Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Disney Orlando in August - Good idea or not - plus Villa or staying in Disney Hotel?

84 replies

pepsi · 07/05/2008 10:11

DH and I are hoping to take ds8 and dd6 to Orlando this summer. It will be in the school holidays. I have been many years ago to Orlando, but never with children. I know it will be hot but how bearable is the heat over their. Also DH wants to stay for 2 weeeks in a park hotel, whereas Im unsure about how we would cope with having to get up for breakie every day. Although being in a disney park does have its benefits in being able to get away for a break in the hottest part of the day or go for a swim. Ive been looking at stuff about Orlando and I find all the choice rather overwhelming. We have been to Paris and stayed at the Hotel New York there but I didnt feel it had the disney magic about it so if you know of a hotel that really has the disney feel please let me know. Thanks all.

OP posts:
floaty · 07/05/2008 10:22

We have just got back and stayed in a villa in Oak island harbour,only 10 minutes from Disney and we had our own pool,the second week we were there it was quite hot and it was great being able to retreat to our own villa with pool and we alos had a games room.

Original poster
pepsi · 07/05/2008 10:31

Does 10 mins from Disney mean 10 mins away from when their grounds start - how long did it take you to get in on average from door to door?

OP posts:
PortBlacksandResident · 07/05/2008 10:50

I'm lurking and bumping here as we are thinking of going Aug 2009 and worried about the heat too. It can all be a bit overwhelming the info can't it. My two will be 8 and 6 by then.

bellavita · 07/05/2008 10:52

pepsi - it will be very very hot in August. We are going the back end of July (due to DS1 doing SATS in Yr6).

Last year we went May/June and weather hot but bearable, year before we went middle two weeks in July and it was very hot and very humid.

We do not stay in the disney hotels, but on the quiet end of International Drive in an apartment.

floaty · 07/05/2008 10:55

Door to door from our villa (will try to get link)it was 13 minutes to the entrance to disney Animal kingdom about 15 to Epcot.Of course this depends on the traffic but we could get there without queuing on main road,only one sticky junction and that was not major problem.Of course the with the magic kingdom you have to factor in the boat or monorail from the carpark to the kingdom.Overall we liked Epcot the best and can recommend the Italian restaurent in the World Showcase for a nice sit down meal ,also the children loved the ice cream parlour there and Soarin was our best family ride together with Men in black at Universal and Buzz lightyear at the Magic Kingdom
This is the link not sure if it will work but we booked with Vacations group and our villa was called Lotus court 1 ,if you search under 3 beds (it had 4)500-1000 and near attractuions it will come up.

www.vacationsgroup.co.uk/propertydetail.aspx?qs=r_e_florida_a_ppid_e_46984

Universal took us about 30 mins up the I4.

We were very local to supermarkets etc but also incredibly quiet.

gonaenodaethat · 07/05/2008 11:00

Disney hotels are room only so you don't have to get up for breakfast.
The transport links are great and drop you off right at the parks so no parking or messing around.
Check out allearsnet.com/index.html for impartial information.

roquefort · 07/05/2008 11:01

We spent a few days at a Disney Hotel when we arrived and then spent a week in a villa and found the combination worked really well. Really recommend this book:www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=4317266.

Needamassage · 07/05/2008 11:08

Can I join in too?

We are thinking of going early/mid June with DS who is four in July. Do you think this is a good age or would he be too young?

Yes, the choice is overwhelming isn't it?

I think a villa with a private pool sounds good esp. if you don't want to go to the parks every day. You could have the odd chilling day. You can also potter and you could eat in if you wanted and not have to go out all the time. (This really cranks up the expense of the holiday I think).

There seem to be some really nice gated developments with play areas and huge pools as well although I always check on www.tripadvisor.com for reviews as some can be nicer than others.

I have been in June before many years ago and it was pretty hot so I think later on in the Summer will be very hot. Don't forget you have the option of spending days in the water parks etc. and there are always lots of air conditioned cafes to escape the sun. Also, doesn't Disney stay open till really late in the holidays? Maybe you could split your days and spend the morning/early afternoon by the pool and go to Disney late afternoon & evening?

bellavita · 07/05/2008 11:16

We do one day park, one day chilling by the pool.

We have a full kitchen in our apartment, so like Needamassage says, it is nice to eat in sometimes. We just usually get some nice salad and big prawns and crusty bread so it is not too much trouble to do.

The good thing about where we stay is there is always something going on the for children, be it activities that have to be paid for, or free activities by the pool.

Personally, my children like to play with others, so I would find a villa a little isolated.

FloridaKbear · 07/05/2008 20:26

My cousin lives in Orlando and says in summer the British kids just fry, it's so hot. May/June is apparently better temp wise but of course this raises issues with holidays in term time etc.

I am going in 7 days' time . Staying at a Disney hotel.

PictureThis · 07/05/2008 20:30

I have been to Orlando a few times and have done both a villa and hotel. We are going again in a couple of years and will definitely stay in a villa again. The hotel option worked out to be so much more expensive for us. With a villa we could have a day at 'home' if we didn't want to do the parks without feeling cooped up.

FloridaKbear · 07/05/2008 20:36

I think I would feel the same if I had to spend the whole time at the hotel but you're out all day and evening and just sleep in your room really don't you? I do have family over there so will be spending time with them and having a mini-road trip somewhere too so not spending the whole time at the hotel. It's just so convenient for the parks and my kids are of the age that they love meeting other kids and playing. DS is practising his american accent, thanks to Zack and Cody. I said he can talk in his normal accent, people will understand him!!

MamaG · 07/05/2008 20:37

Oh are you Kbear? I didn't realise you were going to Florida

Hulababy · 07/05/2008 20:37

We have done it in August. It was fine. Yes, it was hot and humid but TBh in the parks you spend most of your time, in air conditioned queues or in queues with sahe and water fans.

Hulababy · 07/05/2008 20:37

Oh and def go for a villa.

FloridaKbear · 07/05/2008 20:38

It is a well kept secret MamaG, only just mentioned it tonight. Didn't she do well?!!!!

FloridaKbear · 07/05/2008 20:39

PLUS I don't want to cook or clean for three weeks either! BLISS

bellavita · 07/05/2008 22:18

FloridaKbear - I wondered how long it would take you to find this thread - you must be sooooooo excited.

saffy202 · 08/05/2008 14:48

I've just booked up for Aug 09 We are staying at the Marriott complex at Lake Buena Vista.

FloridaKbear · 08/05/2008 20:06

no, quite calm bella!!!!

LIZS · 08/05/2008 20:09

KBear have you not been yet ? I'm waiting for your feedback ....

Doobydoo · 08/05/2008 20:12

Just popping in so I can keep an eye on this thread

FloridaKbear · 08/05/2008 20:14

Next Thursday. O M G

FloridaKbear · 08/05/2008 20:14

Will report back deffo.

kslatts · 12/05/2008 12:05

We went in 2006 for 2 weeks in the easter holidays which meant it was a bit cooler, we are planning to go back next year but can't decide whether to go at easter again or wait until the summer holidays. We went to Greece in August last year and all coped with the heat better than we expected to.