Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

meer53

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Can anyone help with the following:

Looking for 10/14 days from end July 2013, one adult and one 15 year old. Woud like to do the parks that have the biggest/scariest rides (no idea which ones these are ).
Do we book independently or who is the best tour operator to use? What do we have to buy on top of any brochure price, not sure if any package deals include park passes at all.
Would not want to do any driving there so interested to hear how you get on if you do not have car hire.
Thanks - sure there is loads more I will think of.

I've just booked for end July first week in August 2013. This will be our 5th time. Virgin flights were just under £900 each. 4 of us travelling so we've booked a villa and a car, obviously this won't work for you. We've never stayed in a hotel there but there are lots of people on here who have so will be along with recommendations soon !

We've been with TravelCity before (now owned by Virgin) and have been twice with Charter Travel who are really good. We've always bought our park tickets separately as we shop around for the best prices. We like Universal/Islands of Adventure/Seaworld and Busch Gardens best for rides. WDW is fantastic too, we always do all the parks.

If you Google the parks you can get a feeling for which will suit you best ride wise.

KarenG

JustWonderful wrote: »

Hmm 10 minute walk might be a bit too much for grandparents...though the idea of having a villa right next to the main area doesn't overly appeal as i can imagine it is rather loud...

I love American supermarkets I have been to America loads and always love visiting them to stock up on all things American! The rest of the group will be up early to go to SeaWorld, so I figure my Dad and I can get to the supermarket and back by about 11 and then have the day to do what we want with...

Being close to the main area definitely won't mean it's noisy, far from it. Just bear in mind you can request an area, but it's only a request. To be honest, the walk is all flat and not a challenge, and is a very short distance compared to how far they will be walking in the parks :eek: LOL

If you're happy to go shopping while everyone goes to SeaWorld that sounds like a good solution

vivatifosi

JustWonderful wrote: »

Thanks for all the info- we looked at using Garden Grocer but it just seemed very expensive. I think we will just go to the supermarket on day 2, having 2 breakfasts at OKW is probably the limit going on what you say, and what we have read elsewhere!!

I like the idea of the Turtle Pond area when it comes to which villa; I am travelling with my 6 year old sister, our parents and one set of grandparents, so it should be quieter as it is away from the main hubbub but not so far away that we are walking miles...is that about right?

Is Olivia's a nice restaurant? We have planned to go there once (you're right- we are on the DDP) but were slightly put off when we saw the picture of the restaurant!!

Thanks again :T

Turtle Pond sounds a really nice location for your requirements. It is popular so not guaranteed. They will be doing room requests now, so it is worth mentioning to Disney quickly if that is important to you as they do try to accommodate requests. If they can't do Turtle Pond maybe they can at least put you close to one of the other pools. You won't get close to Hospitality House at this late stage as that generally needs to be booked months out and is the first to go.

In terms of getting around the resort, if walking isn't an option, there's an internal resort shuttle bus. What happens is that the bus to Downtown Disney actually makes two stops at Hospitality House, once on the way in (its the first stop) and once on the way back out again. This means that you can always get back to your room from the other locations. You can take any bus from your resort stop to Hospitality House as they all go there. Buses from Hospitality House run approximately every 20 minutes, getting there though is easier due to having a choice of about 5 buses.

One other thing I should mention if going with grandparents. Karen is right about the light on the ground floor, particularly in the studios (it isn't as bad on the larger units) and we always book to stay on the top floor. However if grandparents have any difficulties getting around, then there are no lifts, only stairs, which may also be a consideration.

In terms of Olivias, it is nice, but as a rule we never eat there, just because we tend to go elsewhere.

I'm with Karen on the lack of breakfast options too. I just wished they opened up a path to Port Orleans which is just across the road. However they won't because they are different classes of resort:(. If only they realised how many OKW guests would benefit from this.

JustWonderful

vivatifosi wrote: »

Turtle Pond sounds a really nice location for your requirements. It is popular so not guaranteed. They will be doing room requests now, so it is worth mentioning to Disney quickly if that is important to you as they do try to accommodate requests. If they can't do Turtle Pond maybe they can at least put you close to one of the other pools. You won't get close to Hospitality House at this late stage as that generally needs to be booked months out and is the first to go.

In terms of getting around the resort, if walking isn't an option, there's an internal resort shuttle bus. What happens is that the bus to Downtown Disney actually makes two stops at Hospitality House, once on the way in (its the first stop) and once on the way back out again. This means that you can always get back to your room from the other locations. You can take any bus from your resort stop to Hospitality House as they all go there. Buses from Hospitality House run approximately every 20 minutes, getting there though is easier due to having a choice of about 5 buses.

