'm still very confused though lol. I got my tickets from attractiontix and my dad hasnt printed off any confirmation/a4 receipt, but we have the actual tickets?

So .. This is what im understanding, please tell me if you think i'm wrong cos i am dreading getting over there and not being able to play! I 'assume' i'm ok not having the printed confirmation to collect them cause I already have them? And i will just need photo ID for the first day to go along with my fingerprint just incase my fingerprint doesnt work? Ohhh! I hate the holiday lead up! Booooo!

gimmeabargain

Hi, spent a while looking for the right place to ask this and this seems the most relevant.

I'm looking to book flights to Florida with Continental Airlines. I'm wondering what card I have better coverage with booking, should I book with visa or american express. Which offers me the best coverage if the airline goes bust or something crazy like a volcano erupts and my flight is cancelled. Thanks!!!

jeanniebeanie_2

gimmeabargain wrote: »

Hi, spent a while looking for the right place to ask this and this seems the most relevant.

I'm looking to book flights to Florida with Continental Airlines. I'm wondering what card I have better coverage with booking, should I book with visa or american express. Which offers me the best coverage if the airline goes bust or something crazy like a volcano erupts and my flight is cancelled. Thanks!!!

If you are worried about the volcano then the question you should be asking is should I be booking with Continental? It is unlikely that a non-EU registered airline would give you ANY assistance should the worst happen- you would be on your own with the airline under no obligation to do anything for you at all. :eek:

gimmeabargain

jeanniebeanie wrote: »

If you are worried about the volcano then the question you should be asking is should I be booking with Continental? It is unlikely that a non-EU registered airline would give you ANY assistance should the worst happen- you would be on your own with the airline under no obligation to do anything for you at all. :eek:

Was only joking about the volcano to be honest, I'm not going til Ocotber, so sure all this will be over by then. More worried about airline going bus, who would offer the best coverage, american express or visa?

johnnyroper

gimmeabargain wrote: »

Was only joking about the volcano to be honest, I'm not going til Ocotber, so sure all this will be over by then. More worried about airline going bus, who would offer the best coverage, american express or visa?

at a guess i would say visa.

regardless of where airline is registered dont you get some protection from CAA for airlines going bust etc????
i know anything is possible but the chances ofg continental going bust must be very slim.

Edinburghlass_2

wishies_x wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your help! - I'm still very confused though lol. I got my tickets from attractiontix and my dad hasnt printed off any confirmation/a4 receipt, but we have the actual tickets?

So .. This is what im understanding, please tell me if you think i'm wrong cos i am dreading getting over there and not being able to play! I 'assume' i'm ok not having the printed confirmation to collect them cause I already have them? And i will just need photo ID for the first day to go along with my fingerprint just incase my fingerprint doesnt work? Ohhh! I hate the holiday lead up! Booooo!

As you have hard copy tickets you don't need any ID nor do you need to go to CS desk. Just go to the turnstiles and put your ticket through and your fingerprint taken at the turnstile will then be tied up with your ticket. Each time you visit any of the parks this is what will happen, occasionally they won't work but don't worry about it the CM will keep trying and sometimes you need a new ticket issued as the strip gets distorted but the CM's will help you sort that out.

You won't need photo ID although its a good idea to photocopy all passports before you go and carry a photocopy with you. Don't worry about it and enjoy your holiday.