Anyone got a Disney/Florida Holiday Planned Part 2

[Groovee]

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*it wasn't 9am, I logged in at 8 30 lol but I usually do 9am

We are here! Just finished our 4th day. Very very hot and the children are struggling. It is 34 every day. We are managing 5-6 hours then have to go back and swim at the villa before going out for dinner. So much to do in each park! Have done magic kingdom but barely managed a quarter of it, epcot was the same, Hollywood studios we did a good amount of, animal kingdom I would say half. Had some great meals - cheesecake factory is lovely, applebees great, planet Hollywood fun but expensive, liberty tree tavern breakfast amazing but again expensive. Disney food in general is very expensive so I am glad we are offsite! Downtown disney in the morning with lunch at trex then the afternoon at epcot. Will keep you posted :) Fastpass has been fab. Wouldnt have wasted them on shows though and would have done the big stuff like soarin more than once.

Hello All!

120 sleeps!

nikki very jealous, have a great time.

I'm watching Harry Potter on Tv, can't wait to see Diagon Alley at universal.

Hoping to go end of August 2017 so excitedly marking place!

Would love to hear hints and tips from anyone been around that time or has stayed in port Orleans French quarterquarter or who has done it with a child with special needs (Ds is diagnosed with ASD but mainly has mobility issues). Also what is the best time to book flights? Anyone know roughly how much they come out at at that time of year? I think we will only be able to afford economy.

Glad you're enjoying it Nikki, that's our plan too - can't think we'll manage a whole day in a park and getting in the pool after a long morning must be bliss (I vaguely remember that feeling, can't wait).

Hi Chesty & Toffee!!

Toffee I've been a couple of times with my DB who has special needs, I know previously we went to the town hall at the Magic Kingdom and got a pass which enables you separate access to the rides (almost always straight to the front too) which is useful because waiting in the heat was of no use to DB.

I think the system has changed now and seem to remember reading that you can get FP to any ride? Will have a look and post a link.....here So it's not quite FP but you don't have to wait in a queue which might be useful? I'm sure with mobility issues there are separate access points to some rides though.

Also - 35 days left for me!!!!!!!!!!

Downtown disney yesterday was disappointing. Looks awful with all the work going on. Parking wasn't an issue though as thre new multi storey is huge. Lunch at trex was nice then we went to epcot again. Went to Innoventions and some of the other indoor bits in future world. Well worth a look. Sum of all thrills looks brill! Went on spaceship earth again as the kids really like it. Home at 6 then dinner at olive garden which was nice but so busy as it's the holiday weekend. This morning we went to the outlet mall and now we are at the villa. Tonight we are watching wishes after dinner. Tomorrow is typhoon lagoon in the morning and boardwalk for dinner in the evening at trattoria al forno.

Joining (again as that once in a lifetime holiday is apparently not just the once...).

Booked for July 31st 2016 for a fortnight in Beach Club and coming up with inventive ideas as to how to pay for it all.

Hi all! Nikki, glad you're having a good time but yikes at those temperatures for only May! Was it definitely Liberty Street Tavern that you had breakfast at? It sounded great so I went to look at the menu but the official website only had a lunch & dinner menu. Sum Of All Thrills is one thing we've never done but am determined to do!

Hi Toffee! We are looking at going in August 2016 and from reading the Dibb, it seems that direct flights with VA are going to be around £900 per person. You can get cheaper if you indirect or to/from a different airport than Orlando (eg. to Tampa or Miami). VA flights come out 11 months before so you're looking at September 2016 if you want to fly with them (Virgin Holidays have bookable flights earlierr if you want to check package or flydrive prices).

Hi Kinky, I know that 'once in a lifetime? Yeah, right!' feeling :D We are incredibly lucky and have only had to pay for one of these trips but our once in a lifetime holiday has turned into 5 trips in 4 years :D

We are thinking of going Summer 2016 as a big joint 30th birthday present. DH is 30 Oct this year and then it is mine next April.

There will probably be 6 adults and 3 children so we will be looking at a villa and a couple of hire cars.

I am really looking forward to planning it all as I love planning holidays. Should be a travel agent!

A couple of questions I thought might be best posted in here as you all seem very knowledgeable!

