Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

tonymc

BRIGHTHOPE wrote: »

If I wanted to dine at one of the Epcot restaurants one evening is this possible without paying an entrance fee to the Park?

Unfortunately not. However, the Boardwalk is only a 10 minute stroll away from EPCOT where there are a number of restaurants, both in the hotels and on the Boardwalk itself.

And you will probably get to see some of the fireworks from the Illuminations display as well (not all though!!).

FluffyFiFi

FloFlo wrote: »

Lol we go next August and I have already planned where we are eating each day (free disney dining). Can't even make the reservations until next March.:o I love the planning DH and DD just say whatever and occasionally chip in with something they'd like to do and I slot into the schedule somewhere.

We never hire a car, but we always stay onsite at either Disney or Universal, perhaps when DD is older we will do more off site and further afield but at the moment she loves disney.

I think my family have now tuned out to me when I start talking about what we are going to do in Florida. I have now had a great idea of spending a day at St Pete's but think we should book a night in a hotel so we can have a lovely meal whilst watching the sun go down and not have to worry about driving back to Orlando. I have even got a few hotels in mind.

blue_monkey_2

socrates wrote: »

Having discussed with various people yesterday it seems a villa is the way forward.

So its time to narrow them down again!

Probably looking at 10-14 days.

We will need 2 double beds within the villa

Plus the transport as not driving but I believe this is included.

Close to amenities such as food and probably a nice place to chill on a day off from the hustle and bustle.

socrates, there is no way you could be without a car if staying in a villa. They are not serviced by Public Transport and you would need to get cabs everywhere - it will cost you a fortune!!

Also, you'll not get transport to the villa so you'll have to get there from the airport.

Unless you of course you are talking about the Disney Deluxe Villa Resort I mentioned above - in which case you would just need a 1 bed. They are apartments, not villas - although they are in the shape of a villa, LOL. There is a bedroom with double bed and a double bed in the lounge. You can get a 2 bed villa that has 2 double beds, the prices will be on the Disney website.

What is your budget for a start - some of them cost a fortune so that will help you narrow it down more

If I work out how to post pics I'll post the pics I took of our OKW apartment.

Someone mentioned about food but we went to the supermarket and always had things in to make a snack, bread, ham, cheese, hot dogs and burgers - it was much cheaper than buying from the shops and we was hardly ever on resort to buy them.

We are bit of a rare breed I guess. We was there for 20 days and we did something every single day - even when we moved hotels we went to the parks in the evening!! If we was not at the parks we was in the pool or doing something in the hotel - the Disney hotels usually have activities planned. Came back absolutely exhausted - but it was MORE than worth it!!

have soent the last 3-4 days doing my holiday albums, Bonus Print have a 2 fr 1 offer on that ends tomorrow night. I am on the 5th album already.... No idea how on earth I am going to fit all the Disney Pictures into one album. We came back with 3,300 photos (after deletions) and I am waiting for our Disney Photopass to come back with 500 pictures on it too.

johnnyroper

nuttyp wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know what the weather is usually like around the beginning of march?? And depending on this, when will 2012 holidays be available, for either march or september?? Got to start planning. Wanted to go this year but youngest will be doing her gcse exams so its a no holiday this year!! But we are dam well going to have a great 1 next year!!! lol

last year i went in mid march and found the weather to be fine majority of time.the sun was out temps around mid twenties with low humidity so was ideal for all the walking around parks.cannot think of anything worse than sweating like a pig doing all that walking.

2 of the days it rained and i have never seen rain like it luckily it was on the day i changed hotels and drove to miami,the florida turnpike was getting like a river with the amount of standing water on it.the following day when i drove back to orlando (miami hotel !!!!!! so decided to go back to orlando) the rain was still as bad and all the orange tree fields were flooded the rain drops were like golf balls and coming down sideways.as a result i think the parks were probably empty the same cannot be said for the big maccy d's on i-drive it was heaving.

socrates

blue_monkey wrote: »

socrates, there is no way you could be without a car if staying in a villa. They are not serviced by Public Transport and you would need to get cabs everywhere - it will cost you a fortune!!

