Florida in August

[Ikickedthetyres]

Going to a villa in Orlando. What hints and tips have you got? Last minute thing so I have no clue! How warm will it be? What about groceries and stuff? Are there shops? (I know I'm being ridiculous but this is so last minute I'm having a brainfart moment and am doing an excellent rabbit in the headlights impression).

Can only really help with the weather but it will be very hot and humid and quite a few thunderstorms. We've been for the last 2 years in August and wasn't as unbearable as we'd been told , just drink lots and stay out of the sun when possible . The dis boards and the dibb would be good places to go for more info ( sorry cant do links ) have a great time !

Buy clothes here or there? Sun cream? We will have a car. So can shop. I have no shorts that fit well because I'm fat.

It will be very hot.
Orlando is supposed to have lots of very convenient malls and outlets, where you can get bargains.
Get yourself a satnav, as it is one of those places where you basically live in the car.

I feel terrible for saying this but I'm panicking a bit and I have a headache. I like everything organised and planned and this has blindsided me. Crappy year, deaths in our family, job stress, and I don't like having this sprung on me. I feel so crap he called me ungrateful.

How many DC?

You can buy everything you need there. I much prefer a villa to a hotel because you can get the shopping in on the first day, you can do your laundry as you need so not a big pile to tackle when you get home and most villas will have a private pool and a nice area to eat outside.

The first time we went we brought clothes. I actually bought new things before going because I had no nice summer clothes - big mistake. I spent a fortune and could have gotten twice the amount had I waited until we got to Florida. The next time I brought very little and saved my money to buy over there the bonus being when you get home you have some lovely things that didn't cost a packet and no one else had them.

Is it just because it's been sprung on you that you're getting stressed or is there something else?

I found FLorida a very easy place to be. Shopping is definitely easy, both food and clothing. However I don't think you want to spend a great deal of time on holiday going around shops, at least I wouldn't, so I would get the basics to take with you. Leave some room in your cases. Food shopping is straight forward, big supermarkets with pretty much everything but for cheese you might need to find one with a delicatessan. We stayed in the south-west of Florida which is much less of a tourist destination than Orlando and it catered extremely well to tourists so Orlando must be 100% geared towards families like yours.

I liked where we were very much, pleasant, relaxed, very comfortable stay. I hope you have a nice time. It will be very hot.

Yeah - he saw the deal and booked it. We'd talked about it, we'd talked about holida and Florida I just didn't expect him to book it.

2DCS

We went in August. Hot & humid but had a blast. Supermarkets open late at night & HUGE you can get everything you might need there. They do great mini fan things attached to a water spray to keep you cool. Florida mall is fab for shopping (aeropostale is our favourite). If you are happy to go to the supermarket as soon as you get there you can get all your sun creams, shampoo etc etc that night. Get delivery pizza when you arrive. The villas are fantastic. You can hire a sat nav with the car.

Enjoy

We always buy our toiletries when we get there, go to Publix at the quiet end of I-Drive, we also buy all snacky stuff, breakfast things, water, beer etc. We stay in an apartment in a complex so have a proper kitchen etc, always do my Wang as I go along.

No one gets "dressed up" in Florid! You can go from park to restaurant and everyone will be the same - in shorts and t/shirts.

It will be v hot. You need to drink loads of fluids. We on a couple of occasions gone to the cinema in the middle of the day to see films that are not out in the UK (just to escape the heat)

You need a plan of what parks you are going to do and when, do a day park and then a day of rest, you will so need it.

When you do a water park, get there very very early so that you can get a sunbed with an umbrella, believe me I am a sun worshipper but I need that brolly for some relief from it. You can rent towels and lockers at the water parks.

I have never ever done "Wang" ... I do plenty of washing though

Have only ever been in July/August - been 4 times now. It is VERY hot and VERY humid but it is definitely bearable. Doesn't bother Dh or DD in the slightest - I just wilt a bit, lol! We've been there for a hurricane but it was fine. the drive back from the park when it shut was a but hair-raising - it was our very first day there and on our very first trip to Florida! But once in the villa it was fine. Next day all the parks were open just an hour later but all looked as if nothing was amiss - despite driving back huge metal signs blown down and trees on the floor on drive there!

Loads of big supermarkets near the villa locations. We stock up on breakfasts and water for the villa on first day, plus tea/coffee. We often get toiletries there too.

We get suncream at the UK airport - we like Ultrasun pr P20 whcih lasts all day so less of a faff, esp for the parks where we like to take as little with us as possible and ideally no bags for the day.

Have never really found the malls much cheaper than Uk tbh. Never really seen any bargains and nothing in much cheaper ime. Besides we don't like to shop on holiday if we can help it. We tend to do parks all day every day, with a day off for somewhere like the space centre.

Just take lots of t shirts and shorts/cropped trousers - no one ever gets dressed up in our experience there. I find dresses okay but can get a bit hot - and you get the whole legs touching/sweating together issue - even my super skinny sister had this so not just an issue if carrying any weight.

