Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

DickyP_2

LucyLocket wrote: »

Hi doogle chick I'm pretty sure the limit will be £700 per passenger so you'd be allowed up to £2,800 for your family of 4 I think and the constraints won't be a problem to you.So i think you may have more time than you thought ?
I've booked Florida using tesco vouchers a few times now. If you indicate what precise dates you want ( are SATS or half term an issue? ) preferred departure airport and also whether you strongly want Virgin or would consider Cosmos I can help you try to sort out something good :-)

I keep hearing about the Tesco's vouchers but i'm curious on use, all they do for us send our value for the quarter in money off. Do I just not use these and the points get added back after expiration date or do I have to do something now to get them changed for holiday vouchers??

duckcity

doogle_chick wrote: »

Hi - I'm hoping with all your collective knowledge that someone might be able to steer me in the right direction.

OH has agreed we can go to Orlando next year and I have been trying to research the options but there is so much to try and take in!!

We will be travelling towards the end of May 2010 for 2 weeks - myself and hubby and two kids (6 and11). We've never been before (and this is actually our first holiday outside Europe!) and want to make the most of everything available without giving ourselves a heart attack.

I had originally planned to book with Virgin holidays as we have clubcard vouchers worth £1500 in cash to put towards the cost. However I also have a work colleague who owns an apartment near Disney which would be available for about £1000. The trouble is, if we book with Virgin, I need to book by Monday before they limit the amount of vouchers you can use so I don't have long to make a decision.

We'd like somewhere that has facilities for the kids ie swimming pool, play area etc but not somewhere that is going to be "keep you up all night" noisy. We want to be close enough to the action to avoid spending too long driving and also to be able to have a bit of a break from theme parks if it all gets too much.

So, does anyone have any recommendations or any "first time guides" that might help me decide what to do? Even better, if anyone has booked any of the places through Virgin are there any recommendations? In terms of budget, I'd say probably no more than £3k for flights and accommodation although if we can spend less than that it would mean we can treat ourselves more once we are out there.

Sorry for the long post but I am just sooooo confused and need some straight talking!
TIA

I would also recommend the Fairfield at lake Buena Vista. We went this March with Tesco deals. The accommodation and location was excellent.

disney_cjd

Fiver29 wrote: »

Just checking in from not so sunny Orlando. The weather isn't the best at the moment, hot but apart from one day, since Sunday there's been loads of cloud and tons of rain.

The queues at the Universal Parks, Seaworld and Wet and Wild have been very short, the longest queue has been 20mins. The park attendants said that's because the US schools went back this week

Yep , they all went back on Monday (in fact some on the space coast went back two weeks ago),

Heres a free tip for you all that very few know.... Animal Kingdom is listed as closing at 5pm BUT people can still book dinner in Tusker house and Yak n Yeti and so they actually keep Asia and Afirca open until 8:30 - including all the rides!

doogle_chick

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied so far. First off, panic over as it's definitely £700 limit on the Tesco vouchers per person so well within our range. Also, thanks for the reminder that Cosmos are also on the Tesco clubcard deals list as I had forgotten them!

I've now had a proper chat through with hubby and kids and we've devised a bit of a wishlist. We definitely want hotel as opposed to private house/villas as the kids want to try and make friends!. We'd like somewhere that has more than just a standard pool for the kids ie with a water slide and my son wants mini golf and table tennis although I've told him that will be a bonus not a requirement!! Having read some hotel reviews, we'd also prefer somewhere non-smoking - ideally the whole place or if not, with non-smoking rooms. We'd also really like a fridge in the room so that we can stock up and make up a picnic or quick salads etc rather than eating out every time.

We're also thinking that we'd rather have a bit of quality - this is our first proper overseas holiday and we want it to be something special. We've done our share of travelodges in the UK and don't really want something that would be considered to be "budget". Some of the hotel reviews are quite shocking!! But on the other hand, being MSE then we don't want to pay over the odds just for a name and things we won't use.

So far on our "possibles" list we have:
Orlando World Center Marriott, LBV
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, LBV (although a bit worried that there seems to be extensive renovations going on here)
Hawthorn Suites, LBV (OH likes this but kids think the pool is boring!)
Springhill Suites at Marriott Village, LBV
Cypress Pointe, LBV
Regal Sun Resort, LBV
International Plaze, International Drive (worried that reviews suggest not many restaurants within walking distance?)
Omni Orlando Resort, Kissimmee (expensive but fallen in love with their lazy river!)
Radisson Resort - Celebration, Kissimmee (some iffy reviews on this one)

Any thoughts on our thinking so far?! You'll see that we've avoided the onsite hotels as I think 24h disney would drive OH mad!

