Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

charleion

Tori.k

Thank you for that. Can I ask what are these cashback site you have mentioned??

tori.k

site like www.topcashback.co.uk you get paid for shopping, EG. if you booked your flights thru VA go thru the top cashback link then you will get 2% back off the cost of your flights. have look see you can get paid alot to buy the stuff you were buying anyway

charleion

OMG I am soooo sad, I never even knew these sites existed lol

Wow, earn money on your hols etc my husband will be pleased

tori.k

charleion wrote: »

OMG I am soooo sad, I never even knew these sites existed lol

Wow, earn money on your hols etc my husband will be pleased

Mine has a love hate relationship with cashback site's aswell

blue_monkey_2

Mandles wrote: »

Thanks, very much for all that advise and help. Already thought about ear defenders as he used them before on a short flight and they do help give a bit of time out and peace for him. Also so glad about advice about the buggy. I was thinking about it as it would be another "time out" thing that he may need and may stop him running off all the time (passport control means nothing to him, he is straight through there like a shot from a gun!!) .Re. buggy, I just think it must look like that sketch with David Walliums and George Dawes where he is in a wheelchair and runs off doing all these funny things while the carer is not looking Probably will be what it will be like with me but i think you are right and he will need it. I also picked up an "i am not naughty, i have autism" big badge from ebay for the airport and that was brilliant. He always gets searched as he always beeps through the detectors and staff at the airport were fantastic as noticed it straight away and did it so nicely so as not to distress him. Also found people a lot more understanding and nicer and he had no idea what it said on the badge but liked it.

You really are a disney pro then. I went once many years ago but now, with DS it is going to be a completely different ball game this year. I wish they did big trunkis as that was brilliant at the airport but maybe he will find the buggy as fun as he is too big for the trunki now.

So where is the cheapest for the hopper tickets for disney (also islands of adventure)? Saw someone said travel republic ??
And i spotted the kids eat free ticket that looks brilliant.. I am in a villa so are there any good food offers anywhere for adults that you would use as eating out in and around disney cost us a bomb and that was years ago!
Done most of the parks before but what are the top things you would recommend to do(especially with boys like ours?)

LOL, yes, here and DLP - it's the only place we go because there is so much to do. We are not 'beach people' so this suits us really.

We got our tickets from Disney as we got 10% off after a muck up, so we had no need to change that. I am not sure otherwise to be honest. Do you know what you want to do while there?

Can I just say that you'll not have the buggy through Passport Control - do him a Social Story that explains what he will have to do once he gets off the plane, laminate it and give it to him so he has it to remind him. You'll get the buggy back at the first luggage reclaim, it comes out of the oversize section on the far side of the carousels.

That is a good idea about the badge as we got pulled aside for searching as well. glad it is not just us. I wonder if we will EVER go somewhere without being searched first.

As you describe, yes that is pretty much what it is like with the buggy, he gets out runs and does something and gets back in again - but at least we know where he is and if he is kicking off we do strap him in. It really does make all the difference.

We do not really eat out anywhere else. We have bought Merlin passes which get Kids Eat Free in Hard Rock Cafe though if that helps.

Last year we did 2 weeks onsite and the time before we stayed in Hilton Grand Vacations Club and ate in resort or in the parks. Tbh, we just buy whatever and do not worry so much. We are eating at T-Rex and not RFC this year - which reminds me I must book our table there. We also have a meal there but recently we have just had a nightmare, ask to be seated by the fish tank and they put us elsewhere saying they are not using those seats (fair enough) and 5 minutes later people get seated by the fish tank and Ryan has a massive meltdown over it. I can't be bothered with that this year and so we will eat elsewhere now.

He is obsessed with fish at the moment as we have started keeping tropical fish, so this years trip to Epcot is going to be somewhat different, if we ever get out!!

We paid $1200 last year to go to Discovery COve and he would not get in the water past his knees..... this year he has asked to go back so he can swim with the fish but we are going to take him to Shark Reef at Typoon Lagoon instead as that is included on the ticket.

northwest1965

charleion wrote: »

Tori.k

Thank you for that. Can I ask what are these cashback site you have mentioned??

