Some help with planning Florida holiday

[McKayz]

We have been thinking about taking the DCs to Florida. DH went with a friend before we got together and he loved it.

Obviously it is very expensive and so there are a few questions I wanted to ask.

Does it work out cheaper to book it through Disney themselves or through a travel agent?

Also is it better/cheaper to stay at a Disney hotel or to hire a villa and get a hire car?

Any other tips and suggestions would be great. Thank you

My little one preferred Blizard beach. Typhoon may be better if you have under 5s, then Blizzard has an edge until you have confident swimmer up to 11 ish? Typhoon probably then better for real adrenaline junkies, but I think over all we preferred Blizard beach.
If you go in summer to be aware they shut the parks in thunderstorms. We saw people arriving as we left and they were about to temporarily shut the water parks.

Blizzard Beach had the edge for us as far as the Disney water parks went but the toddler section at Typhoon Lagoon was a bit easier to supervise. Didn't make it to Aquatica but Discovery Cove was worth every hard earned dollar we spent on doing it ( but not if your kids are under 5).

I thought the Finding Nemo ride was pretty pathetic.

Us too Poulay dd's 8 and 6 were not impressed.

Discovery Cove is great but expensive so we have only been once and spent a fortune on photos and dvd's, they don't miss a trick to get your money!!!

I think Aquatica is the best water park for children,the kids slides and the play area is fantastic, although both Disney ones are good.

ah but Turtle talk with Crush. Dude! Pschaw.

We are going in October as the weather is good and not too humid and it is a fairly quiet and relatively cheaper time to go. It is an expensive holiday but we are touring Florida (Miami/Keys/Beaches then Disney for 8 days). We have a hire car. With the Disney part, we booked (direct with Disney UK) a very spacious one bed villa (with laundry facilities) at Old Key West with the Disney Dining Plan included (plus lots of other extras if you look out for the special offers). This worked out at £1500 for 8 days which I thought was reasonable considering lots of food and lovely, spacious accomodation on site so not much travelling back and forth with little ones. You can get a villa at a fraction of this cost but factor in travelling times, cooking (and clearing up!) and not being in the 'magic' (although this may actually be a good thing!).

Believe it or not, we are not big theme park fans but love water parks so will do the Disney ones and get tickets to Aquatica. We are also looking forward to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There is so much to plan to make the most of the time. I have used 'www.thedibb.co.uk' for everything and slowly a plan is coming together - no question too trivial for the Dibbers!!

We've just booked our second holiday to Florida through Virgin for March. We're staying at Disneys Port Orleans French quarter (last time was Animal kingdom lodge). You get loads of benefits if you stay onsite. We've got free Disney dining plan, $200 gift card, 14 for the price of 7 days Disney tickets, extra hours in the parks, free transfers and buses around the parks etc. It does tend to be cheaper to book things separately rather than a package but we prefer the easiness of booking directly with Virgin or whoever.

For us (just 2 adults) we think it's better to stay onsite. DH drove last time but wasn't confident with it at all so this time we're not hiring a car. We'll spend most of the time at Disney (easy to get around on the free buses/monorail/boats) and when we want to go to universal/sea world etc, we'll either take a taxi or a bus. It's easy to get around without a car.

I'd definitely do sea world. We loved it. You can stroke rays, get up close to sharks (even eat next to them in the restaurant) see dolphins, penguins, polar bears, all sorts.

I'd also recommend thedibb.co.uk they know everything there is to know and have helped me greatly.

I often read the 'trip reports' section on thedibb forum, I get so excited reading about other people's holidays and get loads of ideas and tips.

Some of those benefits you can get even if you stay off site, eg. UK and Ireland can often get 14 days for the price of 7. Also if you can cope with driving it is pretty easy in the US, big roads and parking spaces help. Then you have a lot more flexibility, especially if you manage to nab the better parking spots and can walk to your car.
But we are seasoned drivers in the US.

I've just remembered if you stay onsite you can use your room key to charge purchases too, and also have anything you buy from the parks delivered to your hotel for free.

If DH was more confident driving then we would probably stay at a villa or on International drive but as we've only stayed in Disney I'm no help.

Don't forget if you're driving, you'll need some change for the tolls as well as the parking at the parks.

This a great thread with loads of tips: www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=473110

:)

Sorry, here

Tequila if you're still around - are you staying at cocokey???

We're jetting off this week! So excited :)

My DS loved Typhoon lagoon when we went before. I much prefer it but think that's association - when I was about 12 we went to Blizzard Beach, my mum ran out of our normal sun cream so we used my aunt's factor 20 and I got burnt all over - tops of feet, toes, scalp, backs of legs and arms etc - ouch! Had never happened before - am now so ultra careful.

Yes we are staying at Cocokey!

Have you stayed there before? Very that you're going this week!

Never been before, will let you know how it is :) v v v excited!

Yes, please do let me know. Hope you have a fabulous time

ooh please let me know everything we're going in the summer and need as much info as possible, have an amazing time .

V quick message! In Cocokey using free wifi in room :) staff so friendly. Yet to use water park but little pool is fab for chilling out. Loads of families. Right next to door to Titanic Experience on International Drive. Busy area, lots to do, lots of restaurants eg Cici's Pizza, IHOP in walking distance.

But best news is - I just got engaged!!' OH asked me on our first night here :) so Cocokey will always have good connotations :) off to Hollywood Studios tomorrow. DS managed 12 hours at Magic kingdom yesterday - amazed!!! Hotel staff will order you a shuttle if you ask (a girl in restaurant did it for us), $12pp rtn to Disney. Or Thomson staff will arrange a Mear's shuttle for $18pp rtn. Universal shuttle is free but yet to try it!

Congratulations! That's wonderful news and such a lovely start to your holiday

Very that you're there now and I have to wait 13 months!

Pleased to hear that Cocokey is ok, I had visions of it being awful (because we got such a good deal on it, I figured there must be a catch!)

Enjoy the rest of your time there, and if you do have any top tips when you return, I'd love to hear them

Congratulations Roughtyping :)

Sounds like you're having a fab time!

Hi! I've booked with Virgin to go this November for a fortnight taking my 2 year old and 9 (will be then) month old.

Have written an impressive itinerary and paid for my parents to come to give dh and I some peace and quiet for a couple of evenings.

We were going to "do" Magic Kingdom and Epcot for the babies and dh and I taking a day at Universal (we've been before pre children).

Should I take the children to Sea World? I think my 2 year old (will be almost three)! Will really enjoy it?

Ohhh CONGRATULATIONS!!

Hello me again.

We've had a change of plan and are now planning for Summer 2014. The reason for this is that my Mum, Step-Dad, Brother and his fiancée would like to come too. Which we are very excited about.

I'm now hunting down a villa, there are far too many lovely looking ones to choose from. We are hoping to go end of July start of August as DS1 will have SATs I think as he will be finishing Year 2 so I won't take them out of school.

Do we need to pay extra for pool heating or will it be warm enough over there then for us not to need it?

Also does anyone know how far in advance you can book flights?

Thank you

You can book your flights 11 months in advance when the airlines release them. The prices tend to go up nearer to the time of departure so we always book as soon as released.

We have just returned and didn't have the pool heated and it was warm enough for us and the children. I know some people pay for pool heat and then ask for it to be turned off or down.

For a 4 bed villa with a private pool have a look at www.ownersdirect.co.uk/usa/f1895.htm It is only 5 mins from Disney
or for more choice have a look at www.loyaltyusa.com a company owned by an english lady who only manages luxury homes within 4 miles from Disney.