Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

jeanniebeanie_2

Kido wrote: »

I'm going to Disney in a couple of weeks and really can't wait. I do have a concern about some of the rides though as I have problems with my inner ear. Most of the time I'm fine but I do get motion sick. If Indeed to travel on trains or boats I have to take travel sickness pills, but I also struggle with TV programs with a lot of movement from changing camera angels (e.g. Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice). My friend who I'm travelling with thinks I'll be fine as a lot of the rides are motion simulated but I'm not convinced. Can anyone on here offer any advice.

I get motion sick too, plus I am a wimp! Most of the extreme rides are in Universal, not Disney. Some people get sick on Mission Space in Epcot, but there are two experiences to chose from. You can chose a line that gives you the ride experience without the centrifuge bit. I tried that first, was fine, so went back for the full ride and was fine on that too.
All you can do really is try the 'lightweight' stuff first, maybe with travel meds or bands and see how you go. Oh, and don't do full Mission Space immediately after lunch! :

dmurray0

We found Wonderworks a complete let down... paid a decent price for a very (in our opinion) run down and tired effort. We have far better exhibits back home and felt it was nowhere near what it should have been. Our kids were wearing sandals so couldn't even use the ropes on the top floor and that topped it off....heading back in June this year and will definitely not be going back there...Pointe Orland had changed sooo much since the last time we were there tooo...lots of empty units, very few of the shops we remembered from last time. Apart from that the parks and food were brill :-)

meer53

dmurray0 wrote: »

We found Wonderworks a complete let down... paid a decent price for a very (in our opinion) run down and tired effort. We have far better exhibits back home and felt it was nowhere near what it should have been. Our kids were wearing sandals so couldn't even use the ropes on the top floor and that topped it off....heading back in June this year and will definitely not be going back there...Pointe Orland had changed sooo much since the last time we were there tooo...lots of empty units, very few of the shops we remembered from last time. Apart from that the parks and food were brill :-)

We went to Wonderworks on our trip in 2007. Been back to Florida twice since then and we're off again this year, i did say that it was only worth the one visit ! I can't think of anywhere on I Drive that i would want to visit again.

TonyJP

Stumbled across this thread and hope I can get some advice. Want to take my two kids (11 & 9) and wife to Orlando in the last 2 weeks of August this year. Spoke to a Virgin Holidays rep and despite getting a 7% discount as a Virgin Airways Club Member and getting a further £400 off for my air miles the cost of the holiday which included 10 days in Magic Kingdom at Saratoga Springs (studio room) with Quick service meal plan, 4 days in Universal at Hard Rock(garden view room) no meals, flights from London, 14 Day Ultimate Park tickets and car hire I was stunned to see the price was still £8300!!

Simple question....is it possible to get my family to Orlando at that time of year on a budget of £5k? If so how?

Many thanks in advance!

KarenG

TonyJP wrote: »

Stumbled across this thread and hope I can get some advice. Want to take my two kids (11 & 9) and wife to Orlando in the last 2 weeks of August this year. Spoke to a Virgin Holidays rep and despite getting a 7% discount as a Virgin Airways Club Member and getting a further £400 off for my air miles the cost of the holiday which included 10 days in Magic Kingdom at Saratoga Springs (studio room) with Quick service meal plan, 4 days in Universal at Hard Rock(garden view room) no meals, flights from London, 14 Day Ultimate Park tickets and car hire I was stunned to see the price was still £8300!!

Simple question....is it possible to get my family to Orlando at that time of year on a budget of £5k? If so how?

Many thanks in advance!

Ouch. I'm not sure £5k is possible, but well under £8300 will be, but possibly not for this August - you may be too late.

We always travel in August school holidays and pay along the lines of:

Flights £550 each = £2200 total. This is flying indirect, checking flight scanners every single day. There were flights selling in September for approx three weeks flying during summer holidays for under £450. That's pretty good! I've never paid more than £550 each though.

Disney accommodation - you are quite late here as many people have booked for this August well over a year ago, when the free dining was for full table service meals rather than the quick service plan. I paid £114 per night for Old Key West (equivalent to Saratoga) last year which for nine nights is approx £1k. This included free dining for the four of us which meant we didnt have to spend much money when there. Disney tickets add on an extra £1k for four. Total so far about £4200.

That leaves you some spare money for other theme parks and accommodation for Universal. I don't think you will be able to afford the HRH on a budget of £5k though. I've had some great prices there over the years but it's never been exactly cheap! There are many hotels that are near Universal which you could choose instead - ok without the onsite benefits, but if the budget is your main driver HRH should not be your first choice.


However - I honestly think you've missed the boat for this summer if you need to bring it in at £5k. It may be possible if some more good flight deals come out - but no guarantee there - and to fly direct the prices are very dear. The only way to do it is to get a very cheap hotel, indirect flights and even then it is going to be challenging!

Its rarely best to book with VIrgin Holidays as of course they have a profit margin inbuilt which you can keep for yourself if you book indirect. It's not always the case, but it usually is.


Is it your first trip?

maemaesmummy

Given that WDW 14 day tickets, Universal 14 day tickets, then Seaworld and Busch tickets come to around £1700 for 4 peeps then I think £5k is not doable in August...leaves around £3300 for flights, accomodation and car hire

meer53

We booked last year for August this year. 2 adults and 2 kids (aged 15 and 13) came in at £4800 for Virgin flights, villa and car. On top of that there will be tickets and spending money. So 5k isn't realistic really.

The flights we booked have gone up nearly £400 each since we booked.

Maybe look at going next year and booking earlier ?

MiddyMum

*Subscribing*

KarenG

maemaesmummy wrote: »

Given that WDW 14 day tickets, Universal 14 day tickets, then Seaworld and Busch tickets come to around £1700 for 4 peeps then I think £5k is not doable in August...leaves around £3300 for flights, accomodation and car hire

We've done it for that before - but have to fly indirect, take cheap hotel etc. Definitely no room in the budget for HRH :eek:

dmurray0

If you book early enough you can do it at a decent price. Got 2 adults and 3 kids for just under £2k flights Dublin-Atlanta( 90 minutes changeover) -Orlando. Car hire worked out free as BA gave us 75k Avios points last time as the screens weren't working for an hour on our last flight, and then the villa on top of it. Works out a lot cheaper than last year when we paid £5k to Ocean Florida. We still have just shy of 50k Avios so might redeem them and get a bit of discount on the tickets for Universal. Every penny counts :-)