[Travel] Florida Villas, park tickets etc etc...

[indy3050]

Hello. I have tried the search function as I know it’s been covered before but does anyone have any suggestions (or previous thread links) as to where the best deals can be found? I did manage to find a properly decent villa and flights and car hire for 5 for 2 weeks at £4000 in May/June 2020 which I was happy with but the park tickets were just as expensive. This is a once in a lifetime trip for the 3 kids so just hoping for a bit advice, is that time of year any good?

Thank you folks

 

[Bozza]

This is like my specialist subject so happy to try and help...

When can you go / when do you want to go?

How old are your kids?

 

[Beach Hut]

https://www.attraction-tickets-dire...MIvuXFpJCz5AIVCLTtCh2OFQvAEAAYASAAEgI2TvD_BwE

Having been over there is August we got our tickets for the Theme Parks as per link above. We did not do Disney and these types of tickets cannot be purchased over there as far as I am aware.

Booked the holiday with Virgin including a Villa and 7 seater tank (well it was to me) Virgin are actually reasonably priced and very well organised.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

The thread I found useful is here. You might think it's a once in a lifetime trip now but I guarantee you will be planning to go back on the plane on the way home.

https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/show...-an-updated-thread-for-2017&highlight=Florida

 

[Beach Hut]

Volcano Bay is very good, you get a wrist band and just tap the machine and then you get a time slot

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Reckon you can get some cheap deals to go today or tomorrow.

Otherwise - https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/ is the best place to look - may even spot some fellow NSC users.

 

[mwrpoole]

https://www.attraction-tickets-dire...MIvuXFpJCz5AIVCLTtCh2OFQvAEAAYASAAEgI2TvD_BwE

Having been over there is August we got our tickets for the Theme Parks as per link above. We did not do Disney and these types of tickets cannot be purchased over there as far as I am aware.

Booked the holiday with Virgin including a Villa and 7 seater tank (well it was to me) Virgin are actually reasonably priced and very well organised.

I’m going next March/April and have been looking at the same ticket site. These money off dining/drinks cards they chuck in, did you use them at all?

We’re staying at Universal for 10 nights and plan to also do Discovery Cove, SeaWorld & Busch Gardens.

Has anyone done Universal with their fast track passes? On the US website for Universal you can buy a ticket/fastpass combo but can’t seem to find that option on UK sites. I suspect you might need to be a US resident to buy them on the US site.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I’m going next March/April and have been looking at the same ticket site. These money off dining/drinks cards they chuck in, did you use them at all?

We’re staying at Universal for 10 nights and plan to also do Discovery Cove, SeaWorld & Busch Gardens.

Has anyone done Universal with their fast track passes? On the US website for Universal you can buy a ticket/fastpass combo but can’t seem to find that option on UK sites. I suspect you might need to be a US resident to buy them on the US site.

Fast passes are great, well worth the money.

Which hotel are you staying in at Universal? some include them - depending on numbers and cost it works out better upgrading the hotel than buying fast passes sometimes.

 

[Bozza]

Has anyone done Universal with their fast track passes? On the US website for Universal you can buy a ticket/fastpass combo but can’t seem to find that option on UK sites. I suspect you might need to be a US resident to buy them on the US site.

Universal Express passes are available to everyone. They can be pricy though and I'm not sure you'll need one at that time of year unless your stay coincides with a US holiday.

That said, we never go to Universal without staying at one of Royal Pacific, Hard Rock or Portofino Bay as staying at these hotels gives you unlimited Express Pass for the parks and, unlike the Express Pass you buy, which is limited to one go per attraction, it is unlimited.

My guess is you're probably staying at Endless Summer, Aventura, Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls. Regardless it may be worth considering booking a single night stay in one of the hotels I mention above, even if it means you have two rooms booked for one night, in order to get two days (check-in and check-out) days of unlimited Express passes. Just pack an overnight bag and think of it as a holiday within a holiday!

Alternatively, if you're staying for 10 nights and will have a ticket for the length of your stay, I think you'll do just fine dipping in and out of the parks over the course of several days. Always make park opening, do a few rides, head back to your hotel to chill and then return for the last hour or two when wait times will be shorter again.

 

[Beach Hut]

I’m going next March/April and have been looking at the same ticket site. These money off dining/drinks cards they chuck in, did you use them at all?

We’re staying at Universal for 10 nights and plan to also do Discovery Cove, SeaWorld & Busch Gardens.

Has anyone done Universal with their fast track passes? On the US website for Universal you can buy a ticket/fastpass combo but can’t seem to find that option on UK sites. I suspect you might need to be a US resident to buy them on the US site.

NB $26 a day to park at Universal unless you arrive after 18:00 hrs

 

[casbom]

Going next May, being a bit naughty and taking two weeks off over the May half term! We're taking a friend and her son along with us so there's 7 of us going.

