Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

rabbit_burrow

KarenG wrote: »

Disney UK, but there were a number of places offering that price. Charter Travel and Ocean Florida also did it. If I remember well, we only paid £104 in August '11 and £96 in August '10. That included food for all four of us - With free DDP. I couldn't get close to that saving even with my DVC points. Alas the days of DDP which included app and tip being just a distant memory

How far in advance do you book? Maybe I look too early. I like to book 11 months ahead due to work, flights, ensuring I have accomodation sorted etc.

KarenG

rabbit_burrow wrote: »

Oh yes, when it first started and included the appetiser and tips, and adult cost was around $35 per day. Now THAT was worth paying for.

Obviously if you can get the room for about £1400 including DDP, ten it might be a bargain. If our hols are in a studio (which we just don't do anymore) then we can get away with using just 1 years points meaning that 2 weeks with DDP would be around £2000, definitely worth doing with that kind of saving. I'll have to check again for my next hol. Going to BLT (TPV) and AKL (SV) this time, I don't think I could've done it cheaper.

It's just OKW and SSR that are heavily discounted plus free DDP. I have never seen anyone get a price for the other resorts that would've compelled me to book with real money just to get free DDP.

Each time we've booked about 11 months in advance, I think.

I never book flights until a price appears that I'm happy with - so rarely are they booked until the magic number pops up! We've always been able to finesse the stays to work around the flights

rabbit_burrow

I don't book flight when they come out either, I find the golden time for us tends to be about a month or two later, then it seems to increase again, but it does depend on the time of year that you want to fly as well.

boiali

Dear All,
Very useful thread but hope someone may help. We are planning a trip to orlando for october half term and need some advice.

Group: Us = 2 adults and 3 children (22 months, 3 years and 6 years) + my inlaws (4 adults).

The in laws are meeting us there from another part of the world so dont. They will book their flights after us.

Advice re:
1. Flights- we live in leeds. We want to fly off weekend of 26th. it will be my father in law's birthday on 28 oct so prefer to arrive before that day. Also, when is it best time to book (considering it is half term here, does it matter?)

2. Things to do-especially for my 3 girls. I suppose the other adults can split with us if they are bored with children kinda stuff.

3. The only thing I would absolutely love is for myself and mother in law to do one day shopping-wheres best deals?

4. Accommodation: please advice. we would like somewhere kind of 4 star standards. I was thinking of maybe a 4-5 bed villa or something? somewhere kids could be comfortable and be able to run around....my in laws are very fussy (and they have money). (again when is best time to book, considering it is half term here, does it matter?)

5. car hire-where/when to book.

6. Tickets- My sister works in dysney (together with her boyfriend) and they think they can get passes for us. She only started working there in february. Am still waiting to see what sort of passes she thinks they can get. Hopefully we dont have to spend much more depending on where we go...

7. AOB-anything else that might be useful travelling ith young kids to orlando.

many thanks for reading and your advice.

KarenG

Boiali - October 2013 or 2014? The prices are quite high now for 2013 as October half term is a very popular time for Brits to go. I fear you may have missed the reasonable prices - do you have a flight budget in mind?

It will be cheaper if you fly indirect and avoid the weekend, as a general rule. I'd start off by using Kayak to monitor flight prices.

There are loads of villas that will fit your requirements. Www.thedibb.co.uk has many that are lovely (but not always cheapest).

boiali

Thanks for the response. I mean oct 2013. Took so long coz we were waiting to confirm leave at work but I intend to book this weekend....

KarenG

boiali wrote: »

Thanks for the response. I mean oct 2013. Took so long coz we were waiting to confirm leave at work but I intend to book this weekend....

There are some flights under £550 but they all at a quick glance involve two stops or a hideous flight time. I looked from Manchester.

vivatifosi

boiali wrote: »

6. Tickets- My sister works in dysney (together with her boyfriend) and they think they can get passes for us. She only started working there in february. Am still waiting to see what sort of passes she thinks they can get. Hopefully we dont have to spend much more depending on where we go...

DH used to be a cast-member too. Have a google for Disney maingate passes. If this is still the programme, the amount of passes someone gets will depend on how high up in Disney they are and whether or not they are on the international college programme. For example, someone on the college person can get in 3(?) people for up to 6 days. You have quite a large party, so it may not be possible to get free passes for everyone, but I guess this is something they will look into for you.

Wardy

Has anyone flown with Ocean Florida to Orlando?? Do you know who they use for flights? Packages with Travel City Direct or Virgin flights on their own is coming out at more than we've been told to expect - approx £1,000 each for 2 weeks in Oct (including Oct half term) 2014, staying on International Drive. Does this seem reasonable to you all? I was expecting that at the least but people have told me it can be done cheaper...

boiali

vivatifosi wrote: »

DH used to be a cast-member too. Have a google for Disney maingate passes. If this is still the programme, the amount of passes someone gets will depend on how high up in Disney they are and whether or not they are on the international college programme. For example, someone on the college person can get in 3(?) people for up to 6 days. You have quite a large party, so it may not be possible to get free passes for everyone, but I guess this is something they will look into for you.

My sister has confirmed they are allowed 3 passes per day. Her boyfriend also works there so we should have enough passes.