I would guess Topcashback or Quidco. Think there may be others:)

Mandles

blue_monkey wrote: »

LOL, yes, here and DLP - it's the only place we go because there is so much to do. We are not 'beach people' so this suits us really.

We got our tickets from Disney as we got 10% off after a muck up, so we had no need to change that. I am not sure otherwise to be honest. Do you know what you want to do while there?

Can I just say that you'll not have the buggy through Passport Control - do him a Social Story that explains what he will have to do once he gets off the plane, laminate it and give it to him so he has it to remind him. You'll get the buggy back at the first luggage reclaim, it comes out of the oversize section on the far side of the carousels.

That is a good idea about the badge as we got pulled aside for searching as well. glad it is not just us. I wonder if we will EVER go somewhere without being searched first.

As you describe, yes that is pretty much what it is like with the buggy, he gets out runs and does something and gets back in again - but at least we know where he is and if he is kicking off we do strap him in. It really does make all the difference.

We do not really eat out anywhere else. We have bought Merlin passes which get Kids Eat Free in Hard Rock Cafe though if that helps.

Last year we did 2 weeks onsite and the time before we stayed in Hilton Grand Vacations Club and ate in resort or in the parks. Tbh, we just buy whatever and do not worry so much. We are eating at T-Rex and not RFC this year - which reminds me I must book our table there. We also have a meal there but recently we have just had a nightmare, ask to be seated by the fish tank and they put us elsewhere saying they are not using those seats (fair enough) and 5 minutes later people get seated by the fish tank and Ryan has a massive meltdown over it. I can't be bothered with that this year and so we will eat elsewhere now.

He is obsessed with fish at the moment as we have started keeping tropical fish, so this years trip to Epcot is going to be somewhat different, if we ever get out!!

We paid $1200 last year to go to Discovery COve and he would not get in the water past his knees..... this year he has asked to go back so he can swim with the fish but we are going to take him to Shark Reef at Typoon Lagoon instead as that is included on the ticket.

Thank you again. My husband is not too sure about the buggy but i really want one...gonna be a fight with that one . Given me lots of things to look at though.

Was naughty about them giving that seat to someone else after you were told no. Would have let him kick off and then let the manager know why. Rainforest cafe has fish in it doesn't it? Or is there too much going on in there?

Blooming heck, that caronthedrive is expensive by the way. For 2 weeks a 7 seater with Dollar is £370 but caronthedrive it is £600ish! (although sat nav in with that). Think we may queue and just grit our teeth.

Hope you have a good holiday.:)

blue_monkey_2

Mandles, if you get DLA for your son then get one - this is what the money is for. My husband was the same as yours - then we lost him at the Halloween Party. We found him and hubby had him on his shoulders and was getting tired and DS asked for a stroller and he said 'well, OK then' and that was it. He realised just how much easier it was doing the parks with it and it went everywhere with us after then!!

They sell on eBay for pretty much cost price (get it from Boots and get points - it is classed as baby equipment so look out for the treble points promotion I got £70 worth when I bought Ryans!!) so if he does not use it ever again, sell it after. I said to hubby 'I'll put it on the plane and then leave it in the hotel room, it is not that big' and went from there. You can do it I think a lot of it is the stigma but my husband soon got over that to make life easier and he no longer had to carry him. THAT made a difference!!

Yes, someone else said COTD was expensive for a big car but we have only got a smaller one, we do not need a 7 seater. I intend on taking as little as possible..... with cases inside

guitarman001

What's the cheapest/best way of getting to and from the Kennedy Space Centre from International Drive? Tickets seem to be ~£20+, but with transportation included, £54+?
Perhaps an independent coach there?

http://www.orlando-ticket-deals.co.uk/kennedy-space-center/kennedy-space-center-transportation

tori.k

guitarman001 wrote: »

What's the cheapest/best way of getting to and from the Kennedy Space Centre from International Drive? Tickets seem to be ~£20+, but with transportation included, £54+?
Perhaps an independent coach there?

http://www.orlando-ticket-deals.co.uk/kennedy-space-center/kennedy-space-center-transportation

may be worth giving the space coast area transit a call http://www.ridescat.com/