Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

pinkzebra

kittynortheast wrote: »

Hi, Off to Florida in a couple of weeks, have been before but not for a few years. We have always taken dollar travellers cheques but the woman in the bank today said they aren't used so much any more. Not keen on credit card charges and like to kerb spending!! What is everyone using at the moment for spending??? Thanks in Advance.

Halifax Clarity card and Post Office credit card don't charge fees abroad. I believe the Clarity card also has no atm fees too.

pinkzebra

r.mac wrote: »

Hello again. I’m currently considering a WDW on site holidaythis October. Price is the deciding factor really!

The main reason for considering onsite being that I’m a bit nervous aboutdriving and it will just be my DD (5) and myself. So I was thinking that onsitewould be good for transportation issues, especially if we were somewhere likethe dolphin or contemporary resort (thinking monorail here).

Also, due to holidays we could only go for 7-9 nights so staying onsite makesme feel like we would be able to maximise our time there. I have been to WDW 5times now, but never stayed on site. I’m looking for the most cost effectiveway of getting what suits us.

Can I have your thoughts and top tips please? Flight wise have to fly from Scotlandwhich appears to make the cost rocket

Unless you have no maximum budget, I would just stay in one of the cheaper Disney places like the All Stars resort, or Port Orleans. The Dolphin does not have a monorail stop. The Contemporary is super expensive. All the Disney resorts are served by the free Disney buses. Also, the monorail would only take you to Epcot and the Magic Kingdom - to get to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios or the water parks you would need to take the bus. If you stayed at Port Orleans you could also get the boat to Downtown Disney (instead of a bus).

Alternatively, you could look at hotels off site that offer free shuttle buses.

Andy_89

Booked!

Going with Virgin Holidays.

3 weeks June 2015 - Caribbean Beach resort - WDW Resort.

WDW tickets included with Disney Dining plan included.

I managed to barter luggage upgrade and an upgrade on the Car.

£5,100.

jackieblack

Andy_89 wrote: »

Booked!

Going with Virgin Holidays.

3 weeks June 2015 - Caribbean Beach resort - WDW Resort.

WDW tickets included with Disney Dining plan included.

I managed to barter luggage upgrade and an upgrade on the Car.

£5,100.

Sounds lovely, hope you get some 'down' days to relax amongst all the mad days (3 weeks should give you the time to do that).
Are you going to get the bride/groom ears?

Tomcatsmum

kittynortheast wrote: »

Hi, Off to Florida in a couple of weeks, have been before but not for a few years. We have always taken dollar travellers cheques but the woman in the bank today said they aren't used so much any more. Not keen on credit card charges and like to kerb spending!! What is everyone using at the moment for spending??? Thanks in Advance.

We took a mix of dollars and travellers cheques last year and used them with no problems.

Andy_89

jackieblack wrote: »

Sounds lovely, hope you get some 'down' days to relax amongst all the mad days (3 weeks should give you the time to do that).
Are you going to get the bride/groom ears?

Yeah we will find the time, it's my eighth time so I have 'seen' most of it.

We are looking at having a week scattered around the three to relax, shop etc.

Cazzaswfc

kittynortheast wrote: »

Hi, Off to Florida in a couple of weeks, have been before but not for a few years. We have always taken dollar travellers cheques but the woman in the bank today said they aren't used so much any more. Not keen on credit card charges and like to kerb spending!! What is everyone using at the moment for spending??? Thanks in Advance.

I took a third of my spending in dollars and loaded the rest onto a pre pay MasterCard. I then use the pre paid card for large purchases and evening meals out, the dollars for small spends throughout the day.

If I need more cash I can simply load more money onto it as long as you can get online whilst abroad) works the same as cash, same exchange rate etc, if I have any left at the end of my trip I can get it back as pounds with no charge.

I used thomsons but they are now widely available, not found anywhere that do not take them.

Cazzaswfc

r.mac wrote: »

Hello again. I’m currently considering a WDW on site holidaythis October. Price is the deciding factor really!

The main reason for considering onsite being that I’m a bit nervous aboutdriving and it will just be my DD (5) and myself. So I was thinking that onsitewould be good for transportation issues, especially if we were somewhere likethe dolphin or contemporary resort (thinking monorail here).

Also, due to holidays we could only go for 7-9 nights so staying onsite makesme feel like we would be able to maximise our time there. I have been to WDW 5times now, but never stayed on site. I’m looking for the most cost effectiveway of getting what suits us.

Can I have your thoughts and top tips please? Flight wise have to fly from Scotlandwhich appears to make the cost rocket

Hi, if you do want to consider a cheaper alternative, try looking at the Sonesta suites (typing this currently by their hotel pool on a "relax day" :j. ) on I drive, we never hire a car and don't have an issue with getting too and from parks, the sonesta offers free transportation 3 times a day to Disney (to Epcot but you can then get connecting Disney transport to other sections of WDW) cost of eating out in a lot cheaper on I Drive and the part nets have been re furnished this year - stove etc for if you want to stay in and free breakfast (a bit hit an miss but ponderosa is across the road and could buy from the local supermarket)

Certainly be cheaper than WDW, best place I've stayed on I Drive in 3 visits.

marc7

hi all

on our way to orlando again in september (4th time)
we know the usual stuff by now just wondered if anybody had any secrets regarding the place ( i won't of seen it all haha)

i'm fairly interested in some off the beaten track places to shop or eat (mostly eat) :-)
i want to get away from the tourist bits for a few days but staying save lol

any help appreciated even if its obvious stuff that u think i may know about

cheers

vivatifosi

If you want to go somewhere nice off the tourist track, try the Winter Park and Thornton Park areas. Winter Park has traditional shops (in streets, not malls) and is a nice place to people watch from the coffee shops. Thornton Park is one of Orlando's gay areas but again is very nice. They are next door to each other. While there, you could try the Winter Park boat trip or take a walk around Lake Eola. There is a slightly rough part to Winter Park, but head for the shops and you'll avoid this.

One of my favourite restaurants in Orlando - it's somewhere I go with friends who live there - is Funky Monkey. We go to the Downtown location, but they now also have one at the Pointe Orlando (haven't been there). It isn't cheap but the food is lovely.