Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

Beckie1

Hello all! went to Orlando in 2011, and i am now planning for June 2013. Me and my boyfriend are going early June (anytime after the 4th) for 14 nights. I have priced up on loveholidays.com that for 2 weeks flights, hotel Hilton homewood suites it is 2020 pounds. We chose the hilton as it has free transport as im pretty sure i cant rent car (im 19 and the only one who can drive out of the two)? and then we have looked into buying a ticket which includes everything we want to do (all disney parks and waterparks, both universal, seaworld, aquatica, wet and wild) which are £419 each. I have also said that we would take around £800/£900 spends between us as i didnt find i spent much last time - only on food (but hotel has free breakfast and light evening meal mon-thurs) and souveineirs!
any advice on where i can save money?
can anyone find better flight/hotel deal with transport to parks?
anyone stayed at hilton homewood suites before?
worked out (inc spends) it is around 1800 each.
thankyou x

vivatifosi

kimberley88 wrote: »

it is 18 - 22 now. but you don't have to tip and to be honest out of the 5 times i have been atleast 90 per cent didn't deserve a tip because of being rude. only tip if you think they did a good job and tip what ever you like. if the ask for a tip don't give them one.

some of the seat down meals in the parks get booked up fast so you need to book before you go, you can book up to 6 months in advance.

Unless service is completely dreadful - in which case a chat with the manager is in order - people should always tip.

The way jobs are recruited in Florida is totally different to here. Tips are an integral part of the wage. In the UK the minimum wage is the minimum wage, but in the US, service workers who are expected to be paid tips can be paid a heck of a lot less.

This is how minimum wage is structured in Florida:

Employers must pay their employees the hourly state minimum wage for all hours worked in Florida... Employers of tipped employees, who meet eligibility requirements for the tip credit under the FLSA, may count tips actually received as wages under the Florida minimum wage. However, the employer must pay tipped employees a direct wage. The direct wage is calculated as equal to the minimum wage ($7.67) minus the 2003 tip credit ($3.02), or a direct hourly wage of $4.65 as of January 1, 2012.

http://www.floridajobs.org/minimumwage/Announcement-FL_MinWage2012.pdf

However Brits can also over-tip. The amount on which the tip should be based is the amount before tax is added, not after. 15-20% is completely acceptable.

angela110660

Going to a Florida villa with Thomson as cheaper option than renting villa with separate flights as our teenagers still get child prices with Thomson. Looking forward to the holiday and have booked our theme park tickets with Orlando Attractions after researching and going on DIBB site as recommended on here (thank you all). Have ordered 14 day ultimate WDW and Universal as a combined deal for £321. Can't wait.

icklejulez

Went to First Choice today to try and get them to beat the quote above and they came back at £10,109! How do they get away with that? I feel sorry for others who actually fall into that trap!

Ok so they managed after a while to get that price to £8,900 but how can they justify £1,600 extra?

daisy1981

icklejulez I agree .... Im still holding out to find the best price because ive seen it with my own eyes that it can come down but I have just got to pounce on it this time I lost a holiday within minutes excellent price for £6645 Virgin flights Disney world Swan Resort not going to give in just yet..... good luck with your search

icklejulez

Dont forget daisy that there is a free dining offer and $200 if you book a disney hotel, whilst Swan is a Disney hotel, its not officially a disney hotel IYKWIM! So no free food and when there is a lot of you it works out a lot....

Have you emailed your requirements to Charter Travel? I know my rep Shelley said she was working from home this weekend. If you google them there are lots of good reports as most people say the price is too good to be true lol!

When are you going? I not sure if the other airline do it but if you fly with Virgin you can check in on the return flight at downtown disney = more shopping time! x

SnowBelle_2

@Beckie1
we stayed at the Homewood suites last year,it was fine.
Close to I-Drive good size rooms with a massive fridge and hob.
Ask for a higher room not too close to the pool.
I personally think the quote you have is too high,wait til the flights get released (11months before) as package deals get their flights released earlier.
You will probably get it cheaper then &check Homewood suites website.
I have used Orlando attractions for tix before.

ALI1973

I have been trying to find a villa for our trip next year, and am struggling to find one within our budget which meets our wants. Can anyone recommend any sites or villas which we may not have found on a general google search?

Have a budget of £600 per week (want 20 nights), must have hot tub and games room and have a view. Want to stay on the Formosa Gardens area (not US27) or on Ponciana (near top end). Looking for August 2013.

Have looked on Dibb, VR360, but can't get one with everything we require in our price range, so hoping someone may have used one previously they can recommend?

Many thank guys

maemaesmummy

Think you may struggle for that price in that area for August...

maemaesmummy

ssmi wrote: »

Sorry if this sounds nosey, but as you appear to have been so many times, what did you think of the villas/location you chose and where did you go to book them?

TIA

We really like the villa's at CP Tower Lake and at busy times find despite the distance getting home is quicker than staying closer and fighting the 192.

We have just returned from staying at Emerald Island which genuinely is 10 mins to WDW...really liked it BUT you do get more bang for your buck further out.

We are staying at a new villa for us in July at Westside which is a little bit further down the 192 than EI...however we are doing more of a chilled trip so won't be fighting our way to the parks each day.

December we are back to our regular villa at Tower Lake.

If you have any questions feel free to pm me...here or on the dibb..same user name!:D