Florida cheaply?

[Geordieminx]

Looking for May holiday.

Was looking at Turkey/Greece etc but search has thrown Florida into the mix.

Doing a package through someone like Thomson we can get a 3/4 hotel on International Drive for about £2k for the 3 of us. Ob this is room only and doesn't include park tickets, but having just come back from Disney Paris I know ds wouldn't be they fussed about doing all the parks, maybe just water themed ones.

Is it do-able? Would only be able to go for a week? Ds will be 5 (just) .

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

To be honest, I really wouldn't go all that way for just one week, is there no way you could go for longer?
Will you be hiring a car there? Everything is very spread out and you really do need one unless staying in a Disney resort with the free transport.

A day at Magic Kingdom would be nice and tickets for that are around $90 each and Disney waterparks probably not much less.. Seaworld is lovely and cheaper and often does offers such as second day free. Have a look at Kissimmee Guest Services (sorry, no time to link) they do a flexticket where you can have a few days in Seaworld Aquatica (their park) and 1 or 2 others. We got those last time instead of the Disney passes as they are linked in with Universal/Islands of adventure and wanted a change from Mickey Mouse.

Can't really do 2 weeks, Dh and I are both self employed so wouldn't get paid.

Have looked at Disney waterpark type hotels on international drive which seem nice.

I hear what you are saying though, we had always planned to go when ds is 8 or 9 as a holiday of a life time, but was just wondering whether we could do it on a smaller scale instead of Europe as this is the last time we can go out with school holidays

Hmmm

You can do a week, it's just a long way for a week. But I have done New York and Vegas holidays for a week and we managed fine.

Have a look at the Disney website itself and see what offers are on. Although it seems dearer initially sometimes a package staying at a Disney hotel and getting the Disney tickets included and parking can work out better value. Also, at times Disney offer dining packages for free - so again can make a good buy.

As your little one is only 4y and you're only going for a week I would just focus on Disney itself. There are 4 parks and 2 water parks, so loads and loads to do. And the rides at Universal are generally bigger ones, although have to admit that harry Potter land is amazing. Seaworld is nice if you like the sea animals although last twice we didn't bother. If you fancy a non park day and have a car consider the space centre as that is a nice day out.

If you don't have a car and stay at Disney you can use their transport for free.

Have done it all separately and as a package and the last twice it has been cheaper to book as a package, mainly due to the cost of flights I think.

Was thinking water park couple of days, Disney 2 days then maybe hiring car for a couple of days and driving to beach?

Ds isn't really that bothered about animals?

Do you want to stay in a hotel? I have a friend with a villa, we are renting it next year, its £400pw which could reduce your costs as youre not getting food at the hotel anyway.

I just presumed booking hotel and flight through thompson or similar would be cheaper.

Would probably prefer as it means ds would have other kids to play with

Fair point, we are going with another family so different for us, we'd never normally do a villa.
Personally for a week, and if your ds isnt that bothered about parks, whats the point?
You could go somewhere closer and enjoy a waterpark there instead

No, he isn't fussed on animals, he'd enjoy a day or 2 in the parks... Although is probably gonna be too small for a lot of the stuff.

Just thought it might be a nice place to go with lots to do out with theme parks (((naive))))

I'm not sure you can do Florida cheaply these days, with flight tax etc.
I went for £99 in the good old days!
You can go for a week, but you must go to Disney with little one, otherwise go to turkey.
The parks are expensive but worth it.
You will feel more tired, when you come home than when you left.
Foods cheap though.
It might be cheaper to go to Tampa, if you want the beach and then go to Orlando, I've done that in a week. Not with kids mind.
Car hire is expensive once you've added tax and insurance on.
I've never stayed at Disney too expensive, I've stayed on the 192. by disney for $19 a night, in an Ok motel.I'd rather spend the money on clothes and the parks.
There are hotels on the IDrive that do breakfast, so that might be a doer.
And those with free transport to the parks-it costs $15 to park in Disney a day.
Thre's also the trolleybus on IDrive that will take you to Seaworld.

The water park hotel I was looking at was a Disney one on I-Drive.

Was thinking from there we could do a day or 2 at Disney, 1 or 2 at Bush Gardens/sea world (relying on buses) then a couple of days around Florida/hire car and go to beach.

Is this totally unrealistic?

Busch Gardens is quite a distance away and the rides are much bigger. Apparently the zoo bit is fine for children though obviously. Never been ourselves as always have enough days full of the closer parks.

He should be able to go on a lot of rides in the Disney Parks. DD went at 2y and 4y (also been since) and still got to do a lot of different rides, as well as most shows and parades too. Plus character spotting.

Have a look on the Disney sites for the height restrictions.

Beach is a reasonable drive away - the ones near the Space Centre side isn't that great. The other side is better though - we had a day there last summer.

You may also find that 1 and 2 day tickets is a fairly expensive way to do the parks - often better deals if you get more.

The 4 different parks are very different and we like all 4. Epcot is a more gentler day out but we really like it. Especially when younger DD liked collecting the stamps at each "country."

Animal Kingdom's safari ride is fun. The Lion King show and the Nemo show are fantastic and definitely worth seeing. It's a good park for seeing a parade too as lots of places to stand.

Magic Kingdom is a must. It's the magical one :)

And Disney Studios has the Muppet show which is great, the car show is fab too - and the new Toy Story Mania ride is really worth going on.

Of the two water parks we prefer Typhon Lagoon with its wave pool.

I don't think you were looking at a Disney hotel, as they are not on I-Drive.

Personally I think a week is a bit short for that distance, but if you just went to Disney you could probably do it. I think you should forget about Busch / Sea World. Also, it will work out cheaper buying a week's pass for Disney, as it gets cheaper per day the longer duration of your ticket, if that makes sense?

The I Drive trolley will take you to Sea World or you could get a taxi there.

There is a daily bus service that runs from Sea World car park directly to Busch Gardens.

The beach is quite a long way from Orlando (at least 1 hours travel time each way); if you want a beach and Busch Gardens you'd be better off flying into Tampa (BA do a direct flight there) and staying in Clearwater or at St Petes Beach.

Thomson fly into Sanford which is about 1 hour further east of Orlando. If you do stay on I Drive I would recommend you find a hotel which is located south (not north) of Sandlake Road. BTW Embassy Suites are a nice hotel chain and offer a free daily hot and cold breakfast to their guests.

Wow that's really helpful thank you.

Just tricky to decide whether to try and do this or just stick with Turkey or somewhere...

Transfer time on bus from Sea World to Busch Gardens is about 90-120 minutes each way dependent on traffic.

Busch Gardens rides tend to be aimed at the teen/adult market.

Your son could certainly go on the attractions at Walt Disney World; he is an ideal age for the Magic K.

motels at $19 a night? Really?

Worth thinking about flights into Tampa instead of Orlando International. We'd been waiting to book our flights out there and had been shopping around and eventually booked to fly into Tampa as considerably cheaper than Orlando.

So a couple of days in magic K, couple at water parks, couple sightseeing?

I hate holiday searching((((( eye balls hotel in Tenerife that we went to last year))))))

We found there wasn't really much to do sight seeing wise near the parks themselves. You need to travel a bit to see much.

The water parks are part of normal Disney tickets generally - if you buy for a few days.

This isn't really a good idea is it?