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

Finishrich

Rather than a package it may work out better value to book flights and a villa. For Flights Yourfloridaair are looking to start flights from this October - April, from Glasgow - Sanford

Might be worth keeping an eye on them to see if they continue the service into the summer and onward to 2007 like you're looking for. Although their ATOL hasn't yet been issued (looks like there's a lot of red tape involved - it's all detailed on their website) flights can be booked but no money is requied till the ATOL is in place. I'll be keeping an eye on their website myselft as there are no other companies flying direct from Glasgow over the winter, the big companies just fly during the summer months.

kasco_2

It may be worth considering Icelandair. We are flying out in Feb from Glasgow.
We have flown tcd in the past from Manchester but really did'nt fancy taking a chance on the weather being kind for the drive down south.
It's certainly good news that we now seem to have more choice for flights up here.

bommer

Hi, first time posting on forum.

Just wanted to share some tips I picked up when in Florida in June.

Went with Direct Holidays and was impressed with accomodation, flights etc. Flew direct from Brum. Getting through Sanford was a three hour nightmare.

Had Dollar rental car included - regret paying for upgrade as think we would have got one anyway.

Had hired 2 bed apartment and was asked if wanted to upgrade but declined - When we got there it was a 3 bed anyway - bonus.

Bought tickets before we went through Best4attractions. Tickets arrived on schedule one week before departure. Very good service and were real tickets. We got free lunch at Planet Hollywood included.

Bought 14 Ultimate which was well worth the money -tickets are definitely cheaper bought before u go.

Typhoo Lagoon and Blizzard beach - money saving tip - If you purchase a locker key - keep it if you are going back. We figured out that they change them approximately once a week and therefore got several free days out of our $9 dollar charge plus you get $2 dollars deposit back when you give the key back and the don't check when you got it.

Parking for Disney MGM, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom is $8 dollars a day. It is free at water parks and Downtown Disney. They provide a courtesey bus service which travels from location to location and this starts before parks open and is approximately every 20mins.

At universal you can get free lockers. Men in Black provides 2hours free and The Mummy ride 1 hours free. You have to use your fingers to code the lockers and they cost after two hours but you can go back and rehire another free of charge.

Universal parent swop is good especially on the mummy we went up in the single rider que which is the quickest my husband rode first while I waited with the kids in a little room which is between the ride start and finish then we swopped over and when I had riden the ride my husband went again as there was no one checking - no tickets were given out. Don't bother with the upgrade for the fast pass - this is expensive and not as good as at Disney.

Magic Kingdom - the boat is quicker than the monorail. Fast passes are brilliant.

Free food - if you complain at TGI's you get a free meal. At Ponderosa kids 5 and under eat free (mine are 7) but we got in!!! Don't bother all having a drink each order one if you like the same (soft drink) they refill them anyway. Remember food portions are big (V big).

Wal Mart is v good and cheap also there are some good discounts at the outlet malls so don't get suckered at Disney check these out first (there is both disney and univeral shops). My daughter bought a Minnie Mouse for $13 at disney the same would have cost $20.

You can also pick up lots of discount vouchers at airport, resturants and newstands for money off.

The pirates show is very good for them money, but I found it cheaper to buy ticket here. There is a free bar with show but this is limited to house wine (which was a rose) and beer and soft drinks. You had to pay for anything else. The pre show buffet was good and there was a disco after. A full evenings entertainment.

Happy hols.

solly_2

Cheers for the tips Bommer. Can I ask wher you stayed?

We leave this Sunday and are staying at the Best Western Lakeside.

Regards,

solly

bommer

We stayed at The Villas of Somerset which was on Poinciana Blvd just of Junt 11 of 192. Nearest Wal Mart was straight up road and over lights. There are two outlet malls on 535 Lake Buena Vista (this has good Old Navy store v cheap for clothes). We got a discount card for the Reebox stores from tour operator (part of Airtours) but if you pick up as many free coupon vouchers you can usually pick these up as well. The other is at top of 535 by Dixie Stampede this is good as well.

The apartment was very good well equiped and huge. Three bed room en-suite in master and separate bathroom. Dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer 2 TV's with cable. The washing machine only took 10 minutes to do a load so came back with clean washing.

Be very careful with your packing they are really tough both ways. My luggage was searched after check in at Sanford for return journey I only found out when I opened one of my cases and there was a note in it from immigration. Tough luck on them it was the only one with dirty smalls in it!!.



Have a good trip

Dr_Robert

A few money saving tips that I picked up on my recent trip.

1. If you have little ones, you can hire a stroller for the day at $10. (You can buy a multi-day stroller hire ticket for a bit cheaper). However if you can get to a Wal-mart or K-mart before you go to the park you can pick up a basic one for around $15. Not the highest quality, but it should last the holiday.

