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

notakid

thanks for that you've made my mind up!

Miss_Cinnabon

Hi thinking of going next year to disney but nor sure when, 3 kids 7, 6 and 1.
Our eldest has diabetes so not sure how heat would affect him as we have never been abroad! what month would be best? also are you better going with a package or not, as some quotes for flights only have been between 4-6000! would also like a villa and not sure to go for a week or 2 maybe go for a week at first to see how we get on.

Any tips anyone?

jordylass

I didn't go first time till my youngest was 7, I wouldn;t want to spend all that money on a holiday they wouldn't remember.

If you want to avoid the hot months don't go between April and September inclusive.

I love October nice weather (can still be very hot) and quiet on parks.

The quietest time for visiting parks is early December, and it's easy to get around in January and February, but it's winter in Florida then, you'll probably still be OK in shorts but too cold for water parks and stuff.

jordylass

funky-footprints wrote:

notakid wrote:

We have just got back from 7 days (Easter week) and it was fab, i havnt been before but if it was busy as some have written it certainly didnt effect our time there, SNIP.

I've been a few times in Easter and I like it, but it can be heaving. I haven't checked dates, but a lot of the time our Easter coincides with Spring Break, maybe Spring Beak was earlier or later this year.

funky-footprints

jordylass wrote:

I didn't go first time till my youngest was 7, I wouldn;t want to spend all that money on a holiday they wouldn't remember.

If you want to avoid the hot months don't go between April and September inclusive.

I love October nice weather (can still be very hot) and quiet on parks.

The quietest time for visiting parks is early December, and it's easy to get around in January and February, but it's winter in Florida then, you'll probably still be OK in shorts but too cold for water parks and stuff.

As a mum I can, and only would, take my kids during thier school holidays. (not a great believer in taking them out of school) so that poops October (only get one week for half term) and December unless you go for christmas ? I guess is depends how early Easter falls over here, I found it hot but bearable last week, the day we went to blizzard beach it was actually very cloudy. beside i wanted a tan !!!!

jonnno

We want to take our 2 daughters (8 and 10 when travelling) to Florida Easter 2007 for the first time. Will have to go in school hols really - not much choice as I work in a school. We are a little flexible and can travel up to 3 days either side, ie 28th March 2007.

Have got a quote for indirect flights Manchester-JFK-Orlando on Delta Airlines for £484 each for adults and £334 each for kids. Car hire incl insurance £149 per week and 3 bed Villa £449 per week at Windsor Park. The total for 2 weeks for all 4 of us (excluding tickets) is £2,922.

Is this a good deal?

Also (not wanting to drone on too long!), has anybody stayed at Windsor Park and is it too far away?

Any help would be gratefully received!!!:o

Poppy9

I've been twice in February 1/2 term and the following week. While in primary school I don't think it does any harm to miss a week and the headteacher is absolutely fine with parents tagging on extra days to school holidays. He feels travel is good for their education. Both times the weather has been fab. Definitely hot enough for the water parks and a tan. I still have brown legs from this years visit. It's only after sun goes down that it gets chilly so you need to take extra clothes like crop trousers and jacket if staying in the parks till dark. If you take a car then you can leave them in the car all day and collect later. August far too hot for me and friends daughter was admitted to hospital with sunstroke while in Florida in August. The queues are also better in Feb. Try to do popular rides before 1pm as the queues get longer. At one point in the afternoon I think soaring in Epcot was 240 min wait!!!

funky-footprints

Havn't finished totting up how much Easter cost us !! We had a week in North Carolina before our week at Disney, so our flights were prob a bit heavier than direct to Orlando (We flew Gatwick, Raleigh, (week in north Carolina) Raleigh Miami, (drove to Florida) then Miami Dallas, Dallas Gatwick)

breakdown for Me, dh, ds 5 & dd 3
Florida tickets 7 day Park hopper £594
Accomodation Hawthorn Suites £378
All flights £1524.80
Car & Insurance £157.00 (upgraded while we were there, to confirm price with barclaycard bill)
Sea World (to confirm price when Barclaycard bill arrives, as tickets bought there)
Travel insurance (annual) £63.25
Gatwick accommodation 72.00
Gatwick Parking £45.00


total £2834.05.

to add :
cash withdrawls while there, shopping, sea world and car upgrade !! eeek !!

Weggy

If you go to Gatorland within the 90 minutes before their advertised closing time, they offer 1/2 price entry......

Saved us a nice sum last week :T

bargainaholic

Weggy wrote:

If you go to Gatorland within the 90 minutes before their advertised closing time, they offer 1/2 price entry......

Saved us a nice sum last week :T

This is somewhere DS1 really wants to go, is 1 1/2 hrs enough time to get round it all for someone so keen, or would we better going earlier?