Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

disney_cjd

clarabella23 wrote: »

hi everyone, got a mega deal for florida through jetsave, actually was cheaper going into Thomsons (who i got the jetsave brochure from) and getting them to ring through for me using their ABTA number, 2 adults 1 child for 17 nights staying on international drive with Virgin flights and airport transfers for £1600. how cheap is that?!the only downside is we just picked the Travelodge at Universal Orlando, thinking that as its quite a big name it would be ok-basic but close to the parks, but looking after its had some not so great reviews. has anybody been there who could set my mind to rest? not looking for much from the hotel just somewhere to rest on an evening and possibly have breakfast in.

If its the one by the iHop then its an OK location. At the end of the day and I do not mean to be funny, you do not go to Florida for the hotels. Really you wuill be hardly there so do not worry. All hotels are OK over there adn if they are not then complain and you will be OK.

Trip Advisor is a plce to avoid sometimes

Cheers

disney_cjd

tmcgregg wrote: »

hi, we are going to florida for next christmas, leaving 18th dec 09. Anyone been at xmas before and any advise please, ie, christmas day dinner eating out etc.

Hi there

I have spent a few Christmas' in Orlando adn its a lovely thing to do. Hot warm and no sodding English weather!!!

For Christmas lunch there are lots and lots of places to try. Christmas is not the biggest holiday of the year to the yanks so dont be surprised that many things are open still. They love Thanksgiving and halloween and New Year more IMHO.

If you are planning on going to a park on Christmas day then book whats called an ADR or Advance Dinner reservation. Soon this can be done on line but for now you call Disney at 001 407 WDW DINE

Disney hotels and resutants are great for Christmas meals and nice dinners. Siome really great ones are the Yachtsman Steakhouse or even ones within teh parks or other resorts like the Polyneasian. Remember you do not have to stay in an hotel to eat there.

Take a look at the menus over at https://www.allears,net which is a fantastic site.

For places off Disney property let me suggest some of the many great golf clubs like Legends or maybe even Champtions Gate.

As for everything else a must is the Osbourne Lights over at Hollywood Studios - I love seeing those.

HTH
Craig

sammcg

we fly out 24th june for two weeks, direct from glasgow, 2 adults/3 kids staying in lake buena vista. thomas cook quoted us £3k.

had to get own transfers and tickets.

tickets we got from attraction tickets, 14 day disney,and 7 day universal. (i know we are only going for 2 weeks), but it was buy 7 days at disney get 7 free.

anyone thinks thats good.

the children are 10/11/12! argh.. nightmare. hahaha

sukey13

Hi.

I m a bit put out by your post - it suggests that you think villa owners all lie! Well I don't and my villa is only 3.5 miles to Disney main gate. You can see on the location map on this website just how close we are in relation to everything - hence the reason we bought it.

http://www.disneyhomesflorida.com/location.html

Happy 2009

disney_cjd wrote: »

Hi Jess

I am afriad you have fallen for the standard villa owners trap - five mins to Disney blah blah. They never are. They may well be fifteen mins to Disney property but thats a different thing. There is 43 square miles of Disney property so you can get on that easy and then still drive for 15 mins to the park!

I would suggest Emerald Island, its the closest you cna get really. Here is an example of a good villa there http://www.thebestfloridavilla.com/ also take a look at Last minute Villas they are pretty good

Cheers
Craig

GRUFFALO

wow thats a great idea. i think my son will be alrite in the morning but he would struggle in the afternoon so getting a buggy in the afternoon is a great idea ...........and not having to pay the 20 bucks , amazing !

thanks

disney_cjd

sukey13 wrote: »

Hi.

