Disneyland, Florida, 2013

sammcg

i'm planning on going back june 2013, and can't wait to book, was there in 2010. I've stayed international drive, in the disney resorts, kissimie but last time lake buena vista and it was fab.

we did go into international drive, but its a total nightmare to get to disney, but in disney you are stuck in disney, lake buena vista is right on the outskirts and the free bus to all the parks so so helps.

looking forward to april when we can book.! sad i know.

blue_monkey_2

As there are going to be 5 of you then your choice of Disney accomodation will be limited I am afraid. You may get into a one bed apartment at Old Key West (these do sleep 5, as does Kidani village), Port Orleans resort have a room in Alligator Bayou that sleeps 5 and the All Star Music (I think) has a family suite that sleeps up to 6 people. Otherwise it will be 2 rooms.

I would hold fire until you find out when the Free Disney Dining Plan is going to be offered, also if you book early with Virgin (sign up for updates) you may get a free Disney ticket.

Also to bear in mind, once a child has his/her 10th birthday they have to pay Adult price in Florida.

There is a company on the Tesco website (I cannot remember the name) that is very cheap for Disney holidays and flights and you can use your vouchers so might be worth saving for those.

Disney Resorts that have rooms for 5:
Walt Disney World Dolphin - Despite the name it is not a Disney hotel so you'll not get free dining plan
Beach Club Resort (DVC apartment, will be £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Disney's Yacht Club £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Grand Floridian £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Polynesian £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Fort Wilderness - cabins in the woods ££ decent dining plan if getting it for free
All Star Music ££
Old Key West (DVC Apartment) £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Saratoga Springs (DVC Apartment) £££ - but decent dining plan if getting it for free
Definately at Port Orleans Riverside, they have a bed that folds into the wall, I also believe that they'll have 5 sleeping rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

HTH

blue_monkey_2

Also might be worth thinking about a Split Stay if you do not, or do not want to drive. Disney Hotel for one week and then apartment near International Drive for the 2nd so you can do your washing/drying and not have to take as many clothes. We found The Points, Orlando and it looka amzing for a good price but we are going to our timeshare resort in Kissimmee this time.

We have been for Halloween, it was brilliant and lots going on Seaworld does a free Halloween event and then from around 8th all the decorations go up in Disney and it becomes Xmas. If you could do from 29th October for 2 weeks you would get the best of both worlds.

14 weeks to go. I did say it would be the last time for a while but I think I'd love to go back in 2013 to see the park refurb and also the new Art of Animation resort.

linnybinn

Hi Good luck saving

Youll have a great time but look into Villas as they are great for the Kids :T as they can jump into the pool out side your kitchen we have done florida twice now and Villas are so so much more flexible for families

HAVE FUN WHEN YOU GO!!!!!

Idiophreak

If you're viewing this as "once in a lifetime", I'd suggest thinking about whether you want this to be a purely Disney holiday, or whether you'll want to do some of the other amazing things Florida has to offer as well.

If you end up doing a day or two at KSC (if you are, check the launch schedule...we saw the rocket Juno launch in August, it was AMAZING!), a couple of days at the universals, day at sea world, maybe discovery cove, busch gardens, plus some of the water parks, your life will be made *so* much easier by staying out of disney and hiring a car. You'll also feel more able to eat what you want and switch parks that way.

plymouth_janner_boy

Hi,

Im very jeaolus that you're booking to go! I have been three times, once with no kids (disney all star sports), once with one (villa and rented car) and once with 2(disney pop centuery).

I loved every time! i would admit I never got involved in booking the first time (with my partner and her parents) and had no idea where we were staying. I had dreamed up that we'd be in a magical disney hotel where everything is special and layed on for you......but when I got there I thought......its an american Butlins!!! But Had I taken more interest beforehand I wouldnt have conjured up a fantasy land! I still very much enjoyed it.

The Villa(near kissimee i think in a champions gate area?or something) was me,wife,2yr old son and her parents and I loved it even more than before. Like others have said getting home away from disney can be a blessing, and it was very comfortabe (not a single room with 2 beds)

The third time was just my family (wife and 2 kids) on our own (no help from grand parents!!) so we opted to stay in a resort again, purely for ease of transport,and to make use of the extra magic hours. we still hired a car though as we like to visit sea world and shopping centres etc and although there are taxis i didnt want the burden of waiting for them with two very tired kids.

So not sure what to recommend.... next time we go, if its just us i'd try a resort again...maybe a mod, but with family or friends its got to be a villa.