One other thing I should mention if going with grandparents. Karen is right about the light on the ground floor, particularly in the studios (it isn't as bad on the larger units) and we always book to stay on the top floor. However if grandparents have any difficulties getting around, then there are no lifts, only stairs, which may also be a consideration.

In terms of Olivias, it is nice, but as a rule we never eat there, just because we tend to go elsewhere.

I'm with Karen on the lack of breakfast options too. I just wished they opened up a path to Port Orleans which is just across the road. However they won't because they are different classes of resort:(. If only they realised how many OKW guests would benefit from this.

How would we go about requesting a place? It may be too late but worth a punt!

We stayed at Port Orleans last time, and loved the food court for breakfast- you say it is just across the road, my memory is hazy- can you not walk across the road? If it gets me a nicer breakfast I will be doing that! :rotfl:

vivatifosi

JustWonderful wrote: »

How would we go about requesting a place? It may be too late but worth a punt!

We stayed at Port Orleans last time, and loved the food court for breakfast- you say it is just across the road, my memory is hazy- can you not walk across the road? If it gets me a nicer breakfast I will be doing that! :rotfl:

Sometimes you do get joggers doing the route. You walk out of the gate of OKW, turn left, then at the traffic lights turn right, then PO is next up on the right hand side. The thing is though, it is much closer than that. The end of PO is literally just behind a cluster of trees the other side of the road, but you can't cut through. We have a car and regularly pop to Port Orleans for a counter service meal if we don't fancy OKW. You could probably do it on the morning of your shop. Have a nice brekkie to set you up at PO, then take the boat to Downtown Disney, then walk down HPB to Goodings before taking a taxi back. If you are staying on Miller's Road, there's also a cut through the staff area. I'm not sure whether you can use this, but it's worth asking as it will be much shorter. For every other area though, you'd still leave via the main entrance.

In terms of the room, depends on who you booked through. If you booked directly through Disney they tend to ask whether you have any requests at the time of booking (which is why some things are already done and dusted by now), but you can phone them directly in the States. If you booked via an agent, you will probably have to get them to make the request for you. It is fair to say that although there are some better rooms than others at OKW, heck, this is Disney. There's no such thing as a truly bad room!

ETA: sorry, should have mentioned, the road by OKW is unlit, so it is much safer to walk to PO in daylight. You'll arrive in the French Quarter. Also, I'm not sure where they go to, but there is a bus stop on the same road, just outside the OKW staff entry, which staff use to get to work. It may be worth checking if there is a timetable there, or asking at front desk. It may be that there are buses to and from OKW that you can get to the supermarket. I stress though, this is something I've never done, so I have no idea what stops there.

JustWonderful

Am now in Disney, just to say thanks to the posters who helped me out!

We are in building 62 which is perfect for us as it is close to hospitality house, pools and the refillable drink machine!

Went to Goodings today, was not too bad at all. Walked down but got a taxi back ($20 which seemed a bit steep).

vivatifosi

Building 62 is a great location, you are really lucky to get that! It's hard to do better. Have a wonderful time!

beckham100

Hi, We have booked to go to Florida May 2013, staying in WDW resort.
We are not hiring a car, but OH wants to go to Universal for the day.
We just wondered what is the best way to buy tickets for 1 day to Universal for 2 adults and a 10 year old?
All of the tickets I seen to find are for 14 days.

vivatifosi

A quick post for anyone coming to WDW in the next month. The Fantasyland extension is now in soft opening phase. It has been open - including the two new attractions - for two days now. This has been a full soft opening for anyone in the park and the rides open intermittently.

Annual Pass holders and DVC members look like they will get special timed entry by going on the respective websites and registering. The AP registration starts on 15th October for dates in early Nov. The full opening will be at end of Nov, with the grand opening early Dec. The new dining facility will open January and the mine train looks like it may shade it into the end of 2013, not 2014 as currently scheduled.

KarenG

vivatifosi wrote: »

A quick post for anyone coming to WDW in the next month. The Fantasyland extension is now in soft opening phase. It has been open - including the two new attractions - for two days now. This has been a full soft opening for anyone in the park and the rides open intermittently.

Annual Pass holders and DVC members look like they will get special timed entry by going on the respective websites and registering. The AP registration starts on 15th October for dates in early Nov. The full opening will be at end of Nov, with the grand opening early Dec. The new dining facility will open January and the mine train looks like it may shade it into the end of 2013, not 2014 as currently scheduled.

We saw it in August and have been following avidly online.