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Original poster

Anyone got a Disney/Florida Holiday Planned Part 2

987 replies

Groovee · 03/10/2013 16:36

Old Thread

OP posts:
DonVitoCorleone · 06/04/2015 21:18

We're staying at Cane Island resort in Kissimmee, what about you?

I wanted International Drive but DH wanted a villa Smile

BaconAndAvocado · 06/04/2015 21:57

Eek! Went to travel agents today to find out that I won't get my park tickets until 28 days before we go so won't be able,to,the FPs straight away.

Aghhhh!

ChestyNut · 06/04/2015 22:35

Rosen iAnn at pointe on IDrive. Stayed before and really enjoyed it.

Bacon that's rubbish!

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 06/04/2015 23:43

Bacon, that's really odd. Do you have to get your tickets from that travel agent, was it part of a package? I wouldn't worry though, you will still get loads of good FPs - I think it's just Princess meet & greets and parades etc. that you won't get. Not sure if Mine Train is still as hot a ticket as it was when we last went but everything else was no problem for us.

DonVito, villas RULE :)

HermioneWeasley · 07/04/2015 03:03

Just back from a quick run around premium outlet malls - got some great bargains, v pleased.

Had a child free dinner at seasons 52 on Sand Lake Rd. It was excellent - ££ but worth it if any of you are looking for a grown up night out.

Saw the gorillas at animal kingdom today. They are my absolute fav and always make me a bit emotional - I read Diane Fossey's memoirs at an impressionable age and this seems like less effort than going to Rwanda!

DonVitoCorleone · 07/04/2015 10:26

Can i ask where you guys buy your park tickets from, ive been on the money saving expert website and there are links to ticket selling websites, one has a ticket i think its called a switch ticket or something similar and seems a little cheaper than the combi ticket but gives you entry to the same parks

BloodyDogHairs · 07/04/2015 10:55

Attractions Ticket Direct are fab! I'm going for my 8th time and I alway use them, the staff are so helpful too if you need to phone for any queries. ...you've just reminded me I was going to pay my park tickets off today!

HermioneWeasley · 07/04/2015 11:33

I used orlando attraction tickets as they were marginally cheaper and UK based. Unfortunately they accidentally sent us 2014 tickets instead of 2015- we only realised when we tried to pre book fast passes. I wasn't impressed with their service . They insisted we posted our expired tickets back before they would replace so we lost 4 days and missed some of the FPasses we wanted. No apology, nothing.

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 07/04/2015 11:43

Definitely Attraction Tickets Direct - and don't forget cashback!

Re. any sort of combi/flex/switch tickets - as far as I can see, they are only good value if you aren't going to Discovery Cove. If you are then there are cheaper ways to do it, as DC already includes entry to several of the parks included in the combis.

BaconAndAvocado · 07/04/2015 16:48

chesty I KNOW!!!!!,!

My military style planning is going to come a cropper make no mistake Grin

I think I have calmed down a bit now............

lucas yes, we've booked a package through Thomson. As it's our first Florida Adventure I've wimped out, but if we do it again I will book everything separately....... if I'm feeling really brave

Oh, glad to hear I'll get some ok FPs!! We're going in August so I really will need to use FPs!!

BaconAndAvocado · 07/04/2015 16:50

Re the Princess meet and greets, my 6yo DD informed me that she doesn't like Disney Princesses anymore so that won't be a problem!!

BloodyDogHairs · 07/04/2015 17:13

I can't book my FP until 30 days before so I'll let you know how I get on, I'm away in June so counting down the days until I can contact the hotel about my preferred rooms and sorting FP. DH is away into work today to laminate my planner for the fortnight Grin

DonVitoCorleone · 07/04/2015 18:41

How do you go about planning everything? How do you remember what rides you've booked to fastpass?

Sorry if silly questions, this is our first time and my head is battered, ive been on the dibb but its like they are talking in code some times! I just want somebody to tell me in simple terms what it is you need to plan/book in advance

We go in approx 174 days !

ChestyNut · 07/04/2015 19:02

ha ha don it's like a whole new world! I think I'll use MDE (my disney experience app) to keep track of where I'm supposed to be.

I've booked ADRs and they show up on a calendar thingy..

Have you booked any ADRs yet? You can book them at 180 days out.

