Orlando - easter or Xmas?

[frankie3]

Looking to book our first holiday to Orlando, including Disney, Epcot, universal etc. I have left it a bit late to book for this Easter and although there are some flights left it is very expensive, maybe because it would have been cheaper to book more in advance. Thinking of maybe going at Xmas instead but I have heard that Xmas is the worst time to go as it is so busy. I can only go in the school holidays.

And I would prefer to stay in a hotel rather than a villa, but would like a hotel with suite rooms (a lounge with separate bedroom) so that my dcs' can go to bed earlier some nights.

Is it just me, or are a lot of hotels/apartments stuck in the 1980's with really dated rooms? Is there anything modern around that anyone can recommend?

OP i would seriously consider a couple of things. firstly we went 8th - 23rd Dec 2011. up until the 20th it was great 10 min wait for rides. from the 20th until we left it was my idea of hell tbh. 140mins queue for Peter Pan. same for pixar ride with fast passes gone by mid morning. so if at all possible at least take some time not in school hols or be prepared for some v v long and tedious waits. tbh i don't know of anything like this because people that want a lounge book a villa with hotels being just that - rooms to sleep in. a suite takes you into a whole different price bracket. we spent more than £10K for a family of 5 for 2 weeks in a villa - add on more for a hotel suite. Best buy is the Unofficial guide to WDW with kids full of fab ideas and a good place to start. agree that you have left it late for Easter but Christmas is the busiest time after thanksgiving so perhaps not unless you love to queue!! Private message me for more info - whilst its still fresh in my mind

Thanks. There are a few flights left for this Easter but I will have to book really quickly like tomorrow or Thursday. Xmas doesn't sound good, but we can't go away next Easter so I would like to try for this Easter but don't really have time to start researching into villas, hotels are less of a risk because of trip advisor etc. £10k still sounds a lot for a villa. We are looking to go for 11 nights and the most expensive quote which was a suite in the waldorf Astoria was £8 , and then I would guess we would spend £1000 on tickets, entertainment etc and £1000 on food etc.

Hi frankie3,

Look at US chains like the Embassy Suites/Homewood Suites (these are both part of the Hilton chain) as they do the types of rooms you want. Also they do a free hot and cold buffet breakfast daily along with not costing a small fortune per night. .

Many people who booked their FL holiday for Easter 2012 did so from last April; there may be some availability now but you will pay dearly and through the nose for leaving it late particularly if your children are over 12. BTW adult prices for entering the theme parks start for children who are aged 10 and over.

Another expense will be the ESTA which incurs a charge of $14 (around £9 per application. All of your party will need an ESTA completed online before you travel).

If you can too, fly direct into either Orlando or Sanford (which is about 60 mins further east of Orlando). You do not want to do a same day internal transfer in another US airport unless you have to!.

Hi again Frankie the £10K was for flights, accom, passes the lot. Our villa was £1,300 in total for 2 weeks including pool heating so £650 per week and it had 5 bedrooms, play room, own pool, lake view (we were on sunset lakes 10 mins from Disney) and loads of living space (which we like) agree about flights they will be pretty steep. good suggestion about flying to sandford as orlando would be first choice. it is almost a 10 hour flight there so don't transfer unless unavoidable.

I would avoid xmas time for a 1st visit ...... you may come back having only done a fraction of the rides etc due to excessive queues. I mostly stay in a villa or on site at the attractions so can't help too much with accomodation but the Marriott facilities are great (Harbour Lake - right next to Sea World) and you can opt for a 2 bed condo, although a bit pricey. A family friend went for the 1st time last year and they stayed at the Staybridge Suites on International Drive and they were delighted with these. Very clean and good location for first time.
You mention that you need to go in school hols, and although you only mention xmas or easter, we have always been happy with the last 10 days in august as although it's hot, the american kids go back to school and the queues do drop off.
Have fun!

