Anyone planning a trip to Orlando? Join in the excitement here!

[ArtyFartyQueen]

I'm in the midst of planning a trip to Orlando, Florida - our 3rd trip and last time there was a chat with others planning which was nice to be part of!

Anyone want to share their plans?

Couldn't resist asking if you've looked at this?

We are going to Orlando this summer. We have been before so we will be doing less parks this time and much more exploring. There is a Facebook page called "Orlando time" with loads of info. We are hoping to visit some beaches, see a shuttle launch, kayak in a national park and see a sports match amongst other things.

I haven't actually @neome but will take a look!

You're plan sounds fun @sweetheart. We're hoping to do some other bits too, fancy a drive down to clearwater and maybe trying to swim with the manatees! I'm on that facebook group already but thanks for the tip!

We are going this summer, flying in Miami first for 2 nights do we get a day in the Everglades, then driving up for 2 weeks in Orlando.

Can't wait!

Sorry *your not you're!!

We went to Clearwater last time we went to Florida. After 2 crazy weeks in every park a couple of days to relax at the beach were pure bliss. This time we are starting at Fort Lauderdale and driving into Orlando.

We aren't doing Disney at all this time round....controversial I know but there is so much else we want to do and see.....even considered a 2 night cruise to the Bahamas to swim with pigs

We cruised the last two times, but didn't get to swim with pigs - would so love to do that too! We ended both holidays going on a Disney cruise from Port Canveral around the Bahamas - it was a great way to end the holiday!

We have been twice in the last year and just waiting to book our next trip, which will be summer 2020. Waiting for the free dining plan offer to become available to UK customers. Missed out last time!

Thats exciting @SuziQ10! We're planning to go Feb 2020, haven't booked yet, hoping to do so next weekend, a nice treat for mothers day!

Do you think the dining plan will be on this year? I've heard rumours that it won't be as Disney need to make some savings after spending out on the new Toy Story and Stars Wars lands but I'm skeptical, might be just the travel agents saying that to persuade you to book sooner!

Oh I don't know! I'm certainly going to wait until April which is about the time they usually run it.

If they don't do it, we would probably have to reconsider holiday options as we spent a fortune on meals last time. It mounts up v quickly.

Which resort are you considering?

We’re thinking of 4 nights at Hilton Bonnet Creek which is near Disney and has a lazy river (which is high on the list for my kids and me!!) so we can do a day at each Disney park and view the fireworks from our room and go onto Cabana bay at Universal which is our favourite hotel ever! So we won’t wait for the Disney dining plan as it won’t make a difference for us although the dining plan is great value for money!

I’ve been searching the blogs for ideas of how to do food on the cheap and I’ve got a list of restaurants that we can out cheaply! The plan is to have a big breakfast and then just a snack at lunchtime and then eat out in the evening - if the kids allow it!!

Sounds good! We're going to be doing Disney Caribbean Beach or similar. We only do one day at universal (young DC) so it's a lot easier to be inside WDW, hopefully with dining plan. I hope they announce soon!

We looked at Disney Caribbean Beach, the pools look fab. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge in 2016 which was great, having giraffes and zebras to wake up to was a real highlight for all of us!

I've heard that they will announce on the 11th April and then start booking at the end of the month?

I’m so jealous! I always am when I see threads like this. Orlando is my favourite place ever. Makes me forget about real life and bill and worries and just immerse myself and family into fantasy and fun for a couple of weeks. Couldn’t be doing beaches after a longhaul when you can get tot beaches and sun lounging short haul.

I’ve been planning an Orlando trip for years having been twice before but life and unexpected bills keep getting in the way!

I’d never stay in Disney or Universal property as it’s extortionate. A two bed apartment at Floriday’s costs the same for a fortnight as the same accommodation would cost on site for a couple of nights. Renting a villa means renting a car too but way cheaper, you can cook your own meals, wash your clothes and best part - a private pool for rest days.

