Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

GlasweJen

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Have a look at this board on the Dis ...

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

and especially this thread...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

then pop down to the UK planning board....

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47

We were there last month and I did see wheel chairs and scooters being delivered and picked up at our hotel but thats the extent of my knowledge I'm afraid. They have special lines for disabled access as they have to know exactly where you are seated in case a ride breaks down and they need to get everyone off.

I thought it was more expensive this trip for food, a lot depends on where you are staying as in the parks it can be expensive.

Thanks. We're staying across from wet n wild on international drive, mostly because I want to go to Harry Potter as well as Disney.

I remember you used to get a good value breakfast at ihop and there was a breakfast buffet in ponderosa too so breakfast is sorted but can you take snacks into the parks or do you have to buy it all in there?

SuzieSue

GlasweJen wrote: »

Thanks. We're staying across from wet n wild on international drive, mostly because I want to go to Harry Potter as well as Disney.

I remember you used to get a good value breakfast at ihop and there was a breakfast buffet in ponderosa too so breakfast is sorted but can you take snacks into the parks or do you have to buy it all in there?

We've just come back from Orlando. We stayed in Lake Buena Vista. My OH hired an electric scooter from (Go Go Elite) from Walker Mobility and it was great. It cost around £140 for 2 weeks hire. They dropped it off at the hotel before we arrived and we just left it there when we left. I assume you will be hiring a car (we didn't), if so it should fit in most medium sized boots.

We didn't need to take any proof of disablity. How they treat disabled people depended on the park (Disney, Universal, Bush Gardens and Sea World were all different). We just went to Guest Services as soon as we went through the gates and asked what we needed to do. Some of the parks had a special entrance for disabled people which meant that you often didn't have to wait in the main queue and got on the ride pretty quickly depending on how many other disabled people there were. Some of the parks gave you a special ticket to show to the ride operators, but we were only asked for it once, so I don't really know what the point was.

Edinburghlass_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

Thanks. We're staying across from wet n wild on international drive, mostly because I want to go to Harry Potter as well as Disney.

I remember you used to get a good value breakfast at ihop and there was a breakfast buffet in ponderosa too so breakfast is sorted but can you take snacks into the parks or do you have to buy it all in there?

We were next door to Sizzlers at LBV so often had breakfast there $4.95 and had one evening meal of steak and salad bar came to around $30 including drinks plus tips. Fish and chips at Epcot from the carry out next to the Rose and Crown was $7/8 and although its only two pieces of fish we were quite happy to share, guess it depends how big an eater OH is. Ate one night at Big River at Boardwalk and my chicken ceasar salad was huge got a doggy bag and had the remainder for breakfast

I used AttractionTix via TCB for 14 for 7 day Disney tickets with a 5% off code which they do quite often, cashback was £18 which was paid out before I went! It is a voucher but quickly changed to tickets at the first Disney park you visit. One tip, photograph the back of your tickets in case you loose them which I did about 20 minutes after entering the park As they were trying to sort it out someone handed it in so it didn't take up too much time.

GlasweJen

I've hired the same model chair as I use over here for $104 including insurance. Im using a company called "Randys"whenim have good reviews. The chair will be dropped at my hotel and collected once I leave. I'm taking my own cushion over because I don't want to break in a new one on holiday.

I've also discovered the wonderful world of coupons! Everything seems to have a coupon over there and I'm hitting the malls to do my winter clothes shop, OH is not amused lol.

fairy-paige

Hi Kevmaw.
Thanks for your help, I have read the article, and feel that it will be best to keep looking and wait incase I can get a better deal:) Especially as I dont think its worth it for the car in the package the insurance on it is another £250...might aswell get one seperately right?;)

jackieblack

fairy-paige wrote: »

Hi Kevmaw.
Thanks for your help, I have read the article, and feel that it will be best to keep looking and wait incase I can get a better deal:) Especially as I dont think its worth it for the car in the package the insurance on it is another £250...might aswell get one seperately right?;)

That's the thing with these 'free' cars included in packages, it's the insurance that is the main expense of hiring a car.

Having said that, I think you'd be lucky to get a car that'll fit 5 of you, plus luggage, with decent insurance, for 2 weeks, for £250 separately.

vivatifosi

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've also discovered the wonderful world of coupons! Everything seems to have a coupon over there and I'm hitting the malls to do my winter clothes shop, OH is not amused lol.

I'm a couple of days late posting this, but hope you see it GlasweJen.

If you want to do the whole couponing thing, make sure you pick up the Sunday Orlando Sentinel and the free local tourist brochures too. The Sentinel (Sunday only) has pages and pages of vouchers for locals, they will include the clothes and department stores. These are done as separate inserts, which some hotels etc remove, so if you want these make sure you get a paper with all of the flyers.

Both the Sentinel and tourist brochures will have discounts for restaurants. The tourist brochures also have coupons for the smaller local attractions but not the biggies like Disney. Tourist shops also have vouchers in these. If you are self catering, get a Winn Dixie card at the supermarket for further discounts if that's your nearest shop.

Stores in Disney and some upscale shops do not accept coupons, even if they are for an item they sell.

johnpaul74

This looks amazing but does anyone have any suggestions for the ultimate dolphin and shark experience?

me and my OH will be going in Aug/Sep so just finalising the itinerary.

Idiophreak

johnpaul74 wrote: »

This looks amazing but does anyone have any suggestions for the ultimate dolphin and shark experience?

me and my OH will be going in Aug/Sep so just finalising the itinerary.

We did the swimming with dolphins at discovery cove and it was really amazing. Only a few minutes in the water with the dolphin itself, but still great. The reef there is also totally undersold - amazing to snorkel around with all the stingrays and little fishies. Spent hours in there. Add in the free food and drink and it's a great day out.

Some people may find the whole thing a little sterile and controlled, though...and your time with the dolphin is limited...If that bothers you, I can highly recommend swimming with manatees instead....out in the wild, but much more time with the animals. Of course, there's the risk that you might not find any manatees at all, though....

wolfwanderer

Hi all - really useful thread.
I'm after tickets to all Disney and universal parks for 14 days.
Having read the advice on here it seems that i should buy them from floridatix tomorrow at £418 per person with the 5% discount. Is that right?

Are there any other options - what about the One ticket?
They're not cheap are they! And there are 9 of us...