Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

blue_monkey_2

Why would you buy the 5 day Disney premium for £214 when you can buy the 14 day Ultimate for £228?

I'd always suggest 14/21 day Ultimate tickets because - as with happened with us - it rained so hard we had to go back to the hotel, and again the next day - we effectively lost 1 1/2 days at Animal Kingdom and our 2 planned days there actually took 4 half days. Without the Ultimates we might not have been able to go back, nor would we have been able to go somewhere else that day (undercover of course!!).

juliejay

Because we had 14 days unlimited last year and did everything and more that we wanted at Disney. We didn't plan on any Disney this year so have unlimited Seaworld, BG, Aquatica,, Universal and IOA. We are also booked for Discovery Cove and an airboat/manatees adventure which looks great and then off to the space centre for a day. We are dithering about Clearwater or Cocoa Beach at the weekend as well. So as you can see we only need a few extra bits but it seems a shame to go all that way and not do at least Epcot, HS and MK. But the prices are confusing me.

Flash_G_2

bobsa1 wrote: »

Hi everyone, I'm totally new to this board as planning a Disney Holiday as last family holiday before dd1 goes to Uni (empty next syndrome already lol)
We are a family of 5 - 2 adults and 3 dd's aged 7,14 & 17. After spending half my life on the web I think I have comeup with a good deal but I'm not sure so would really value input

We are looking at visiting for 14 days from 26th August this year and plan to stay at Port Orleans where they have rooms for 5. Because of various deals Disney are doing we would get free counter service for everyone and buy 14 day disney tickets which would cost approx £2600 for accom, food and tickets to disney for the whole family

I've then found flights via thomas cook airlines (probably not the best I know but very cheap) from Manchester to Sanford for approx £500 each incl luggage, meals etc. We would then need to book a car and disney are doing an offer which would allow for two drivers for about £300 for the hire of the car.

So the trip should cost about £5300 does this seem a decent deal?

Any help appreciated

That sounds a pretty good deal to me... the biggie is the flights and if you get them for £500 each that sounds a bargain especially at that time of year.

blue_monkey_2

juliejay wrote: »

Because we had 14 days unlimited last year and did everything and more that we wanted at Disney. We didn't plan on any Disney this year so have unlimited Seaworld, BG, Aquatica,, Universal and IOA. We are also booked for Discovery Cove and an airboat/manatees adventure which looks great and then off to the space centre for a day. We are dithering about Clearwater or Cocoa Beach at the weekend as well. So as you can see we only need a few extra bits but it seems a shame to go all that way and not do at least Epcot, HS and MK. But the prices are confusing me.

But for the sake of a few quid it gives you flexibility if the weather is bad and something is not on or if you need to come away early of you want to pop over to Disney in the evening. It's only a few pounds, seems daft to me, that's all. You could probably get some of that back by buying via Disney themselves and getting cashback.

You also get extra vouchers like $15 off Planet Hollywood meal if you buy fro disney. I am not sure how many of you are going but you could order 1 ad, 1 child ticket and get one lot of vouchers and then a day later buy another 1 ad and 1 child and you'll have 2 lots of vouchers (free golf, half price waterboat ride, $15 off PH meal, free PH merchandise voucher), plus you'll have the cashback and it'll work out cheaper than the options you have mentioned.

toniq

Hi Bluemonkey,

I'm a total novice on disney we r going in August, what u explained above is something i need to deal with, we want to do as much as possible in the 11 days we r over there, without waterparks.

to get discounts on meals would be a fab bonus, i'm not sure what age they conside a child to, but everyone in our group will be over 13.
do u have any ideas whats the best way to do this? whats baffled me is we want an ultimate that will cover everything, any help is much appreciated, also am i better to buy it here in uk or over in the states? we are renting a villa in kissemee.

