Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

mrposhman

Rylo wrote: »

I'm looking myself for the end of May. Probably a stupid question but have you looked on Expedia. I've just been in and chosen 4th - 18th April, from London and it's given me a total cost of £4,002 for flights and hotel. Plus there's 3.5% if you go through Quidco too. Admittedly, have just noticed that the flights aren't direct, which might be a pain with your kids, but this seems a lot cheaper than your £5,500. I know this doesn't include car hire but various people on this thread have also given info about cheap car hire too. HTH

not far from my guesstimate above then :beer:

Budget_mum

vivatifosi wrote: »

modgit,

If you use Alamo/National, there's a depot at the Buena Vista Palace hotel on Hotel Plaza Blvd. This may be in walking distance from your hotel, if not its in walking distance from Downtown Disney if there's a shuttle service from where you are staying. There's also one at the Swan (you can catch the boat from Epcot). Please note that these are not open as long hours as the depots at the airport.

We always use Alamo/National, but its worth checking out their discount codes online as we always get a significantly cheaper rate. Can't give you ours as they are industry ones and they do check your ID, but worth looking on line for others.

I've booked through Easycar who use Alamo but give better prices. I also got an extra discount by going via wepromiseto :T

hughmungas1986

mrposhman wrote: »

Busch Gardens isn't too far from Clearwater

We already have tickets for Busch Gardens, thinking more along the Gulf Coast

hughmungas

disney_cjd

hughmungas1986 wrote: »

We already have tickets for Busch Gardens, thinking more along the Gulf Coast

hughmungas

I you actually go to Clearwater they have a full sized Pirate ship docked that you can pay to go on a pirate day trip adventure. Its awesome if yo have little ones.

BEX94MAT97

Budget_mum wrote: »

:money:I saw our beloved Martin on GMTV this morning talking about using mobiles whilst abroad. I did take a look at a couple of companies who specialise in American SIM cards (both making the same claims to be the only company in the UK to give you your number & SIM before you travel). The call prices within the US were 18p & 19 per min. I then did a bit of searching and bought myself 2 SIMS each with $10 credit and a choice of number before you travel for £17.48 delivered from an Ebay trader with great feedback.

Nice one budget mum.

Are the sims the AT&T GO ones that for $1 per day allow you unlimited calls between the two phones? I was thinking of getting two and using them as walkie talkies in the theme parks with our two teenagers?

Do you have a link to the ebay seller?

Simon

allure-homme

Has anyone stayed at one of the Universal Resort hotels in Orlando?

Just wondered how it was, what else there is to do close by etc? Also probably won't have a car, so how easy is it to get down to Disneyworld, cost etc?

Thanks.

disney_cjd

simontimmins wrote: »

Nice one budget mum.

Are the sims the AT&T GO ones that for $1 per day allow you unlimited calls between the two phones? I was thinking of getting two and using them as walkie talkies in the theme parks with our two teenagers?

Do you have a link to the ebay seller?

Simon

Simon, remember you will need a tri band phone for these. We have two Tracfones bought from Walmart for 10 dollars each adn buy 60 mins of credit for 20 dollars. You can use these to call anyone even the UK.

Froggitt

allure-homme wrote: »

Has anyone stayed at one of the Universal Resort hotels in Orlando?

Just wondered how it was, what else there is to do close by etc? Also probably won't have a car, so how easy is it to get down to Disneyworld, cost etc?

Thanks.

Im fairly sure that staying at a Universal hotel enables you to jump the queues in the Universal parks......a real bonus at the height of summer when the queue is 2 hours long for a 45 second ride.

How about one week at a Universal hotel, then one week at a Disney onsite hotel (free buses), or one near Lake Buena Vista (free shuttles)?

At the Universal end of Orlando is Sea World and the new water park.

disney_cjd

Froggitt wrote: »

Im fairly sure that staying at a Universal hotel enables you to jump the queues in the Universal parks......a real bonus at the height of summer when the queue is 2 hours long for a 45 second ride.

How about one week at a Universal hotel, then one week at a Disney onsite hotel (free buses), or one near Lake Buena Vista (free shuttles)?

At the Universal end of Orlando is Sea World and the new water park.

yes you can queue jump at Universal if you are at the hotels. You can also pay for this option (seems odd to me when Disney give ti for free).

You are best to try and consider what you want to do in your 14 / 21 /7 days in Orlando. There is so much to do and you will sometimes feel you need a holiday to get over your holiday!!

Also normally wherever you stay you can see what transport options are offered. There are actually quite a few and for man years we traveled without a car. Now we keep one at the house but its still pretty easy to get about without one.

Taxis are a plenty and not overly expensive. However company's such as Mears or Tiffany's will offer shuttle services for you and your family from ANY hotel. Yes some hotels give them for free but you may bne limited to where you stay.

If you are not driving and are minded to do more Disney than other attractions I would suggest the hotels down hotel plaza blvd. This is the lovely tree lined road that goes from Downtown Disney to Crossroads. Obviously DD has loads to do and free buses to anywhere Disney (and note you can use these wherever you are staying as in all my time I have never know anyone ask to see a pass). You can also walk to crossroads which has a supermarket and such great restaurants likes the Olive Garden and pebbles etc.

Take a look at allears.net as they have transportation section also.

So for me I would stay in the LBV/DD area and use the shuttles and then you can get a Mears shuttle to Universal for the days you go there. Saying that the Universal Hotels are awesome.

disney_cjd

RJG wrote: »

I have just got a quote or car hire in Florida. I need a 7 seater for 3 weeks. The quote inc all taxes and up to 2 named drivers, not forgetting a tank of fuel is £441. I got the quote from Direct villas Florida, although the hire company is
Budget. Is this a good price and has anyone used this site? Thanks.

Hiya

It really depends on the dates and how long before you travel. Try these sites and see if they come out cheaper.

www.uscarhire.co.uk
https://www.yescarhire.com
https://www.airline-network.co.uk

Also you dio not say where you are collecting and retuurnign too. Remember again not all car rental places are "on airport" that means that you, your family and all of your luggage have to get on a bus to the car rental place. Not the best idea when you have got off a 8 hour flight.

Also with minivans, many of the companies use Dodge Caravans, These are fine but if you are using the rear seats to seat more than 5 then you have NO luggage space at all. Better to insist they give you a grand caravan which is the better mini van as slightly bigger, still a minivan so costs the same.

also some mini vans have built in child seats so DO NOT Cough for extra for child seats. Check the van first.

Regards