Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

guitarman001

blue_monkey wrote: »

We need more info if you want a summary:

How many are going?
Where are you flying from?
Where do you want to stay?
What do you want to do?
How long you want to go for?
What time of year (early summer is hot and busy)
Do you want car hire?
Etc.....

OK, here goes (I;ve checked SO much stuff online already my eyes are watering from staring at the screen so much!):

Two adults, as well as a 15 y/o and 16y/o.

Hopefully flying from Edinburgh airport or closest to there...

Probably stay OFF Disneyland/Universal (as I assume it would cost a fortune) but close enough to get the shuttle bus there - nothing too expensive. I HEARD there was a cheap shuttle bus, anyway.... also heard taxis cost a WHACK!

We'll be going for about 14 days.

Say 6 days Universal, a couple for Disney, and several others at a waterpark/other attraction/rest!! I say 6 days Universal as we did Disney Paris just this year - but I hear you say Universal isn't that great?

Probably looking at beginning of June if possible...

Don't think we want any car hire..

Ideally want to spend less than £1.5k - 2k each all in. Would be over the moon if it came to that or less. Sounds a LOT....


EDIT - I don't know if Disney will be as good second time round but Disney Pair sthis year was the BEST holiday ever!!

blue_monkey_2

Guitarman, So you are saying £6-8k ALL IN?? You'll be fine.

First off, have a look at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ as I have suggested above. You need to look for Old Key West or Saratoga Springs as, like everyone else, you have assumed it is expensive. We paid £926 for a one bed apartment with full kitchen and washer/dryer (whch saved on luggage allowance, look at my posts on this page about that). However this included a FULL Dining Plan for free which meant we got lunch, sit down evening meal and a snack - for free, for every day of our stay so we got an absolute steal!! Food cost a bomb!! Do not base your trip here on DLP - the 2 are VERY different I promise, I go to both. if you have not been to Orlando before, you will be amazed at the sheer size of everything.

I would recommend you have a look at staying onsite as you could get accomodation for 2 weeks for around £2300 - and this includes ALL food except breakfast. You can save your credits if not on site for one day and use them for breakfast or have 2 credits for a dinner show - stuff like that. It is worth considering. Also, the snack credits can be used for buying fudge to bring home as presents - or cakes and Ice creams. There are loads of things you can get with it. We got loads of Fudge with the 9 credits we had left and bought them home with us.

The other bonus about stay onsite is the free shuttle bus to and from the airport which will save you some money if not driving!! You can leave your luggage at reception on the last day, go off to the parks, get back to the bus, get your luggage and it takes you to the airport.

Now to your flights, I am not sure how to fly from Edinburgh if I am honest, but I would certainly look into Flight Only and then getting your accomodation above as the transport is very easy to use if you do not have a car.

It is expensive to get to and from Universal from Disney by Taxi and shuttle buses are a pain (IMO) so I would consider doing a split stay and moving to International Drive area for week 2, or part of or hiring a car for a few days - something I wish we had done in hindsight, but it is done now. There is a lynx bus though.

When we went in 07 our hotel was 10 minutes from the Ticket and Transportation Centre (the monorail that takes you into Disney, where the car park is) but the shuttle bus took a whopping 1 hour as we had to go around and get other people too - so it might not be a case of just getting on the bus and going to the park - and then you have set times on getting back.

Busch gardens, if you buy the combined Seaworld/Aquatica/BG one - gives you free shuttle from Seaworld there and back. We used this.

It depends on how much you want to see and do and in what parks in all fairness. I found Universal boring, would not go back there again for the day anyhow, Island of Adventure is fab. However, if you have not been before then you need to see it for yourself and not take my word for it, else you'll never know what you are missing and it is a long way to go and wonder 'what if'. For us it was a 'do once' thing.

blue_monkey_2

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/holidays/orlando/offers.aspx?cm_re=default-_-vhot_deals-_-5&utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=featured_deal_5&utm_campaign=homepage_promos

Page for getting the cheap deal, might be worth bookmarking - they have October 11 on there - I got £2690 at the Rosen Plaza for 4 of us!!
http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/brochures/florida/holidays/orlando/international_drive/offers.aspx

guitarman001

blue_monkey wrote: »

Guitarman, So you are saying £6-8k ALL IN?? You'll be fine.

Yes, all in - IDEALLY under £5-6k total if it can be done, but including everything from flights, hotels, food for four etc...

Thanks SO much for your detailed post - I have to run out just now but know that I will read it with great interest as soon as I get back! I REALLY appreciate your help in this - very much so!

blue_monkey_2

No trouble, the key is to play with dates for the flights. For example, flying on a Friday or Saturday usually has lots of added surcharges and was double the price of Sunday when we looked. As was Thursday, but some thursdays were fine.

Who can you fly with, do you know?

guitarman001

Hi - sorry I'm not sure yet - still at the general planning stage. I will try and get more info but work demands are tight right now (still have to read your post in detail - I will!).

tinkertaylor05

SO we've never been to WDW or the US for the matter and want to plan a trip for April 2012.

I don't drive so am thinking staying on site will be best?
DD will be 7 and the only real objective we have will be Magical Kingdom I think?? oh and Universal if not only for WWHP!

We love DLP and would like to plan a trip to WDW as DD will be a little older to appreciate it. I imagine there will be other trips to come and want to be realistic about what we will fit in

Also am thinking of just 7 days doing parks followed by a cruise has anyone any experience of this, in particular interested in Disney cruise?Do you think 7 days will be enough? Any recommendations of TA's or accomodation on site which is best suited for MK?

Any advice much appreciated x

NickAJ

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Hello All,[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Hopefully we can use your collective knowledge to plan our holiday in Orlando next Easter. We have the flights arranged, flying with KLM / Delta via Detroit and back via NY with a two night stay in central NY. That part is all arranged and booked, we now have to sort out Orlando.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]There are 5 of us, 2 adults, 3 girls (15,14 & 10) so we are looking at a mixture of traditional Disney, Fun Parks / Rides, Water parks, Shopping and some rest and relaxation for Mum and Dad. I don't mind hiring a car, but don't really want to have to drive every day if I can avoid it. We also have a preference to stay in one place once we have unpacked, but could cope with one move if necessary.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So, where do we stay?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In a villa near a place with good nightlife that is a walk / short taxiride away, so that we can have a drink with our meal. If we are in such a place it would ideally have a pool / entertainment etc.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Or do we have a week in a Disney resort and hit the parks hard for that week by buying park tickets with the hotel. Then find somewhere for the second week allowing us to relax and do the other Orlando attractions.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Whilst we are not on a very tight budget, neither are we “loaded” so value for money is the requirement.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]We appreciate this is a lot to ask but hope to use the collective experience of everyone on here to avoid making basic mistakes. If anyone needs any more information please do ask.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Thank you all in advance.[/FONT]

duckcity

Have a look at Cypress Pointe at Lake Buena Vista. Close to Downtown Disney, lots of restaurants within walking distance. They have three bedroom apartments( two bedrooms with one lock off studio apartment - good for teenagers) two swimming pools plus other activities/snack bar.

A_little_stressed!!

Been looking about, but just want to check. Is the offer on MSE for Disney tickets the best offer around? Adult ticket £240 for 14days? Through DisneyInternational.com want to buy asap

Edit I'm going for 21 days but dont want to go to parks every day.