AIBU to ask for your tips for a Florida holiday...

[QueenArnica]

OK ok I know it's not technically AIBU but there's more traffic here!

After a hideous year (my dad dying and me getting cancer diagnosis and undergoing major surgery) dh and I are thinking of biting the bullet and taking the kids to Disneyland Florida next year, dd12 and ds 9. It has to be in the summer holidays.

Sooooo.... Anyone been who can give top tips/recommendations. A friend has recommended Virgin Holidays (thinking of getting an apartment in Lake Buena Vista so kids can play with others on rest days!) but don't know best place for deals on park tickets, not queuing for rides etc.

All advice greatly appreciated, thank you! X

[Purplepixiedust]

Finally flying from London was cheaper for us, even with fuel and an overnight stay going out. We live in the Midlands. We flew into Orlando international. We used the free Disney transport we staying onsite from the airport and didn't have a car.

[Purplepixiedust]

Oh and this site is amazing.

touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/touring-plans

We subscribed and it saved us heaps of queuing time. We went last 2 weeks of school hols when it was quieter and cheaper. Schools in the U.S. Go back mid August. Make best use of fast passes (book in advance, you can change nearer time but at least you know you will have popular ones booked). We had quite a detailed plan but did make a lot of changes once we realised how tired we would get and how hot it would be). The first week we did early starts and bailed by tea time but 4-5 days in we were still to shattered to make extra magic hours :) Build in rest time. The first weekend and trough second week we made sure we did later starts and stayed out later. All fireworks and late shows are awesome!

[Purplepixiedust]

We went this year in summer holidays. We literally spent 2 weeks at Disney world! 4 main parks and 2 water parks so plenty for a couple of weeks. Stayed at disneys art of animation resort. It was amazing. Hotel booked via quidco through lastminute.com so got some cash back. Flights booked through opodo and tickets direct with Disney, again through quidco. We got refillable cups to use in resort which saved a lot and the food was reasonably priced and pretty good. Disney transportation was very good. If we go again we would stay nearer universal to concentrate on that but I wouldn't change a thing about our recent trip. Try to do a couple of character meals. They really make it.

[geekymommy]

Some states demand that everyone be asked for ID when buying alcohol. Some servers do it because some ladies of a certain age are flattered, and the servers are trolling for a bigger tip. Our drinking age is 21, if that's relevant.
We of course drive on the right. Make sure your kids look the right way when crossing streets. We don't tend to have "look right" stenciled at crosswalks, the way you do in London for American tourists (global hegemony has its privileges). Supposedly Winston Churchill almost got killed this way in the 1930s.

[WoodleyPixie]

We had the discovery cove ultimate ticket. We all love Busch gardens. It's fab. Much more relaxed and far less hectic than Disney/universal.

We paid extra for the cabana service at discovery cove. Maybe I'm just not the lying down and relaxing type. The snorkelling was fun but there's I my so much snorkelling you can do. Also you have to use their sun cream and it was the only day I burnt and dd burnt despite reapplying several times. The frozen lemonade was yummy but overall I didn't think it was great value for money.

The bbq restaurant next to coco keys hotel was not very good. Nothing like the bbq restaurant we had visited before.

Kids love ripleys on I drive. We found the proper malls to often have better offers on the likes of Abercrombie and hollister than the outlet. However the outlet was better formralph Lauren.

I don't think you can fail to have a good time. But yes check check and check again your insurance as even minor treatments run to hundreds and they usually require payment up front.

IHOP on I drive was good. Ds1 loves the bacon cheeseburger. Be careful if you go for breakfast. The stacks are huge. No one told us the first time and we ordered a stack each. So much food!

I drive has all the chain restaurants that you see in the movies and programmes. Youll need Id for alcohol no matter how old you are. I was 39 and my mum is 60 and she was asked for id when she ordered.

[DisneyMillie]

Don't go to a disney park on a day there's extra hours for disney hotel guests (unless you're in a disney hotel) as the park will be even busier (check the disney world website)

Get to parks at opening and have a plan of what you want to do - you'll get more done early morning than the rest of the day

[munkisocks]

We stayed in villa about 30 minute drive from the main parks, was called davenport I think. Was brilliant got 14 day passes online before we went and picked them up at park services when there. We got fast passes via the site whilst there for each day for free for up to 3 rides/attractions. Went with Thomas Cook as package holiday. Virgin is apparently a lot nicer according to my DH who has been going years with his family. Rent a car if you're not already doing so. With a package holiday you usually have the option.