Thinking about all this i may just get a quote..........

dd110

we went disneyland florida in 2008 stayed on international drive this is good for universal and island of adventures also sea world as the hotel put on a free bus service to these, going to the disney parks cost us a fortune as this was a paid service, in 2010 we went again and stayed at disney all star music this was fantastic free bus service to every disney park/water park, at the hotel staff did dances during the day it was kid/adult entertainment all the time from by the pool to lunch, they even had movie night at the hotel while the kids played in the pool aswell.

you also got extra hours in the morning or late evening if you stayed in the disney hotels before everybody else was allowed in which we found brilliant.

the only down side again was we had to pay to go universal and island of adventure but you could get to downtown disney then get a bus to international drive then get a i trolley or taxi which works out cheaper than paying the hotel for a shuttle bus/coach. but its a lot of fuss. next year i am hoping to go again but must say i am looking to staying at international drive for 3 days then the rest a disney.

hope you have a good time mine was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience but i think my family have the disney bug and have been twice hoping to make it three times

valan1

CountingPennies wrote: »

Hello everyone!

Today i've opened a savings account. It is especially for a once in a lifetime holiday to Disney which i intend to book for 2013! :eek:

I know its a long long LONG way off, but when will i be able to book?? I know that once i book it i will have something to look forward to and it will make it feel more real.

The reason i've gone for 2013 is there are 5 of us going. Me, the hubby, and the 3 kids! We will be looking to stay in Disney itself so also does anyone have an idea which hotel would be best for us?? The more budget the better really. I know we would be MUCH better off staying somewhere like a villa or international drive BUT we really want to stay in Disney because we will only be going once.

Thanks to anyone in advance who can help! :D:D

Hi, I read all the post and have done both Disney hotels and villas. After 4 trips it has been a villa the kids want every time. Wake up in there own room then jump in pool. the disney resorts don't always say but the family rooms are all beds in one room:(. There was only 4 of us but the kids sharing the bed at disney was not good,,,also one bathroom only 6 feet away. This was at disney all stars. The villas offer everyone their own bedroom and places to store all that you have bought. The best tip is you will disney and universal tickets for 2 weeks but you can't go to both parks in the same day (unless you can fly round each. The price for 1 week is normally the same for 2 weeks they want you in their theme park. So you alwasy feel you have to get the most by going to one of them everyday which leaves you less time for shopping and seeing more than just the parks. I would strongly consider going for 3 weeks, the flights are the same price for 2 or 3 weeks and a big part of the budget, an extra week in acccomodation is well worth it you are not as rushed to do every park and have more time for wife shopping:j. This would allow you to get the most of your park tickets. Disney tickets start day 1 end day 14. universal tickets start day 7 end day 21. you will always have somewhere to go and see all the parks as well as the water parks. The kids ages make a differnce on eatting as a lot of packages offer kids eat free, well alot of places in florida offer this as well without the need of a card. The free bus system disney offers is great if you take advanage....park at downtown disney and get on the free bus back to the nearest disney resort 5-10mins. Get back on the bus to the disney theme park. At the end of your day get back on the bus back straight to downtown disney, it beats the cars saves on fuel and parking:money:. Also the buses drop you right at the front of the park. Everyone well tell you that they had to park so far away that they use the mini trans to get you to the front of the park and then on return as well these can be very busy and it is a bit of a push and shove:(. Sorry to go on but a lot of people who have been like people who are going to have the best time of their life for everyone not just the kids, you also need a re-charge.
Last of all if this is your only time going look at the discovery cove ultimate tickets it includes universal parks, sea world and busch gardens. Discovery cove is where the dolphins are. You can "swim with them" for about £50 extra per person, we did but the swim was not worth it as you get more of a talk and stand in the water. You get one ride out on the back of the dolphin and thats it 30 mins. However the whole day you need to bring only ID small amount of money. All food is provided, you want a beer its yours, the kids want 10 ice creams fine and the lagoons you swim around with the fish you will never forget. Hopw this helps you and anyone else reading.

sammcg

prices are out for sep, i'm going in a the weekend to book for lake buena vista, i'm so so excited and i've been 3 years ago.

blue_monkey_2

Prices will be expensive if you book now - I know, I booked a VH FD as soon as I could and then when I looked a year later I found I could get the same flight flight and separate car hire for half what I had paid VH. Gutted. I decided to cancel anyway.

However, after a cheeky email to VH they let me use the £700 deposit towards a new accomodation and tickets package and I booked our Disney hotel, DDP and park tickets with it - I saved £1500 on my holiday by cancelling the FD in the end. Had I not got the £700 back I'd have still been £800 better off by cancelling that Fly Drive (if that makes sense)

Just be patient. September is quiet and cheap as the kids are back in school - there will even be seats the week before.