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

Lucie_2

I was in Orlando over Christmas. Standard day pass to most theme parks seems to be about $65 ish. There are literally hundreds of places selling theme park tickets over there  - all with their own deals. If you're prepared to sacrifice a couple of hours to go to a timeshare presentation you can get some very cheap theme park tickets.
None of the water parks were open, so don't bother buying tickets for them in advance.

If you're looking for a hotel try to find one with free parking (lots charge) & a free breakfast - nothing special but it saves you having to eat out for breakfast everyday. Most hotel chains are in & around Orlando - depends what you are looking for, but you can get a basic Quality Inn for about $50 a night.

Car hire was already included in our package so I can't really help out on that one. Are you flying to Sanford or Orlando International? If it's Sanford then Dollar are the biggest car hire firm there.

PM me if you want more info while it's still fresh in my head!

rifraf_2

for car hire give http://www.allstatescarhire.com/index.htm
a go i have always found them competitive and good

Finishrich

Check out the Orlando forum Here, there are links at the bottom for car hire, which I can recommed (used them in Sept) - it's through dollar incs 2 driver and all the taxes with prices from £109 ecomony 2 door to £177 for convertable per week.   I was £150 cheaper using them than taking the same FREE dollar car with the tour operator!  Also links there for attraction tickets and villa rentals, you might even find a late deal.  The actual forum is also a good source of information.

Disney have relaunched their theme park tickets.  If you're looking for the 14 day unlimited one try Orlando Ticket Deals

Edinburghlass_2

Having checked most of the ticket sites I can confirm that the site Finish Rich has posted is the cheapest for the Disney tickets

Although I had planned on a 7 day Hopper pass to use the Disney parks on alternate days, the new 14 day UK only pass is only £10 dearer and means we can visit Disney Parks every day or night during our visit. As we are staying onsite it means we can go to say Seaworld through the day and visit a Disney park in the evening.

trace-j

Stick to the major car hire outlets at the airports- you know what your getting and them Americans love to bargain with you on a deal- you just need to ask and take it from there. Also stick to their motor insurance- don't forget to take your driving licence and I think the driver(s) need to have had their UK licence for 5yrs. You'll also need a Visa so they can swipe it for security.

Don't be tempted by the discount/free disney or universal tickets booths you see dotted around. The catch is you have to spend 1/2 a day at a time share presentation. Even if you can walk away and get what's promised- do you want to waste the time having gone all that way when there's sooo much to do.

We bought our tickets from the authorised dealer in the foyer at the Holiday Inn Express on Int Drive. Initally he did try to sell the timeshare- but we declined and paid the full price. You can buy the 4 or 5 park flex ticket for the Universal parks and its unlimited for 14 consecutive days. (Incs Island of Adventure, Universal Studios, Wet n Wild, Sea World- the optional is Busche gardens as furthest away). Good if you want to go back for a few extra days or to drop the older kids off for another go.

If you are brave enough for the timeshare thing- it's apparently well regulated over there (unlike the UK).

Also ignore the airline who will try sell you both tickets to parks and car hire. Works out more expensive. Besides the exchanges against the $ are/were good, so might as well pay direct.

Buy a road map and take comfy shoes.

Check the weather! http://www.weather.com

You can even check to see when there are launches at the Space Centre http://spacelink.nasa.gov/NASA.News/Launch.Dates.and.Payloads/.index.html

Military lauches are not advertised on the site- but are mentioned a day or 2 in advance on the local news channels. If its the evening head to Cocoa Beach and camp out in your car!

International Drive has developed massively over the last 6yrs and is now a BIG tourist trap- well cheesy. Usually full of Brits. My boyfriend went to get a sundae from one of the takeaways and a guy tried to sell him some 'discount perfume' from the boot of his car in the car park! So be wary of anything that claims a discount.

Above all else enjoy it wish I was going again- and if you see anything that is too good to be true, i.e. discount shops (other than at the main malls) if definately is.

telly-addict

You can get a discount on Disney and Universal tickets(including the Flex ticket) at Wal-mart in Kissimmee. They don't have their prices for the new Disney tickets yet, but we got ours there last year and saved 5% on the gate price without having to go to a timeshare demo!

The https://www.mousesavers.com website has lots of good tips on saving money in Orlando:

Kissimmee Wal-Mart
If you are driving or renting a car in Florida, here's another option: the Wal-Mart at 4444 W. Vine in Kissimmee, one town over from Orlando, has a travel agency called Wal-Mart Vacations that sells discounted Disney World tickets. The prices are discounted about 5% and they may not carry every ticket type. You have to buy the tickets in person -- they will not mail them. I would recommend calling ahead at (407) 397-0090 or (800) 669-0913 or emailing them at wmvc0817@wal-mart.com to confirm prices, hours and availability. Thanks to Brad W for the info.

jackywhizz

Oh I'm so jealous! It's 15 months since we were last there and now I want to go back again.!

If you've never been before I'd definitely buy your tickets here. I don't think it's a good start to a holiday to be driving around the Orlando area looking for places to buy cheap tickets. I know the tickets are a major expense but 5% is what-£50 ? My eldest son has just come and read this and he says he'd much rather go to a park. Use the first few days when you are still adjusting to the time difference to hit the parks early to avoid the queues. If you've young kids. Mine are 9 & 6 now. Head over to the Magic Kingdom (take the boat for the first time not the monorail). They do an opening ceremony just past the entrance with singing/dancing & Mickey & co arrive on the train to open the park. Corny but a great way to start the holiday.

Where to stay. Well I'd avoid International Drive. Cheap & touristy with dreadful food & service. Kissimmee is nicer and probably just as cheap. My personal favourite is Lake Buena Vista which is nicer again but dearer. Last time we got a brilliant deal to International Drive which I just couldn't pass up but ate in Lake Buena Vista on our way back from the parks. This wasn't too bad a compromise.

You will have a brilliant time ;D

saki_2

We stayed in Lake Berkley Kissimmee, very nice gated estate and only half a mile from Wal Mart which is a big bonus.

There is a good Pizza place on the 192 that was owned by a bloke from Liverpool, really nice Pizza and chicken wings etc.

For eating out the places doing buffet for around $9 are great value. For non buffet, we found "Bennigans" to be a chain doing good food with good service at a decent price.

That was 15 months ago, wish I was going again this year, but new born baby isnt really suited to Florida (mind you the Americans seem to have 4 year olds in buggies - no wonder they grow up fat!)

denise38

We are going in 7 weeks time but go to a villa. You used to be able to can get a 3 bed villa in Vista del Lago 5 miles from Disney without a pool but with community pools and large Club house in a gated community for about £500 for 2 weeks. Not checked recently.
I would definately stay away from International drive area it is very touristy and more often than not dirty . Not so bad up the Convention centre end. I didn't feel that safe there a few years ago before we had kids and have friends just back who said it was awful and was to be avoided.
If you need car seats take your own as the hire ones are rubbish .
We have also used Maple leaf for our tickets and they were excellent we collected them from Omar or you can have them delivered to your accomodation.
Check out disney bulletin board as they have a forum board which recommends tickets car hire etc. Great for info regarding park opening ride closures etc.
https://www.thedibb.co.uk if my memory serves me correct.
Always check there they have the park times before they are even posted most of the time. Also great for where to eat etc. have a great holiday we will.!

bakerboy_4

Hi,Read all the posts about orlando and are hoping to take us all to disney etc. in june. ( the wife and four young girls !! ) So can anyone help with best places to stay or where to buy packages ( flights / B&B )
We went about 17 years ago for our honeymoon a time before children !!So now we need cheap as possible this time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!