Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

spaceman5

Amy83 wrote: »

Hi,

might be a bit of a strange question - but does anybody know of any airlines that fly in the evening from London area to Orlando? I know there's overnight flights returning, but does anyone know of any overnight flights on the way out there?

We've managed to get some time of work and are trying to maximise the time we can spend there, it's only half a day extra I realise but it's better than a kick up the backside

if you get an evening flight say that leaves uk at 18:00 u will get into orlando at 22:00, so yu wont get any extra time, u will get less in fact, unless you mean say you wanted to go on a saturday, and you could get a friday evening flight

Amy83

Yeah, I'm talking about leaving the night before ideally. We were planning on going on Sunday 21st Sept, but my boyfriend has to be in work on Monday, so we're trying to find any flights so we could go Monday evening instead of waiting til Tueday morning.

The only flights I've managed to find so far involve near 20 hours of travelling time, with lots of changes

sunshineholidays_2

In response to little dumplings post before about Sat Nav

Get a sat nav! We normally visit america twice a year and hire a car so we are well used to driving over there now but we wouldn't consider doing it without a sat nav. Its hard enough getting used to driving on the other side of the road, remembering that you can turn right even if the lights are on red if its clear unless the sign says, stopping completely at the stop signs, while banging your hand against the door everytime you go to put the car in drive or reverse because you forgot the gear stick is on the other side without having to follow road signs and look at maps. Its really easy to use and in our opinion worth every penny to hire. Driving in America is relatively easy but their motorway (or should i say freeway) systems are nothing like ours. There are no roundabouts at the end of junctions like here so if you miss your turning you can't go back around and onto the freeway again, a lot of the time one freeway leads straight onto another, then you have to find the junction that will take you onto the freeway that will take you back onto the one you've just been on. Sounds complicated?? thats because it is. The last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with maps. Zipcodes for most things you'll want to visit can be found on the internet or you can use the points of interest function on the sat nav. The time on your holiday will go quick enough as it is without getting lost and you'll want to see and do as many thing as you can. You don't want to be put off travelling somewhere because you're worried you'll get lost.

Sheel

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Each to their own, we love Seaworld .

The OH and I love Seaworld too :j I wasn't that keen on Busch Gardens , but as you say , each to their own

Re Sat Navs , I wish we'd had our Tom Tom on our 5 visits to Florida as we always got lost at some point :rolleyes:

valiant23

sturll wrote: »

Its each to their own but i really think those saying you should use a map over a sat nav are having you on.

There really is no comparison. Sat Nav everytime, not only that but you can avoid the tolls.

disney_cjd wrote: »

Us too Sturll. We live here for 3 months so have done many many miles with and without. I can only speak from our experience and remember that Little D does not have a satnav and its her first time (i think). Driving in the US on the wrong side of the road with the Americans whose driving test comprises a lap of a car park (no joke we have done it) then you last thing you need is a machine barking at you.

If you plan your days you will be fine (I hope!!) but again if you can borrow a sat nav from someone like a TomTom 910/920/930 then go for it. As long as you can multitask (as a ladyeee I am sure you can). Or if you are worried and want to hire one then try one for a few days from these places....

http://www.hiresatnav.com/?gclid=CJr69-CnJUCFQznlAodQWvRgA

http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/sat-nav.aspx

http://www.zintech.co.uk/zt/referral.do?affiliatecode=zin&gclid=CPnmh-XCnJUCFRSb1QodQmbofA

http://www.satnav4usa.co.uk/shop/cat,Sat%20Nav/cID,17

Good luck whatever you decide. I did just ask my wife what she would prefer for her first trip and she typically said both! That dont help!

Cheers
CJD

I did Orlando for the first time this year.

It took me about 3 days to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road and if I'd had to watch out for the directions as well (which aren't as good as is made out if you don't know the place) it would have made me even more nervous, and I drive for a living.:o

I baulked at the thought of paying only £133 a week for a superb 4x4 and then a quarter again for the hire of a sat nav, but I really think it will make any "first timer"'s experience of US roads a lot simpler.

disney_cjd

ceebeeby wrote: »

Hey Disney CJD

Thanks so much for the fab responses again!!

Please, please, please tell me it's due to stop raining soon! We're running away from the UK to get away from the pesky rain!

You are very welcome. I hope it helps you all.

