Anyone got a Disney/Florida Holiday Planned Part 2

[Groovee]

Old Thread

I'd better take an alarm clock!

One thing I can't seem to get my head round is the time difference......our plane lands at 7:30pm local time Orlando International, then (as a Dibber has suggested) we will reach our villa at approx 9:30pm.

So, if the kids don't get to sleep until 10pm and always seem to need 11 hours sleep, they won't wake until 10am! So it won't be a case for our family that we can hit the parks super early.

Or a I being thick???

Would love to do an early character brekkie the first day at MK so thought it would be great if we were all raring to go and woke up early without having to be woken by an alarm clock IYSWIM

We have our Universal and Discovery Cove tickets booked but only want to go to Disney once or twice. DH suggested buying there but is there a better (cheaper) way? Our kids are older and we have done Disney in Paris so we have chosen Universal as our main park experience.

Bacon, you will wake up early the next morning, around 4am. I can't figure this out either - you'd think everyone would be exhausted, as you say. But everyone says it always happens to them and it always does for us. I guess your body clock tells you it's time to wake up even if you're tired? It takes about 3 days for us to adjust to the new time.

impossiblegirl, have a look at my post of 08.08 about one or two day tickets.

castle, just noticed I said "they are activated on the frist day you sue them." I meant first day you use them, of course. Don't sue Disney - they won't like it :)

Ha ha bacon it confuses me endlessly too

So if you land at 730pm local time won't that be midnight UK time?
I have to really think about it.

We used our phones as alarms but we're o excited we were awake early anyway.

lucas who did you book RPR with?

I booked RPR through Hotels.com as they have 10.5% cashback (which is ending soon). In the past I found booking directly with the hotel to be the cheapest though.

So if you land at 730pm local time won't that be midnight UK time?

Yes, it will be half past midnight for your body.

Excellent, am going to book later I think and go through hotel to try for AA discount.

Also just seen 10% off parking for meet and greet

The AA discount won't be as much as the cashback from hotels.com, I don't think - also the AA discount rooms aren't available all the time.

Can always ring and see if it available though?

chesty'and lucas maybe it's just the Disney magic working??!

As long as we're all up early I don't mind!

Here's a question........spends!

Have just posted this on the Dibb too (Friday is my day off work, day on holiday planning!)

We are currently budgeting £2000 which is $2992 at the mo.

This is to include eating out, food and souvenirs etc.

What do you think? I plan to try and be a bit canny re taking our own cold drinks and snacks etc

I think that's sounds fine.

We took £1000 per adult but as was going to be a once in a lifetime holiday we spent with abandon!

I'm planning on taking a bit more this time but because I plan to Christmas and DB 30th birthday shop

Can always ring and see if it available though?

Yes, definitely worth a try! I think I explained it badly though - what I meant was that you can get either cashback OR the AA discount, not both. And I think the cashback is likely to be higher than the AA discount - but definitely worth a call to ask!

Bacon, I think that will be plenty of spending money. You don't nmeed to take drinks with you - just take a water bottle and fill them up at the fountains.

My mum and I have just sat down and done our park schedule (ie. where we're going on what day) - we don't even get there for another 9 months

Tee hee lucas that's exactly what I've been doing today and we go in 7 months!

Glad to,hear people think the money's enough! dS1 wants t get some designer bits but that'll be from his budget!

Wahoooo I've booked a night in RPR, water view room

Have to ring 3months before and ask about discount.

Congrats chesty

Ello!

I have just booked the Oct week at the Wilderness Lodge. Never stayed there before- usually go for the Polynesian for its proximity to MK.

Any hints/tips/recommendations for that neck of the woods?

Yay Chesty, you will LOVE it! (I forget, have you been there before?) It's so gorgeous that we booked 2 nights this time round, so that shows you how good it is :) That pool is just BLISS.

Hi MrsC! I'm afraid I can't offer any thoughts about your accom. as we always stay offsite. But I'm sure it will be fabulous! You can get around the various resorts very easily, I think?

Can I ask for Villa recommendations please?

Have been twice
1st time stayed on Disney at Port Orleans FQ
2nd in a Marriot on Int Drive and then 4 Nights at Hawks Cay resort on Duck Key (Florida Keys)

Really fancy a villa or condo with plenty of space for us all next time. Cant bear all being in one room again!

Uni lucas haven't stayed there before.

I'm so excited!

Hi Emma, villas ROCK :) If you're doing a fair bit of Disney , and are hiring a car, then you can't beat a villa in Oak Island Harbour/Formosa Gardens. We stayed there last time and it's pretty much as close as you can get for staying offsite and the driving from there is really easy. There are tons of villa rental agencies where you can search by location.

Emma last year we stayed in Reunion in a villa that we booked through Top Villas. I can't recommend them highly enough - we are using them again this year the moving to The Portofino Bay at Universal after a week. Chesty and Lucas - am kind of wishing that I had chosen the RPR instead for a change but they didn't have the room available that we need (3 children so have to have two rooms in most places). It looks wonderful, maybe we will go over there for dinner one night.

It does look lovely, I can't wait!

Bugger, just tried booking airport parking but screen froze after I'd clicked pay and when refreshed came up with an error message...booking already In progress or you have already booked

Just have to wait and see if a confirmation email arrives!

Ooh it's very exciting hearing about where everyone else is staying

Hello - just booked my airport hotel and getting very excited for my 7th trip . Got some flight vouchers for a change of flights last time so attempting a trip on the cheap so no parks this time . Flying to Tampa, one night there then onto Anna Maria Island .Then over to the other coast for a Disney cruise and finally Animal Kingdom lodge . So a lot to pack in to 11 nights..very excited