Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

vivatifosi

atro1 wrote: »

Believe it or not you can! After 'Fantasmic' walk around to pick up the launch which takes you straight to Epcot just by the Rose and Crown you then walk up get yourself a pint and watch 'Illuminations'.We leave the car at the Studios as its an easy walk, its along walk from the other side of the lagoon to get out of Epcot and the launch save a very long walk.. So its then the launch back to the studios, its quite unhurried.

Yep, we've done that too. The trick is to sit at the back of Fantasmic (best view imo anyway), preferably in Pocahontas, Mickey or Skar sections, make a swift exit from Fantasmic, go straight out the front and down to the boat dock, there will be one waiting. Only difference is we prefer to watch from Japan - even if its busy there is good viewing standing between the front of the Pagoda and the store but looking slightly to the right of the Peace gate.

MileySmiley_2

poet123 wrote: »

We are looking at going next August(late) for abut 2 weeks and 2 days. Although we have been twice I have forgotten the best sites for flights and car hire. Details of the best sites to use/search for best flight costs, we would prefer manchester flights, but for a good saving would fly from London. Also happy to fly into any Florida airport, and at a push would even consider indirect. The last time we went I spent ages on the net getting all the info, and I know some of you will have done the same and be experts!! so could I pick your brains please?

I have just booked part of a 3 week holiday next August for 2 adults and 2 kids age 10 and 14 so my eldest is classed as an adult with regards to pricing.
I hunted around for 2 weeks looking at lots of diff websites and forums and travel companies, finally booking virgin flights and a intermediate car with full insurance for £3640. I will book a villa for between £395-£450 pw in a few months as there are SO many to choose from.
There were so many options to choose from, I could have flown indirect with 1 change and reduced the cost by £180 but tbh for me that was too little a saving so I've opted for direct flights.
If I had booked a package holiday for the same thing with say.....first choice, just an example I would be looking at a cost of approx £7000.
So by booking separately I will be saving a whopping £2000!
We are going for a villa so we have total flexability, the downside is paying for parking in the parks every time we visit but the plus points far outweigh the negative ones, we get 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms a games room, our own swimming pool, a great kitchen to prepare food for the parks and if we fancy staying in and chucking some food on the barbie then we can...
You could write down all the things apart from the parks that you want from this holiday and that should help you come to a decision.
Good luck with booking.

les64

MileySmiley wrote: »

I have just booked part of a 3 week holiday next August for 2 adults and 2 kids age 10 and 14 so my eldest is classed as an adult with regards to pricing.
I hunted around for 2 weeks looking at lots of diff websites and forums and travel companies, finally booking virgin flights and a intermediate car with full insurance for £3640. I will book a villa for between £395-£450 pw in a few months as there are SO many to choose from.
There were so many options to choose from, I could have flown indirect with 1 change and reduced the cost by £180 but tbh for me that was too little a saving so I've opted for direct flights.
If I had booked a package holiday for the same thing with say.....first choice, just an example I would be looking at a cost of approx £7000.
So by booking separately I will be saving a whopping £2000!
We are going for a villa so we have total flexability, the downside is paying for parking in the parks every time we visit but the plus points far outweigh the negative ones, we get 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms a games room, our own swimming pool, a great kitchen to prepare food for the parks and if we fancy staying in and chucking some food on the barbie then we can...
You could write down all the things apart from the parks that you want from this holiday and that should help you come to a decision.
Good luck with booking.

Please tell me more. I havent been to Florida since 1997, and back then it was just 2 adults. Now it is 2 adults, plus 3 children (13, 10, and 6). Thinking of going for either 2 weeks in February, or 3 weeks in August. I seem to be picking up that it's not much more to stay for the third week. Last time we stayed on Internation Drive. This time we aren't sure what to do.

3 hours on, still reading this thread and not sure where to start !

Les

blue_monkey_2

les64 wrote: »

Please tell me more. I havent been to Florida since 1997, and back then it was just 2 adults. Now it is 2 adults, plus 3 children (13, 10, and 6). Thinking of going for either 2 weeks in February, or 3 weeks in August. I seem to be picking up that it's not much more to stay for the third week. Last time we stayed on Internation Drive. This time we aren't sure what to do.

3 hours on, still reading this thread and not sure where to start !

Les

Les, on the virgin holiday website you can book a fly drive option, the kids go cheaper and the adults a little more so the cost evens out. You can choose to have a car as well and then you can book your accomodation seperately. It is generally cheaper to do this but get quotes anyway.

3 weeks will not cost you much more for tickets - around £20 each for ultimate tickets, just accomodation that you'll need to pay for an extra week.

It depends on where you want to stay though. if you want a hotel or apartment you can book hotels quite cheaply on Expedia and they often have half price or free nights so start looking on there and get some prices and then go from there.

I am not sure on villas as this is something that has never appealed to us (I'd still be tidying a house for the time we were there!!) so I cannot help with that side.

blue_monkey_2

If you sign up to Discovery Cove newseltter they are mailing out offers for the following month (I had one today for Sept) and the Dolphin swim is $199 at in September, $50-$90 cheaper than usual.

chelseablue

Im going to Florida next Thursday for 2 weeks and OMG im excited :j

Does anyone know what the weather should be like first 2 weeks of September. Im hoping for hot and sunny!

Staying at Floridays on International Drive, anyone stayed there?

All I have left to do is hire the car. Driving over there is the only thing Im worried about.

chelseablue

TurnaroundSue wrote: »

My OH has put our holiday onto our pc so when we log on the screensave shows how many days til we go to Florida - only 64 days!!!

Am really nervous tho as the more I read about it all, the more confused I get; like which parks to visit, we have booked car hire and wondering whether we have the right insurance. Where else to visit apart from the parks and because of this, I have put my head in the sand and am scared of making any decisions of any great magnitude :eek:.

So where I should be excited about going, I am really, really apprehensive as I am worried that without enough planning beforehand we will end up walking around, missing loads and not getting the most of the once in a lifetime holiday!:eek::eek::eek:

I feel the exact same!

broonbear

£125 gets you a swim with dolphins at discovery cove and 14 day entry to either seaworld or busch gardens before 30 sept with atd:j

fightfirewithfire

which is the better value- Orlando Flexticket(5 parks or 6 parks) or the Orlando Combi Ticket? Does the combi offer the same as the flex ticket or are there any restrictions/limitations?

wannabe_moneysaver

Morning, I'm a long time lurker/subscriber to this thread and have got loads of good tips from her :beer:.

I am currently trying to convince dh that we can afford to go to Orlando next Oct We've been a few times when it was just the two of us but not since 2003.

We would be going the first 2 weeks in Oct (ds starts school in Aug 2011 and the first 2 weeks are school hols here). I've been looking at the Disney hotels and see that we get get free dining at Moderate hotels during this time. The reason why I'm so keen on Disney hotel is that we'll be able to nip back to the hotel if the kids need a nap, I think we'll spend most/all our time at Disney and leave Universal until kids are older, and we won't be taking a car so the Disney transporation will be great for us.

So my question is, do you think it is likely that we can fly from Scotland (doesn't have to be direct), get a Disney hotel (with free dining) and tickets (for Disney only) for £4k? I know the flights for Oct won't be released until the end of the year if we do the holiday diy but I'm sure we'd have to book the hotel before then before the free dining offer ends.

I've had a look on other forums and I know there are a few ways to get discounts (using Virgin CC to book VH package, AA discount, pricing US and UK Disney sites direct etc) but wondered if anyone knows if £4k is do-able or if I'm likely be nearer £4.5k.

Any thoughts/comments very welcome! TIA.