Will definitely do Disney and universal Parks again. Playing with the idea of Busch Gardens but as they’re owned by Seaworld I think we’ll give it a miss. Same with Discovery Cove though we have been there, just didn’t realise the cruelty at the time.

Kennedy Space Centre would be cool and swimming with Manatees.

I’d like to do the ifly thing too.

I watch The Tim Tracker on YouTube for reviews of things to do in Orlando. They mostly review theme parks but they do venture to other things like wildlife sanctuaries. They’re Tim and Jenn and they’re just lovely.

Also watch Disney Food Guide on YouTube. There are loads of videos about where to eat in the WDW parks and how best to use the dining plan. Lots of other tips and secrets too. Well worth taking a look.

Have lots of fun planning

We are going in a few weeks. First time and very excited. 3 weeks in a villa and doing Disney and universal for the first two weeks. Thinking Kennedy for shuttle launch, airboat rose and a trip to a beach for the third week. Would love any recommendations for our third week

Oooh, can I join? We are going in August and I’m so flipping excited!
Staying at CBR for 14 nights then 3 nights at Hard Rock Hotel.
Our children don’t know - we have told them we are going to France. I’m making a bag for each of them for the plane and am ever-so-slightly addicted to ears at the moment!

Planning on taking my gang in October - trying to work out where to stay! Any recommendations? Me, dh and 4 dc - thanks

ArtyFartyQueen - we have no meals in our package so have also been thinking of ways to eat cheaply in our hotel.

We are planning to buy a toaster which is apparently about $10. We have fridges in our rooms so we can keep milk, butter, fruit etc.

So we will have toast, fruit, poptarts etc for breakfast - we will also do a Walmart shop for snacks and drinks to take into the parks and then have a eat out dinner.

I've also found out that our hotel has ice dispensers on all floors so we can use food bags to make ice packs to keep things cool during the day.

And apparently you can get free water in all the parks so I will buy a small container to carry squash around in with us.

@Jambalaya76 we recently did the Florida Keys after Disney. Key west was good fun. If you've got time for a long(ish) drive its lovely. Gulf of Mexico on one side of the road and the Atlantic on the other.

May I recommend The Dibb website as your bible for all Florida trip planning.

For those looking for ideas on eating cheaply have a look at the food report section - I’ve linked to a report by a member called dixonsontour - she’s done a few reports and they try to stick to no more than $100 a day. Loads of tips in here

We are in the early stages of booking our second trip next may. So excited.

We are full on Disney nuts so are staying onsite, although we are planning a couple of days at universal this time to do the Harry potter stuff. Already soooo excited.

We are booking our first trip in April when the plans are released! We've been before when parents have paid, this is our first trip as the bookers (and payers!!) and our children's first time, they will be 9 and 6. We took them to Disneyland Paris last year and they LOVED it.

We are planning to go for 2 weeks over May half term next year. We have an £8000 budget, want to do 11 days Disney (probably a moderate resort, whatever is the cheapest!) and 3 days at Hard Rock for universal express passes. Hoping to fly Virgin but will depend on flight prices.

Has anyone got experience of the quick service dining plan over table service? We are not big eaters and I hate tipping haha so I think QS would suit us but then I'm not sure if the character dining options would make TS more sensible.

Have a look at a site called Disney Information Bulletin Board or Dibb for short. It is free to join, just sort out a user name and password. It is a forum for Disney fans. You will find loads of information. Any question on a Disney holiday topic will be answered by somebody. You will also find info on all other types of holiday as well.

@Susanna30 we thought about the keys as it looks/sounds wonderful, however, we were put off by the long drive. I still would love to go. Where did you stay?

Stayed in Naples (gorgeous beaches) on the way down from Orlando. Then stopped off in the Everglades to break up the journey and then spent a night in Key Largo. Nice beach resort. Then a short drive down to key west staying near the marina the following day. The southernmost point of the USA.