I'm really grateful for people's opinions - it's so nerve-wracking trying to organise this as it's the most we've ever spent on a holiday and I really want it to be a success!

TIA

disney_cjd

doogle_chick wrote: »

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied so far. First off, panic over as it's definitely £700 limit on the Tesco vouchers per person so well within our range. Also, thanks for the reminder that Cosmos are also on the Tesco clubcard deals list as I had forgotten them!

I've now had a proper chat through with hubby and kids and we've devised a bit of a wishlist. We definitely want hotel as opposed to private house/villas as the kids want to try and make friends!. We'd like somewhere that has more than just a standard pool for the kids ie with a water slide and my son wants mini golf and table tennis although I've told him that will be a bonus not a requirement!! Having read some hotel reviews, we'd also prefer somewhere non-smoking - ideally the whole place or if not, with non-smoking rooms. We'd also really like a fridge in the room so that we can stock up and make up a picnic or quick salads etc rather than eating out every time.

We're also thinking that we'd rather have a bit of quality - this is our first proper overseas holiday and we want it to be something special. We've done our share of travelodges in the UK and don't really want something that would be considered to be "budget". Some of the hotel reviews are quite shocking!! But on the other hand, being MSE then we don't want to pay over the odds just for a name and things we won't use.

So far on our "possibles" list we have:
Orlando World Center Marriott, LBV
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, LBV (although a bit worried that there seems to be extensive renovations going on here)
Hawthorn Suites, LBV (OH likes this but kids think the pool is boring!)
Springhill Suites at Marriott Village, LBV
Cypress Pointe, LBV
Regal Sun Resort, LBV
International Plaze, International Drive (worried that reviews suggest not many restaurants within walking distance?)
Omni Orlando Resort, Kissimmee (expensive but fallen in love with their lazy river!)
Radisson Resort - Celebration, Kissimmee (some iffy reviews on this one)

Any thoughts on our thinking so far?! You'll see that we've avoided the onsite hotels as I think 24h disney would drive OH mad!

I'm really grateful for people's opinions - it's so nerve-wracking trying to organise this as it's the most we've ever spent on a holiday and I really want it to be a success!

TIA

Hi

I have stayed in the ones I have made bold above.

If you really want to have a bit of lux on this trip and why not then please avoid anywhere on iDrive.

Out of the list of hotels I have stayed in above the Marriott World Centre is head and shoulders above the rest. This is the marriotts king resorts in Orlando and the pool and resturants are magnificent. I really would go here.

The Cypress Point resort is also nice but needs an update.

The Hyatt is no Marriott

The Fairfield is part of the Marriott family but is lower done the chain than the Marriotts themselves or even the Courtyards.

As an aside have you considered a Disney resort? I was taken to lunch today at the Animal Kingdom Lodge new Village at the Sanaa resturant. Whilst Jambo house is nice this place is even better. I would vertainly try there. Or you could even maybe stay in the new Tree House Villas. Had a tour of on e of those today adn they are so cool.

Flying home Friday

HTH
Craig

mumofjusttwo

Just to mention that Tesco Clubcard with Cosmos is going to be £400 per person from 1st September

louiser123

hi again,

just one more quick question before we go!!

we are wanting to visit kennedy space centre we have been in the past but it was over 15 yrs ago, i am a little confused by the pricing of the tickets though, we want to go on the bus tour which takes you around and explains everything but i get conflicting info some sites say its all in with the addmission price others say its not and costs 21 dollars more. its a bit confusing on the kennedy website too.

can anyone clarify if its all one price or costs more? my the prices have really shot up here since we last visited more than any of the parks i think!

thanks in advance

louise x

lrr_2

I have used http://www.gatortours.com/MAIN.asp previously, never had any problems with them so far.

cheepskate_2

hi all

Wondering if there is any difference in getting my flexi ticket from either virgin(booked with them) or orlando attractions. Difference of £55 but any drawbacks to buying from the orlando attractions one
thanks

blackpongo1

Hi guys just a bit of knowledge required ,have came across a site RTAhotels.com now i can get my hotel for £200 cheaper booking with this site as opposed to booking with the hotel direct has any one heard/booked with them
all advice greatly received

TIA