Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

blue_monkey_2

HedgeHunter wrote: »

Think you could be right tbh. My rough estimate...

Flights £2,100
Tickets £1,100
Villa £330
car hire £200
spending money including food £2000 ?

Again, have a look at the Disney deal - I think this is on in late June. Don't go early June, it is gay week and it'll be really, really busy for the entire week so you'd have to plan your days to prescision which would be a pain if you only have 10 days IMO. Just a day of rain can change your plans for a few days. You need to have some leeway.

Studio accomodation at Old Key West is £945 pw with free food in Disney as detailed in my other post - so it'll be £1400 for your accomodation with free food. Take cereal in your case!

Get a car for 4-5 days, use that for geting to do things outside of Disney, spend the last 5 days getting around Disney. You'll save on tolls, parking and petrol. However, it is do-able without a car. Get the bus from Downtown Disney to Seaworld/Universal and the fare will be less than the parking charges.

Where do you want to go?
How old are the children?

If you do not use your Disney meal one day as you are out, eat elsewhere and save the meal for breakfast the next day or save the meals up for better dining experiences (2 meals get you a dinner show or princess meal) BUT you need to book these!!.

So flights £2100 (can you go in Jan, it'll probably be cheaper and the US kids will not be on their summer vacation from school as they are in June so you would see more and get more done).
Car £200 (maybe less if using for 4-5 days only) Again, what do you need it for. Parking is $14 a day at the parks.
Accomodation and food £1400
Tickets £1100 (you might get cheaper with Magic your Way tickets so double check this - make sure you know exactly what you want to do and we can try and help you save some money on those too).

Which is under 5k with all of your meals free so you'll have nothing to worry about there and at least you will eat if nothing else. Get the bus to and from the airport and collect the car the next day from Swan and Dolphin - again, getting the Disney bus to get it.

Where there is a will there is a way..... then you'd probably only need £500 or so for spends and that would be £5300 - less if you do not have the car.

vivatifosi

ffotogirl wrote: »

So… first question: Has anyone been to Halloween Horror Nights? Would you recommend it?

I've been to Halloween Horror Nights. They are pretty full on. I went about 4 years ago. There are a couple of rides that are converted for the evening and a few theatres that are set up for special shows. Walking around though is amazing, it is dark, you're walking through a fake field and then all you get is a smell of petrol, then the sound of a chainsaw starting up and then a masked person chasing you! It is very intense!

There was also a good parade where they chuck beads at you New Orleans style. Its fun, but not for the fainthearted. I'm still recovering from my last visit, I'll be recovered enough to try again in about 2027;). Don't let that put you off though, I'm a big wooss and would rather spend the night at Mickey's Not So Scary.

dealchaser

Hi, I am thinking of taking a last minute trip to orlando from 21 May to 4 June with my 9 year old son. I have searched the internet for deals and have come across cosmos who are offering 2 weeks at the Radison World Maingate, 2 weeks fully inclusive car hire and of course the flights all for £1245. Everywhere else I have looked seems to be getting on double that price. Has anyone had experience with Cosmos? I am thinking about booking it but am worried there is a catch. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ellie9ellie

Hi

I am looking at on to Disney for 2 weeks aroud the 13 May 2012. I would ideally like to stay in th Fort Wilderness Lodges but can't find anyone that can find availability. I can't find them with Thomas Cook or even with Disney direct. Does anyone have any suggestions as where I can book these lodges? Thanks x

flight1

I have been to Florida twice most recent being last year. On both occassions we have booked through TC and flown with VA. These arrangements have been okay but not great so was thinking about booking myself for next July 2012. Went into TC today and cheapest for 3 adults and 1 child staying in a villa, flying from Glasgow was £5000. Flights were about £3200 which I thought was not a bad price but it is with Thomas Cook Airline, anybody had any experience to compare to VA? Should I book now or wait for other options to become availble?
They were charging £1300 for villa but I have been looking at villas all night and appear to be many within the region of £800-£850 for the fortnight and car hire is about £450, so if I could book myself at the moment working out about £500 cheaper.
Any help and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

cjmumto2

Hi Gill, I have just booked everything separatley we are going for 2 weeks in Dec, and we booked a townhouse from the owner direct on Owners Direct.com which actually works out to about £650 for 2 weeks. The car, we are using car on the drive which is around £450 but that is with the collection and drop off service. I found it for about £100 less with other car hire firms.

Not sure about flights from Glasgow but BA has been having sales and if you keep on eye on all the websites like skyscanner you can compare prices.

Basically I am budgeting for the entire holiday including entry to the parks for about £4500 that is for 2 adults and 2 kids but to behonest kids pay nearly the same on the flights. Still blooming expensive so better be good

flight1

Thanks for that info. I have emaled a few villa owners from direct owners, will keep you up to date how I get on.

LouiseJ

gill_murray wrote: »

I have been to Florida twice most recent being last year. On both occassions we have booked through TC and flown with VA. These arrangements have been okay but not great so was thinking about booking myself for next July 2012. Went into TC today and cheapest for 3 adults and 1 child staying in a villa, flying from Glasgow was £5000. Flights were about £3200 which I thought was not a bad price but it is with Thomas Cook Airline, anybody had any experience to compare to VA? Should I book now or wait for other options to become availble?
They were charging £1300 for villa but I have been looking at villas all night and appear to be many within the region of £800-£850 for the fortnight and car hire is about £450, so if I could book myself at the moment working out about £500 cheaper.
Any help and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

Both times I have been to Florida I have flown with Thomas Cook, I found them absolutely fine, food was OK and they seemed organised and friendly.

.....as opposed to Thomas Cook holidays which totally barfed up the whole planning and even booked our car hire from the wrong airport:eek:

I was wondering how you managed to get prices for flights so early? I am still waiting for July 2012 flight prices to be released and am hoping for around £600-£700 PP max again with TC.

flight1

I received prices from Thomas Cook agent. They are also comming up on Travel Republic when you book flight and apartment seperate.

ellie9ellie

meer53 wrote: »

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.

Just reading what you and BlueMonkey have listed and I had a look around. I was looking at staying at Disney in May 2012 for two weeks but then looked at the website you mentioned and was surprised how reasonable the prices were and how nice the villas were. I called Disney and was given a price for Saratoga Springs - there are 2 adults and two children 7 and 3 so I looked at a Studio. I did look at the Fort Wilderness lodges but for cheaper I could get a Studio at Saratoga and it looks lovely. Have you used this company a few times - I take it they have a good reputation - I've never been the States so all this is new to me. Mission Park does look like a good site. Who do you usually book your flights with?