Help - planning our 1st trip to Florida

KarenA_2

Seriously thinking of using our rainy day money for a family holiday to Florida later this year or early next year. Neither me or other half will drive abroad, so will need somewhere close to all parks - don't mind hotels or self catering apartment. We have never visited before so not sure on how you get about! If we stay at one of the disney hotels (Pop Century etc) how do we get to Universal Parks?? Is it better to go for I.Drive and get a hotel that offers free transport?? Are you limited to one or two buses per day this way or do they run continuously?? Are they packed full?? Can you walk to any of the parks - quite happy walking a couple of miles but will roads allow this?? Is it cheaper to eat in parks or hotels?? Please give me some first time visitor tips!!!! Who's the best travel company to book with??

Backbiter

Can't understand your aversion to driving over there but.....(I swear you'd be amazed at how easy and unstressful driving is over there)

I-Drive is great for access to SeaWorld and Universal/ Islands - all unmissable - plus Wet and Wild (good but certainly missable). If you stay up by Wet and wild then Universal/ islands are easily walkable.
Lots of hotels offer free shuttles, but not necessarily to all parks. We stayed in the fairfield Inn just off I-Drive (very, very happy with it - amazing value) which was a Universal partner hotel, so only offered free shuttles there,W & W and seaworld.
The I-Ride trolley is also great and very reasonable for getting about.
Best company is probably Virgin. Can match most companies for price and offer great flights, good service and some extras.
Best price is DIY, of course.

Albert2

Hi,

Sure you will get plenty of advice here.

We've been three times and would not bank on walking to any of the main attractions in States/Orlando, they are just not geared up for pedestrians !!

If you have not already visited, I would highly recommend another website also, it's called https://www.thedibb.co.uk

Pop into their forum and you'll get all the help you'll need, IMO.

BTW, first time we went, stayed on I-Drive and went with Airtours/MyTravel, since then have built our own stays.

Have a great holiday.

Cheers

Mike_J

Karen A

If staying in Disney the transport system is brilliant and I believe you can get taxi/shuttle to other theme parks.

If visiting more than Disney, I would suggest staying on I/Drive. Its central tot he parks and plenty of the hotels have free shuttle services. i would be tempted to look for a hotel with shuttles to Disney as you can get to Universal/Seaworld using the I-ride trolley service for a couple of dollars. It is possible to walk from I/Drive (north end ) to Universal but dont let the locals here you say it!! Walk !!!! When we have used them there are normally 3-4 shuttles per day each way and they can get busy. How busy and how many usually depends on which hotel and which shuttle company. Soemtime they provide you with a phone numbre to ring about 45 minutes before you want to leave and they will collect.

Eating can be as expensive por cheap as you want. Some of our cheapest meals have been in the parks (Universal you can eat all day for £12 with a wrist band - if only 2 of you just get one(if 4 get2), not strictly allowed but as you tend to eat on the move whos to know). You can eat at a different restaurant every night and still have new places to visit next time.

The last few time we have booked with Virgin holidays but wife has been pricing up for next time and Thompsons and Airtours have been coming up with cheaper prices for same holiday.

Have a good time; you'll enjoy it

Mike J

mandymoo

Hi we never drive over there and have found the hotel transport brilliant, suits us but not all.
We stayed at the Hard Rock a few years ago and was good, last year and this year we are staying at the Hyatt regency grand was very impressed with the transport and there are six of us and 1 with a wheelchair even the taxis are fine.
All this depends on your budget and what you want to do. One thing a lot of people do is stay at a universal hotel for one week as this gives you front of line to the parks and the hotels are on site and then go down the disney end for the second week. We always go with virgin and have had no problems as to yet. It`s all personal preference and what your budget will allow. To get an idea of what people think of hotels visit https://www.tripadvisor.com this is a good way to get a feel of the place. Good luck and wherever you stay i`m sure you will enjoy.

mandymoo

Just remembered a good book, I always call it the Bible, The Brits Guide To Orlando 2007

peterg1965

I would take the plunge and drive, you will see a lot more of what Florida has to offer. Driving is very simple and logical, it is not like the UK at all. roads are generally straight and arranged in a grid like fashion, no roundabout and generally well signposted.

If you drive you could get a villa in the Orlando/Kissimmee area, its is probably better than a hotel and gives you more flexibility. It horses for courses though.