What is it specifically that you want to know?

We got our tickets from Orlando attractions, excellent service and real tickets, not a voucher that you have to exchange at park.
There's a link on the dibb. ( there's also an Orlando attraction tickets that I've never used but hermoine mentioned up there ^)

Have you made a loose plan of where you'll go each day? The Dibb have a busy day guide that we follow.

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 07/04/2015 20:37

Bacon, what part of August though? The last two weeks are actually fairly quiet.

Don, we will be there roughly at the same time as you. The only thing you need to book are fastpasses and any Disney restaurants if you have a particular one in mind that you want to eat at. If you're not bothered about where you eat then there's no need to book as you'll always find somewhere to eat. As for how I keep track of FastPasses, I ue the My Disney Experience app, as Chesty mentioned. Although in the past I printed out little credit card sized sheets and laminated them Grin You don't need to plan what parks you're going to etc. but it really does help. I use the Vacation Planner on the Dibb (it's free) and use their busy day guide to tweak it. It's almost impossible to get everything done and whilst you may be happy with this, you can maximise your time if you have a plan.

MNSSHP tickets are apparently on sale tomorrow but I'm in the middle of tweaking my plan to account for the busy days that have just been put up and I won't be ready to book yet. I hope they won't sell out!!

BaconAndAvocado · 07/04/2015 20:59

Lucas we go on the 8th. Had I known the last 2 weeks were less busy we definitely would've gone then!

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 07/04/2015 22:14

You should get some of the quieter time though, Bacon - it won't be as bad as the first week! We are looking at August next year as it is the least crowded of all the school holidays but the weather scaaaaaaaaaaaaaares me!

I feel ridiculously over-privileged as we aren't paying for a penny of it but my family have just decided to get annual passes and are going this October and then again next August Grin The savings are crazy though - we worked out that going twice in one year as opposed to once one year and once the next saves £1.5k in ticket money! So it's a no-brainer, really...

ChestyNut · 07/04/2015 22:40

don we go 21st September Grin

HermioneWeasley · 07/04/2015 23:53

I'm sure spring break (ie: now) are the busiest days at the parks, and we managed to pre book tickets. Thr my Disney experience app is amazing - you link your park tickets, pre book fast passes on it and then you can change or re book fast passes, check waiting times etc. I can't believe how much it's all changed since we were last here.

In other news, I have been merrily using my credit card while here and tried to pay for petrol. The Halifax decided to put a stop on my card "because there's a lot of fraud associated with paying for petrol in the US" thus potentially leaving me stranded . Cunts.

ChestyNut · 08/04/2015 06:46

Oh no they are indeed cunts hermoine!
Did you tell them you would be in America?

Can they unstop it?

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 08/04/2015 09:05

Oh no, Hermione!! Hopefully a phone call can sort it out.

BloodyDogHairs · 08/04/2015 09:39

Oh no that happened to me...I said I was treating everyone to lunch and my card wouldn't go thru Grin MIL ended up paying. A simple phone call sorted, I hadn't told the card company I would be on holiday so I always make sure I phone now.

How is the weather? roasting?

BaconAndAvocado · 08/04/2015 10:56

lucas yes the weather scares me too! I can remember going to Florida for the first time in June when I was 10 and my family walking in single file to,shade each other (apart from poor Dad who was the very front!)

Then going in September and fainting during a tennis match.

It is incredibly oppressive but as I work in a school and Easter is too busy August was the only option.

Wow! How lucky are you with your tickets?!

Eek! hermione your credit card incident sounds awful. We're thinking of getting a new, no fee credit card and the Halifax one always gets recommendations on the Dibb.........

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 08/04/2015 11:35

We've got just got a no foreign transaction fee credit card for FL. We got the Post Office one as there was a £26 cashback offer but, as you've probably read, Dibbers say the Halifax one is great if it gets blocked as it's sorted instantly.

HermioneWeasley · 08/04/2015 12:02

Credit card is allegedly sorted now. We'll see I guess.

Weather is unusually hot for early April - over 30C every day. I was MELTING in the q for Indiana Jones show yesterday. DS did the Padawan training school at Hollywood studios which was brilliant - make sure you go straight to sign up if you have and Star Wars fans. Also, th revamped Star Tours is brilliant.