Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

KarenG

You have 18 days and 11 parks - should be fine. Harry Potter isn't a separate park - its an area in Islands of Adventure.

meer53

frugalsar wrote: »

Hi, I'm just after some advice, we're 2 adults and 2 kids going to orlando for 18 days (some of thats travelling though so i reckon after recovering we'll have 15 real days) we wanted to see -

Magic Kingdom
EPCOT
Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom
Typhoon Lagoon
Blizzard Beach
Busch Gardens
Seaworld
Aquatica
Universal Studios
Island Adventure
Harry Potter Land

Am I pushing it to fit everything in? (I really wanted to go to Kennedy Space and Discovery Cove too but thats defo pushing it!) How long will we need for each?

Also the cheapest I can find tickets is £445 does this sound about right?

We've done it before, it's tiring but doable !

Remember that the water parks are liable to be closed with no notice if the weather changes, we've been twice to Aquatica and had to leave early because of thunderstorms. Check the weather before you plan to go.

We've just booked our tickets, £252 for the 14 day Disney Ultimate (the 21 day ticket isn't much more) and £101 for the 2 park Universal. These are adult prices as our kids are 13 and 15. We found Floridaescapes the cheapest.

pinkzebra

tony863 wrote: »

Thanks again. I was originally thinking of going in September/October but I'm told that its thunder season? Which is best 'late' month to travel?

September or October will both be nice. I haven't heard about a specific 'thunder season' - June - August often have short, heavy downpours accompanied by thunder in the afternoons. September and October are less humid and have less rain. It will still be nice and warm

frugalsar

thanks for that info, I thought Harry Potter was seperate!

Also our flights have an exchange in Chicago for 6 hours, would we be able to leave the airport and wander or do we have to wait around there?

KarenG

frugalsar wrote: »

thanks for that info, I thought Harry Potter was seperate!

Also our flights have an exchange in Chicago for 6 hours, would we be able to leave the airport and wander or do we have to wait around there?

Oh, 6 hours is a bit horrid! Is there no earlier flight from Chicago to Orlando they could put you on?

I don't know Chicago at all but no US airport I've ever flown into has had much to wander around outside - usually just lots of highways!! Not sure if you would have time to go into Chicago itself? Does the airport have shops etc with time to kill (though 6 hours is a bit painful)

tony863

Thanks guys. I'm looking at the list above

Epcot
Magic kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom
Typhoon Lagoon
Blizzard Beach
Busch Gardens
Seaworld
Aquatica
Universal Studios
Island Adventure
Harry Potter Land

And thinking that this is quite a good list as well. We will only be going for 14 nights so we won't be doing all of the above but probably the majority.

I know that tickets are to be booked separately in order to get the best deals but what about the holiday? Am I likely to save a considerable amount by booking separate flights and hotels or should I look at Thompson, Virgin and alike?

KarenG

tony863 wrote: »

Thanks guys. I'm looking at the list above

Epcot
Magic kingdom
Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom
Typhoon Lagoon
Blizzard Beach
Busch Gardens
Seaworld
Aquatica
Universal Studios
Island Adventure
Harry Potter Land

And thinking that this is quite a good list as well. We will only be going for 14 nights so we won't be doing all of the above but probably the majority.

I know that tickets are to be booked separately in order to get the best deals but what about the holiday? Am I likely to save a considerable amount by booking separate flights and hotels or should I look at Thompson, Virgin and alike?

We always book DIY as it has always been significantly cheaper and gives us additional flexibility. Never rule out a TA though, as they could have better deals - you need to check.

What time of year are you going? Do you have thrill seekers or thrill haters in your party? Are you brave enough to hold out for a last minute deal? ( September and May are good for this. Other months may not be, and there are almost never good late deals for school holidays). If you can fly midweek and indirect that usually reduces the price further.

You may not want or need to go to all of the parks depending on the answer. From roughly end of October to March Disney keep one of their waterparks closed, so depending on your date that could rule one of your list out immediately. That's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Do you want to do Discovery Cove (expensive but worth it according to most people that have been)?

Harry Potter is simply a land within Islands of Adventure (at Universal Orlando) and is not a separate park.

Head over to https://www.thedibb.co.uk for loads of great advice and tips.

Doshwaster

frugalsar wrote: »

thanks for that info, I thought Harry Potter was seperate!

Also our flights have an exchange in Chicago for 6 hours, would we be able to leave the airport and wander or do we have to wait around there?

It might be worth checking if any of the airport hotels have a daytime rate so at least you will have somewhere to crash, shower and change. Many airport hotels do this as their rooms tend to be empty during the day so getting someone in for 6 hours increases the amount of money they can make per room.

incorrect_2

Hi all I am looking for a bit of advice as I have decided to take our grandkids to Disney. We have not been before and would obviously like to do it as cheap as possible but don't know if we should book flights etc separate or if a package is a good way to go.
There will be four adults and two kids (12+9)
We are thinking of going around Halloween 2014
Flying from Newcastle (prefer) or Manchester
14 nights and ultimate tickets for 14 days
We don't want a car
If doing a package holiday is it worth waiting for a late deal?

Any help appreciated Jacqui

lpoolguy

Hi

Dont know if this has been discussed before (cant find in thread). I am planning on staying in one of the on site universal hotels next year. Does anybody have any experience of these hotels, I want to do other things in the international drive area other than Universal and am wandering what it would be like getting elsewhere without the use of a car?

Thanks