hi. will you help sophable plan her easter holiday? florida and disney gulp.

[Heathcliffscathy]

I think we're going to go to florida (gulp).

As I'm expecting we wanted a last relaxing warm weather holiday before we enter the baby tunnel. dh wants to take ds (6 y o) to disney world. I would like a hotel or villa somewhere beautiful (the quays? sanibel? captiva?).

I think we'll do disney before we go home.

where are the best places to stay in disney?

anyone know of any fantastic hotels or villas in the quays, or areas (where we can safely walk from the gorgeous beach to fabulous lunch/dinner spots? i'm not cooking!).

all help gratefully received.

All the places you want to go are lovely, however remember that the Keys are quite a drive from Orlando- it will take about 7/8 hours to get to Key West. If you are flying in and out of Orlando, that'll be 2 days of your trip driving.

Sanibel/Captiva much more do-able from Orlando.

Don't know if that's what you wanted tho- I am sure you could fly to the Keys?Orlando but you'll need to check that out.

Key West is great for walking around in and lots of water based activities to do.

Disney has something for everyone, and an equal amount of choices to stay. we've stayed in a number of Disney hotels a hotel on International drive and in a villa. Each had it's own merits.

The Disney hotels are great for getting in and out of the parks- dependent on which you stay in for the proximity of each different park. One trip we stayed in the Grand Floridian- one stop on the mono-rail and you're in the Magic Kingdom. And we could see the fireworks from our balcony. Didn't use the car much.

Last time we stayed in international Drive and enjoyed a wider range of activities, using the car more.

oooo sammac you're an expert!

so...where in sanibel/captiva and which is nicer of the two?

and go on, stick your neck out and recommend a hotel...

anyone else?

bump

Disney is a big place and it gets hot between 11 and 4. If you're pregnant (and I will be too when we go at Easter), you can do with somewhere nearby so you can nip back for a nap and a refreshing swim during the heat of the day.

The closest to the Magic Kingdon is the Grand Floridian, Polynessian, Contempory and Bay Lake Towers which are on the monorail. Wilderness Lodge is also closeish but you travel in by boat.

If you stay off resort, you could easily spent an hour and a half (and longer) travelling back and forth for a quick nap.

Also if you stay at Disney resorts you get 'extra magic hours' in the morning or evening when you can use the park before others. This can help to avoid the inevitable queues which can be uncomfortable when pregnant.

If you're going to Universal at all, I'd also recomment staying in one of the Universal hotels for one night as you get front of line entry (Universal Express pass) if you stay, and that helps avoid the queues.

Try TheDibb.co.uk if you need more specific advice on hotels or restaurants. People are very helpful on the forums.

oh smiley thanks for that. i think it is likely that i'll be staying behind and letting dh and ds get on with it for most of our disney bit.

which is why it is most important that the hotel is very nice indeed!

have a look here for more info about the Sanibel. I think we stayed at the Sundial Resort, but here is a list of places on the island. We were there pre children so can't comment about the facilities for children- we were either at the beach/pool/bar/combo swim-up bar (hence why memory is lightly fuzzy!!)

However i do remember that there were tiny noseeums, so take along avon skin so soft- the green one.

We went in October and this book was brilliant, both before and whilst we were there: Brit Guide to Orlando (there is a new 2010 edition on Amazon, I've just looked) by Simon & Susan Veness.

Definitely pay that little bit extra and get a Disney hotel for a few days, to be a bit close and to get the benefits, they will be very useful if you're pregnant!

Hi - we are going in April and staying Orlando four days, at a suites hotel on I-drive, then we are going to Annamaria Island. It sounds lovely, we are hiring a cottage right on the beach front, easy walking distance to restaurants, shops etc as well as the trolley to take us further afield. And probably cheaper than Sanibel or Captiva. It is about an hour from Tampa I think.

Also forgot to add that there are plenty of places on the east coast which are lovely too- over towards Cape Canavral. Last time we stayed in a surfery place called Melbourne. Good fun to watch all the surfers from our balcony. We just drove over without reservations as that was the only unplanned part of our holiday.

Also it is worthwhile having a look at touringplans.com. It's a site which gives good info about how to move around the parks( I know it sounds sad, but if you have the control freak gene which has recently blossomed like me...) I was so teased about doing this, but we had the most out of holiday. Normally we just birl from place to place, but I was woman with a mission( or a plan) and we spent hardly any time waiting around. Gives a whole range of ideas grown up plans/ teenage/ young kids etc. Dh now says how good it was- prior to going he was very sceptical about it all. ps Was not really madwoman with plan- was very chilled

I second the recommend for the Brits Guide to Orlando - def worth buying. Tells you what days each park is quietest so you can plan your itinerary - and also top tips like go to the furthest away entrance booth because people are too lazy to walk to it so it will be really empty! Also, if you can go v early as it opens and then walk to the furthest away rides (as long as you wnat to go on them!) - few other people do this and you can have 2 or 3 goes before the masses arrive and a queue develops.

Pays to be organised!

This last time (in August) we stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge for a fortnight and it was fantastic. In the past we have gone with other family, so stayed in villas nearby. We always do a fortnight of parks, the Disney ones, Universal parks, Seaworld and the Space Centre.

Easter is a very very busy time at Disney, Florida - something to consider.

Have never done the coast, so can't help with that.

Have stayed at Anna Maria Island and agree that it is lovely, not too far a drive from orlando and great with children-much cheaper than Sanibel etc too and the beach was like white talcum powder....was bliss. we stayed at palmtree villas right by the beach (think it's www.palmtreevillas.com) in Anna Maria - didn't find the trolley bus easy to suss but driving around the island was really easy. It's a great, laidback place for a week or so!