Pulling my hair out planning first holiday to Orlando

inthesky

Hi all,

I really hope I am posting in the right place. Firstly, thanks for letting me joining the forum.

I am looking at booking my first holiday for the family. It will be for 2 adults and 2 children to Orlando Florida. I would like a good 5 star hotel with plenty of facilities and would stay for anywhere between 7 - 10 days. I intend to go in the next couple of weeks.

I have never done this before and I am trying to get the best prices and have read various guides, but with so many 'questionable' sites out there (based on reviews) and huge flight fees, I feel as though I am not getting a good deal. The package deal seems cheaper in the first instance namely to the cost of the flights.

Does anyone have any advice or similar please? Is a broker the best way to go (a person not a comparison site) or is a travel agent the best way to go?

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread.

Caz3121

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1820085

jackieblack

My initial thoughts are that 7-10 days is not long for a first trip to Orlando.
Presuming that, like 99% of holiday makers heading for Orlando, your reason for going there is to visit the theme parks, you have 2 choices, to either run around like lunatics to try and 'do everything' or to be selective in which parks are your priority and be prepared to forego the others.
Either way, you are unlikely to be spending much time in your hotel, so do you really need alot of facilities?

There are many companies that do packages to Orlando. Virgin Holidays are one of the biggest players, but not alway the cheapest. Browsing their website may provide useful for research.

DIY can work out cheaper depending on the availability of flights and whether you require direct/non-stop flights. bear in mind that half-term is approaching, school holidays can make huge changes in price and availability.

There are, literally, thousands of hotel properties, including many on site at WDW, some of which are luxury properties.

This is one holiday where you really need research the options and make a few decisions to narrow these down according to what your priorities are, you will then be able to get more tailored advice.

rossireps

I went through ba website and got very good deal,im only doing a week as all i can afford but there is only me

Jem8472

To be honest, I would put it off until next year so you can afford to go for longer and do more planning.

To get you moneys worth out a holiday to Orlando you will need some planning and working out what theme parks you want to visit, which restaurants you want to go to. There is the option of hotels, villas and apartments.
We have stayed in a hotel which was nice, we have also stayed in a villa which was also nice. We have done Orlando with and without a car. Both had their own advantages and disadvantages.


I bought this to help planning my first trip to Orlando.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brit-Guide-Orlando-Disney-World/dp/0572040016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368882504&sr=8-1&keywords=orlando+guide

It was very handy in reading about what the parks had to offer. Also give you maps of the parks.

There is tons of stuff to see and do in Orlando and I loved my two holidays there but I would suggest not to rush into a quick holiday there. Its far too good a place to just rush a visit to.

jonesMUFCforever

5 Star may be great for the adults but would they be ok for kids?

Most hotels in Orlando/Kissimmee are of high quality - how much will you actually stay there for other than to sleep?

The 2 times I have been we stayed on I-DRIVE - Plenty of shops cafes restaurants etc within walking distance, thats before you even think of the parks etc.

claire16c

If you're going very soon id just go on Expedia, book the cheapest flight with reasonable 3 star motel on I-drive and hire a car seperately. Or try BA website.

You don't spend much time in the hotels so spending money on a 5 start seems like a waste to me when most US hotels are fine and quite spacious & often breakfast is included and sometimes shuttles to the parks.

KarenG

To get the most out of an Orlando holiday, you absolutely need to research it. I would agree with the posts above that say to do that.

The options - which area to stay, which parks to visit, which hotel, onsite / offsite, drive / not drive - lead to so many alternatives you should take time to consider what works best.

I also would not go for a first trip for 7 to 10 nights.

Why not head over to the Dibb and get some help there? Www.thedibb.co.uk

Doshwaster

claire16c wrote: »

You don't spend much time in the hotels so spending money on a 5 start seems like a waste to me when most US hotels are fine and quite spacious & often breakfast is included and sometimes shuttles to the parks.

I used to always prefer 5 star hotels (4* at a push) for holidays but then I came to realise that if you are spending all day out and about then you spend most of the time in a hotel asleep. Now I'm not too fussed about hotels as long as they are clean and preferably have free wi-fi. I'd much rather spend my holiday money having fun than on an expensive room to sleep in.

CDaniels1987

If you can only afford one week, why not do a 3* or 4* hotel which will be a lot cheaper and then do 2 weeks?

[Deleted User]

inthesky wrote: »

Hi all,

I really hope I am posting in the right place. Firstly, thanks for letting me joining the forum.

I am looking at booking my first holiday for the family. It will be for 2 adults and 2 children to Orlando Florida. I would like a good 5 star hotel with plenty of facilities and would stay for anywhere between 7 - 10 days. I intend to go in the next couple of weeks.

I have never done this before and I am trying to get the best prices and have read various guides, but with so many 'questionable' sites out there (based on reviews) and huge flight fees, I feel as though I am not getting a good deal. The package deal seems cheaper in the first instance namely to the cost of the flights.

Does anyone have any advice or similar please? Is a broker the best way to go (a person not a comparison site) or is a travel agent the best way to go?

Thanks for taking the time to read my thread.

If you're going in the next couple of weeks it's a no-brainer.

Thomas Cook will get you and your family out there for £800 return ( that's all of you ! ) hire a car and simply rock up to any one of hundreds of hotels/motels all offering out-of-school holiday deals.
Or book one online.
Go for 2 weeks and schedule in a few days at the beach - either coast will do but I'd recommend the Gulf beaches around Tampa/St Pete where you can also take in Busch Gardens.
Don't be obsessed about booking everything in advance, be flexible and adventurous.Staying two weeks at the same hotel on I-Drive can be very boring.Pack very very light because Orlando is hot and humid at the moment.Drink lots of water.All the time.

www.flythomascook.com