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

harrinp1

mikejames42 wrote:

We're heading there for the last two weeks of September (smaller crowds and slightly cooler temperatures). Looked through them all and have discounted the Hilton and Wyndham (too expensive), seen bad reviews about the Grosvener so reckon its beetween the Holiday Inn and Best Western. Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks

I've stayed in the Grovsenor a couple of times and its okay. Haven't been
in the other two. Have also stayed in the Doubletree Lake Buena Vista,
12490 Apopka Vineland Road a couple of times, its just a bit further up
from the Market place near Four Corners and found it good value for
money. There are also lots of nice places to eat at 4 corners and a lot
cheaper than eating at downtown disney.

stressedoutmum

Off to Disney in 6 weeks:j :j Read through this thread (taken me the best part of a week). In last minute advice about dollar rate, tips etc from anyone I may have missed. Got my folder with all my planning but all advice welcome.

Edinburghlass_2

Well despite my planning early morning and late nights in the end all planning went out the window when we got there!

We had 14 day tickets for Disney and although we were at a park each day one way or another we still came back and realised we didn't do this, that or the other.

Favourite Disney park was Epcot, could spend a week there easy. Loved Seaworld, caught all the Dolphin, Shamu and Clyde and Seamore shows and they were great fun and you were well entertained while you waited on the start. (incidentally if you are UK services you will get into Seaworld free) Couldn't understand why they had Clydesdale horses there stuck in the heat in small stables with one horse out at a time for a photo opportunity.

Discovery Cove and the swim with the dolphins was wonderful although just at the end we got a small backlash from hurricane Denis and it was quite frightening being stuck at one end of the park and my daughter at the other, however she was taken into a gift shop and looked after coming away with a free t-shirt

Thanks to loads of little tips from the Dis boards we spoke to a talking water fountain although I tried talking to loads of trash bins I couldn't find the talking ones but it was fun embarrasing my daughter by opening them all and saying hello Twice we asked to travel with the driver on the monorail, once in daylight and once at night which was pretty spectactular as we passed through MK as the fireworks were going off. Fantasmic at MGM was just fantastic, go to the later show at 10.30, plenty of room. Also found the umbrella at MGM on the lamp post and when you pull it it starts to rain and you can dance about and sing, yes Singing in the Rain. Watched Tinkerbell fly at the start of Wishes and saw her in the drawer in the shop near the castle at MK although we were never early enough to be the ones to waken Tinkerbell up in the morning

We had arranged an Illuminations cruise with two US families through the Dis boards and met up with them for meal first. The kids and adults all got on famously and we had a lovely evening and of course enjoyed the fireworks.

Oh, I could go on and on....

Poppy9

Edinburghlass,

Glad you had a fantastic time bet you can't wait to go back! I know the feeling of spending all day in a Disney park and someone says "did you see ........." the only blooming thing you missed

You must do Universal next time. We are thinking of going next Easter again. I want a Villa this time for more relaxation & comfort.

jnd

Edinburghlass,

Did the monorail driver give you all a monorail driver's licence for riding up front? It's one of the few free things Disney hands out and it makes a great souvenir. Sometimes they forget and you have to ask. Glad you all had a good time.

pavlovs_dog

ed_lass sounds like you had a great time, reading your post has made me so excited about our hols!


i just wanted to ask..when you pick up the hire car, do they give you any maps/directions/advice for driving on us roads or do they just leave you to get on with it? we've never driven in us before so are complete novices

Sheel

pavlovs_dog wrote:

i just wanted to ask..when you pick up the hire car, do they give you any maps/directions/advice for driving on us roads or do they just leave you to get on with it? we've never driven in us before so are complete novices

With Dollar , and i'm sure it's the same for other companies , you get a map and a booklet with some driving advice. It's not exactly a highly detailed map and you probably will get lost , but don't worry about it , we get lost every time we go :rolleyes:

pavlovs_dog

lol

i was adviced to ask for an upgrade to a car with sat nav, or enquire about hiring sat nav, which we have in the uk and makes driving a dream. just dont want to be spending all my holiday money on TOMTOM systems and the like and having nothing left for kiss me quick squeeze me slow hats :rotfl:

harrinp1

The Car Hire company is use for Orlando has just started hiring at
Sat Nav, you don't need to get the car from them. I beleive they
use TomTom Go units with all of the major tourist attractions listed.

Its £70 for 2 weeks hire plus £10 delivery. Hopefully it will save you
this much in time, though it also has directions to the shops to make
get costly if it falls in the wifes hands ;-)

I've posted details to the referalls forum here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=781242#post781242

I've also included details of Car Hire and Theme Park Ticket sales which
may or may not be of use to you.

Most importantly have a great holiday.

Cheers

Paul

pavlovs_dog

harrinp1 wrote:

Its £70 for 2 weeks hire plus £10 delivery. Hopefully it will save you
this much in time, though it also has directions to the shops to make
get costly if it falls in the wifes hands ;-)

Paul

i AM the wife

thanks for your advice, shall have a look when i get in from work