How old are the DCs and what are your plans?

Water parks- we go early in the morning to drive a shaded place and we only stay til lunch time - too hot for more!

We never really have days off from the parks. Most park tickets are the same price for the whole duration that just a week anyway so seems a shame to waste them - besides DD, even the first time at 2y - just wants be off doing rides and shows!

Warning - we spend a fortune on water. Budget A LOT for water esp in the parks. You can drink from water fountains but I find they taste odd and I don't like it.

And yes, like others - we do our washing there as the laundry rooms int he villas are usually well stocked and they wash/dry very fast!

If not wearing shorts wear dresses or half/three quarter length leggings with a vest top. It's soooo hot! You'll be able to go to Wal Mart etc for food.

Have you bought your park tickets yet?

We just got back a few weeks ago, miss it already!

Everything has air con so while it's hot and humid walking round Disney once you are in the rides or in the shops or car or restaurants or villa you'll be freezing!! If you can bear to just relax and factor in a couple of hours shopping you can find everything you want in a mall. Don't do it more than once as their prices go up and down quicker than ours do. I loved the weather - hot steamy nights fantastic storms that would come and then just disappear. Brilliant so much nicer than drizzle.
Agree that Publix and like are good for toiletries although you have to get used to stupid sounding fragrance (although some are here already)

am thinking of going for the first time, would like a vlla that sleeps 4, can anyone recommend anything? any good websites?

also would you book it all as a package from say Thompsons or book flights/car/villa separately?

am on a budget, havent been away for ever and am desperate to go, so any advice re all this, and the tickets, would be welcome, thanks!!

ssd - a few years ago I would always have said to book everything separately. However the last twice we have been we have booked a package - once for a Disney hotel and once for a villa. The last couple of times it has worked out much cheaper to have it all as a package; in the past it was cheaper to book separately. So check both options.

OP where abouts are you staying? If you let me know I can hopefully recommend the nearest supermarkets/restaurants etc. Supermarkets like Publix and Walmart are all over the place and the restaurants I always recommend for families with fussy children are Sizzler and Ponderosa steakhouses which do eat all you can buffets which will satisfy the fussiest of kids!

Premium Outlets is a very good mall for some bargains, located not far off I4 near Seaworld.
We go most years and are going next week for 2 weeks so might be there the same time as you.

ssd when are you thinking of going? Have a look at this villa www.ownersdirect.co.uk/usa/f1895.htm which is literally 5 mins from Disney and if you mention MN you'll probably get a special discount Alternatively, for more choice, have a look at Loyalty Homes, a company located less than 4 miles from Disney which is managed by an english lady and offers many luxury properties close to Disney, most of which have private pools and games rooms. www.loyaltyusa.com

sometimes packages can be cheaper but if you shop around you can get good bargains. We always used to fly into Orlando International airport but next week are flying BA into Tampa for the first time as its £1,500 cheaper (for 6 of us) and you can get some good deals at the moment on hire cars. Just please be very careful not to get 'bullied' into signing up for extra insurances that you don't need on arrival.

thanks mo

about signing up for extra insurances, we fell for that one before at alamo

is fully comp includedenough do you think?

I cant rememberwhat the extra was we paid for now

you need to have at least CDW (collision damage waiver) which I think is there version of fully comp. At the end of the day, you only need (in my opinion) the bare minimum that you can legally drive with out there. I will double check what we've got and come back to you. I know so many people who've been hit with additional charges which they imply you need. After a long day and a long flight people are willing to sign anything when picking up the car just to get away and get to their hotel or villa.

yes, we were like that!

We went in August a few years ago. We had a fantastic time, despite the heat and humidity.

Get multi entry/multi-park tickets, then go to the ride parks as soon as they open, before it gets too hot. Do the big rides first, before the queues build up too much, then go to the waterparks in the afternoon. Maybe you won't get sun loungers, but you'll be in the water or queueing for most of the time anyway.

re: car insurance, get an excess policy online before going and then you don't have to buy the overpriced one from the car hire company. Have a search on moneysavingexpert for suggestions. I think its about £3/ day for good cover.
Also sort out how you are going to pay tolls or you again get stung for silly amounts by some car hire companies. Find out who you are renting with and if they are too expensive set up your own 'sunpass' account when you get there (can be backdated 72 hours to catch airport tolls if you ring them from your villa/Hotel.)

www.carhireexcess.co.uk/ is who I use. This covers the excess for pretty much everything, even lost keys. I do all the driving in the US and always get this and nothing from the hire company. It gives me peace of mind so is good value imo.

www.tollbyplate.com/index for numberplate based account, or get a mini sunpass and attach to the vehicle. Or just go with your car hirer's service, but I really objected to being hit with $50 extra and told that there was no way to set it up myself when there is!