Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

maemaesmummy

Yes..our AP's have done 12 weeks this year..plus the renewal cost is reduced..our US/IOA have cost £88 each, which is less than a UK 14 day ticket and includes Parking and 10% disc..plus other perks such as early entry into the park,

ssmi

SuzieSue wrote: »

You shouldn't have any problems at all with a wheelchair in Orlando, but you need to tell the airline well in advance. My OH has a manual wheelchair but we hired a mobility scooter from Walker Mobility which was great and so much better than a wheelchair. They drop it off at your hotel before you arrive and collect it after you leave.

It is actually an advantage to be in a wheelchair for some of the parks as you miss the long queues, but for others it doesn't make any difference. It is best to go to Guest Services when you enter to park and as for a map for disabled people.

Thanks for this.

I looked at the hire costs for the wheelchair and as the airline say they carry them for free I think I'm just as well buying one in the UK and taking it with me. Although I will look at the scooter option. I'll find out on Friday how long the plaster has to stay on for so I let the airline know then I think- orperhaps I should let them know now - I suppose I can always cancel.

SuzieSue

ssmi wrote: »

Thanks for this.

I looked at the hire costs for the wheelchair and as the airline say they carry them for free I think I'm just as well buying one in the UK and taking it with me. Although I will look at the scooter option. I'll find out on Friday how long the plaster has to stay on for so I let the airline know then I think- orperhaps I should let them know now - I suppose I can always cancel.

I really would seriously consider hiring an electric scooter as we went to Disneyland Paris with just a manual wheelchair and it was so slow and tiring. It made such a difference that my OH was independent in Orlando (and best of all, I didn't have to carry anything as I could put it all in the bag on the back of the scooter). I would buy a wheelchair bag in the UK and take it with you, but be careful that not all wheelchair bags will fit on a mobility scooter so we ended up using a rucksack on the scooter.

You can hire scooters at all the theme parks but the daily rates are very expensive compared to hiring it from somewhere like Walker Mobility for a couple of weeks.

Reue

Hi guys, hope someone can give me a hand here as its a planning nightmare!

My partner and I are looking at going to Florida on a package with Thomson for 14 nights which flies into Sanford and includes 'free care hire'. The hotel being Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista.

Ive taken a look through the small-print and almost had a heart attack at the additional charges added onto the 'free' care hire:

$25 a day young persons surcharge
$3 a day taxes
$10-$14 per visit theme park carpark
Plus whatever extra Insurance charges they add.

My question is; is it worth paying these for the car hire? Or would it be better to just not bother with it? Or even would it be better to hire a car through a seperate company? Is it possible to get around to the parks etc with shuttle buses and also how much is it likely to cost to get from the airport to the hotel?

Any advice much appreciated!

StuieUK34

Hi all,

Looking to do a last min deal, for a weeks hol on the 8th sep......
But looking for a super deal...
In June, Monarch/Thomson did there super deals for flights, from £167 excl baggage, did the same last year and year before, etc.....

I always seem to notice the flights in June, but never really paid attention for deals in September...
Anyone recall seeing super deals from last year ? (normally gat/bhx and man airports)

SuzieSue

Reue wrote: »

Hi guys, hope someone can give me a hand here as its a planning nightmare!

My partner and I are looking at going to Florida on a package with Thomson for 14 nights which flies into Sanford and includes 'free care hire'. The hotel being Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista.

Ive taken a look through the small-print and almost had a heart attack at the additional charges added onto the 'free' care hire:

$25 a day young persons surcharge
$3 a day taxes
$10-$14 per visit theme park carpark
Plus whatever extra Insurance charges they add.

My question is; is it worth paying these for the car hire? Or would it be better to just not bother with it? Or even would it be better to hire a car through a seperate company? Is it possible to get around to the parks etc with shuttle buses and also how much is it likely to cost to get from the airport to the hotel?

Any advice much appreciated!

We've just come back from staying at Lake BV with Thompsons. We stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek and didn't bother with the free car because of all the extras. The hotel had free shuttle buses to all the Disney Parks and we got a Mears coach to Seaworld and Universal Studios which the hotel arraanged which cost $39 for the two of us return.

Busch Gardens was the only place that we felt that we needed a car beause there were no direct coaches going to it from our hotel so we had to get a taxi to one of their pick up places fo the free shuttle, but it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare because the idiot taxi drive dropped us off at the wrong pick up point and so we had to get another taxi and only got the free shuttle to Busch Gardens with a minute or so to spare. But apart from that, we didn't feel we needed a car at all and if we hadn't had an idiot taxi driver it would have been fine.

The only other slight problem without a car was that there was no supermarket near us. We stocked up on water on the way back from Busch gardens as the drop off point was by a supermarket.

missimaxo

I am looking at booking a 2 week holiday next year and so far am getting completely overwhelmed. We want a villa, car hire and flights for 2 adults and 2 children, but dont know how to start.

Is there a site that can help me with:

1 The best time to go weather wise
2 Whether to do a package or to book seperately
3 The basics on Visas (I went many years ago and thought you just did these on the plane)

Thanks

Ms-Money-Penny

missimaxo wrote: »

I am looking at booking a 2 week holiday next year and so far am getting completely overwhelmed. We want a villa, car hire and flights for 2 adults and 2 children, but dont know how to start.

Is there a site that can help me with:

1 The best time to go weather wise
2 Whether to do a package or to book seperately
3 The basics on Visas (I went many years ago and thought you just did these on the plane)

Thanks

if you go to https://www.thedibb.co.uk

You will find the folks over there very helpful. They have park hours, busy day guides all the information you need and more.

1 - I prefer Easter but the downside is its busy
2 - Try costing it both ways, i paid 1k less doing it on my own - same Virgin flights but saved the rest by booking hotel myself.
3 - You now need an Esta these have to be purchased before travel cost about $12 per person

Reue

SuzieSue wrote: »

We've just come back from staying at Lake BV with Thompsons. We stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek and didn't bother with the free car because of all the extras. The hotel had free shuttle buses to all the Disney Parks and we got a Mears coach to Seaworld and Universal Studios which the hotel arraanged which cost $39 for the two of us return.

Busch Gardens was the only place that we felt that we needed a car beause there were no direct coaches going to it from our hotel so we had to get a taxi to one of their pick up places fo the free shuttle, but it turned out to be a bit of a nightmare because the idiot taxi drive dropped us off at the wrong pick up point and so we had to get another taxi and only got the free shuttle to Busch Gardens with a minute or so to spare. But apart from that, we didn't feel we needed a car at all and if we hadn't had an idiot taxi driver it would have been fine.

The only other slight problem without a car was that there was no supermarket near us. We stocked up on water on the way back from Busch gardens as the drop off point was by a supermarket.

Thanks for the advice! May I ask, how did you get to the hotel from the airport and how much did it cost??

We're not really interested in Busch gardens so not too bothered about that, but are there like enough places to eat within walking distance from the hotel as well if no supermarket nearby?

Thanks.

SuzieSue

Reue wrote: »

Thanks for the advice! May I ask, how did you get to the hotel from the airport and how much did it cost??

We're not really interested in Busch gardens so not too bothered about that, but are there like enough places to eat within walking distance from the hotel as well if no supermarket nearby?

Thanks.

We paid around £35 each for the transfer from the airport to the hotel and back. You just need to book this when you book your Thompson package (from memory it asks you as you are booking).

We just ate at the hotel, so not sure if there were any other eating places, but our hotel was quite isolated because it was on private land, not on Disney land so there was nothing else within walking distance.