Disneyworld Florida- need some advice!

[tissy]

I seem to remember that there are some Disney afficionados (?) out there.

We are considering a trip to Disneyworld Florida, probably in June this year. We will be taking dd (4) and dss (18). It will most likely be our last "family" holiday as dd goes to school this summer and dss is off to University and will either work in the vacs or be off with his mates.

I think I'd like to plan a 10 day holiday (taking 2 weeks off work, with a couple of days after return to adjust). Ideally, I'd like to stay in a Disney Hotel to get the full "experience". There are so many to chose from!

It would seem that the rooms are almost all "sleeps 4" i.e.2 double beds, but we can't expect dss to share a bed with dd. Considering getting 2 rooms, but that would be rather pricey- american hotels don't seem to do single rooms! Another option would be a self-catering chalet,which has a bed in the living room, so dss gets some privacy (and we could put dd to bed in the bedroom earlier in the evening), but these are also pricey as they can sleep 6 or 8! Price isn't really a major factor (or I wouldn't be considering a Disney Hotel!) but I don't want to throw money away!

Would 10 days be enough to "do" Disney and all the other Orlando attractions? Do we really need a car?- Most packages include car hire, but surely if we stay at a Disney Place then transport to and from the parks is included?

I'm sure there'll be loads more questions as time goes on, but I'd be grateful for any advice particularly from any teenager/ young child families!

Hi Tissy,

We were in Florida this time last year, and you definately need a car. They just don't do walking, crossings etc.

We didn't do Disney World, reasons personal to DH and me of hating what disney stands for, so can't advise on the parks.

However, we did stay in a nice "gated community" holiday challet thing which was lovely and had everything you needed with only a 10 min car journey to DisneyLand.

I would say to find out when it is rainy season over there as you could end up not being able to go out. DH seems to think it could be may / june time, but he's not sure on this. We went in January, and we were out swimming (much to the amazment of the people who lived there!) So it was warm even then!

You are welcome to CAT me with any questions if I can help with anything.

Hope you have a fantastic holiday. x

Hi, we have been to florida twice, we got married there the first time on clearwater beach. We love the parks, they are fab and we did them the both times we were there. Personally i wouldnt stay at a disney hotel, at the end of a long day its nice to escape disney and get back to the comfort of your own villa, with a pool to swim in. you can out then and really get the feel of florida. i wouldnt do 10 days and next time we are going for prob 3 wks (i know this is not an option for everyone). We went to magic kingdom, epcot, animal kingdom, mgm studios, blizzard beach, typhoon lagoon, universal studios and the new universal park. so that was 8 days took up. we went to the shopping malls and drove around to see different areas of florida. we also went to busch garderns which is well worth the drive. The beachs at clearwater and sarasota are excellant to chill out after a busy few days in the parks. we stayed in kissimee at a private villa. CAT me if you want anymore info

Agree with dizzy34. We went for 2 weeks. Stayed in Clearwater in a fab beach hotel for one week. Second week we stayed in a gated hotel/complex, short drive from the theme parks. Alternated days to avoid 'Disney Delirum'. Even visited the science museum in Orlando itself. Bush Gardens are definitely worth a visit. Visited the Kennedy space centre. Fab holiday!

agree with dizzy and jalopy - -don't stay at the Disney hotels you really won't want to Disney every day for 10 days.

Kennedy Space Center is a must

We are going to Florida in June this year too This is our second visit - we went summer 2004 too. DD will be 4yo.

I would really recommend getting a villa rather than staying int he hotels. Gives you dso much more freedom, they are really spacious, have pools, and cheper...but that it our thoughts; we are not really into hotels.

If staying in a Disney hotel you could get away without car hire, but would be pretty much restricted to Disney and that's it. There is public transport to the other parks - Univeral (which at your DSS's age I would imagine he'd love more), Sea World, Space Centre, etc.

Virgin flights are pretty good at the moment, for June. My dad got a quote for the 5 of us (my parents, me, Dh and DD) for just under £2000 last night. Aloma car hire for a fortnight is about £400-£500. However, flights for Saturdays seem to be a fair bit dearer than mid week - worth bearing in mind.

Last time we went in August - middle of rainy/hurricane season. We did have one big hurricane the first day - big one! But it only stopped our fun for half a day, and the parks stayed open an extra hour the next day to make up for it. It did rain most days - very heavy, but only for an hour or so maximum. We used that time to have a sit down and a drink. You can "feel" the storm coming so have some notice. It never stopped our day at all though.