As a PP said plan your days! You don't realise how many things there are. Fireworks every night in all the parks. Wear good shoes if you're going in the parks.

[geekymommy]

Tampa also has beaches, which Orlando (being inland) doesn't.

[foragogo]

That conveyor belt system is really odd isnt it? Somehow we managed to avoid it and just oyllwd our suitcases but the buggy came off the plane and got caught up in itvsonehwo and we had to hunt all over the place for it.

[geekymommy]

If you do fly in or out of Tampa, you could go to Busch Gardens. When I went there (admittedly, 20 years ago), they didn't have the lines that Disney World did. It's Busch as in the beer, so you could probably get beer there. Busch Gardens is more oriented toward older kids than Disney World is.

[Oriunda]

Totally agree re Tampa - we'll fly into there next time. Orlando took 2.5hrs to clear immigration, customs and collect car. Crazy system where bags that you can't carry up the escalator (we had 2 suitcases and a car seat as well as hand luggage so couldn't manage) get taken off you and put on a conveyor belt that conveniently comes out by the car rental desks ..... some 20 minutes later. Tampa very convenient for St Pete's etc and not that much further from Disney.

[QueenArnica]

Wow thanks all so much, loads of useful information.

I will check out the travel insurance. I had cervical cancer followed by a radical hysterectomy and lymph node removal so am not worried particularly of getting ill out there due to this as I've got no bits left down there!!

It's all so stressful but exciting too, thank you! X

[5oclocksomewhere]

If you do drive and go to the Universal complex, the valet parking is only marginally more than normal parking but saves you lots of queuing and walking (before you've even got in the park). Both downtown Disney and Universal boardwalk are good for an evening amble and food / drinks.

[Jaeme]

Undercover tourist has a crowd calendar that lets you plan around peak times for parks, we've used it in the past and it worked out pretty well.

Like PP have said, I wouldn't wait to buy tickets there.
American attractions usually have decent prices and best value tickets tend to be the ones that run for 14 days consecutively from first use.

There are some nice suite hotels in LBV, check out grande villas resort and cypress pointe resort. The only downside to staying in LBV is there's not a whole lot within walking distance and you have to negotiate getting across a road that's 4 lanes in each direction. Traffic also gets very backed up at the crossroads during Disney park closing times and it can be hard to get to the restaurants there.

If you don't want to drive then a hotel on international drive is better as there's loads to do, the i-ride trolley works out to be good value and goes as far as the outlet malls at each end of the strip. Most hotels run shuttles to the parks.

Eating;
Sweet tomatoes is a nice break from junk food if you're looking for something fresh.
Cici's pizza is fab and if there's not a pizza out that you like they'll make you one fresh.

[katemiddletonsothermum]

We've been to Universal Studios and stayed in the onsite hotels - it makes life so much easier especially as you can get into the park to get to Harry Potter World an hour earlier before the park opens to the public. The river taxis are also a very relaxing way to get to the park.

As far as Disney goes, we went to Epcot which is just bonkers. There's a whole mini world experience where you can go and sit in a fibre glass version of the Americans' view of what an Olde Worlde Englishe Olde English Tea Shoppe Market Place looks like.

[5oclocksomewhere]

Insurance has to be first priority, in place and accurate before you book anything.

Water park days with cheap cool box from supermarket give a good break from walking the parks and expensive naff food but kids still happy.

Perkins breakfast will set you up and you can pick up a map with loads of mini golf and other minor attractions vouchers.

The Discovety Cove ultimate ticket we found gave us brilliant value. Day at AI Discovery Cove, unlimited entry to Sea World, Aquatica and Bush Gardens. You can split your days, "pop in" in an evening, or leave just after lunch etc and not feel bad. Top tip is to buy your ticket at Discovery cove noonish on day 1 or 2, no queues, book your day in with them but you can start using all the other parks immediately, gives you a 2 week window.