We just did xmas - were in Miami first part of hol then went up to Orlando from 30.12- 6.01. We spent a bit of time chilling at our villa which was about 20 mins from Disney - had nice communal pools (more like hotel set up, with water slides, hot tub, mini playground). We did not venture to Disney unitl 3.01 as we heard that up until New year's day it was quite manic. When we got to Magic Kingdom on 3.01 we went as soon as the park opened and went on the most popular rides with only about a 5-10 min wait. It was not terribly busy but by mid morning the increase in numbers was very obvious.
If your school does not reopen until late (ours was 10.01) then you could go over Christmas but defer Disney until after New year's day. Depends on how much of Disney you'd like to do and when you need to get back by.
If you need any info on the villa (4 bedrooms, sleeps 8) let me know.

Good luck!

We went from the 2nd Dec to the 23rd and had an amazing time. Uncrowded parks especially the water parks, fab Christmas decorations.

The Gulf coast was still hot enough to sunbathe etc but it was noticeably less humid than Orlando which was a lovely heat too. We went to Miami for a few days and stayed also on Sanibel Island and Estero Beach at Fort Myers. Sanibel Island at night was lovely with all the houses decked out with thousands of white Christmas lights. Key West was lovely to visit too at this time of year. Loads of locals celebrating.

We stuffed our faces every morning at the Ponderosa breakfast buffet on I Drive, near to WetnWild water park. Then survived until evening on just a few snacks.

Thanks for all your comments. Looks like it will be too expensive to go last minute for this easter. So maybe august is best option as Xmas will be so busy. But will August be too hot and humid? I can imagine my ds's getting really irritable in the heat. Maybe if we go at Xmas we would be better staying at a Disney or universal hotel so we can use the extra magic hours.

We've had this problem deciding when to go. Were going to go Easter but like you, left it too late and its silly prices.
Were all set to go at Christmas but bit worried having heard from both a friend who was there last Christmas and also a ticket agency out there how busy the parks were and that on some days the parks were closing by lunchtime. Not my idea of fun. Maybe if we are able to stay a bit longer into January as kids don't go back til around 10th that might be ok.

We've been a few times in the summer and it is very hot and also be prepared for rain at any time.

I'd def go for staying as late in Jan as you can. Extreme heat where you open the car door as if an oven is no fun.

frankie i have been looking at flights for this easter as we are going next easter so i wanted an idea.
If you look hard enough and dont mind one stop then there are flights still out there for £500pp (in know virgin flights for this easter are now £2kpp).
We are renting a villa, for £400 pw which we think is really good, its 20 mins from disney, has its own pool and 4 bedrooms
HTH .
from what ive heard august can be rainy

We went last week of aug/ first week of sept this year and it was very quiet. I think the longest we queued for was 20 mins. USA school go back mid august which helps! It was hot, about 28/30 c and there was a downpour most days around lunchtime for an hour but we usually ate at that time.
Went at Xmas before and wouldn't go at that time again. Parks were crammed and often closed by midday due to overcrowding. Queues were insane!

We have been Easter, Xmas and August. weather was good at Easter warmer than Xmas but really busy as it seemed to coincide with American spring breaks! Xmas was busy too but lovely! August hot and humid and lots of showers!

Meant to add we have preferred staying in Disney hotels, no parking charges and the extra hours do make a difference- well they did for us.

dear god, just finally got a quote for 2 weeks flying BA at Christmas as they've only just released the dates we wanted. 6,300 for flights alone! FFS, we don't want to buy the plane!
Looks like we won't be going christmas now then

MOS we pulled our 3 kids out of school ( 2 in senior 1 in junior) and went from the 8th - 22nd Dec. they only missed 6 days of school and in fact the last 2 or 3 were school plays and concerts and before that doing Xmas quizzes (and to think i felt guilty...) you can request 10 days out of school and that would be my best advice to you. our flights then were around £3.5K, it was lovely and quiet.

tempting mummymeister but DC1 is at Uni and DC2 will be at 6th form college. If it was just DC3 and 4 I'd do that but can't really with 1 and 2.