Orlando & Florida - Questions & Answers (Part 1) *CLOSED*

jaffa

bj of course you must do all the parks (well as many as you can) on your first trip. Busch Gardens are close to Tampa approx 70/80 miles from Orlando takes about 90 mins to drive there. But obviously all the other parks are close to habd in Orlando area. If you didn't want to drive to Tampa - there is always Disney's Animal Kingdom - that's the one park I haven't visited so can't comment on it.

As I said before any questions ask away - I love to talk about Florida.....


furrypig Having been lucky enough to have lots of trips to Florida we don't really "do" the parks any more. Depending on the time we have and the weather we may do one park each trip to Orlando area.

But like you I like to see other parts and love the Gulf Coast - Fort Myers, Sarasota, Naples etc all down the coast are lovely places to visit and thats really where I like to spend my time. My dream is to be able to spend a few months a year there when I've saved enough money thru this site!

bj-sailaway

Thanks Jaffa, so, would you say that it was best to find accommodation in the Kissimee area, and drive out to Tampa? Also, I'm searching for flights, is Orlando airport the same as Sanford? Is this the best airport to go to. Because I want half term, I may have left it a bit late. flights for 4 seem to be coming out at about £2,400. Is that about right?

furrypig

hi bj

lots of people drive from Orlando down to Busch gardes we did on a previous visit to Florida and it was fine. We stayed in Kissimmee our last 2 visits to the Orlando area and again it was fine. I think Orlando and Sanford are different so you might be able to get different flight options. We flew BA and our tickets were about £400 per person but were booked 10 months in advance and were for Feb half term. Friends have just booked flights with Air Canada for about £400 each but it involves flying to Ottawa and then on to Orlando though this is probably a good price for Easter. Depends what is more important saving money or reducing travel time (with young kids I might prefer the latter!!! but we usually go in Feb when it is cheaper anyway).

Good luck with all your plans there is so much information on the net I am sure you'll find what you are looking for and you will have a fantastic time!!

Finishrich

Orlando International Airport is the one used by the scheduled airlines BA, American Airline, Delta, Virgin etc transfer time approx 25 mintues. Sanford is further north and is used by the Charter Airlines, Mytravel, First Choice, Tui etc transfer time approx 40 minutes.

bj-sailaway

Thanks guys, you have been so helpful. I'm actually really nervous of travelling, but you are making me feel much better about it. Virgin have offered us really cheap accommodation!? But can only do premium flights for October half term. I thought I was planning well ahead, but obviously not. I shall search a bit harder for the flights. Any suggestion of webistes to try for cheap flights?

jaffa

bj

As Finishrich has said Orlando and Sanford are different airports with Sanford being a bit further away but still an easy drive to the Kissimmee area.
Which one you use depends on airline you fly with.
If you are wanting to do all the Disney parks then yes it would be best to stay in Kissimmmee area and then you only have the one days drive over to Tampa for Busch.

Cheap flights? I am sure there are people on here who would be able to tell you the best websites to look at. Would imagine you are always going to pay a bit more if you have to fly in school holidays.

What accomodation have you been offered?

earlydoors_2

I was wondering if anyone knew when was the best time to get flights to florida. I am looking at travelling next year and I wanted to know if it is best to leave it to the last minute or try and get them when they first become available. Also how long before the flight are they put up for sale?


Further to the discussion about sanford vs orlando airport. Although Sanford is further away, it is a smaller airport and you tend to get processed there far quicker, so it can work out easier.

bj-sailaway

Hi there Earlydoors, judging by the trouble I'm having getting cheap flights, I would say book as soon as they are available. Someone at BA told me that Feb half term next year (11-18 Feb) will be available from 21st March this year. Hope this helps.

I have been offered really cheap flights to Miami and someone has suggested I take them and drive to Orlando? Looks like an awful long way to me, anyone got any ideas on this? The flights are only £1,000 for all 4 of us, half term week.

Finishrich

earlydoors wrote:

Further to the discussion about sanford vs orlando airport. Although Sanford is further away, it is a smaller airport and you tend to get processed there far quicker, so it can work out easier.

Have to agree on that one. Last year we landed at Sanford at 1pm. By 2.50pm we were in our room at Disney, unpacked and ready to go to the pool. Couldn't quite belive it myself.

modgit

bj, i would suggest not taking the miami suggestion, in our pre-children life, we did an orlando / caribbean 2 centre, and we flew from orlando to miami, it was about an 1 hour flight, so don't think i;d comtemplate that sort of journey with children after an already long flight from the UK. I've been toying with the idea of Orlando with our 2 kids, and have found that if you were looking for Feb half term now, not october, your costs would be greatly reduced, have you tried https://www.travelcitydirect.com?