Also, you'll not get transport to the villa so you'll have to get there from the airport.

Unless you of course you are talking about the Disney Deluxe Villa Resort I mentioned above - in which case you would just need a 1 bed. They are apartments, not villas - although they are in the shape of a villa, LOL. There is a bedroom with double bed and a double bed in the lounge. You can get a 2 bed villa that has 2 double beds, the prices will be on the Disney website.

What is your budget for a start - some of them cost a fortune so that will help you narrow it down more

Thats exactly what I was talking about as it was called - "Disney Deluxe Villa Resort" I assumed it was a villa.

The one bedroom with the bed in the lounge sounds perfect.

I do not think we qualify for the dining plan as we are looking to go on 1st April for 10-14 days .

So which ones would you/anyone recommend within the Deluxe Villa range?

Was I correct in assuming that we get transport etc?

KarenG

socrates wrote: »

Thats exactly what I was talking about as it was called - "Disney Deluxe Villa Resort" I assumed it was a villa.

The one bedroom with the bed in the lounge sounds perfect.

I do not think we qualify for the dining plan as we are looking to go on 1st April for 10-14 days .

So which ones would you/anyone recommend within the Deluxe Villa range?

Was I correct in assuming that we get transport etc?

Well, Disney calls them villas but they are really just apartments. I think Blue Monkey was (rightly) checking you didn't think they would be like an actual villa - ie massive with own pool etc.

Are you just looking at Old Key west and Saratoga Springs? They are normally significantly cheaper than the rest.

Yes you will get transport within Disney - if you want to go offsite Disney don't help with that.

KarenG

FluffyFiFi wrote: »

I think my family have now tuned out to me when I start talking about what we are going to do in Florida. I have now had a great idea of spending a day at St Pete's but think we should book a night in a hotel so we can have a lovely meal whilst watching the sun go down and not have to worry about driving back to Orlando. I have even got a few hotels in mind.

Sounds like a great idea to me :T

KarenG

tonymc wrote: »

Unfortunately not. However, the Boardwalk is only a 10 minute stroll away from EPCOT where there are a number of restaurants, both in the hotels and on the Boardwalk itself.

And you will probably get to see some of the fireworks from the Illuminations display as well (not all though!!).

Which restaurant within Epcot did you fancy BRIGHTHOPE? We can try and identify one not within a park that might be a good substitiute?

Great idea from Tony for the Boardwalk (just watch out if you are travelling in the Free Dining period though - you may not get into a restaurant onsite without a massive wait)

socrates

KarenG wrote: »

Well, Disney calls them villas but they are really just apartments. I think Blue Monkey was (rightly) checking you didn't think they would be like an actual villa - ie massive with own pool etc.

Are you just looking at Old Key west and Saratoga Springs? They are normally significantly cheaper than the rest.

Yes you will get transport within Disney - if you want to go offsite Disney don't help with that.

I am looking at any of the resorts - but would prefer the deluxe ones and preferably one that people can recommend

KarenG

socrates wrote: »

I am looking at any of the resorts - but would prefer the deluxe ones and preferably one that people can recommend

Do you mean any deluxe resort or any deluxe villa resort?

I'm not trying to be picky but I will give a different answer depending on which you want.

My favourite deluxe villa resort would be the Beach Club Villas, followed by Bay Lake Tower, followed by Boardwalk Villas. The reason for those is that they are walking distance to at least one theme park, love the themeing, great pools and nightlife on the doorstep.

Favourite deluxe resort - probably the Yacht Club. No villas here though (unless you include the Beach Club Villas which are next door).

All of these are a lot more $$$ than the current Old Key West/ Saratoga Springs offers, unfortunately.