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

koru

firework wrote:

me and my OH have just started thinking about going to disneyworld with our son who is at moment 5 years and 2 months old. I have sent off for an dvd/info pack because basically i know nowt about it (apart from what I have seen on here). I am concerned whether or not my son will have the stamina to handle it, and also concerned about the weather - too hot / hurricanes, and also do we HAVE to drive when we get there. we both drive (for a living too) and would rather not do it over there. any advice on these initial worries would be gratefully received. I'm not normally a worrier but this has me chewed before we even start! Thanks for any advice.:o

Hurricane season is summer and autumn, so go after November and your risks are low. However, there were tornados 50 miles north of Orlando a few days before we arrived (in Feb), and they killed 20 people. But your statistical chances of being killed by bad weather are way lower than other things, here or in Orlando.

If you are concerned about temperature, go in winter. We just got back and had about 10 days in the low to mid 20's, which is ideal, as far as I am concerned. And because we had a couple of unusual cold fronts hit, we had a few days in the low teens, so you put a sweater on and you are fine.

The US is designed on the assumption that you have a car. There are always ways to manage without, but they will not be convenient. But driving there is an absolute pleasure - nothing like the UK. I would recommend it.

As for stamina, see my post from a few days ago.

NO-BRAIN

Hi we're bookd to go florida in july for 10 days, we booked through virgin and i was very happy with package but they want £190 for car insurance, as the car is free, does anyone know where i can buy the insurance separately from at a more reasonable price?

This is what Virgin are covering for pice:

This includes 3rd Party Liability Cover $1 million, LDW and UMP, plus all State Taxes, Airport Fees, Handling Fees and includes CFCs and HSFs

Would appreciate help, also roomstates coffee machine is included...i am a tea fanatic, should i pack a travel kettle?

Amys

I *think* that dollar (the compnay virgin use) are now putting in thier terms and conditions that you need to have thier own insurance and they will not accept it from a third party.

The alternative may be to look at just not picking up the Virgin hire car and booking one for yourself, it can still work out cheaper.


If there is a coffee machione then you will not need a tavel kettle, coffee machnines will heat the ewater, plus it is unlikey to work as it is 120 v out there and 220/40 here

firework

thanks for that Koru, it has eased my feelings of panic ! I guess we are just as likely to be flattened by a falling tree over here as a hurricane over there. Every so often I have an irrational fear of flying... and then I remember seeing Jeremy Clarkson on one of those fastest machines programmes, stating that statistically you are more likely to be killed by your own trousers. always a calming thought i find!

Also thanks to Amys too, i have registered on Dibb which seems a really helpful site, and have also seen a few people on there mention the pleasure of driving in the U.S. For some reason I had imagined it to be total chaos, mega busy, frenzied driving?!

NO-BRAIN

Amys wrote:

I *think* that dollar (the compnay virgin use) are now putting in thier terms and conditions that you need to have thier own insurance and they will not accept it from a third party.

The alternative may be to look at just not picking up the Virgin hire car and booking one for yourself, it can still work out cheaper.


If there is a coffee machione then you will not need a tavel kettle, coffee machnines will heat the ewater, plus it is unlikey to work as it is 120 v out there and 220/40 here

Thanks ever so much for responding, any idea who to use?, it needs to be worth it now i suppose or i should just pay £190 to Virgin

Murphy_The_Cat

firework wrote:

Also thanks to Amys too, i have registered on Dibb which seems a really helpful site, and have also seen a few people on there mention the pleasure of driving in the U.S. For some reason I had imagined it to be total chaos, mega busy, frenzied driving?!

Driving in America is (IMHO) one of the BEST features of a USA holiday. I think that the people who go Stateside and don't hire a car (& rely on public transport & of courtesy buses) are missing out on so much.

FRANCIS13_2

francis13 wrote:

Hi, Iwas wondering if someone can help me, I am going to Florida in November (2 weeks in MIami and 2 weeks in Orlando) and I was wanting to know about Sat nav, do car hire companies give them out or would it be better to buy a cheap one over there. I would be grateful for any advice.
thank you

bump please

koru

firework wrote:

thanks for that Koru, it has eased my feelings of panic ! I guess we are just as likely to be flattened by a falling tree over here as a hurricane over there. Every so often I have an irrational fear of flying... and then I remember seeing Jeremy Clarkson on one of those fastest machines programmes, stating that statistically you are more likely to be killed by your own trousers. always a calming thought i find!

Also thanks to Amys too, i have registered on Dibb which seems a really helpful site, and have also seen a few people on there mention the pleasure of driving in the U.S. For some reason I had imagined it to be total chaos, mega busy, frenzied driving?!

I'm not sure I would trust Jeremy Clarkson about anything! He must be one of the few people in the world who still will not accept that driving a huge 4WD does contribute to global warming.

(Mind you, so does flying to Orlando. But at least I don't pretend it doesn't matter. Am currently trying to decide whether to pay to offset the CO2 from my flights - £15 per person, on https://www.climatecare.org.)

Rush hour driving is a bit more scary, particularly when something surprises you. eg, you realise that you are in what we would call the slow lane, but the exit you want is off the fast lane, and there's 4 lanes of packed cars between you and it. But OK, you just drive another 3 minutes to the next exit and then double back.

koru

francis13 wrote:

bump please

Why don't you have a look on the walmart website and car hire websites and compare the price? We decided not to pay the rip off prices to hire child car seats - $10 per day, I think, so that's $140 for two weeks. We bought a car seat at walmart for $30 and brought it back with us as a spare for home use.

koru

NO-BRAIN wrote:

Thanks ever so much for responding, any idea who to use?, it needs to be worth it now i suppose or i should just pay £190 to Virgin

There have been dozens of suggestions in this thread about this. Try Airline Network for a start.