Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

ANewBeginning

gboom2000 wrote: »

Me and 3 mates (all mid 20s) have a spare day in Orlando in March, what's the best theme park for a one day visit?

Universal. No competition.

inspector_gadget_2

Hello,

We are going to Orlando in April of this year for my wife's 30th Birthday, 2 adults and 2 children. We've been several times before, got married at Disney in 2009, but this year have managed to get flights with Virgin for £2k, luxury car hire for £350 (with gold insurance) and a very good deal on a villa.

The only problem is I am struggling to find tickets to the parks at a reasonable price.

So far 4 day and 4 fun to Disney is about £750 with a further £350 for a 2-Day Universal pass. Other than undercover tourist do you guys recommend anything else? (Both sites are a must, Universal just for Harry Potter World as wife is crazy about him even at 30!)

I've looked at Travel Republic (not bad), AttractionTicketsDirect.com and a few others but all pricey.

Finally, who is keeping an eye on exchange rates? I've noticed they have dropped a bit recently, does anyone have a recommendation for foreign exchange? (would prefer cards but understand cash is sometimes better!)

Any help gratefully appreciated.

Cheers,

Lee:D

vivatifosi

Hi Lee, the prices you are quoting are expensive. A couple of questions...

Disney: will you use the fun and fun or are you looking at park only options? They may work out cheaper for you.

Here's a link to MSE's page on getting cheaper tickets:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-disney-florida-theme-parks

If you start going to Florida on a regular basis, Annual Passes may prove to be a better option for you, especially at Universal where the passes are quite cheap.

In terms of exchange rates, I do watch them, though of course they are very difficult to call (or I would be a very rich fx trader). We managed to get a shade under $1.60 before our trip (we've just returned) from Travelex with airport pick up. This was a massive saving on the rate of turning up on the day and picking up money. From memory the rate for doing it there and then was $1.44! On TV in US at the moment, the next crunch point in currency terms is being reported as March, when the debt ceiling will be reached but with less chance of meeting agreement. We used the fiscal cliff to get our rate and this is the next possible peak in this series of events. I use xe.com to watch currency rates, though bear in mind the tourist rate will be a few cents short of that.

maemaesmummy

ANewBeginning wrote: »

Universal. No competition.

Think Islands is a better option myself :j

rogray

Hi,

We have booked to go to Orlando in May this year and while we are there it will be my daughter and my wifes birthdays. We have been looking and found a few ways to make my daughters birthday a bit special but does anyone have any ideas what there is available for a thirty-something kid

Thanks in advance...

vivatifosi

Maemaesmummy, as you are around today, I wanted to ask - if you don't mind - how often you go to Disney. You seem to be there a lot more often than I am and so I am a bit envious... I tend to go twice a year for two weeks but you seem to be there way longer than that.

maemaesmummy

vivatifosi wrote: »

Maemaesmummy, as you are around today, I wanted to ask - if you don't mind - how often you go to Disney. You seem to be there a lot more often than I am and so I am a bit envious... I tend to go twice a year for two weeks but you seem to be there way longer than that.

Last year we did 8 days in April, 6 weeks in the summer holidays, hubby then went back for 2 weeks alone September then we all went for 25 days December....we go back next Feb 13th for 2 weeks!!

So taking into account the week we did into Jan 12 we did 11+ weeks last year, hubby 13!!

maemaesmummy

rogray wrote: »

Hi,

We have booked to go to Orlando in May this year and while we are there it will be my daughter and my wifes birthdays. We have been looking and found a few ways to make my daughters birthday a bit special but does anyone have any ideas what there is available for a thirty-something kid

Thanks in advance...

I did the Beluga interaction at Seaworld for my 40th...it was brilliant and something I will always remember. We then did the "wishes" dessert party at Magic Kingdom that evening:D

jackieblack

Hi all
thinking of going back next Christmas/New Year (fully aware everything will be hideously busy and ludicrously expensive)

Is there anything that is not open Christmas Day/Boxing Day/New Year's Day or is everywhere business-as-usual?

maemaesmummy

just walmart, publix, shops etc (like the UK) and some restaurants all the parks are open (until they close as they are at capacity ha ha).

Hideously busy isn't halfway to saying how bad it is lol....2012 is the worst I have ever seen it (been every xmas since 2008) 2 hr waits for rides at 8am opening, 1 hr queues for bag check, 15 miles of stationary traffic on the I4..all fastpasses gone by 9am....it was crazy!

But xmas is amazing...I wouldn't want it to be my only trip that year but for a 2nd or 3rd visit....its ace.