My parents have been in June more than once. Weather is still hot, but not as rainy in their experience.

Forgot to add , ;ast time we went we did parks pretty much every day. It was DD's (and mine and DHs) first time. And my brother and sister were there (early 20s). So rides, parks and the water parks were the big things for us. We did the Space Centre one day too. We had a collection of great tickets which gave us loads of flexibility and park hopping opportunities. Shop around for your tickets - there are some great bargians out there.

Last sumemr we paid £330 per adult for the following tickets, bought through Travel City Direct:

10 days hopper ticket for Disney
14 days hopper ticket for Universal (was same price as a 3 day ticket)
1 ticket for Space Centre
1 day ticket for Sea World (got a second day's ticket free on entry)

We did all the parks and both water parks more than once. It was a very busy holiday, but the most magical we have ever had!

We have been twice and stayed at the sheraton vistina village resort at lake beuna vista. Booked through virgin. Much cheaper than disney and very close to parks etc. We had a 2 bedroom villa with big living room a short walk from pools etc. Would reccomend it.

We were there in October last year. That was my third visit and dh and the girls first. Since Dh and I don't drive we stayed in a hotel on International drive.
When I was there twice before I'd stayed in a villa with family.

I would definitely, in my opinion, recommend getting a villa and a car. At the end of the day you can just get in your car and go back to your villa with your own private pool and relax. There are good points and bad points to staying in a Disney hotel. My cousins go every year for 3 weeks and always stay in a disney hotel.
You have to remember that Orlando is huge and if you want to see other things rather than just Disney parks I again would recommend a car. If you want to go to Kennedy Space Centre it's quite far out, as is the FLorida Mall, great shopping there.

There is a brilliant website that I used in the run up to our holiday where you can ask any question and guranteed there will be someone there who can answer it. it's the dibb The people who post are mostly all British people who have been there or are going and can answer nearly any question you have from staying in a hotel to renting a villa and car hire to which rides to go on etc.

WE did the Magic Kingdom we had dinner with Winnie the Pooh and co which was great you have to book a place in advance for that. The Animal Kingdom was fab as was epcot where we had a Princess breakfast a must if your dd is into princesses again you have to book a slot in advance and Disney MGM. We weren't too impressed with Universal studios but Seaworld was good. Busch Gardens is great but it's been years since I was there although everyone still says it's good and Kennedy space centre was also good. Downtown Disney is a great place to go for shopping and eating and if you fly with Virgin you can do an early checkin on the way home there and drop your bags and spend your last day in a park before flying home.

I'm sure there will be plenty more mumsnetters along soon to give you more hints and tips as well.

We went last April and stayed at Disney's Port Orleans resort which does do a family room sleeping 5. We didn't have a car because we only wanted to do Disney, but even in a week got cabin fever and wanted to get out!

TBH we went for 10 days the year before last and found it was more than enough... We also bought tickets at the gate and for what we wanted it was cheaper than buying them in advance from the so-called discount online sites.

Would really need a car, (easy to drive). We went last Jan/Feb was sunny but cold. First few days got cabs easy to get but soooooooooo expensive, then hired a car what a differance. We stayed at sheraton Vistana Villages (2 Bed) Appartment booked through expeida, really really nice loads of space 2 bathrooms 5 min to supermarket 10 min to disney 5 min to seaworld. good luck

www.allearsnet.com/

www.mousesavers.com/

Both these sites give good information about the Disney stuff.

I went as a teenager and stayed in disney hotel/ We are a family of five and sleeping arrangements didnt include bed sharing. 10 days defo not long enough soooo much to do. Kissimee village is absolutely fabulous miles nicer than disny hotel (rip off) they are huge villas with pools attatched.

And another one

www.themouseforless.com/

Just going through my old 'favourites' the allears ones gives some good advice( and some bizarre stuff- buy one hamburger and ask for an extra bun- save some money!)

And to rent a villa privately try holiday-rentals.com.

Stayed in Disney hotel which was lovely coming home after park as in room within 10 minutes of leaving. Came back in afternoon then back to park in the evening- only one monorail stop away, so could make the most of it.(great for kids to have a rest) Have never spent a fortnight there though have only done it in short bursts of 3/4 days as a trip from further south.

Think about renting/taking a buggy for the 4 year old as it can be a way to walk- we would have ended up carrying ds if we didn't have buggy.