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

vivatifosi

CostCutter wrote: »

I kind of guessed the parks would be busy wasn't sure just how busy tho!
Is it not a good time to go? CC

There are four really busy times of year at Disney: Christmas through to New Year, Easter, 4th July and Thanksgiving (4th Thurdsay in November). If you are going to go at those times of year you have to expect heavy crowds. However, you can follow a few basic rules that will ensure that you still have an enjoyable holiday during these periods:

1. Get to the park and be in line at least half an hour before the park opens.
2. Work out which rides are the slowest loaders/most popular/you want to go on several times and ride these first.
3. Work out the routes between the rides you want to go on using the free maps. Get these at least the night before so you can plan where you are going.
4. Look up "Fastpass" and understand how it works. Use it throughout the days to legitimately queue-jump.
5. If the park gets busy in the afternoon, take some time out to yourselves to relax, visit shops, go for a meal, lay by the pool etc, then go back in the evening when you have a new lease of life.
6. Check which days Disney offers its hotel guests early or late opening, as in our experience that makes the crowds at those parks greater on those days. If you are staying in Disney, it can make sense to use this facility.
7. Don't take photos, look in shops or do anything other than going on rides for the first couple of hours because they will be the times when the lines are shortest.
8. Check out park hopping tickets, so that if you find yourself in a park that is too busy, you can switch to another. Epcot is probably the best park at absorbing the crowds.
9. Find out if there are side-shows and other specials that aren't normally part of the entertainment, for example, Epcot sometimes throws free concerts.
10. Programme your children's expectations so that they don't expect to achieve everything as a military operation. If you can't get everything that they want done in a day it shouldn't be seen as a spoiled day.

Enjoy!

moob_2

denny250 wrote: »

I don't know if anyone has mentioned these people before but when we go to Florida we use a company called travel city direct
( www.travelcitydirect.com )
their website isn't very good although it is ok for comparison but when you phone them ( 0871 911 2567 ) i have found you always get friendly knowledgeable staff who cant do enough to help you
Oh and you also get a cracking deal compared to the bigger airlines ie virgin
we are going in may and saved over £1400 on the Virgin price for the same holiday :j:j:j:j

They are not mentioned much because they are dung.

They have had a host of problems, particularly recently, with flight delays and cancellations, primarily due to them having a small fleet of planes.

They also ensure that you must buy either car hire or rent a villa with them, at extortionate costs by comparison to the aforementioned methods.

I'd stay well clear.

moob_2

CostCutter wrote: »

Thanks for the response guys, I will do a bit more searching - try pricing up seperately.

Do you think it is cheaper to book a hotel direct? I noticed the price in dollars would be cheaper.
Also do you think it would be worth waiting until real last minute and see if I could get a bargin? Sorry for all the what ifs just trying to work out the best price.

I kind of guessed the parks would be busy wasn't sure just how busy tho!
Is it not a good time to go?

Thanks

CC

See my post #2004 about using Priceline.com - it's a fair amount of research but worth it in the end.

KarenG

CostCutter wrote: »

I kind of guessed the parks would be busy wasn't sure just how busy tho!
Is it not a good time to go?

Is this the first time you've been, and likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime type trip? If so I would personally avoid Christmas week like the plague. You will be queuing for everything from buying drinks & food, to rides, to even getting on a bus.

vivatifosi has given some absolutely excellent tips there and following those will mean you have a more enjoyable time. However, given the choice I would go at a different time (sorry if that's not what you want to hear! Just my opinion )

If you do go, don't miss the Osborne Lights at MGM :T

PUREHOMES

are having BIG problems this summer so too are flyglobespan. Have a look at a specialised disney site www.thedibb.co.uk

I did quite a lot of research on their forums before i went and it was well worthwhile. I went at the beginning on August this year. We used MyTravel (who were great and cheap!) I am comparing them to the big airlines who i have also flown with there. I paid £1200 for a fly drive for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant. I then got a villa for £400 a week. Well worth it.

Browntrout_2

Just back on Friday from two weeks in Orlando, stayed at a townhouse in Regal Palms, Davenport, went to;

Seaworld x 2
Discovery Cove (suberb)
Islands of Adventure x 2
Busch Gardens
Universal Studios x 2
Wet and Wild (never again)
Cocoa Beach
Gatorland
Boggy Creek Airboat ride
Mall at Millenia and Orlando Premium Outlets
Dixie Stampede
Ripley's believe it or not
2 x early morning golf

never got below 80 and high 90s (35C) every day, almost no rain.

Flyglobespan economy seating. We arrived 30 minutes early on both trips, food (£8 each way) was good, children offered them free on the flight, I had double. Will use defo them again.

CostCutter

Thanks Everyone

I will have to do a bit more research I think!!
hmmm I might just have to think of another time to go.

Has anyone got any other suggestions for a 2 week holiday over Christmas & New Year, that would be good for 2 adults & a 5 yr old??

Thanks Guys

CC:D

Poppy9

CostCutter wrote: »

Thanks Everyone

I will have to do a bit more research I think!!
hmmm I might just have to think of another time to go.

Has anyone got any other suggestions for a 2 week holiday over Christmas & New Year, that would be good for 2 adults & a 5 yr old??

Thanks Guys

CC:D

I've been to Florida twice in the last week of Feb and first week of March. Weather is usually high 70's with no rain. Parks are relatively quiet so not too much queuing.

edna_clouds

We are hoping to go to Florida on or around the 12th July 2008 for two weeks.. Would this be a very busy time to go. The holiday would be for 2 adults and 1 child(13). When would be the best time to look for flights.. They are coming out at around £1500 for the three of us at the moment but I don't know whether this is a good price or should I leave it a while... Never been before so any advise would be very much appreciated..

moob_2

I would reckon that time is very busy, given (I assume) the schools are out and the parks are therefore full of kids and long queues as a result.

Is your price just for flights? And where are you flying from?