Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

johnnyroper

KarenG wrote: »

If I was doing it all over again for the first time I would probably not stay onsite at Disney for the whole time, ie three weeks.

The first question is, can you drive and are you prepared to? (It is really easy).

You may find 3 weeks of Disney free dining is too much ( I am a huge Disney fan, love staying onsite but we did 12 nights free dining once and it was more of a curse than a blessing, in the end). Different strokes for different folks though. I also think it could be a shame to miss out on the many great restaurants not sited at Disney (but very near).

The gamble is, some people find that staying onsite is "too much Disney", and if you decide on three weeks at Old Key West and then you end up being one of those types of people, you've left all your eggs in one basket. If you had another accommodation option to move onto then the risk is less. Please don't think I'm saying you won't love it - you probably will - but Disney fans can get very puritancial about staying onsite being the best option - it simply isn't for everyone.

I have stayed onsite, offsite, villa, hotel, condo and every combination therein over the years and my favourite is onsite, but there are pros and cons to each, so you have to guess what your family's preferences are likely to be.

The one bed at Old Key West is a really nice size. You have a pretty big living area with a fully equipped kitchen, spacious balcony with table and chairs, and a lovely big bedroom with massive bed and bathroom with jacuzzi tub. They are pretty lovely! Also nice to have the washer dryer too

It's a lovely resort

as karenG says there is no "best option" as everyone is different,i have never stayed onsite but if i was going to a week would be the max.i like going to orlando and the parks during the day and the odd evening show etc but anymore than that and it would be way too much disney for me.i stayed on idrive last time and found it nice and relaxing with a lot of choices for eating places at far better prices than disney.
next year i am staying in a nice condo at bahama bay a short drive from the parks,the only advantage for staying at a disney for me would be saving on the car park charges.

it is definately a case of each to their own best thing to do is weigh up all the pro's and con's of each option and decide what is best for you.whatever you decide i am sure you will enjoy orlando but be prepared to spend a shed load of cash on flights,accomodation,tickets and general spends but it is well worth it.

blue_monkey_2

TurnaroundSue wrote: »

Hi BM, which preloaded card have you got and do you mean you got a cash advance for your dollars on a credit card with no fee, as I had a leaflet from Tesco last week stating that is the case?

I also saw on the credit card forum that NOT to use a Tesco credit card as it hammers you for exchange/commission rates, but not sure how this compares to other cc companies.

I am not sure what to do - a think a preloaded card is the best way, but don't know which one to use.

Chaosweddings mentioned the fairfax card and was wondering if they could say whether this is the best one?

Also had an email from Virgin yesterday and the last shuttle launch is happening on 1 November (whilst we are there) so have booked VIP tickets to see that - can't wait.

Been a funny few days, really tired, think I have a bug so I have been reading an not much typing, I'll answer this but then I'll post back some more later. Me, obsessed? Hpw can you tell? :rotfl:

I already priced up next years holiday..... is that bad? We want to go back Feb 2012 for DS birthday when he is 8 and he can be spoilt.

3 weeks - I would stay elsewhere too, we are doing 1 week Int Drive, 1 week Disney AKV (no DP - do not fancy the restaurants in AK tbh) and then the last week OKW full dining plan. This is perfect for us.

Money: I have a Tesco Credit Card and I took it to the BdC in Tescos and got a card that I pre-loaded in dollars, (possibly fairfx?), it is a Vias card so I was able to use it to pay for the Hasloowen and Xmas Party and I knew what I was paying. I did not get any charges on the exchange and I knew the rate I was getting the money at - and of course I got the CC points too.

I would not use it overseas unless desperate, I have a Santander Zero card I will use instead (however, I am sure the rate will not be as soon as Tescos) but we intend to load the pre-paid card with around $2000 before we go and have around $500 in cash with us to spend.

moggitymog

we also used the santander zero cc when we were in florida

kimmc77

We love Disney and have always stay onsite. DH has family over there so they come and stay for the weekend in Disney with us. We are going next year and booked with Virgin with Dining Plan, 14days unlimited disney, free universal tickets for 2 adults and 2 children for £3800. Have to say we take less than £1000 spending money but do have a credit card to hand for any large purchases. We have always done better on the exchange rate this way. We don't go mad with the spending. Just something we have never needed to do.

We dont drive over there we use iride. We have always found the drivers very helpful. We just love it over there



PS I even got married at the Swan and Dolphin Hotel. 6 years ago

jmr_2

thanks for reply kareng, johnnyroper, bluemonkey and Kimm (I dont know how to do the thank you thing). Well all your posts confirm its different strokes for different folks! Karen you suggest not to stay on resort for a first trip, but also say its your fave option! I don't mind the idea of driving, but I hadnt wanted to add another expense, and someone mentioned that using taxis, as and when needed, wouldnt be as expensive as hiring/insurance etc? Is it far from Disney Key West to Universal and what sort of time do we need to allocate for Universal and HP etc? If we have a dining plan I assume we can eat at any Disney Park, is that right, providing its one of the allocated eating places? The other disney perks were airport transfers, free transport around the parks (or was it just the key west resort?), free boat between downtime disney and resort. but again I am not sure how relevant these things are, as I can't imagine the scale of the place. I will keep reading and thinking, so thanks for any other useful info that will be offered that will inform my decision.

jmr_2

Now I know how to say thank you properly ! I know it seems obvious, but it wasn't to me, not straight away!

