Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

sturll

cuddlymarm wrote: »

Hi

We're planning on renting a villa and usually take enough cash to last us and just get out extra or buy pressies. The only real problem is the car. We were going to get a fly drive package but it says that if you haven't got a credit card they will do a credit check and credit rating will be rubbish at the moment and if your credit rating is bad they won't let you have a car. Quite frankly a car is a very important part of the holiday because everywhere is so far apart and it won't be worth booking if we can't have one.

We could pay a deposit but the way the rules are worded I don't think you can

Anyway I'm going to try and phone the rental firm so I'll let you know how I get on. I'm hoping to never need a CC ever again and it seems a bit drastic to have to have one just so that you can rent a car.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Thats wrong hun, go to https://www.dollar.co.uk and book a car, then when you get there explain you haven't got a credit card and hand over $500 (£250) which you'll get back upon taking the car back.

ahrimaniac

Can I ask a quick question? I'm not sure people will know the answer but worth a try -

The last year we spent a week at the Metropolitan Express on International Drive, and it was perfect - dead cheap, but a lovely, simple hotel (£22 a night). We then went onwards and stayed at Disney to do the parks.

We want to repeat this - but we can't book the Metropolitan Express through any booking agents, like Expedia, for January 2009. Is it unusual, or is it that we're trying too far in advance? How could I find out if it was perhaps being refurbished?

Thanks!

ahrimaniac

I meant to say to the poster asking about hiring a car - we don't drive, and we found it very easy (and cheap) to get about. The only 'problem' was getting from the airport to the hotel, but we took a Lynx bus and it got us there in about an hour - for $1.50, I believe. The hotel was right next to Wet 'n' Wild, we walked to Universal (easily) and stayed inside Disney for the themeparks.

My only whinge would be the lack of a general grocery store in Disneyland - we had to eat inside the resort because we couldn't get out of there easily, and it's all fast-food or expensive good stuff.

cuddlymarm

:rotfl:
Hi

Thanks for all advice.

Sturll - I rang the Dollar at Orlsnd International Airport yesterday and she said that they've been told that if you haven't a credit card they will swipe your debit card for a credit check with Equifax and if your credit check comes back bad no car (the trouble is you can't check before you go because they swipe your card there) Its catch 22 you won't know till you get there and you can't go if you don't know :eek: :eek: :eek:

Anyway I'm sure theres lots of lovely places to go in the world (but with decent weather in October )

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated:rotfl:

marshmallow79

How far in advance would you guys consider booking a villa?

I'm not looking at going back until 2011 but a lot of the villa sites let you book this far in advance and I've requested quotes from a lot of the villa owners (I was suprised when I didn't get tonnes of 'are you pulling my leg' emails!:D) and have has about 3 dozen responses.
The thing is a fair few of them are offering me quite a big discount to book this far in advance (suppose the money is better off in their account than mine!) and I'm incredibly tempted to take them up on it just to help me focus on saving up for the rest of it (I'm terrible at saving unless I have a focus!:rolleyes:)
So if you were being offered a discount (I'm talking around £500 discount) on a 3 week stay in Orlando would you take it this far in advance?

love2save

I have now booked a villa 3 times and each time booked around a month before we went. There are always so many villas available these days and booking late ensures a good deal (and your money can be earning interest). This year (and last) we stayed for 3 weeks at Windsor Hills which is v close to Disney and a lovely area and paid £400 a week for a 4 bed bungalow with a large pool over the whitsun holidays which are usually more expensive. We paid £300 a week for a huge 5 bed villa prior to that but that was quite out of the way in Orange tree.

You will always be able to haggle with a 3 week stay too as they don't have to pay the cleaner during your stay which can save them quite a bit.

Whatever you do you will have a great time though!

Edited to add...a lot of owners are struggling at the moment and booking so far in advance could mean that the owners could have changed or problems arise. Also I would always advise using an English owner so things can be sorted out much easier if a problem does arise. If you have to pay in dollars for a refundable breakage deposit for instance and the exchange rate changes you will get less back.

Amy83

Was wondering if anybody could help me - I went to Florida in May this year, and am looking to go back again next month...we didn't use all our allocated days on our Disney tickets, but we're unsure exactly how many we have left. Is there anyway of checking online? or could we call anywhere?

We don't want to buy new tickets if we don't need them, but I can't seem to find anyway of checking.

haziec

marshmallow79 wrote: »

How far in advance would you guys consider booking a villa?

I'm not looking at going back until 2011 but a lot of the villa sites let you book this far in advance and I've requested quotes from a lot of the villa owners (I was suprised when I didn't get tonnes of 'are you pulling my leg' emails!:D) and have has about 3 dozen responses.
The thing is a fair few of them are offering me quite a big discount to book this far in advance (suppose the money is better off in their account than mine!) and I'm incredibly tempted to take them up on it just to help me focus on saving up for the rest of it (I'm terrible at saving unless I have a focus!:rolleyes:)
So if you were being offered a discount (I'm talking around £500 discount) on a 3 week stay in Orlando would you take it this far in advance?

Personally I wouldnt book that far in advance as another post says there's loads of villas to choose from, also.......and hopefully someone in the insurance field will correct me if I'm wrong (?) you would have to insure this booking from now till you go to make sure you got the money you pay back in the unfortunate event you couldnt go which could cost a bit !
If its a private owner they may not own it in 2011 and may depart with your hard earned !!

haziec

bluep wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Maybe we'll try and get a day ticket to just the magic kingdom too then. I think we might be able to go for 8 or 9 days if I get the timing right with weekends and the bank holiday. As for waterparks, to be honest, all she needs is a swimming pool and a little slide and she's happy - that's why the mystic beach looks like a good resort for us - they even have a "sandy" beach to play on. We're not goign to be queuing for any of the big rides anyhow unless my husband fancies going on something whilst we wait (unlikely!!). Personally, my main reason for going is that a) its like £50 more expensive than some rubbish 2* self catering in Greece b) the dollar exchange rate means less spending over there and c) THE SHOPPING!!! lol. Low expectations usually = great holiday!

I saw you said "a bit of rain" does not bother you in your other post, sorry but Orlando in August can mean heavy downpours and storms for hours which keep you indoors and the children bored. IF you are not going for the parks I'm sure there are loads of places where the weather will be more reliable and the flight shorter for your little one. The jet lag is something you might not have taken into consideration.
Orlando is wonderful but you do struggle with babies and toddlers as its mega busy and you cannot compare a hotel type "beach" and pool there in a large town to a lovely beach on the med and a nice hotel with a gorgeous large pool and NO RAIN!!
JMO but think you may have a different idea from the reality and its not a bargain if its not really what you want !!

haziec

Amy83 wrote: »

Was wondering if anybody could help me - I went to Florida in May this year, and am looking to go back again next month...we didn't use all our allocated days on our Disney tickets, but we're unsure exactly how many we have left. Is there anyway of checking online? or could we call anywhere?

We don't want to buy new tickets if we don't need them, but I can't seem to find anyway of checking.

Some tickets expire after the 7 or 14 day use. Did you buy them over here? If so ring the seller.
Or even call a great company which I used twice called www.attractionticketsdirect.com and describe the tickets they will advise you I'm sure.
Have a great holiday!