Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

johnpaul74

Hey guys, its been a while since I was last on this thread, hope you are all well.

Me and my g/f are looking at Florida for the parks next summer and although we cannot get a price right now, we are looking to budget so who would be the recommended flight operator. I've always liked Virgin (LV & NYC) but am conscious that we may pay through the roof.

We are also looking at using a villa. Generally, what is the (and I hate to use the word cheap) most cost effective way of staying in Florida?

Cheers guys.

Phoolgrrrl

is it just 2 of you goin? You may be better off in a hotel. We stay at this condo, but it's 3 bed so maybe to big for uz! Although my mum and dad stayed in it when they went by themselves.
http://www.nextdoortomickey.com/
If you have a hotel room with a fridge it would prob be cheaper, with the benefit of somewhere to keep drinks snacks etc.

johnnyroper

johnpaul74 wrote: »

Hey guys, its been a while since I was last on this thread, hope you are all well.

Me and my g/f are looking at Florida for the parks next summer and although we cannot get a price right now, we are looking to budget so who would be the recommended flight operator. I've always liked Virgin (LV & NYC) but am conscious that we may pay through the roof.

We are also looking at using a villa. Generally, what is the (and I hate to use the word cheap) most cost effective way of staying in Florida?

Cheers guys.

i have booked for next september already so you can get prices now.booked flydrive with v hols i could have waited to see if flights cheaper closer the time but i did not want to take a chance as orlando flights are always busy.
staying in a condo about 10 min drive from parks 14 nights $900ish so not a bad price even just 2 people i still think it would work out cheaper than hotel as you can do some of your own catering should you wish to

johnpaul74

johnnyroper wrote: »

i have booked for next september already so you can get prices now.booked flydrive with v hols i could have waited to see if flights cheaper closer the time but i did not want to take a chance as orlando flights are always busy.
staying in a condo about 10 min drive from parks 14 nights $900ish so not a bad price even just 2 people i still think it would work out cheaper than hotel as you can do some of your own catering should you wish to

Yeah we had seen pricing at about £530 so would we not get a better price than that if we waited?

I am definitely up for the condo and if the exchange rate improves, then it could look very realistic.

blue_monkey_2

johnpaul74 wrote: »

Yeah we had seen pricing at about £530 so would we not get a better price than that if we waited?

I am definitely up for the condo and if the exchange rate improves, then it could look very realistic.

I doubt they would come down, we waited 4 weeks thinking the same and it cost us £200 more than had we booked at that time. We saw them steadily rise so we thought 'sod it, let's do it now'. A few weeks ago seats on that flight were 2k EACH - now the flight is full. If you absolutely know when you are travelling I would book now but maybe check out the price of a fly drive on Virgin Holidays as they are offering 10% discount on Virgin holidays and also 4% cashback on Quidco.

If you are not having a car, remove the insurance, car costs £30 but because you are getting a 10% discount it might work out cheaper - it did for us.

You can chance getting a last minute deal but then you might not get it - depends how badly you want to go. Over on 'The Dibb' there are flights full to the brim and oversubscribed flights with people being bumped off their flights from MCO. :eek:

johnpaul74

blue_monkey wrote: »

I doubt they would come down, we waited 4 weeks thinking the same and it cost us £200 more than had we booked at that time. We saw them steadily rise so we thought 'sod it, let's do it now'. A few weeks ago seats on that flight were 2k EACH - now the flight is full. If you absolutely know when you are travelling I would book now but maybe check out the price of a fly drive on Virgin Holidays as they are offering 10% discount on Virgin holidays and also 4% cashback on Quidco.

If you are not having a car, remove the insurance, car costs £30 but because you are getting a 10% discount it might work out cheaper - it did for us.

You can chance getting a last minute deal but then you might not get it - depends how badly you want to go. Over on 'The Dibb' there are flights full to the brim and oversubscribed flights with people being bumped off their flights from MCO. :eek:

First thing that springs to mind: Full flights, regardless of £2k prices - Are we not in the midst of budget cuts and post recession woes?

traveller

blue_monkey wrote: »

I doubt they would come down, we waited 4 weeks thinking the same and it cost us £200 more than had we booked at that time. We saw them steadily rise so we thought 'sod it, let's do it now'. A few weeks ago seats on that flight were 2k EACH - now the flight is full. If you absolutely know when you are travelling I would book now but maybe check out the price of a fly drive on Virgin Holidays as they are offering 10% discount on Virgin holidays and also 4% cashback on Quidco.

If you are not having a car, remove the insurance, car costs £30 but because you are getting a 10% discount it might work out cheaper - it did for us.

You can chance getting a last minute deal but then you might not get it - depends how badly you want to go. Over on 'The Dibb' there are flights full to the brim and oversubscribed flights with people being bumped off their flights from MCO. :eek:

Hi, totally agree with the above. I too saw flights rise literally from 1 day to the next.The last time i went to Florida was 2004. I had always gone off peak as my kids were young. This time i'm travelling with mainly teens,so i knew the prices are not coming down during the school hols (august) only up. I'd ended up booking a package with thomas cook for 3,400.00. Ironically for 14 nights from the 19th of August that was coming in cheaper, than a lot of flights on their own for 4 adults and 1 child!(3 kids over 12). My accommodation is the comfort in LBV. When i was guessing my dates before the flights were released, i reserved 4 nights at the stay bridge suites i-drive. Normally they never charge my card before i get there using the friends and family link but they did on this occasion, so we will be staying there as well,lol.But i do hope those that have the nerve to hold it out get a deal-it really was playing with my nerves looking everyday,lol.

johnnyroper

johnpaul74 wrote: »

Yeah we had seen pricing at about £530 so would we not get a better price than that if we waited?

I am definitely up for the condo and if the exchange rate improves, then it could look very realistic.

very hard to answer that question in my experience orlando is one of them places that always seems to be very popular/busy and as such prices do not seem to come down closer the time like you would expect,the deals normally seem to be for booking early up until june 8th vhols were offering 10% discount or 15% if a frequent club member.
when i was looking in may/june time the flight prices with thomson went steadily up over a 10 day period from £550-650 if memory serves correctly.i ended up going with the vhols flydrive as i got 15% discount having checked now it would cost about £250 more to book.

as for the villas i think the private owned ones have pricing set out for the year and normally stay the same no matter when you book unless you spek direct with owner and strike a deal at short notice.
the accommodation in orlando is not normally a problem as there are so many options the problems are flight availability.

if i were you i would just bite bullit and book up you have plenty of time to pay,if done with virgin you can set up a direct debit to spread cost like i have

technium

blue_monkey wrote: »

Over on 'The Dibb' there are flights full to the brim and oversubscribed flights with people being bumped off their flights from MCO. :eek:

Hi

Where is this info as I cant find info about over subscribed flights etc, could you post a link?

thanks

KarenG

johnpaul74 wrote: »

First thing that springs to mind: Full flights, regardless of £2k prices - Are we not in the midst of budget cuts and post recession woes?

You're absolutely right of course - and one of the fallouts has been airlines reducing flight availability (some through choice, some because they went out of business!) which has increased prices.