Trip to New york / Orlando 2014

MissAA1970

Hello All , after much consideration I am thinking of combining two trips in one . I plan on travelling with my children in July/August 2014. The plan is to travel to New York for 5days and then on to Orlando for another 5days . I don't plan on driving in either cities .My question is whether it matters not driving in Orlando particularly( is public transport reliable) and is it cheaper for me to book multicity or do return flights for Orlando in New York . Also has anyone combined a New York trip with Orlando , if so , did it work out ok . Many Thanks

KarenG

It's perfectly possible to get around by public transport in Orlando, but choose your hotel wisely! What are you planning to do with your five days there? Five days is a really small amount of time, especially given the flight cost overall may be high as you are travelling in peak holiday time. Multi city is likely to be cheapest - where do you want to fly from?

We have combined the trip a few times, but I would never do five and five. I think from memory we've done four and 17, and 3 and 11.

vivatifosi

Like Karen, have been to both but would twin centre more time in Orlando, particularly with kids.

I would never, ever, drive in New York, it would be too stressful. However I've been to Orlando lots of times (with and without car) and think it isn't like driving in a city there. Depending on where you are planning to visit, as Karen says, give it a lot of thought. I'd stay in either Disneyworld or Lake Buena Vista at a hotel with a good shuttle service for a Disney focused visit; or at one of the on-site Universal Hotels or I Drive for a Universal/Sea World focused one. I'd personally not stay in Kissimmee without a car though some do.

In terms of on-site hotels at Disney, the All Stars Resorts are currently going through a planned refurb. At the moment, this means that the All Star Sports resort has absolutely no proper onsite dining facilities and you have to bus to a different resort for dinner. I think that's too much faff, especially without a car and if you consider one of these I'd look to see if this refurb is being rolled onto another resort next year (I don't know the answer). It has a knock-on effect as you get bussed to the other resorts which then have 50% more diners than the would have normally.

MissAA1970

Thank you both for informative posts :beer:.
The plan is to leave from either Gatwick or Heathrow to NYC then Orlando and then back to London . I am not sure whether it would make a difference if we go to Orlando first ...
I don't mind spending less time in New York and more in Orlando. Its really to give my kids a glimpse of New York :-)
Would it make more sense to go to Orlando for 8 days and New York for 4 days, I notice that the accommodation is much cheaper in Orlando than New York , yet limited hotels provide Half board . Is food expensive in Orlando ?
Many Thanks

VestanPance

Food isn't expensive in Orlando or New York. There is plenty of variety in the types of places you can dine, from very cheap to very expensive in both locations. Hotel accommodation can be very expensive in NYC, particularly when compared with somewhere like Orlando. I wouldn't consider half board for either location. You can eat well and cheaply in both places without being tied down to set meal times where you need to be back at the hotel.

I'd also agree that 5 days is short for visiting Orlando and while I love NYC I'd say 8 days in Orlando and four days in NYC would be a better split if possible. The big cost in Orlando would be theme park tickets. Those aren't cheap.

New York you never need a car. In fact it would be madness to drive in NYC as a tourist. Personally I find driving in Orlando to be the better option, but you certainly don't need a car.

Two very different locations, but two of my favourites to visit. I've done this type of trip before and it was wonderful. You and the kids will have a great time.

MissAA1970

Thank you very much VestanPance for the insightful message !

KarenG

MissAA1970 wrote: »

Thank you both for informative posts :beer:.
The plan is to leave from either Gatwick or Heathrow to NYC then Orlando and then back to London . I am not sure whether it would make a difference if we go to Orlando first ...
I don't mind spending less time in New York and more in Orlando. Its really to give my kids a glimpse of New York :-)
Would it make more sense to go to Orlando for 8 days and New York for 4 days, I notice that the accommodation is much cheaper in Orlando than New York , yet limited hotels provide Half board . Is food expensive in Orlando ?
Many Thanks

You can only fly Gatwick to Orlando (direct) and New York to Heathrow (direct)

I'd probably even just do 3 days in NYC with as long as possible in Orlando. If its just to get a glimpse, three nights is loads :T

Don't bother with half board, as most places don't do it - it's not really an option because nobody wants it. That's because there are loads of places to eat. As Vestanpants says, many many options to do so cheaply. The main area you will save on us carefully choosing your flights at the right time :T

MissAA1970

Thanks so much to everyone that has contributed to this thread ! another couple of questions though...
What is the expected fare I should pay/ what did you pay if you have done this trip in late July/August ? and when is the right time to book , just that I am on a budget ...
Many Thanks
PS is it cheaper to book online or with a local travel agent for this sort of trip ?

KarenG

MissAA1970 wrote: »

Thanks so much to everyone that has contributed to this thread ! another couple of questions though...
What is the expected fare I should pay/ what did you pay if you have done this trip in late July/August ? and when is the right time to book , just that I am on a budget ...
Many Thanks
PS is it cheaper to book online or with a local travel agent for this sort of trip ?

Flights to Orlando direct in school summer hols are horrendous, usually not much change from £1k. I would never pay this! We usually go indirect, and just wait for good fares to pop up. Somebody always finds one on https://www.thedibb.co.uk or you can keep on top of it yourself by signing up for daily alerts through kayak, Skyscanner and the like. We've not paid more than £525 per person in school summer hols for years by doing this.

Personally I don't like to use travel agents as they won't find a price as good as I can (because I'm prepared to check daily and i dislike someone being in charge of my booking). But you could ask for a price - scheduled flights just now starting to appear for next July (its 330 days before the date of return flight) and are too pricey for me yet. But a good price will come - at least it always has every year for the last 12 years for me.

I'd get on Www.thedibb.co.uk - good flights will get posted there for sure.

KarenG

Oh - when the magic price pops up, be ready to book immediately - the price may or may not hang around for a few days or so. You'll have to pay outright for flight only.

MissAA1970

KarenG you are a Wealth of information ! I didn't think I could book multi city flight on Skyscanner ? unless its better to do return to New York and book a separate flight return form Newyork to Orlando Many thanks yet again!