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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think this is a good price for a holiday

66 replies

smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 14:43

Me dh three teens (one with sn)and a toddler. Haven't been away on long haul for years. It's just on my budget £3,500 for 7 days. Any good? Any input would be appreciated 👍🏻

Aibu to think this is a good price for a holiday
OP posts:
Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 15:38

I just looked on trailfinders. Seems the prices are very similar. I will call them tomorrow to see what's the best deal they can find.

OP posts:
Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 15:39

Yea park tickets inc.

OP posts:
Namechangetempissue · 03/09/2017 15:40

Park tickets are hugely expensive. Pretty much the same cost for 7 days as 14 bizarrely if you book beforehand on a website like attraction tickets direct or through Virgin. I think for the four of us (two kids priced as adults) Disney tickets alone were 2,500 roughly.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 03/09/2017 15:42

I think it's expensive for 7 days, we had a similar deal and we paid £2300 for 14 nights all inclusive, however was in Turkey.

Namechangetempissue · 03/09/2017 15:42

Park tickets included makes it good value

Namechangetempissue · 03/09/2017 15:43

.

Aibu to think this is a good price for a holiday
Hulababy · 03/09/2017 15:43

As for things to do in Orlando. The main area is mostly park based ime:

Disney - 4 theme parks, 2 water parks
Universal - 2 parks, 1 water park
Seaworld - 1 park, 1 water park

About an hour or so drive away:
Kennedy Space Centre
Busch Gardens
various beach resorts, west coast is better imo

There are other things to do, but when we go we focus on Disney and Universal, and of for a fortnight - a trip to the space centre.

Re flights - we prefer to go with Virgin, flying into Orlando. A few friends have done non direct flights and saved money, but i definitely wouldn't recommend that for a week's holiday.

We've been going over the part 13 years and each time we check out the best ways to book. Sometimes it is a package via Virgin, sometimes direct with Disney and other times doing it all separate. We have stayed in hard Rock Hotel, a couple of Disney hotels and private villas. We had a dining plan with Disney last time which was good - came 'free' with our package and it definitely saved us money.

I;d look at all the options.

Hulababy · 03/09/2017 15:45

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag - Turkey will be a lot cheaper than Orlando.

I don't think it seems a bad price tbh. We've just proved up a week staying at a basic Disney hotel with park tickets (but not Universal tickets as get them separately) and flights via VH, for October half term next year - and its coming up at almost £5k for three of us.

Hulababy · 03/09/2017 15:48

Also - contact Disney/Universal - they usually have special entrance prices for people with SN, and a carer. They will also do their best to make your visit as easy as possible, with access to reduced queuing, etc.

Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 15:49

I cannot go for more then a week unfortunately.
Hulababy- i have flown virgin a few times. I like them too. I will look into all those options. Thank you.

OP posts:
Herschellmum · 03/09/2017 15:53

If park tickets are included that it's a good price. Tickets can easily cost thousands. Have you got enough days worth do tickets, the parts take a long time to get around.

With teens I would consider universal and water parks.

There are others parks, like bush gardens, that's further out than Orlando, and the space centre. There is also discovery cove, which is fab but very expensive. There is Hoover craft rides, and crocodile parks too. Plus museums and shows, Orlando has it all, but it's also exhausting.

Hulababy · 03/09/2017 15:54

We (me, dh and teen dd) have done a week a few times.
We do 1 day at each Disney park, and 1 day each at both Universal parks. We save money by buying non hopper Disney tickets. We do buy Hopper tickers for Universal though as we like the Harry Potter train. We normally buy one day of Express tickets for Universal too, if we think it will be busy - would only get them for a person wanting to ride the bigger rides though.
We don't bother with the water parks for a week - partly as we go in February so no weather guarantee, and also as if we want to get wet we will just use the hotel or villa pool. Also we prefer the parks to the water.

Hulababy · 03/09/2017 15:55

With park tickets (is that Disney AND Universal, or just Disney?) that is definitely a good price. Tickets for 5 people are not cheap!

Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 16:01

Hula - it's a two day pass. One Disney one universal studios. Your advice is great. Thank you. It's really hard to know how to fit it all in when there is so much to do. I've been to Disneyland in LA many years back. I know how tiresom it can get. My dd with sn is on the forefront of my thoughts when booking all this. So she has a good time too.

OP posts:
taxiforme · 03/09/2017 16:29

Hi

I have done Orlando twice with three dsc - I don't have my own kids though, so bear with me (step mum of the year lol). All under 14 at the time - youngest 8 then 10 with SN (mild autism/Aspergers).

We have done villas - one with own pool, one on complex with larger pool complex and restaurant. We preferred the latter as the kids could socialise.

Dss with SN couldn't do the larger thrill rides. He struggles with anxiety/risk taking, but we managed and didn't make a big thing out of it (he was also wetting the bed every night until 13 but that's for another thread - JL waterproof sheets went everywhere with us - hotels not an option and huge washing machines in an actual laundry room seem to be the norm in villas there so it was ideal for us).

Busch gardens were by far our favourite park.

If you are on a tight budget - don't eat out. Walmart It. It's a myth that the US is any cheaper than the UK for eating out and in Florida - sales tax which is added (but not on the price quoted) - currently 6%.

It's a long way to go for a week but do-able. Virgin flights - I would recommend.

Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 17:17

Taxi- very useful to know. Thank you.
Stealing- that's awesome. Thank you. Grin

OP posts:
Holidayhooray · 03/09/2017 17:41

Stealing does that include tickets?

Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 17:46

Oh yes. I forgot to ask if it had tickets with that?

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MummytoCSJH · 03/09/2017 17:47

I know this is slightly off topic but where did you get this package/price? I'm looking for me and my son to go once I've saved a bit but I've never booked a holiday before and I don't even know where to start looking, if I should book everything together or separately etc.

Original poster
smellybeanpole · 03/09/2017 18:01

Mine ?

Aibu to think this is a good price for a holiday
OP posts:
RonSwansonsMoustache · 03/09/2017 18:04

I think you'll struggle fitting much in in two days. The parks are HUGE.

StealingYourWiFi · 03/09/2017 18:06

Oh sorry no tickets included Sad also missed the toddler and 3 DC part so those flights are for 4 adults. Sad

Norwegian Air fly direct I think and are very reasonable. My DP flies with them often. I looked for May and flights were £340 return.

StealingYourWiFi · 03/09/2017 18:06

Charter Travel are a good agent, I've used them in the past and they were very reasonable.

helpfulperson · 03/09/2017 19:06

I would caution against booking bits separately with three teenagers, one SN. It is unlikely that you will have problems such as terrorist attack, weather, ash cloud etc but if it happens trying to arrange changed flights, temporary hotel accommodation etc will be hard. Even if insurance covers it eventually you may need pay for it up from. Having a travel company who are responsible for dealing with all that makes it much easier and is what you pay the premium for.