2. You will drink a lot!
Bottled water is available all over the parks but is $1.25 - $2 per bottle. Four of us went through 20 bottles on the first day! Again K-mart are a cheper alternative. 24 bottles for $4.99. If you have a cooler in your room (I think all Disney Hotels do) you can start off with a fresh one each every morning and use the drinking fountains to refill them through the day.

3. If you are eating breakfast at your hotel, you will have to buy your bread, cereal and milk from the food court. Typically bread is (I think) 49c per slice, milk is $1.25 for 250ml and cereal $1.99 for each individual packet. Again buy your cereal from K-mart (and other snacks too). I do not know about the other hotels but in the Carribean Beach hotel milk is available in the main shop for $1.75 per quart, and a loaf of bread is $2.99. There is no problem with taking your food into the eating area to consume.

4. The drinks refill cups can work out as good value, $11.50 for each cup entitles you to free refills (at your hotel only) throughout your stay. This includes soft drinks, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

5. The free transportation is generally excellent and saves you the $8 charge in each park.

6. Phonecalls home are very expensive, as is using mobiles, remember you have to pay to recieve calls! I recommend buying a US sim card off E-bay. I bought one for £15 which included $50 credit. (You will only be able to refill it using refill cards, unless you have a US registered credit card.).

7. Nationwide credit/debit cards are the least expensive cards to use. No commision built in to the exchange rate and no foriegn transaction fees. (If you have problems with using a debit card ask them to run it through as a credit card, this seems to work)

Finishrich

Dr_Robert wrote:

A few money saving tips that I picked up on my recent trip.
2. You will drink a lot!
Bottled water is available all over the parks but is $1.25 - $2 per bottle. Four of us went through 20 bottles on the first day! Again K-mart are a cheper alternative. 24 bottles for $4.99. If you have a cooler in your room (I think all Disney Hotels do) you can start off with a fresh one each every morning and use the drinking fountains to refill them through the day.

The Value resorts (All Stars & POP) don't have fridges but you can hire them for around $10 a day. But if you have medication that needs to be kept in a fridge you can get one for free

5. The free transportation is generally excellent and saves you the $8 charge in each park.

If you are staying onsite at Disney you don't have to pay $8 for parking at the parks as long as you display your parking slip you receive at check in.

GIRLPOWER_2

Hello all... I have just booked my first trip to orlando departing 24 May 2006.. booked with Virgin...we are staying at the Travelodge near Seaworld, and have a car sorted for the 2 weeks. But have not booked any park tickets as yet.. this is my next job.

I tend to only go to a place once and do everything, I make a list before I go of what we will be doing everyday.. including lunch and dinner arangments.. it's just how I am... can not think of anything worse than arriving and then thinking what shall we do today!!!

This is where I need the help... we are taking 4 children aged 4,5,14 and 15. Did anyone else make this sort of list before going and if so what was on it???? As I need to plan what we will be doing before I look for the best ticket prices....

Thanks for any advise in advance....

bommer

It depends what type of things you like to do. There is so much to do and with the different age ranges you need to cater for as well as taking into account jet lag and the little kids staying power! It can be difficult to decide.

I bought a 14 day disney ultimate ticket which gave us the option of visiting the four big disney parks, and the two water parks as well as downtown disney. This would have been enought, but like anything you try to cram as much in as possible. I also bought a two day for Universal (which was upgraded to 7days) but we only went for two days and we spent one day at Kennedy. Along with a bit of shopping.

Even spending days at the waterparks in between the big parks we all got really tired.

If you don't want to do disney then the flex ticket sound a good option, but I wouln't go back to universal as there are limited rides for the little ones, but more thrill rides for older kids.

sukey13

We went when my little girl was 2 and plan on going back soon (she is now 3 1/2 and my little boy is 1 and 4 months at the moment).

Bought this book...The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids
Bob Sehlinger from Amazon and it was brilliant.

I followed loads of the advice and we saved plenty of time when there with my planning ahead of where and when we were going every day. I think it even gives you info on the days when which parks are the busiest (to avoid) and quietest (obviously the best day to go and see more stuff/go on more rides).

I booked a character breakfast (breakfast with winnie the pooh, tigger, piglet - they do other character ones)in Disney land in advance of the holiday which was well worth the money and we had a time so walked straight past the queue.

Lots of parks have fast passes and faster queues for single riders. It is worth taking advantage of these to speed up waiting times. Especially if you want to go on a ride and someone else doesn't. I took my little one off to watch Barney and some other show while daddy did some of the bigger rides.