I've already booked their flight and put a deposit down on a Villa I got through vrbo.com. Just under 2k for a 5 bed Villa for the 2 weeks inc pool heating.

Tickets wise I'll probably go via undercovertourist as I like that I can have the flexibility to buy specific no of day tickets. We haven't done Disney or Universal for 5 years so I'm looking forward to seeing and trying all the new stuff! Avatar, Star Wars etc!

 

[Bozza]

Going next May, being a bit naughty and taking two weeks off over the May half term! We're taking a friend and her son along with us so there's 7 of us going.

I've already booked their flight and put a deposit down on a Villa I got through vrbo.com. Just under 2k for a 5 bed Villa for the 2 weeks inc pool heating.

Tickets wise I'll probably go via undercovertourist as I like that I can have the flexibility to buy specific no of day tickets. We haven't done Disney or Universal for 5 years so I'm looking forward to seeing and trying all the new stuff! Avatar, Star Wars etc!

I'd not go down that route, at least for Disney tickets. A 5-day WDW ticket with park-hopping and water parks from UT is $537 inclusive of tax. At current exchange rates that's £447. For £449 direct from Disney UK you can get a 14-day ticket inclusive of park-hopping and waterparks. This means you have the flexibility to just dip in and out of the parks as you see fit.

If you plan to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks one night but everyone is tired and wants to head home, you won't have to stay just because you don't have another day's ticket to come back - you can just head back to see the fireworks any time you like. Fancy a couple of hours in Typhoon Lagoon - do it - it won't be "wasting" one of your limited days on your tickets.

Additionally the 14-day tickets include Memory Maker which means you can get a load of photos taken by Disney photographers and on rides included for "free" - very good for getting group shots as one of your party doesn't have to take each photo.

 

[indy3050]

Forgot I posted this last night

Thanks for replies I’m gonna read through them now and come back with any further questions. I’m also looking at 2 weeks in May with one being half term, stuff the school they can fine me. Kids will be 14, 13 and 6.

 

[Beach Hut]

Forgot I posted this last night

Thanks for replies I’m gonna read through them now and come back with any further questions. I’m also looking at 2 weeks in May with one being half term, stuff the school they can fine me. Kids will be 14, 13 and 6.

A 6 year old may well not be able to go on the height restricted rides, we waited till the youngest met all restriction heights before we went.

 

[Palacefinder General]

If you enjoy seeing captive killer whales and dolphins performing unnatural acts like jumping through hoops akin to performing monkeys then SeaWorld is the place to go.

 

[Beach Hut]

If you enjoy seeing captive killer whales and dolphins performing unnatural acts like jumping through hoops akin to performing monkeys then SeaWorld is the place to go.

However it also has three very good roller coasters.........

The whale show etc we swerved this time

 

[casbom]

Forgot I posted this last night

Thanks for replies I’m gonna read through them now and come back with any further questions. I’m also looking at 2 weeks in May with one being half term, stuff the school they can fine me. Kids will be 14, 13 and 6.

Yeah that's what we're thinking too! Our youngest will turn 6 out there, going to do a Bobbidi Bibbidi thingy for her on her Birthday at MK. At the moment I think it's literally 2 or 3 rides that she won't be tall enough for, such as the Hulk and Rip Rocket(?).

Thanks Bozza for that info, I forgot the exchange rate is Shite at the moment, hope it gets better after Brexit otherwise costs are going to spiral

 

[Bozza]

If you enjoy seeing captive killer whales and dolphins performing unnatural acts like jumping through hoops akin to performing monkeys then SeaWorld is the place to go.

Indeed. We've not visited Sea World for about 10 years now, which has been slightly tough as my 9-y-o has always been really into marine life. Somewhat incredibly until this year he didn't even know Sea World existed, and he's been to Florida 7 or 8 times. His discovery of it prompted a few discussions about the keeping or large marine mammals in small tanks and, thankfully, he gets it.

 

[Bozza]

Thanks Bozza for that info, I forgot the exchange rate is Shite at the moment, hope it gets better after Brexit otherwise costs are going to spiral

We've been twice this year - we took a last-minute week during the Feb half-term and had three weeks across July and August, and I'll say I found it VERY expensive relative to previous visits. The exchange rate is a big factor in that, certainly, but I think prices have risen generally due to the buoyant US economy.

Casual meals out at the likes of Olive Garden or Bahama Breeze cost considerably more than we'd pay for similar meals in the UK.

 

[casbom]

We've been twice this year - we took a last-minute week during the Feb half-term and had three weeks across July and August, and I'll say I found it VERY expensive relative to previous visits. The exchange rate is a big factor in that, certainly, but I think prices have risen generally due to the buoyant US economy.

Casual meals out at the likes of Olive Garden or Bahama Breeze cost considerably more than we'd pay for similar meals in the UK.

Hmmm, I was hoping 2k for food to feed 5 would be enough! Sounds like it won't be