Disneyworld Florida

[lost in london]

Reading all the above these holidays sounds great for families, but is the cost not extortionate for the hotels, flights, entrance to all these parks etc?! Obviously people on here earn different amounts, but surely for a family of four to go on the sort of holiday Bozza has mentioned is a huge amount of money?

 

[backson]

A lot of people have recommended Universal as being brilliant. However we have two kids who are relatively timid (aged 6 and 10). Is it still worthwhile going to Universal for a day, or is it best for just older kids and adults?

Fab tips by the way. Only a few days to go now!!

No it's not all big scary rides, there should be plenty at both the Studios and Islands of Adventure to keep little ones amused; for instance Islands has got the Seuss Landing land which should be ideal for them.


Fantastic thread, by the way! I haven't been since 2005, and this is making me very jealous of those of you going!

 

[smelly]

Best Day Of The Lot For Me Was Kennedy Space Centre About 45 Mins Out Of Orlando On I-4.
Has A Space Shuttle Simulator And Much Much More Inc Visit To Launch Pad. An Absolute Must Whilst You Are There Imho.

Ps;eat At Chilis
Pps Boggy Creek Airboats Fantastic

 

[Bozza]

Reading all the above these holidays sounds great for families, but is the cost not extortionate for the hotels, flights, entrance to all these parks etc?! Obviously people on here earn different amounts, but surely for a family of four to go on the sort of holiday Bozza has mentioned is a huge amount of money?

If you look at Disney boards for any period of time you will, sooner or later, see people say things like "we looked at a Mediterranean holiday but it was sooooooooo expensive, about the same as Florida, so we're going back to Orlando".

I'm not sure that is entirely true, but it is possible to experience a lot of the magic on a budget, even in school holidays. Ways people do this include...

1) Booking a trip that overlaps school term-time a bit, particularly the very, very end of August/beginning of September - as flights can be cheaper. If you'd consider taking your kids out for 2 whole weeks, then flights can be cheaper again.

2) Looking at indirect flight options. For example, I booked our trip quite late (people do book 18 months in advance). Virgin and BA were wanting around £1000 per person for a flight. We're going with Continental, via New York, and it cost half that.

3) Another flight option, if your employment circumstances permit, is look to book something very, very late on (ie a day or two notice)

4) Hotels in Orlando can be had for about £20 per night. That's £20 per room, not per person. It won't be a fancy place, obviously, but should be clean enough and ideal for somewhere just to crash at night when you've had a busy day in the theme parks.

5) Offsite buffet restaurants allow you to stuff your face silly for $6 or so for breakfast and $10 or so for dinner. If you do a big brekkie like this, you'll probably not need much, if anything, for lunch. You can always make some lunch and take it in with you in a coolbox and stash in a locker until lunchtime. Do the same with bottled water etc.

6) Don't hire a car, but either use the shuttles that most hotels put on and/or use the cheap transport laid on by Lynx and Mears etc. You'll need to be a bit more disciplined about when you go to and from a park but you'll probably save £250 or so on the hire car, as well as $11 a day or so parking at the theme parks (yes, they do charge you!) and some small change for gas/petrol.

There's generally not a huge amount you can do about park tickets - figure £160 or so per person for a Disney ticket but even the value there is pretty tremendous, I think, as that will let you come and go for 14 days including 'park hopping' ie multiple parks in one day, as well as the water parks.

 

[Giraffe]

I love the Universal area and tend to do a split stay - we're doing an 11 night trip in a few weeks and having 7 nights at Wilderness Lodge and then 4 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal.

Madison loved Universal last year, she was 4 1/2 at the time, and I know she will this year.

What I would encourage you to do is book a single night over at one of the 3 Universal hotels - the cheapest tends to be the Royal Pacific. I know this will feel slightly strange as you have booked, and paid for, 14 (?) nights at The Poly, but hear me out...

Any advice on the best place to book the Royal Pacific. Is this just through the Universal website? And how much would I expect to pay for a family of four?

 

[Bozza]

Any advice on the best place to book the Royal Pacific. Is this just through the Universal website? And how much would I expect to pay for a family of four?

Yeah - either go direct to Universal or to the Loews hotels website - you'll end up in the same place. You'll probably get a room for c$200ish, I'd imagine. You pay per room, not per person.

Just worth saying in case you didn't realise - you'll still need to buy Universal entry tickets but once in your key cards will allow you to go straight on every ride.

 

[HG201]

I reccomend getting the "Fastpasses" on rides as this saves a lot of time queueing

 

[Rambo]

Discovery Cove - Expensive but def the best thing we did when we were out there 2 yrs ago. Would go back for that alone. be prepared to get very tired.

 

[Easy 10]

I reccomend getting the "Fastpasses" on rides as this saves a lot of time queueing

I recommend getting the "Fatpasses" on rides, as this ensures you get two seats to yourself.

 

[Perry Milkins]

I recommend the "Fartpasses" as this ensures you get the whole ride to yourself!

 

[johnhammond]

Sweet tomatoes is wicked: all you can eat salad, pasta, soup, chili, potatoes, pizza, cake, ice cream, fruit, and drink, for $12 (and all tasty as well).

 

[Easy 10]

I recommend the "Fartpasses" as this ensures you get the whole ride to yourself!

sharp.

 

[Giraffe]

Yeah - either go direct to Universal or to the Loews hotels website - you'll end up in the same place. You'll probably get a room for c$200ish, I'd imagine. You pay per room, not per person.

Just worth saying in case you didn't realise - you'll still need to buy Universal entry tickets but once in your key cards will allow you to go straight on every ride.

Can you easily buy tickets at Universal say on one day to use later that week?