Orlando Florida/Disneyworld (Part 2) *CLOSED*

smidgey

Hi all,

I've recently booked a two week trip to Florida with my other half for mid January 2010. I'm looking to do all the parks which I am confortable with but there are also three other activities that I really would like to do whilst there and wondering if anyone can offer any advice/tips?

1) Hang gliding (http://questairforce.com/intro.html) - at the current rates it looks to be about £140 each. Has anyone used this company?

2) Champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon (http://www.orangeblossomballoons.com/) - at current rates it looks to be about £103 each. Again has anyone used these?

3) Swimming with dolphins (http://discoverycove.com/DCO2/Purchase/Visitors.aspx) - at current rates it looks to be about £180 each.

Please feel free to advise of any better/cheaper places to do these activities or give me any tips

Cheers

Chris

nicechap

Probably a silly question, but what times do US schools go back.

I'm looking to take kids to Florida last week of Aug/ 1st week of Sept and wondered whether to do Orlando at the start or end of the holiday? Or doesn't it make any real diference.

Weggy

smidgey wrote: »

Hi all,

I've recently booked a two week trip to Florida with my other half for mid January 2010. I'm looking to do all the parks which I am confortable with but there are also three other activities that I really would like to do whilst there and wondering if anyone can offer any advice/tips?

1) Hang gliding (http://questairforce.com/intro.html) - at the current rates it looks to be about £140 each. Has anyone used this company?

2) Champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon (http://www.orangeblossomballoons.com/) - at current rates it looks to be about £103 each. Again has anyone used these?

3) Swimming with dolphins (http://discoverycove.com/DCO2/Purchase/Visitors.aspx) - at current rates it looks to be about £180 each.

Please feel free to advise of any better/cheaper places to do these activities or give me any tips

Cheers

Chris

For option 3, IMO, give the unnatural Discovery Cove a miss and go swim with manatee, in their natural environment. Was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget

http://www.sunshinerivertours.com/

FATHEROFTWO_2

Ive looked at the park hours for all the parks and some have extended hours which I presume in the morning is for those that are staying in a disney resort.

Am I right in asuming that I should AVOID the parks that are designated as having extended hours at the end of the day as there will be more people visiting the parks on those days particularly the disney guests?

and should target the normal days for visiting ?

Its just that Im compiling an itinery for my stay.

jackieblack

FATHEROFTWO wrote: »

Ive looked at the park hours for all the parks and some have extended hours which I presume in the morning is for those that are staying in a disney resort.

Am I right in asuming that I should AVOID the parks that are designated as having extended hours at the end of the day as there will be more people visiting the parks on those days particularly the disney guests?

and should target the normal days for visiting ?

Its just that Im compiling an itinery for my stay.

Broadly speaking, yes. The one exception we've found is when staying at MK to watch fireworks/late Spectromagic parade. On a 'normal' night the crowd all leave once this is over and the queues to get out of the park and for ferry/monorail are horrendous. We found if we go on an 'Extra Magic Hours' night it is much easier to get away once the fireworks/parade is over as alot of people staying at Disney resorts head back to the rides instead of leaving the park.

jackieblack

Weggy wrote: »

For option 3, IMO, give the unnatural Discovery Cove a miss and go swim with manatee, in their natural environment. Was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget

http://www.sunshinerivertours.com/

Horses for courses - we love Discovery Cove.

MOLLYBRUSH

disney_cjd wrote: »

Firstly congrats on the house and the area, you will make many of us jealous.

Yes July is expensive and 4th july week very busy. If you are saying 500 for a direct flight then that is not bad at all. Why not try kayak.com and look at indirect flights?

The price will not really tail off until about August 15th onwards as thats believe it or not value season at Disney as the US schools go back.

Cheers
C

Thanks for that - you also helped me on another thread for home insurance out there and I have had a quote for that, so thanks again.

I have been looking around and have found a flight for £261 on July 2 into Sanford which I thought was a good deal. Don't know who with as am still humming and haa-ing over whether I can go before the 3rd.

It's worth knowing about the schools out there as I had no idea that it would be so much cheaper in August compared to July until I came across it purely by accident.

Weggy

jackieblack wrote: »

Horses for courses - we love Discovery Cove.

Each to their own I guess but personally can't stand the whole concept of the place!

In the wild, the manatee come to you if they want to... there's no food on offer as a bribe and they have conservation areas where humans are not allowed - if the animal has had enough then they go there.

There's also the lovely cruise up the river to get to the springs, both the Crystal and Homossassa rivers are stunning.... oh, and did I mention it's a fraction of the price you'd pay for Discovery Cove?

jackieblack

Weggy wrote: »

Each to their own I guess but personally can't stand the whole concept of the place!

In the wild, the manatee come to you if they want to... there's no food on offer as a bribe and they have conservation areas where humans are not allowed - if the animal has had enough then they go there.

There's also the lovely cruise up the river to get to the springs, both the Crystal and Homossassa rivers are stunning.... oh, and did I mention it's a fraction of the price you'd pay for Discovery Cove?

As I said, each to their own.

This is a discussion that has been had several times over.

What one person enjoys, someone else may not (personally the thought of swimming in a river with a creature that eats its own faeces doesn't appeal to me at all! )

Different people like different things. Wouldn't life be boring if everything liked doing the same things :rolleyes:.

KarenG

disney_cjd wrote: »

I have seen Karen's post and of course Disney will never stop you from using a mug BUT they are actually resort specific and should not actually be moved around. And no you can not use one from a previous stay as they are valid for your stay.

Hi Craig

Are you sure? They did used to be resort specific but in 2007 and 2008 all resorts had the same mug (nasty light blue thing ) and I believe this year they have changed the design to a red one but the design is the same for all resorts.

I also believe that when WDW changed the mug design so they were all the same they amended their policy to "OK for length of stay at any resort", as they would not know which resort you bought the mug at. Happy to be corrected though!

(I think CSR was the exception to this as they still had a different mug - no idea if that is still the same though).

Cheers (no pun intended )