Are there any good guide books for Disney/Florida that are worth buying?

and

If my parents, my brother and his DP decide not to come with us then we might stay at a Disney hotel. Is it easy to get to the other parks from Disney? Can we still hire a car?

Thank you

Hi everyone, after a few years of bad health, Me & DH have decided to take the kids to Disney Florida, next March / April but I've already nearly given up before I've even started!

I started my research last night, been on Dibbs website and been having general look on the web, but it's daunting! I need some help!

There will be 4 of us going, kids will be 6 & 4 when we travel. From what I've read on online. Most people prefer a villa & I think that will be the best option for us, as hotel rooms can be cramped. What website do u book through though? Or, as we are first timers, shall we stay in a Disney Hotel????

Is it cheaper to book everything yourself or just go through a travel agent? If I go down the ' book it myself ' route I need to ensure I use a reputable website for booking the villa. There seems to thousands online??

Flights, want to fly direct so BA or Virgin? Any days of the week cheaper to travel on? Will travel from London airport.

From what I've read online, hiring a car is pretty essential, what's it like driving out there? Do you pick your car up as soon as you arrive?

I've got loads more questions but can all you Disney Veterans, guide me along please? I think I'll need another holiday, after just planning this one!

Basically, we will probably only ever go once, so I want to get it right and give the kids a fantastic holiday of a lifetime. I don't want to let them down through poor planning

Hi McKayz, I've never stayed in a disney hotel so can't help much with that and the books I've ordered are just the free ones from the disney site which I've found really useful. I also went for my 30th birthday and had lunch in Cinderella's castle

Hi Bette we have always stayed in villas, have booked through owners direct before and had a lovely villa, then one through a travel agent which was awful and we had to be moved, this time we've booked through HomeAway and as long as the villa is the same as the pics I'll be very happy!!! We're in Reunion Resort this time but have stayed in a few other of the villa developments and found them great - I'd go for a gated one if poss!

I prefer virgin economy and premium but BA business, they're both pretty good though and would go for whoever you get cheapest! We got a great deal at the beginning of the year for our flights.

Car definitely essential, you pick it up from Alamo at the airport - beware arrivals security takes some time as does the queue for cars (even when there's only two people in front of you).

If you want to book special dining like with characters or signature dining (or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique) these open 180 days before and it's worth booking them up as soon as possible!! The Disney site is great for browsing and deciding what to do. Have a look under things to do.

You can also book to go through a fast queue on some rides when there - I'm still learning about this so can't give much more info as yet!

I'll have a look on the Disney website for the books. Thanks.

I am a bit worried about spending all day in the parks will be too much. The DC will be 9, 7 and 4. We've just done Disneyland and DD (now 2) slept almost all afternoon.

I've read that lots of people that stay in Disney hotels go back for a rest in the afternoon. Which you can't really do in a villa.

Lucas sorry it was crystal palace that we did breakfast at. Mckayz if you are going this year I have a copy of the unofficial guide 2015 you can have?

We are going next year Nikki. I've ordered the free books from Disney.

Can you still do character dining if you stay in a villa? DD missed meeting a princess at Paris as she was asleep. Though she hated Mickey Mouse All the pics we have she looks terrified.

Definitely McKayz the only thing you can't do is the extra magic hours (I think).

Hi can I join? We're looking to go next May (2016). We have DS who will be nearly 4, also going with my parents.
We have saved lots of virgin airmiles (all 4 of us have VA credit cards) so hoping to book with them and then upgrade- I'll be doing this in the next week as flights are released. Any experience of premium economy vs upper for a 3/4 year old?
We're thinking villa in Orlando and then move onto the coast but not sure where yet. Maybe Sanibel or Sarasota- anyone been to Naples?
It's our 10th anniversary while we're there so going to book something special- thinking a night or 2 at one of the Universal hotels, just the 2 of us, to do the Harry Potter stuff.
Getting excited already but a bit daunted. It all sounds so complicated- last time I went to Disney was 2005 and you just turned up and went on rides, no prebooking of fast passes or anything!

Hi blacktreacle Virgin upper class is great, the only problem with having a child there is the seat formation which is herringbone.

