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

justmumcookcleanertaxi

scoop99 wrote:

Help.

Booked flights for May but got no accomodation yet & hoping to stay on I-Drive. Taking 2 daughters 15 & 18 (who need a bit of privacy) so should I book 2 rooms in a hotel or 1 room with 2 bedrooms. Last option seems a bit expensive from what I've found.
I keep getting told about the apts. located on I-Drive which would be a cheaper option than maybe a hotel for 2 bedrooms.
Does anyone know the names of these apts. or where I can get a price to compare with the hotels.

Its our first time so all help is appreciated.

Hi I have just returned from Florida and we stayed at the Homewood Suites Orlando. Located on international drive. Nice clean suites and you are given complementary breakfast and complimentary suttle to all the theme parks. Good location and excellent staff. They belong to the Hilton Group. They are very reasonable in priced. I haven't hard a bad review about them. We had a one bedroomed suite which was adequate for us 2 kids 4&8 and 2 adults. There is a living room with a sofa bed and then a separate bedroom. They also do 2 bedroomed suites. PM me if you need any further advice.

kingl_2

GIRLPOWER - we have stayed in The Royal Pacific before and we are staying there again in a few weeks. Highly recommended and cheaper than Hard Rock with the same standards. The Express Ticket is the best perk available in Florida imho, and reason enough to choose one of the Universal hotels.

None of them are cheap though.

KarenA_2

Hi there
Seriously thinking of using our rainy day money for a family holiday to Florida later this year or early next year. Neither me or other half will drive abroad, so will need somewhere close to all parks - don't mind hotels or self catering apartment. We have never visited before so not sure on how you get about! If we stay at one of the disney hotels (Pop Century etc) how do we get to Universal Parks?? Is it better to go for I.Drive and get a hotel that offers free transport?? Are you limited to one or two buses per day this way or do they run continuously?? Are they packed full?? Can you walk to any of the parks - quite happy walking a couple of miles but will roads allow this?? Is it cheaper to eat in parks or hotels?? Please give me some first time visitor tips!!!! Who's the best travel company to book with??

loikok

Hi there
Flying to orlando this summer with virgin from gatwick connecting flight from glasgow[ BA flight] arrives at gatwick 10.30 depart gatwick for orlando 12.45 is
2 hours 15 minutes enough time to change terminals and checkin?
PS booking was made through airline network

Mike_J

Karen A

If staying in Disney the transport system is brilliant and I believe you can get taxi/shuttle to other theme parks.

If visiting more than Disney, I would suggest staying on I/Drive. Its central tot he parks and plenty of the hotels have free shuttle services. i would be tempted to look for a hotel with shuttles to Disney as you can get to Universal/Seaworld using the I-ride trolley service for a couple of dollars. It is possible to walk from I/Drive (north end ) to Universal but dont let the locals here you say it!! Walk !!!! When we have used them there are normally 3-4 shuttles per day each way and they can get busy. How busy and how many usually depends on which hotel and which shuttle company. Soemtime they provide you with a phone numbre to ring about 45 minutes before you want to leave and they will collect.

Eating can be as expensive por cheap as you want. Some of our cheapest meals have been in the parks (Universal you can eat all day for £12 with a wrist band - if only 2 of you just get one(if 4 get2), not strictly allowed but as you tend to eat on the move whos to know). You can eat at a different restaurant every night and still have new places to visit next time.

The last few time we have booked with Virgin holidays but wife has been pricing up for next time and Thompsons and Airtours have been coming up with cheaper prices for same holiday.

Have a good time; you'll enjoy it

Mike J

Bokken_2

Hi KarenA,
We have been to Florida several times and have used Virgin each time although there are cheaper options depending which time of the year you plan to go.
The most relaxing holiday I have every had was in Orlando without having to drive it was great.
We had a coach transfer from the airport to our hotel took about 30minutes it was inclusive of the price.If you are staying at the Disney hotels there are large Disney coaches at the airport that will transfer you to your hotel.
We stayed at the Village Premier at the bottom (South) end of the I Drive.
Staying at the top or the bottom of the I Drive makes it easier to remember where you are and how to get back to your hotel,although it is a long straight road and the I Drive trolly buses are frequent and travel the whole lenght of the road for $2 a day you can get on and off as and when you like.You can get the tickets from the local store or from the front desk at your hotel.
We have stayed at the Sherton at the bottom of the I Drive and both hotels are adaquate after all the room is only for sleeping in.
Both hotels do transfers to all the parks,the down side is you have to be up early to get on the coaches/minibus with the heat and all the walking this makes for a long tiring day.
The hotels transport(free) to Disney will drop you off for say 830-900 and come back for you at say 6pm.Once at the Disney coach park you have to use the Disney coaches(free) to get to the different Disney parks.This does take up to two hours to get to the park of your choice and the same coming back.
Going up and down the I Drive to Wet and Wild and to Universal is straight forward on the Trolly buses.You have to walk the last 500m to Universal as the buses don't go that far.Hotel transport will take you there and to Busch gardens at Tampa (another very long day).
Seaworld is excellant and is at the bottom of the I Drive.We walked from the Sheraton/Premier it takes about 15minutes and your not walking on any main roads so it is safe and quick.If Seaworld is your thing you should stay at the bottom of the I Drive.We went there most days either during the day or for the evening shows.
If Wet and Wild and Universal is your thing stay at the top of the I Drive.
There are dozens of hotels to choose from all have pools and all the things you need.
To get to the parks you will not need to walk to them except the last bit to Universal,as hotels do transfers to the parks for you.
Food is as you would expect fairly cheap and plenty of it.
There are plenty of food chains to choose from,Sizzlers on the I Drive is the ideal cheap place to have breakfast dinner and tea.but you will soon see something else that you will want try.
The Malls are similar to ours in that they have places to eat and drink so you are unlikey to be far from refreshments.
Some of the parks sell large drinks in a themed plastic cup if you buy the cup you can get free refills otherwise you just get a drink in a normal beaker.
Look out for the extras when you book your holiday,Virgin keep it low key but they have a Virgin reps meeting on your arrival day and if you attend you get free meals at the Hard Rock Cafe and seated straight away no queing.They also do excursions you pay in $ (cash or credit card)so with the exchange rate being so good it may be better to pay for those extras once you are there.
Hope that helps.
Have a great time.