KarenG

jmr wrote: »

Karen you suggest not to stay on resort for a first trip, but also say its your fave option! I don't mind the idea of driving, but I hadnt wanted to add another expense, and someone mentioned that using taxis, as and when needed, wouldnt be as expensive as hiring/insurance etc? Is it far from Disney Key West to Universal and what sort of time do we need to allocate for Universal and HP etc? If we have a dining plan I assume we can eat at any Disney Park, is that right, providing its one of the allocated eating places? The other disney perks were airport transfers, free transport around the parks (or was it just the key west resort?), free boat between downtime disney and resort. but again I am not sure how relevant these things are, as I can't imagine the scale of the place. I will keep reading and thinking, so thanks for any other useful info that will be offered that will inform my decision.

Hi again

Disney World is roughly the size of Greater Manchester. It's big!

Just to slightly correct something - I didn't say I wouldn't stay onsite for my first visit - but that I wouldn't stay for the whole 3 weeks However I think that can add extra complexities in terms of split stays and I just don't know well enough about how that all works to advise.

Old Key West is linked directly to all theme parks and Downtown Disney by bus (and boat for the latter - lovely trip!)

If you're an onsite guest and in theory Disney day visitor you can use all and any transport free: monorail, boat, bus to navigate between parks and hotels.

I understand the logic and rationale people use to say it's cheaper not to have a car but I don't necessarily agree - except in certain cicumstances. What you could do - if you do a split stay - say 11 days Disney and 10 days offsite - is just hire a car for the offsite bit. It gives you extra freedom, and honestly the food and shopping choices are way cheaper.

With the Dining Plan you can eat at pretty much any Disney venue. Some "cost" more credits than others, and some absolutely must be booked as soon as the dates are released (180 days plus an extra 10 if you are onsite). This is one of the things I don't like about the Dining Plan and why I would never do it for a stay over a few days long. This only applies to the "Table Service" meals - for Quick service (the casual option) you just get in the queue with everyone else

I would allocate two days at Universal - one for each park. If you stay onsite you get the amazing line jumping privelege for almost every ride and I highly recommend this.

In terms of distance, we usually drive so it's not terribly relevant so my advice could be a bit rubbish! But from Old Key West Universal is a good 20 minute drive down motorway type roads, or longer if you go down International Drive as there is a lot of start / stopping.

Hope that helps!

blue_monkey_2

jmr wrote: »

thanks for reply kareng, johnnyroper, bluemonkey and Kimm (I dont know how to do the thank you thing). Well all your posts confirm its different strokes for different folks! Karen you suggest not to stay on resort for a first trip, but also say its your fave option! I don't mind the idea of driving, but I hadnt wanted to add another expense, and someone mentioned that using taxis, as and when needed, wouldnt be as expensive as hiring/insurance etc? Is it far from Disney Key West to Universal and what sort of time do we need to allocate for Universal and HP etc? If we have a dining plan I assume we can eat at any Disney Park, is that right, providing its one of the allocated eating places? The other disney perks were airport transfers, free transport around the parks (or was it just the key west resort?), free boat between downtime disney and resort. but again I am not sure how relevant these things are, as I can't imagine the scale of the place. I will keep reading and thinking, so thanks for any other useful info that will be offered that will inform my decision.

Lotsof things to think about. We do not drive, we prefer using cab, this si why we stay near Universal for one week then Disney for the rest of the holiday.

If you buy a Disney ticket this enables you to use the Disney transportation, yes. It is not only for people who are staying in Disney.

I would not advise relying on a Disney Dining Plan for an entire 3 weeks, it is very restrictive, you have to book tables well in advance and it would tie you to being back at certain times. Not so bad if it is Free I guess as you could use your evening table meals to have character breakfasts, as long as you use them for time you are in Disney it does not matter.

It costs around $20 to get from Disney to Universal and then you have to come back remember, takes around 15 minutes by car, it is do-able by bus but would take longer, we prefer just being able to get there.

If you want to see things beyond Disney you could hire a car for the day - we are taking our licences to enable us to do that and not having a car for the whole 3 weeks we are there.

As for allowing for time time, it all depends on when you go and how old your children are. We went with a 3 and 5 year old in early Feb and it was very, very quiet and they could get on a lot of the rides straightaway - osme we went round and got on again, and again, LOL. We managed to do Universal and IOA in one day. That was everything we wanted to do and some things we went on more than once and we had lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe!! Oh, and we left before it closed. It does depend on what time of year you go. I'd recommend Jan/Feb to anyone.

Allow more time so you can do something extra if you get it done early. I have allowed 2 days this time as we want to go on more. 1 day for Aquatica, 1 day for Typhoon Lagoon, 1 day for Blizzard Beach - this will leave us the evenings free to go somewhere else. We had to leave BB last time at 1pm as it rained really hard so we had the afternoon to do something else.

AK can be done in 1 day, as can Epcot but maybe allow 3 days for both parks so you have a spare day. There is a Rainforest Cafe right outside AK so book in there for your evening meal in advance to be sure of getting a table.

Ask anything else you need to, we'll all be happy to help.

blue_monkey_2

KarenG - great minds think alike

tetrarch

There are now three cards to choose from to avoid the Forrign Currency Loading Fee (which can be as high as 2.85%)

Halifax Clarity
Santander Zero
Post Office

I have both the Sant and the PO cards. The rates are true money-market rates and are the very best you can get. I would recommend telling any card holder that you are travelling to the US as they will make a note on your file and your card won't be blocked the first time you try and use it.

Regards

Tet

Florida addict and villa owner