Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

stan747

KarenG wrote: »

While I partly agree with that, it can be busy in the parks late Feb due to Spring Break, and the end of November is Thanksgiving and very busy in the parks!

The very quietest time in the parks is the first two weeks of December, but the weather is more of a gamble then.

I'll second that, just had two weeks there myself, the only parks we did where wet'n'wild and cypress gardens this time, we did universal and seaworld last year.
we got the go-orlando cards and used them quite a lot, definately got our money's worth with mini-golf, go carting, kennedy, gatorland etc.. and then we took a 4 day cruise from miami that went out to key west and cozumel in mexico which was great.
found a lovely beach bar just up from the cruise port that sold corona's for $1 a bottle!
going to head back out that way for 3 weeks next year, get there for thanksgiving, a 7 day cruise from either tampa or port canaveral around 29th-30th then we're thinking of getting a 7 day disney pass and we'll get a hotel with a courtesy disney shuttle so we save on parking and we can have a beer while we're there.

btw , we where really lucky with the weather this time with a mini heatwave, mid-late 80's all the way through, rained once on the way back to miami but didn't last long.

KarenG

stan747 wrote:

and then we took a 4 day cruise from miami that went out to key west and cozumel in mexico which was great.

Hi Stan

Who did you book this with and how much was it (if you don't mind me asking )

stan747

KarenG wrote: »

Hi Stan

Who did you book this with and how much was it (if you don't mind me asking
)

we went for seaview rooms on this trip
http://www.cruises.com/b/c/sc.asp?d=1/4/2008&d2=2/4/2008&i=742489&c=1&v=37&IncludeAlumnirates=
it's actually cheaper now, we paid about £350 for both of us plus $10 per day pp for onboard gratuities which are added to your onboard account on a day-day basis..
if you book a 1 way rental with alamo you can drop the car off near miami airport and get a free shuttle bus to your cruise ship.
quick tip for alamo, don't put any offer codes in as you lose your insurance and you end up paying more when you add it on, also with alamo you don't have to have a hold on your cc as a deposit, get the cheapest car you can and upgrade there, we got an suv, big toyota rav4, for the price of an intermediate,about £8 per day extra, took a bit of haggling though

bells123

HELLO

iM LOOKING TO GO TO FLORIDA IN MARCH, 4 ADULTS 2 CHILDREN 6 AND 3
WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN A VILLA, HAS ANYONE STAYED IN A VIRGIN VILLA, THINKING OF BOOKING WITH THEM OR I HAVE SEEN SOME WITH THOMSON TOO, ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED
THANKS IN ADVANCE
KELS

atro1

bells123 wrote: »

HELLO

I'm LOOKING TO GO TO FLORIDA IN MARCH, 4 ADULTS 2 CHILDREN 6 AND 3
WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN A VILLA, HAS ANYONE STAYED IN A VIRGIN VILLA, THINKING OF BOOKING WITH THEM OR I HAVE SEEN SOME WITH THOMSON TOO, ANY ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED
THANKS IN ADVANCE
KELS

Wow !take the caps lock off.
Stayed in a Virgin Villa, did better booking on our own! But still very nice.
Try the Dibb or the Dish loads of advice. Plenty of people to help you. Half the fun is using the advice on here and the Dish and Dibb.
You do not say if its your first visit but there are plenty on here that can help.
To me the most expensive part of Visits to Florida is time. So much to see, so much to do.
We always make an itinerary before we go. We dont stick to it but it gives us a guideline. And we have been going for 22 years! Usually a month at a time!
Have no fear in PM'ing people to ask. People who like Florida are [usually happy to share their experience.

MissBehaving

We are thinking about going to Orlando for Christmas this year (2008) ...
Is December a bad time to go?
It will be our first time to the States, apart from when we connected at JFK for our Cruise.
Any advise is appreciated!

Col_in_LB

MissBehaving wrote: »

We are thinking about going to Orlando for Christmas this year (2008) ...
Is December a bad time to go?
It will be our first time to the States, apart from when we connected at JFK for our Cruise.
Any advise is appreciated!

Nah, I think December's a great time to go - I went in early Dec a couple of years ago to stay at my own rental villa. Weather was lovely and warm during the day with low humidty, crisp & cool in the mornings. There were next to no queues for anything - even the airports were bearable....mind you that trip I flew into Sanford instead of Orlando Int'l

I can't wait to get back to Florida in our winter time.

cheers
col

KarenG

MissBehaving wrote: »

We are thinking about going to Orlando for Christmas this year (2008) ...
Is December a bad time to go?
It will be our first time to the States, apart from when we connected at JFK for our Cruise.
Any advise is appreciated!

I agree with Col LB that early December is a great time to go (though the weather is a bit of a gamble then)! But the Christmas period is horribly busy. For a first time visitor it's not the right time to go IMO as it will be extremely crowded, very difficult to get on the rides and potentially frusrating waits to eat.

It's not so bad at Xmas if you've been before as you'll be more likely to be happy to be a bit chosey about which rides you do, but for a first time visitor I would avoid it like the plague!

fas3robinj

I have friends in Florida, and often go to visit in the winter. The only down side is that things are more expensive November through to March because winter is the peak season.

Lots of, what my friend calls, "Snow Birds" (people from the northern states flood into Florida in winter), push the prices for everything up.

My friend tells me that the temperature is usually around 60 - 80F in winter (although it can get down in the 40's occasionally), and they usually don't get as much rain as in the summer.;)

Anyone going - have a look at the price of property there - It's amazingly good if you look at places like Fort Meyers.

stressedofdevon

Can anyone help me please? I have been to Florida before, in 2001, and had a lovely video which really got us all into the spirit of visiting and helped us to plan what we wanted to do.

I was hoping to do the same for my planned trip in November 2008, but am only able to find a vacation planning dvd on the disney official site which is for US and Canadian residents only and will not accept a registration request from me. Does anyone know where I can source such a thing? I have a Universal dvd which is helpful, but so wanted to inspire my two five year olds with the magic of Disney!

Also, I seem to recall that I purchased the multi park tickets which were without time limits. If I manage to track the old tickets down does anyone know how I can find out how many days entrance are still valid on them? I know they at least have disney water parks and the like valid if not the main theme parks.

Thanks in anticipation!:A