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DH and I flew UC to NY a couple of years ago and sat next to each other but couldn't see each other whilst in our seats - with children having seats opposite each other on either side of the aisle could work better because you will be able to see each other well.

Virgin PE is brilliant, same formation as economy but much more room so if you would rather sit right next to dc that might be the better option. You probably know this all already so sorry if you do just watching Beauty and the Beast with 2yo dc whilst everyone else is asleep!!

I have found a combi ticket for all of the parks. Has anyone used them? It does all the parks we want to go to. It is £2851 link

Are there any parks that you wouldn't recommend? We have to do Disney (obviously), Universal Studios and Legoland. I am not that keen on Sea World. My Aunt, Uncle and Cousins go every year and they think it is great.

Hi everyone, loads of lovely Florida chat whilst I've been away! :)

Are there any good guide books for Disney/Florida that are worth buying?

This is widely regarded as the definitive book

Is it easy to get to the other parks from Disney? Can we still hire a car?

As far as I know there's no public transport from Disney parks so you'd need to get a cab or hire a car.

I've read that lots of people that stay in Disney hotels go back for a rest in the afternoon. Which you can't really do in a villa.

I think the ideal is to get to the parks early (it's far less crowded, you won't believe how much you can get done before 11am!) and then leave lae afternoon to go back to the villa for a swim. We have always done fairly long park days (around 11am-6 or 7pm) and the kids have easily kept up.

Most people prefer a villa & I think that will be the best option for us, as hotel rooms can be cramped. What website do u book through though? Or, as we are first timers, shall we stay in a Disney Hotel????

It depends what you want - a Disney hotel will be SO much easier in terms of getting around (you can use Disney transport to get to any Disney park) and you'll have the luxury of being able to pop back to your hotel if you want to. Also you can book FPs a month before 'the public', you'l get free magic bands and you can go in the park before other people (or stay later). On the downside it'll be more expensive than a villa, food will be far more expensive and you have one room instead of a whole house. Two reputable agencies that we've used are Alexander Homes and Kingdom State villas.

what's it like driving out there?

The speed limit is quite low and it's bsaically just long straight roads everywhere so if you're comfortable with driving on the other side of the road then you should be fine.

thinking a night or 2 at one of the Universal hotels, just the 2 of us, to do the Harry Potter stuff.

I can't recommend this enough! We stayed for one night last time and loved it so much that we're staying for 2 nights this time :) Presumably you know that you get free front of the line passes for any hotel except Cabana Bay? That alone is worth the stay. Sadly you can't use them on Harry Potter though.

I have found a combi ticket for all of the parks. Has anyone used them? It does all the parks we want to go to.

When you buy one of the combi-style tickets, you are actually buying a bundle of separate tickets, not one ticket which covers everything. For example, if you buy one which covers Disney, Universal and Legoland you will be sent 3 separate tickets. Once you know that it's easy to work out the best value - just look at the individual ticket prices and see how much you save by buying them together. Also if you're going to Discovery Cove then DO NOT buy a combi ticket which includes SeaWorld, Aquatica or Busch Gardens as you get those included for free in your DC ticket.

To illustrate what I mean about the combi tickets, Attraction Tickets Direct sell a 14 day Disney ticket for 299 and a 14 day Universal for 134 - this totals 433. But if you buy them as a combi deal then it'll cost you 428 so you save 5 per person buying them this way, even though you'll recive exactly the same tickets as if you had bought them individually.

(all those prices are Pounds, btw - I've lost my pound sign key :D)

Thanks Lucas, I will price up all the tickets and see if the combi one is cheaper.

McKayz theBrit guide to Orlando is by far the best IMO

Not sure who was asking about driving, but you can't be more anxious than I was, and I found it fine - actually enjoyed it at times!

We flew Virgin PE which was excellent, and because you're at the front of the plane and priority baggage, we were out of the airport and in our hire car in less than an hour after landing

If you stay at a Disney hotel and want to hire a car is there a car park to leave it? Or would you need to hire it for each day you want to go elsewhere?

My Mum etc still haven't decided if they want to come yet, so I am still looking at all options. We are quite tempted by a Disney hotel and getting the dining plan.

Sorry for the million questions