Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

gill_snape1

Hi all,

I have'nt really posted on here before but I was just wondering if anyone can help me.

We are hoping to go to Orlando on Aug 27th 2011 for 2 weeks on our honeymoon. I was just wondering if anyone knows how to find the cheapest possible flights. We are taking my daughter (5 at the time) and my parents and are on a very tight budget.

Thanks to anyone that can help.

xx

blue_monkey_2

gill_snape1 wrote: »

Hi all,

I have'nt really posted on here before but I was just wondering if anyone can help me.

We are hoping to go to Orlando on Aug 27th 2011 for 2 weeks on our honeymoon. I was just wondering if anyone knows how to find the cheapest possible flights. We are taking my daughter (5 at the time) and my parents and are on a very tight budget.

Thanks to anyone that can help.

xx

Its too early to find flights for then, seats are released 12 months in advance (so mid September for your return flight). However, you can book a fly drive with Virgin and save 10% if you use the 'fly drive' tab on their website and choose no insurance for the car. You'll be charged £30 for the car but will get 10% discount for booking online - plus Quidco. For us it was cheaper than booking flights with Virgin Atlantic. I am not sure how other tour operators work.

The cheapest ones are going to be the ones that are split journeys to be honest, and with a 5 year old it will be pretty hard going. You don't want to arrive on your honeymoon stressed.

I just re-read. You are taking your parents on your honeymoon....? :eek:

gill_snape1

:rotfl:Lol yep we certainly are.

Since we decided we wanted to go to Orlando for the honeymoon (my fiance has never been before) we knew we couldnt go without my little one so then decided to make it a proper family holiday because my dd doesnt get to spend alot of time with my parents as they work etc.

LadyfromVenice

Hi,

I've booked to go to Orlando at Halloween (2011!) with First Choice. We've never been on holiday before and were a bit taken in by everything the travel agent had to say .

Have BIG reservations about the hotel booked - Orlando Continental Plaza. More negative comments than good on Trip Advisor.

Has anybody stayed there? Should I change our accommodation?

Would really like any info you have on this.

TIA

johnnyroper

LadyfromVenice wrote: »

Hi,

I've booked to go to Orlando at Halloween (2011!) with First Choice. We've never been on holiday before and were a bit taken in by everything the travel agent had to say .

Have BIG reservations about the hotel booked - Orlando Continental Plaza. More negative comments than good on Trip Advisor.

Has anybody stayed there? Should I change our accommodation?

Would really like any info you have on this.

TIA

if i were you i would look at different options if you have BIG reservations,the trip advisor reviews are normally fairly accurate.i went to florida in march and the hotel i had for second week in miami was truly awful i did not bother to check reviews before i went so had inconvenience of having to change when i was there,as it goes i ended up going back to orlando but it meant some hours of my holiday wasted. for info it was the days inn thunderbird in sunny isles.
i would advise looking at the quality inn international drive or quality inn plaza instead of what you have booked they are in roughly the same area,i also dont think there is much price difference between them with first choice/thomson.
i stayed at quality inn international in march and it was really good recently been refurbed,the rooms were large and clean/quiet but at a reasonable price.
hope this helps you.

chaosweddings

LadyfromVenice wrote: »

Hi,



Have BIG reservations about the hotel booked - Orlando Continental Plaza. More negative comments than good on Trip Advisor.

Has anybody stayed there? Should I change our accommodation?

Would really like any info you have on this.

TIA

We originally booked the continental plaza with first choice but looked at the reviews and changed our booking , we are now staying at the doubletree resort on i drive and we leave in 10 weeks . im sooooo excited as ive never been to the usa before, any tips would be great
thanks

Bunny200

Thinking of going to Orlando next April with an 8 year old & 5 year old (2 adults 2 Children). I've been looking at flights and it's so much more cheaper to have an indirect flight. So the question is, how crazy would it be to do indirect flights with young kids? Has anyone done it? Was it dreadful? Not sure we can justify the cost of direct flights but have reservation to the indirect option so thought I would ask the people who know!
Thanks

KarenG

Bunny200 wrote: »

Thinking of going to Orlando next April with an 8 year old & 5 year old (2 adults 2 Children). I've been looking at flights and it's so much more cheaper to have an indirect flight. So the question is, how crazy would it be to do indirect flights with young kids? Has anyone done it? Was it dreadful? Not sure we can justify the cost of direct flights but have reservation to the indirect option so thought I would ask the people who know!
Thanks

Hi

I have done as many indirect as direct.


Pros of indirect:

• Cheaper (this can be a big pro )
• The chance to stretch your legs a bit sooner before the final relatively short hop. My kids were very similar age to yours when they first flew indirect and this actually suited them
• Clear customs and immigration at your first port of entry so it's just off the plane and collect cases in Orlando (you can queue for quite a while for customs and immigration at Orlando as you tend to arrive at the same time as a load of other Brits )
• Can mean you can fly from a more local airport, reducing travel time and money

Cons

• Time on plane longer
• Longer travel time
• Two lots of take offs and landings (big one if you don't like flying!)

How much cheaper is it......?

Bunny200

KarenG wrote: »

Hi

I have done as many indirect as direct.



Pros of indirect:

• Cheaper (this can be a big pro )
• The chance to stretch your legs a bit sooner before the final relatively short hop. My kids were very similar age to yours when they first flew indirect and this actually suited them
• Clear customs and immigration at your first port of entry so it's just off the plane and collect cases in Orlando (you can queue for quite a while for customs and immigration at Orlando as you tend to arrive at the same time as a load of other Brits )
• Can mean you can fly from a more local airport, reducing travel time and money

Cons

• Time on plane longer
• Longer travel time
• Two lots of take offs and landings (big one if you don't like flying!)

How much cheaper is it......?

We can do 2 weeks in hotel + flights for around £2500 or we can do flights only for £8000+:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

.....unless I'm going about it all wrong!

tinshed

Whats the standard percentage to tip in resturants in Orlando?

Ive heard double the sales tax, then got told this only amounted to 12-13%. This was too little. Then heard that the standard is around 18% and rising if the service is excellent.

Plus if you go somewhere like the Golden Coral which is self-service you still tip, even if your only served a few drinks.