Anyone got a Disney World/Florida holiday planned? Part 3

[McKayz]

I thought I'd start a new thread as number 2 is nearly full.

Links to old threads:

thread 1

thread 2

We haven't got ours booked yet. But we are planning on going August 2016. DH and I both turn 30 in the next 11 months so it's like a big birthday holiday.

I can't help with villa booking, BBQWidow, as we always stay onsite.

Toffee - you don't need to, if you don't want to. You can set up your magic band for charging, and so you don't have to carry anything else at all. You set a pin for your magic band (and you can choose which bands have charging and which don't, so no running amok for the dc ) so in shops and restaurants you scan the band, then enter your pin into a card machine - much like shopping usig a credit card.

BBQ Widow, last Easter, and this August, we are staying in Terra Verde Resort (Kissimmee area). It's just off the 192 and is the perfect location for Disney (15 mins away, no driving on the I4). It's just like driving on an A road.

We thought the location was so good (because of not using the I4 for Disney) that we booked a different (need 6 bedrooms this time) villa but in the same location.

I found the villa via Terra Verde's own website so that I know the Villa exists and goes through the resort.

There are loads to choose from. Some are terrace town houses, some don't have pools (there's a resort one), so be careful. Look at the pictures - if there is a solid wall to the side / to one side of the pool then it's a terrace (not many of these), and check it actually has a pool (again in the minority).

If you're interested in staying there o can take a look for you if you tell me how many bedrooms you need.

There are loads of Villas on the US27 where we stayed the first 2 times we went - but it's further to travel (only about 30 mins from Disney on a bad day, but can make a difference if only 1 person drives). Certainly don't rule it out but we won't stay that side of the 192 again, if we can help it, we've found perfection and aren't letting go

In the minority to not have a pool^

where is teh best place to look for flights please?

I looked on Owners Direct before we decided on staying onsite.

Wow that's fantastic! I would definitely rather not carry a purse. I have form for being so busy with ds I lose them or not notice when they are nicked. I'm quite careful how I carry stuff now (often I have a purse that attach to me belt ) and not having that worry is a big deal. (And more stylish)

Question then is if you are intending on staying in the Disney bubble, do you need much actual money at all? Tips?

(Hoping they install them in Disney land Paris too!!!)

You can charge tips to your room.

If staying in the disney bubble, you do not need anything at all except your magic band. (I would recommend checking how the charges are mounting up regularly though! You can pay it off each day if you want to, it's all so easy)

I thought the all-in-one card ('Key to the world') was easy last time - essentially the same as a magic band (so ticket, room key, charging etc) but a credit card I had to fish out whenever I needed it. Magic bands are just fab, and so much easier.

I know exactly what you mean re: not having enough hands/not noticing if something goes missing. This time around the DAS will be on magic bands too, instead of being a separate card. Can't wait!

What about housekeeping tips?

That you do need to do in cash. But at least it can be done in the room, with a bit of space to get sorted out.

Thanks pandas. You are entirely right about the room thing

panda thanks for the glass slipper heads up! had a look and it's perfect. Not sure about the cake getting delivered to the park gates as we're not staying on site.

dog that's really kind of you! thanks
I'm not sure how to message you personally but if I don't figure that out, I'll post on here soon. How exciting, I have a Personal Disney Planner! I've arrived

shifty I'm sure we'll see each other, unknowingly! We'll be the cool, calm, prepared ones drifting carelessly from one tiny queue to another

Ha ha ha Bacon, you'll be easy to spot then as you'll be the only ones

You're probably right shifty I've been explaining to DH that it won't be the kind of "holiday" that he's used to and we will probably need another holiday of the relaxing variety when we get home!

Already planning a 2 week all-inclusive beach holiday for next year!

BBQ Widow try VRBO for villas or HomeAway, I think they are sister companies. Lots of great villas from private owners.
When we were there in October last year we stayed we stayed on the 27 (i think) just off the 192. Got to Disney in about 15 minutes.

BBQ, we have always used Alexander Homes or Kingdom State Villas for our villas. I've heard a lot of good thing about booking a villa through The Dibb and a few scary thins about booking through Owners Direct. The important thing when booking DIY is to make sure that your travel insurance includes End Supplier Failure (ie. if the villa owner goes bust you get your money back). I would really, REALLY recommend the Formosa Gardens/Oak Island villa area - it's the best location we've ever had (no scary I4 driving and it's about as close as you can get to Disney.) There is a good map of villa location areas here

TiredEmma, flights depends on who you want to fly with. eg. if you only want to fly with Virgin then you may as well book direct with them. There is Skyscanner (and what's the other one? Kayak?) that are websites that monitor flight prices, so if you have particular dates in mind then you coudl keep an eye on that to see what's cheapest.

I'm in disney now, and have worked out the fast passes etc after day 1 of sussing everything out. Its HOT, but brilliant.

Likeaninja see you there we're on out way to the airport now, still not told the children. An hour left until we tell them - currently watching muppets in the back of the car with no idea .

I'm definitely getting magic bands first thing tomorrow.

Yay Strawberry, have a brilliant time!!!

Have a wonderful time Strawberry!!

98 days til we go! Not that im counting or anything...

How exciting strawberry enjoy the big reveal

8 days til we go!

I'm on 102 days, so we'll overlap! Very much looking fwd to getting into double digits :)

Have a fab time strawberry

I want to look on My Disney Experience but they said it can take a few months for the holiday to get onto the Disney system.
It is annoying, I am nosy and want to see.

I'm on 102 days, so we'll overlap! Very much looking fwd to getting into double digits

Awesome! How long are you going for? Where are you staying?