Edinburghlass_2

KarenA wrote:

Hi there
Seriously thinking of using our rainy day money for a family holiday to Florida later this year or early next year. Neither me or other half will drive abroad, so will need somewhere close to all parks - don't mind hotels or self catering apartment. We have never visited before so not sure on how you get about! If we stay at one of the disney hotels (Pop Century etc) how do we get to Universal Parks?? Is it better to go for I.Drive and get a hotel that offers free transport?? Are you limited to one or two buses per day this way or do they run continuously?? Are they packed full?? Can you walk to any of the parks - quite happy walking a couple of miles but will roads allow this?? Is it cheaper to eat in parks or hotels?? Please give me some first time visitor tips!!!! Who's the best travel company to book with??

I've stayed at POP Century and offsite at Lake Beuna Vista, both have their good points. Obviously the good points about POP is you are staying on site and have the advantage of the Disney transport (runs all day until well after the parks close) good food court and actually quite reasonable as eating within the parks can be quite expensive. From POP you can use the Disney bus system to get to the Disney Transportation Centre where you can then get a local bus for Seaworld and other areas which we quite enjoyed doing and only $1.50 per ride. Alternatively take a Disney bus to DownTown Disney and its quite cheap to get a taxi from there to the malls etc.

Lake Beuna Vista area is quieter than International Drive but still has plenty of restaurants and shops and is located pretty near to DownTown Disney and has courtesy buses to the Disney parks. These do tend to just run to the parks in the morning and then have pickup times for late afternoon and into the evening rather than running all day. You can also get a quick taxi ride to DownTown Disney and then pick up a Disney bus to the nearest resort and hop on the Disney buses to the parks. At LBV is easy to walk to the restaurants in the area and quite safe.

Best tip is sign up for www.disboards.com and have a look on the UK planning board.

Josie_Jump_3

GIRLPOWER wrote:

Has any one stayed at hard rock hotel?

Reason I ask is everything booked for our trip apart from 2 nights.. will list where i am so far so it makes sense.

travelling are myself & husband (early to mid 30's) my brother(16) and our 3 sons aged 5, 6 & 15.

23rd aug fly from manchester with travelcitydirect on a flydrive arrive at 17.30 and collect hire car. (NO ACCOM FOR THIS NIGHT YET)

24th. plan to do universal. (AGAIN NO ACCOM BOOKED YET)

25th morning in universal then have to be at port canaveral after lunch as have a royal carribean 7 night cruise booked. need to park car at port on it sails at 17.00.

2nd sept. land back at same port at 07.00 collect car and have booked accom for the following 5 nights with alpharooms.com staying at deluxe orlando convention centre in a 6 bedded suit. cost £175.47 total)

http://www.alpharooms.com/hotel.aspx?establishmentkey=C671CDD7-0D56-4A5F-BC25-2C325088043D

plan to spend the next 5 days doing disney and a spot of shopping.

So back to the hard rock.. with only needing 2 nights pre cruise is it worth the extra to stay there?

TIA, Nikki

Hi, we stayed at Hardrock Hotel last year and it was fab, we had originally booked a standard hotel room at the Quality Inn but it was a bit naff so my husband and I thought 'sod it' and booked a room at Hardrock Hotel for our last 4 nights. When we got there they didn't have the room we booked so we were upgraded to a family suite which was simply stunning. If you are only going to stay there a couple of nights it's well worth. Another bonus staying at Hardrock is that your room card also acts as a 'fast pass' in Universal IOA & studios so you can skip to the front of the queue (you still need to buy an entrance ticket though) plus the Universal parks are only 5 minutes walk away and you also are on site for City Walk etc. For two nights you should go for it - you certainly won't be disappointed oh and spend a full day in Islands of Adventure and the 1/2 in Studios ! We're going back again this year too, although staying in a Villa this time.

As for the journey from Sanford airport it does take an hour or so but it's an easy drive and builds up the excitement as you see all the advertisements for the parks. You will need quarters for the tolls but they usually are manned to pay with dollars or you can get some changed in the airport. I'm sure it will only be an hours drive or so to Port Canaveral too.

Have a fantastic time and pls let me know if you'd like anymore info.

Josie_Jump_3

Sorry Girlpower me again, just thought that at the moment there are ticket deals for Universal at https://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk , you can buy an adult 2 day/2 park pass (3rd day free) ticket both Universal parks and get a child ticket free. The good thing is that the tickets are vaild for 14 days so you can spend your 2 days at Universal then on your return trip you've got a day left for another visit (trust me your boys will want to go back to IOA!).

How excited do I sound ? I can't wait to go back ;0) (Haven't quite worked out how to add smiley faces into my posts yet)

youngatheart_2

Has anyone used this service by booking direct with Disney. We are due to go in April and their website isn't too clear. I think you are supposed to get special luggage tags but not sure if they are sent in the post or you pick them up at the airport.