Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

KarenG

Be aware that going in August with packed lunches can lead to very sweaty sandwiches, so you might want to think about keeping them cool with cool bag or the like? I'm too lazy to cart it all round (first time we went we took a rucksack with bottles of soda and snacks the first day - let's just say we didn't take it the second day )

You can store lunches in the parks in lockers, there is a charge though.

It could be worth filling up on a massive breakfast and then just taking some snacks (you suggest muesli bars - great idea!) for lunch, to hold you over until tea? That works for some people.

TooDee

liney wrote: »

Is car hire cheaper locally, or better to book in advance?

I'd like to know this to. The driver in our party of three is 21 so the cheapest we've found is transhire com has anyone used these guys before?

meer53

We've been a few times in August, it's all i can do to carry my handbag and a bottle of water ! It's very hot and very humid. Wouldn't fancy sarnies which were made in the morning ! Relax in your villa in the morning, have a huge breakfast then just have a small snack in the parks later in the day. If you're spending an evening in the parks for the parade/fireworks, split the day and have tea in your villa. Lots of takeaways or cook yourself. We didn't like Walmart, we preferred Publix, Target was good too but they are both more expensive than Walmart. To be honest, the heat killed my appetite during the day anyway, i just wanted to drink water, we then enjoyed our meal later when it was cooler.

CAH

Agree with meer53 - we were in Orlando last month - however we took food into the parks each time with a cool bag with frozen water bottles and stored them in a locker. Partly cost however also health wise; when we went about 8 years ago we ate in the parks each time and came home much larger than when we went....The frozen water is then very cold water to drink at lunch time etc and better than that from the water fountains

One of our best purchases was a small hardcase trolley type cool box from Walmarts (about $20) to store water (mix frozen and non) in the car for when went left the parks - wonderful

r.mac_2

jackieblack wrote: »

One tip I always give, assuming you'll have car, is to get the driving directions to a Wal-mart/Target/Publix near your accomodation.
If(/when) you find you're all awake at 4am the first morning you can go and buy your snacks/drinks/breakfast cereal etc while the store is quiet, get breakfast eaten and still be at the park for rope-drop.

thanks - someone was very kind and sent me LOADS of info on our accommodation, including a map to Walmart and publix so will make sure thats easy to get to!

A great tip!

Kaz2904 wrote: »

We booked our holiday on Sunday .
9 of us going from Bristol- Sfb 12/8 returning 26/8. We are staying in Marbella villas and have 2 intermediate cars. Total price £10799.24. Don't tell me how much cheaper we could have got it please, MiL's paying £10k and wouldn't consider split bookings.
I am extremely excited and can't wait for Saturday night this week as DH and I are going to sit with our laptops on our laps and plan our holiday!

Kids are 10 and 8 when we go. I'd happily miss Disney due to the prices. I'd prefer Universal but think we're going to opt for the ultimate tickets which work out at £1300 ish for everything bar sea world, Busch gardens and Aquatica.
I've joined thedibb and will start working my way around that.

Would apreciate some ideas of food costs though? We will be making picnics every day for our days out. Meals in the villa most evenings. It's my nieces birthday when we're there so might go for the Disney meal and limo jobby but not sure yet.

Could do with ideas of prices for packed lunches including rolls with cheese or ham or tuna, crisps, apples or bananas or both and some muesli type bars. Is that the sort of picnic you guys take? It's fairly portable and tends to be cheapest way to eat.
Also, breakfasts, do we go for toast or cereal?

I've got so much to learn

I can let you know when I get back - otherwise there is a relaly helpful article on the website TheDibb which might be of use to you.....
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/Spending-Money-p-79.html

it points out that the main part of spending money is spent on food and gives cost hints and tips etc

coldjim

hey guys! im looking to book a holiday to florida next year for 2 people. i was just wondering if there are any good deals out there for next july/june time?????
thanks!!

Kaz2904

r.mac, thanks for the tip. I will have to look from home not work as it's blocked for some reason I have spent some time browsing thedibb and have registered on there but as the kids don't know about the holiday yet, I can't let them see me on the computer. I'm on night number 4 of 5 now so will be able to take a peek on Friday night. 3 nights extra work this week should go towards the kids passports, trip insurance and our ESTA forms. Phew!
Am wondering about cutting costs on parking. Disney and universal charge $15 per day for parking. How about free parking on international drive and then using the i-ride? I notice it's $17 for 2 weeks rides so that would cover our trip. It would also save us fuel but then we have to account for things we need to carry. Although if we're not taking big bags of food in, we'll have much less.
I have planned to take the kids school bags with us for them to use as their hand luggage (if they're small enough) and DH and I will also have back packs. I figure that if we put in say 2 muesli bars, 2 pieces of fruit and a packet of crisps, that would be allowed right? Drinks, I think we'll be buying the refillable cups. Or buying a bottle and filling it from the water fountains.
Very excited

chaosweddings

Am wondering about cutting costs on parking. Disney and universal charge $15 per day for parking. How about free parking on international drive and then using the i-ride? I notice it's $17 for 2 weeks rides so that would cover our trip. It would also save us fuel but then we have to account for things we need to carry.

Very excited

The parking on idrive is not ideal, from what i saw last year the only car parks were for the shops/restaurants, we did not see actual car parks like in the uk except one that was done alley and looked a bit dodgy lol.

Also the i ride doesnt not go to universal or disney, just up and down i drive and to seaworld, you would need to either use shuttle or the lynx to get to disney from i drive.
We do not hire a car and use the iride for i drive or taxis for disney and universal

whamfanuk

i am flying out on monday and i have left everything until last minute to sort out, going to sort money out today

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Anyone here have any opinions (good or bad) of Wolfgang Puck's eaterie at Downtown Disney? There seem to be several areas; I'm particularly interested in the upstairs Dining Room rather than the Cafe or Sushi Bar.

The reports on Tripadvisor seem to be all over the place from good to bad.

TIA