Well I hope so too Ceebeeby as we are running out of things to do with the kids in the rain. On the way back from the Polynesian tonight there was blue sky so I am hoping that Fay has gone and the sunshine will return to the sunshine state!!

jackieblack

little_dumplings wrote: »

Thanks everyone for advice on sat nav, gonna just use the maps you have recommended, I have a pretty good sense of direction and can read a map (knew that Duke of Edinburgh award would pay off one day!) (and have no clue how to use a sat nav!) I was a bit worried as I'm driving on my own with my daughter and as we're not on site wasn't sure how well signposted it was when you left the main area. Saying that....I just know I'm going to get sooo talked into upgrading at the airport as much as I'll try not to!:rotfl:

The first time we went, the driving was the thing I was most worried about, but it was much, much easier than I'd imagined. Check your map and plan your route before you leave your accomodation in the mornings.
We resisted paying for an upgrade at the airport car hire desk and got a free upgarade anyway, both times!

jackieblack

ceebeeby wrote: »

Arghhh, my minds absolutely spinning with all the various different disney ticket options!! I have no idea which way to go ... and usually get these things wrong. This is what put me off last time, I just didn't have a clue which ones to get.

Can anyone tell me which types of the various zillions of disney ticket package I'm best off buying.

We are going for 3 weeks. We already have the middle week covered with discovery cove, busch gardens, sea world, aquatica.

I still need tickets (in red) for:

Day 1 - Studios (mainly just for the HSM Pep Rally!!)
Day 3 - Possibly a disney waterpark or rest day ...?
Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Day 4 - Animal Kingdom
Day 6 - Epcot
Day 7 & 8 - Mop Up of Disney - Anything Missed

Day 10 - DC (Got tkts)
Day 12 - Aquatica (Got tkts)
Day 13 - Busch Gardens (Got tkts)
Day 14 or 15 - Sea World & Aquatica again if good (Got tkts)

Day 17 - Universal Studios (Do I want to go here??)
Day 18 - Universal Studos - the other park (can't remember name)

Day 19, 20, 21 Aquatica / Sea World / shopping / chill out (Got tkts)

Can be flexible on anything except discovery cove as had to book that months ago, so if there's a better option by swapping around the days then I'm happy with that.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP ONCE AGAIN !!!!

Ok, Monday is one of the busiest days to visit the MK and water parks are busiest Fri-Sun. Busch Gardens is quietest at the beginning of the week (Mon-Wed) and as there is no fast pass here, it can make a big difference. The first time we went to BG (against advice) on a Friday and only got on a few rides because the queues were so long, this year we went on a Tuesday and walked straight on all the big rides (twice!). Seaworld also busiest Fri-Sun.

Check the WDW website for details of EMH on days you are there. It's no good turning up at park opening time hoping to be front of the queues when Disney resort guests have already been there an hour! The parks with early morning EMH tend to stay busier for rest of the day as well.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/calendarHome?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage

This link to The Unofficial Guide website will give you a good idea of best/worst parks for particular days. I've always used this to plan our itineries and it has always been pretty accurate (and the few days I've gone against their advice I've regretted it!) http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14
The link will give you dates for the next month, but you can check further ahead if you have the book (or subscribe).

jackieblack

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Each to their own, we love Seaworld and always do two days, one early and one later for the evening shows.

We also LOVE Seaworld. I think we did 4 days last time as DD wants to do everything twice!

disney_cjd

jackieblack wrote: »

Ok, Monday is one of the busiest days to visit the MK and water parks are busiest Fri-Sun. Busch Gardens is quietest at the beginning of the week (Mon-Wed) and as there is no fast pass here, it can make a big difference. The first time we went to BG (against advice) on a Friday and only got on a few rides because the queues were so long, this year we went on a Tuesday and walked straight on all the big rides (twice!). Seaworld also busiest Fri-Sun.

Check the WDW website for details of EMH on days you are there. It's no good turning up at park opening time hoping to be front of the queues when Disney resort guests have already been there an hour! The parks with early morning EMH tend to stay busier for rest of the day as well.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/calendarHome?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage

This link to The Unofficial Guide website will give you a good idea of best/worst parks for particular days. I've always used this to plan our itineries and it has always been pretty accurate (and the few days I've gone against their advice I've regretted it!) http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14
The link will give you dates for the next month, but you can check further ahead if you have the book (or subscribe).

In addition its also bearing in mind the US school schedule. All schools have now returned so there is a hella lot of less people about.

This is seconded by Disney who are reducing the park hours next week for Animal Kingdom. On https://www.disneyworld.com each park has a caladender and it shows you what time the park opens and closes and has EMH etc. Once you click on a day it wil then tell you what time shows are and whats not working that day etc.

CJD