You can't buy alcohol in Magic Kingdom (the one place you need it!)

BA car hire good value if booking BA flights. Booking villa direct with owners better value and a little room to negotiate.

Ticket websites with pick up in Orlando are best value, feels a little risky doing it, but it is legit and works well, phone them if you are unsure. Most villas give you free local calls.

[geekymommy]

American school schedules vary on a county level (states here are broken up into counties). Some do start in August, some don't start until September. It's hard to generalize about American school schedules, since they vary so much.

[grumpysquash]

Sorry to hear you've had such a bad year, but your holiday will be fabulous. We did similar with DCs 11, 9 and 6 and it was amazing.

Are you planning to hire a car? If so, you can rent a villa. They are really cheap compared to all other sorts of accommodation. We stayed about 20 mins drive away from the parks, but there is loads of choice. I think we paid £750 for a ten night stay (4 bedrooms, small swimming pool, games room) and it has the advantage that you don't have to eat out all the time.

Harry Potter (at Universal's Islands of Adventure) was superb.

You can get combination tickets which work out better value, often it combines with a water park (would definitely recommend). I got them in the UK from www.americanattractions.co.uk/?gclid=COWxnJGDm8kCFSgXwwodICQNUw

Also, we flew to Tampa rather than Orlando International. We had an extra 45 mins transfer time, but saved about £800 on the flights!

And lastly, before this is too long, I think that American schools go back in mid August so queues might be less at the end of the hols.....

Have a great time!

[Oriunda]

I'm just back from Florida. We spent 4 nights at Universal Studios (stayed at Cabana Bay which is a Universal hotel and great). Booked our tickets through orlandoattractiontickets.co.uk. U.K. Prices, cheaper than booking via Universal website, and real tickets (not vouchers) arrived in post 2 days later.

We then drove to St. Pete's for 5 nights - perfect place to relax on beach and less than 2hr drive from Orlando. We booked via Virgin. Took our spare car seat - saves a lot of money and you know the seat is clean etc.

[anoldiebutagoody]

Queen Please do as Indan says and find out about insurance before you tell the DCs. And when you do please try to avoid taking a policy that doesn't include your previous illness.
I speak from experience - we booked to go to Florida in September one year for November the following year. DH was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March had surgery and consultant OK'd him to go on the holiday - even so the insurers wouldn't cover the cancer, surgery or anything arising from it but we decided as consultant said it was OK we'd go ahead.
Unfortunately on the fourth day of our holiday DH was admitted to hospital at 2am in the morning with severe stomach pains. I was asked in the emergency room for a credit card to pay for the ambulance and emergency treatment and he wouldn't have been treated if I hadn't paid. They did tests all the next day and discharged him the day after - total cost over $11,000. Luckily the doctors diagnosed a UTI so we were able to claim on the insurance. However from things that happened afterwards I think they were wrong as DH has had many recurrences of the same symptoms which has been diagnosed as adhesions from the surgery so we were very lucky not to have to foot the hospital bill which worker out to around £7500.

[geekymommy]

I think IHOP isn't that great (or maybe that's just the one here in Pittsburgh). Waffle House is a place a lot of Americans seek out, and they're in Orlando (they're not everywhere in the US). Denny's is cheap but, IMO, mediocre. As I recall (but keep in mind it's been 20 years since I've been to Disney World), the food at Disney World was mediocre and expensive.

[Indantherene]

19lottie82 I could have saved £100 by excluding pre existing conditions, but because my cancer was bowel, any sort of D&V could be considered related by the insurers (I've spent a lot of time reading the small print).

For Europe I take a chance and exclude pre existing but for the US I think it's too big a risk. Obviously that's a personal decision.

[binders1]

Oh and me and my 8 year old son loved thé new Frozen show. So nice to see all the dads singing away with their arms in thé air.

[geekymommy]

Florida is a big place. Check distances before planning any side trips. Tampa is about 95 miles away, Miami is 235 miles, and Key West is almost 400 miles.

[bakingdiva]

I stayed in this villa last time I went, very close to Disney. Villa was really nice and I loved having our own pool. Having your own kitchen, even if just for cereal for breakfast is much better than being stuck in hotels imo.

ultimatedisneyvillas.com/villa1.html