I m a bit put out by your post - it suggests that you think villa owners all lie! Well I don't and my villa is only 3.5 miles to Disney main gate. You can see on the location map on this website just how close we are in relation to everything - hence the reason we bought it.

http://www.disneyhomesflorida.com/location.html

Happy 2009

Jeez, I was not calling anyone a liar but most (and that is not all) owners) state Disney property as their marker. You state Disney’s’ main gate and I know Lindfields and yes you are about that but even the Main Gate is not the car park or entrance to the park is it?
You are doing what loads of people do and use the edge of Disney property and I think that’s misleading to anyone who has not been there before, that’s my view and I am quite entitled to it without being told I am calling people liars.
For example once you are at the main gate are you in the car park? Are you at the TTC or ready to hit the rides? No, exactly.

I can find you loads of Villas in Kissimmee, Davenport, Clermont and communities like Orange tree, Weston Hills, Florida Pines, Sunrise lakes etc etc all say 10 mins from Disney and they are not.

I know where my house is, I know where most of the developments are and I know how far they take to lots of places. I appreciate you and other STR owners are marketing you property but people would rather have realistic times that all I was saying.
All the best for 2009

vivatifosi

Couldn't agree more disney_cjd. People need to remember that the land mass of Disneyworld is roughly the same as that of Coventry and that the 'main gate' is just an entrance to that land mass. I own a Disney Vacation Club timeshare that is in WDW and from there it still takes 5 mins to get to Studios, 5 mins to Epcot, 5 mins to Downtown Disney and 10-15 minutes to Animal Kingdom. It takes 15 minutes to the Magic Kingdom by bus and about 20 if I go to the TTC by car and take the ferry or monorail.

rsjg80

I've been invited to a wedding.... at Disney! Obviously it's a rather vague question with many variables but how much is this likely to set me back?!

I know the wedding is on December 30th but my departure date and return date are reasonably flexible - but we must be back at work on the 4th of Jan 2010 (we're teachers so this is not moveable). Obviously the whole being in America on Xmas/ New Year isn't important at all to us - that date has been given to us. We are very tight for cash at the moment (isn't everyone?!) and just need an idea of ballpark figures. Could be a 5 day stay, could be a 7 day - just rough ideas needed at the moment. Also any advice on how to go about getting the best deals - I assume wandering into the highstreet Thomas Cook doesn't feature high up on that list?!

I really want to go, and have the honour of playing an important role in the proceedings but am very concerned about cash. Any help/ advice much appreciated.

disney_cjd

rsjg80 wrote: »

I've been invited to a wedding.... at Disney! Obviously it's a rather vague question with many variables but how much is this likely to set me back?!

I know the wedding is on December 30th but my departure date and return date are reasonably flexible - but we must be back at work on the 4th of Jan 2010 (we're teachers so this is not moveable). Obviously the whole being in America on Xmas/ New Year isn't important at all to us - that date has been given to us. We are very tight for cash at the moment (isn't everyone?!) and just need an idea of ballpark figures. Could be a 5 day stay, could be a 7 day - just rough ideas needed at the moment. Also any advice on how to go about getting the best deals - I assume wandering into the highstreet Thomas Cook doesn't feature high up on that list?!

I really want to go, and have the honour of playing an important role in the proceedings but am very concerned about cash. Any help/ advice much appreciated.

Thats sounds very exciting.

A couple of things to try. I would have thought a good base to test the cost would be to use the new Virgin Travel City Direct group. They were doing adverts from 399 per person for two weeks so that's pretty good value.

The other thing is to at least price flights first with say BA or Virgin and then you can add accommodation to it. If they are having the wedding at a hotel maybe there is a special rate at the hotel.

I would never discount the travel agents. It may be worth you popping in to see them for a quote. But I would have thought around 400 quid a person for the week sounds about right for the time of year.

Have fun

Craig

disney_cjd

GRUFFALO wrote: »

wow thats a great idea. i think my son will be alrite in the morning but he would struggle in the afternoon so getting a buggy in the afternoon is a great idea ...........and not having to pay the 20 bucks , amazing !

thanks

its a much better idea than having them on your shoulders when they get tired - that kills me LOL