Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

meer53

kimtom2009 wrote: »

Hi we are thinging of going in august there will be 5 adults 3 kids has anyone got any recommendations of villas? Quite close to everything any links? Thanks All

Check out https://www.floridamousehouse.com call Sue on their number, she's brilliant. We've stayed on a few different gated communities but the best so far was The Shire at West Haven. About 20 mins from the parks. It's off H27 which is off the H192 where all the eating places, supermarkets are, Publix, Walmart, Target etc. To be honest we've never had a bad villa yet, Mission Park is another nice site.

blue_monkey_2

poet123 wrote: »

Can I ask a few Q's?:D Of course, ask away.

Can you eat at any Disney restaurant in any hotel/park or just the same category of hotel? Any restaurant in any hotel, just make sure you have booked it if you REALLY want to eat there, especailly if it is a character meals. You can book it on the Disney website, there is no charge unless it is for one of the 'princess dinners'. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot and Cinderellas Royal Table in the MK. As long as it in on the DP List you can go there. I cannot think of any place that you cannot eat at, to be honest, and there are even some at DTD. Full details here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

Are the shuttles regular and to every park? Yes, from the hotel they are at least every 15 minutes to each park, sometimes more often. If you go to DTD you cannot get to any of the parks, you have to go to a hotel and then onto the parks but there is a shuttle from the hotel to every single park, yes.

What is the airport shuttle like? Very good, we got it on the way back, collected us at 4.30 for a 7.55pm flight. Takes you and your luggage. We checked into DTD but do not think we'll bother next time. There is a DVD on the bus that keeps the kids occupied. On the one TO the hotel you do not collect your luggage after the 2nd security drop at the airport, they collect it for you and take it to your hotel. You have to book it at least 24 hours in advance of needing it. On the way home they leave a little check in envelope on your door handle for when you wake up.

Did you buy flights separately? Yes, we got a Virgin Fly Drive because we wanted to use the v-room to let me son run off some steam before the flight.

We have always stayed offsite in a villa, but there may only be 3 of us next year, so the above looks like a good option for our first week. Then we could just have a car for the rest of the holiday. We usually go down to the islands for the rest of the holiday.

Just a quick reply - I am supposed to be cooking tea In red above. It is very worth it, just the 3 of you I'd go for a studio as you'd get your moneys worth then. OKW and SSR are Deluxe Resorts and are always on Special Offer so you get them cheaper than a room at CBR but with the better dining plan.

HedgeHunter

Hello Everyone, Joined a while ago but lost my login details! Anyway....

Could 2 adults and 2 under 9's realistically go to Orlando Disney and Seaworld for 10 days in late june for £5,000?

delwynshd

yeah you could defo do this

Del

HedgeHunter wrote: »

Hello Everyone, Joined a while ago but lost my login details! Anyway....

Could 2 adults and 2 under 9's realistically go to Orlando Disney and Seaworld for 10 days in late june for £5,000?

blue_monkey_2

HedgeHunter wrote: »

Hello Everyone, Joined a while ago but lost my login details! Anyway....

Could 2 adults and 2 under 9's realistically go to Orlando Disney and Seaworld for 10 days in late june for £5,000?

Does this budget include all food and tickets?

Flights and accomodation easily, but parks tickets as well? I am not sure personally. Depends on where you want to go and what you want to do really.

KarenG

Mab2009 wrote: »

Hi KarenG,

Thanks for the above.:)

I was already re considering the car hire thing. I would like to hire a car for the whole stay but not from the airport. Is this possible? I'm panicing about driving and think after a long haul flight it would be my worse nightmare. Could we pick up the car locally and just have the transfers from and to the airport?:question:

Thanks again for your advice.

Hi there

Not used them myself, but they come recommended on here and on the Dibb - they will deliver the car to you as well as tranferring you to your accommodation


HTH

Karen
http://www.caronthedrive.com/

poet123

blue_monkey wrote: »

Just a quick reply - I am supposed to be cooking tea In red above. It is very worth it, just the 3 of you I'd go for a studio as you'd get your moneys worth then. OKW and SSR are Deluxe Resorts and are always on Special Offer so you get them cheaper than a room at CBR but with the better dining plan.

Thanks for that, just had a quick look at the pdf re the DDP and it seems there is no monetary limit on the meals as long as you just have the specified items (entree, dessert ) so, theoretically you could have the dearest entree on the menu. That was my worry that you could only have xyz (low value meals)

Just had a quick look at Virgin flydrives but July 2012 is not on yet. Any ideas when they will load those flights?

HedgeHunter

blue_monkey wrote: »

Does this budget include all food and tickets?

Flights and accomodation easily, but parks tickets as well? I am not sure personally. Depends on where you want to go and what you want to do really.

It would include every thing really,

Iv seen UK ebayers selling villa rentals for around £300 per week on ebay with good feedback, a good deal?

KarenG

poet123 wrote: »

Thanks for that, just had a quick look at the pdf re the DDP and it seems there is no monetary limit on the meals as long as you just have the specified items (entree, dessert ) so, theoretically you could have the dearest entree on the menu. That was my worry that you could only have xyz (low value meals)

Just had a quick look at Virgin flydrives but July 2012 is not on yet. Any ideas when they will load those flights?

Yes that's right. There are a few exceptions but these are really few and far between! For example you can't pay for Victoria and alberts on the ddp.

Personally, I love staying onsite at Disney but don't believe the ddp is right for every family. My friends went recently and regretted it as they felt they missed out on valuable park time. Also, no matter what you might read it is not the cheapest way to do Orlando; best value for money probably yes, and the old key west and Saratoga deal is hard to beat, but won't suit all groups.


I thought virgin hols flydrives were already out for next July? I'm far too mean to pay for a VH flydrive though so not the best authority on this

poet123

KarenG wrote: »

Yes that's right. There are a few exceptions but these are really few and far between! For example you can't pay for Victoria and alberts on the ddp.

Personally, I love staying onsite at Disney but don't believe the ddp is right for every family. My friends went recently and regretted it as they felt they missed out on valuable park time. Also, no matter what you might read it is not the cheapest way to do Orlando; best value for money probably yes, and the old key west and Saratoga deal is hard to beat, but won't suit all groups.


I thought virgin hols flydrives were already out for next July? I'm far too mean to pay for a VH flydrive though so not the best authority on this

MMmm think I might be too;) previously I have done all the component parts indivdually, but as it is a while since we went to Florida, I am am wondering if that is still the cheapest way to do things.

How do you (obviously an expert:D) plan a trip?