May 2018? Is that better than August, when it would be too hot.
May will be a lovely temperature. We normally go August (or Feb) and it is hot and humid. Manageable but May will be more pleasant.
I don't know if I should just book 2 week passes for the parks? Upgrade to fast passes?
We always have two week passes for the parks - it is the same price for 14 days as it is for 7.
Disney FastPass - you don't pay for.
Universal Express - quite expensive and possibly not even need it in May if term time. We've only had them once and never in the summer and been fine - sometimes an air conditioned or fanned queue is a nice rest! Cant use them for Harry Potter either. Id wait till you got there - you can get them on the day if need be.
Dh likes shopping and is planning on taking an almost empty suitcase! I like shopping too, as does ds1. We do have some ideas of shopping days, but I also need to check out all the outlet villages, and shopping suggestions.
Too big malls in that area, plus a couple of outlets. All similar tbh.
Is there a website/video that can I start with? Showing all the best bits. I think we are more universal than Disney.
Both universal and Disney have their own websites.
Also use sites such as The Dibb, WDWMagic, etc and DD is obsessed with You Tube videos - you can experience all the rides and shows in detail - Into The Magic, Tim Tracker, etc.
My bil has a villa, but is it a real holiday fur me if I'm cooking and cleaning? One week in hotel and one on villa?
We normally stay in a villa if going for two weeks. We don't cook and clean though. We have breakfast in the villa - toast, eggs, cereal maybe and all washing goes in the dishwasher. Use the big supermarkets to stock up inc juice and bottles of water. We eat in the parks the rest of the time though may have the odd meal on the 192 or I4 roads - Dennys, Perkins, etc. If we have a day in we get a pizza and/or donut takeaway.
I went onto DIBB, but it's too individual thread, and I need general advice.
It can be - use once you know what you are doing.
Do I want Disney dining? I doubt it? Dh and I will want to eat at good restaurants with steak and lobster.
I'm confused. I'm completely bamboozled. Don't know if I should try booking it myself. Or let Virgin book it all.
We;ve done both. Sometimes a package can work out cheaper, when staying in a hotel, sometimes its cheaper to do it separately. We look at both every time and it varies. This time we've booked direct with WDW.
However, if staying in a villa, you'd be better sorting it separately - we normally fly with Virgin Atlantic direct.
Don't get park tickets through them - they are dearer. We buy Disney ones direct from WDW website, and Universal from an official authorised ticket agent, one that is for the Uk market and offered real actual tickets.
I read all your restaurant views and they sound yummy, and I want to take advantage of your knowledge, but I just don't know where to start.
Don't worry too much about this until it is booked and you are closer to the ADR date. That is the date you can book Advanced Dining Reservations - 180 days before you go.
What do you think I should do for starters? I need a step by step programme!
Decide first - May or August
Then decide - villa or hotel
If villa - book relatives (you mention it)
Then book flights - I'd choose direct wherever possible. Either airport (Orlando or Sanford) are fine. Orlando is bigger, Sanford slightly further out but not far
If hotel - look at holiday companies, WDW website or individual.
You don't need to worry about getting tickets for parks etc. for a little while yet. There's no real rush for them.
Also, get a WDW website account set up. Add your names and birthdates, etc. You can then use it to keep a plan of where you want to go, etc later on.