Many thanks for any help x

juliejay

Well here is my plan so far:
SeaWorld 1.5
Universal 1
IoA 1
Uni/Ioa return to faves 1
Aquatica 3 x .5
Shopping 2 x .5
Downtown Disney .5
Busch Gardens 1
Discovery Cove 1
Manatee 1
Kennedy Space Center 1
So that’s 11.5. Realistically we are not going to fit in more than 5 Disney without meeting ourselves coming back. We are not keen on park hopping since it just seems to add complications to the day with three kids and takes time up. We prefer to hit one park at ropedrop, keep going til 2 ish and then relax at the waterpark or the pool and a nice meal, or maybe the otherway round on the second week- late start, shopping etc, hit the parks mid afternoon and stay for the shows.
Its just annoying to have to pay so much when we only want five days. 14/21 days might be a better bargain but I'm absolutely sure (on our fifth trip) that we wont use them even if it rains so its not a bargain for us. I will maybe give the ticket company a ring. They have UK offices and seem to be recommended here.

KarenG

juliejay wrote: »

Because we had 14 days unlimited last year and did everything and more that we wanted at Disney. We didn't plan on any Disney this year so have unlimited Seaworld, BG, Aquatica,, Universal and IOA. We are also booked for Discovery Cove and an airboat/manatees adventure which looks great and then off to the space centre for a day. We are dithering about Clearwater or Cocoa Beach at the weekend as well. So as you can see we only need a few extra bits but it seems a shame to go all that way and not do at least Epcot, HS and MK. But the prices are confusing me.

Hi Julie

We really like Clearwater Beach, and it's super for the children.

I wasn't so keen on Cocoa Beach - the good thing is that it's closer to Orlando so quicker to get to, but if this doesn't worry you then I would choose Clearwater.

Cheers

Karen

KarenG

juliejay wrote: »

Well here is my plan so far:
SeaWorld 1.5
Universal 1
IoA 1
Uni/Ioa return to faves 1
Aquatica 3 x .5
Shopping 2 x .5
Downtown Disney .5
Busch Gardens 1
Discovery Cove 1
Manatee 1
Kennedy Space Center 1
So that’s 11.5. Realistically we are not going to fit in more than 5 Disney without meeting ourselves coming back. We are not keen on park hopping since it just seems to add complications to the day with three kids and takes time up. We prefer to hit one park at ropedrop, keep going til 2 ish and then relax at the waterpark or the pool and a nice meal, or maybe the otherway round on the second week- late start, shopping etc, hit the parks mid afternoon and stay for the shows.
Its just annoying to have to pay so much when we only want five days. 14/21 days might be a better bargain but I'm absolutely sure (on our fifth trip) that we wont use them even if it rains so its not a bargain for us. I will maybe give the ticket company a ring. They have UK offices and seem to be recommended here.

If you want my honest opinion (and I am a dyed in the wool sad Disney addict ) I would consider just Disney a miss altogether this time. You've got loads planned already, and if when you get there you are desperate for a day at one of the parks, just buy a one day ticket on the gate. This is really bad value for money, but not as bad value for money as spending £1000 (!) on tickets that you may not even get round to using / using for one day or so?

I imagine you may not even feel the need to go to a Disney park. If you want some of the Disney feeling, go to Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, resort hotels etc..... free.

Personally I could never give Disney a miss as it's the main reason I go, but if I had all those park tickets booked, I think I probably would.

HTH

ButtonF1Fan

Hard rock hotel inside Universal.

KarenG wrote: »

Proudmummytothree - my Dds have never got homesick, even when the littlest was 3.

I agree that three weeks is a far better duration than two (actually, if you can go for even longer than three that's great )

Juliejesta, apologies if you've said already and I've missed it, but which hotel are you staying at? Many (probably most actually) hotels in Orlando come with a free fridge, so that would help with perishables etc.

r.mac_2

BM, and anyone else......

I'm looking at tickets and can't decide! Want to do
MK, AK, Hollywood studios and Epcot

Only in Orlando for 7 days but can't decide on 5 day ticket or 7 day ticket and hopper options. Head says 5 days, heart says flex of 7 days and hopper options would give us most options.......Particularly with the LO as could go early, leave after lunch and go back in evening or pop in just for a firework show or something without using a whole day IYSWIM?

Also who should I book these through? Looking for 2 adults and 1 under 3 (so free)

Also wondering about character breakfast booking. I was thinking that I wouldn't book this for our first morning, but our second (a Thursday). That sound sensible to everyone?


Thanks in advance.