Disney, Orlando

R-evans · 12 Mar 2013 at 14:19

Been twice before but have always got good Flight/Hotel/Disney Tickets offers.

Can't find any this time, what is the best way to get the tickets?

I am sure it is much cheaper at the park than you pay here but is there any better options?

Dandle · 12 Mar 2013 at 15:16

Buy the tickets online from the ticket shops while your there, you can buy them online from whoever has them cheapest and pick them up from the shop.

Have you thought about an apartment instead of a hotel, they are much more comfortable, you get more room and you can get food from the supermarkets and eat in a few days if you don't fancy eating out. Works out a fair bit cheaper too. You would need a car though
Here are a couple of examples but there are loads over there.
http://www.bahamabay-florida.co.uk/
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/usa/f970.htm

R-evans · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:26

Yea we stayed in an apartment first time. Doesn't beat £661 flight and hotel for two weeks though

jimmy321 · 12 Mar 2013 at 23:06

2 weeks inc flight and hotel for £661? Are you flying from Miami?

jimjamuk · 13 Mar 2013 at 12:47

just booked mine to Orlando for July and the flights alone were about 750 each and thats with a stop. Stick a villa on top and we are looking at £4.5k before we've even started to look at park tickets. The tax and extra charges for the flight themselves are astronomical

nutcase · 13 Mar 2013 at 13:19

And that's why we're going in January lol

FishThrower · 13 Mar 2013 at 13:34

I went to Orlando off season in September last year.... great place, weather was good but not great though (we went there about 10 years ago in September and it was scorching at that time of year).

Try to avoid the supermarket food, their supermarkets are much less quality than the ones we have in the UK, everything just tastes of salt.

jimmy321 · 13 Mar 2013 at 14:34

Went in October last year and although it was not scorching it was dry and still quite warm, best part was the small waiting times in the parks did not wait more than 20 mins to get on most things and some were less than 10. It was not till the weekend and a public holiday that the stupid 1h+ waits arrived.

I have also been in August and will never go at peak time again as it's just not worth the hassle.

SDK^ · 13 Mar 2013 at 15:31

jimjamuk said:
The tax and extra charges for the flight themselves are astronomical

I was looking at this earlier - The Tax, fees and surcharges on 2 Adults from Manchester to Orlando, return via Virgin Atlantic is around £600

Building Candy · 13 Mar 2013 at 15:35

Last time I went in May to avoid our holidays and USA holidays so the parks would be quiet. 2 direct return flights, gatwick to Orlando £1000 with Virgin, nice villa was £900 (2 weeks) and we spent about £600 on car hire, food and park tickets.

R-evans · 13 Mar 2013 at 19:56

All I can say is I must be better at finding good deals. We went last in June 2011. For flights, hotel (not great but that doesn't bother us) and Disney/Universal tickets was £999 each. Tax and everything is inclusive for that price.

Can't find the same deal this time but for everything so far I will be paying around £1100 each.

jas72 · 14 Mar 2013 at 08:31

June is not school holidays :rolleyes:

Try getting good prices for July - August when 99% of schools are out.

Anyone can get those prices for off season holidays lol

This year we are staying in a villa as it's cheaper than QII on i-drive and more space for us since we'll be two families travelling.

Don't think we'll see Disney this year but looking at orlandoattractions.co.uk for our tickets. Also used floridaescapes last year friendly service and good prices too.

R-evans · 14 Mar 2013 at 10:56

jas72 said:
June is not school holidays

Try getting good prices for July - August when 99% of schools are out.

Anyone can get those prices for off season holidays lol

This year we are staying in a villa as it's cheaper than QII on i-drive and more space for us since we'll be two families travelling.

Don't think we'll see Disney this year but looking at orlandoattractions.co.uk for our tickets. Also used floridaescapes last year friendly service and good prices too.

I never said June was school holidays. All I said was I went in June. Waiting times is not something I look that much into and it has never been a massive problem the two previous times we've been. Never waited over 25 mins.

Isn't July - August when all the bugs start showing up? We went in late Aug - early Sept once and it was awful. I don't really want to pay £200 more for colder weather and annoying insects.

Thanks for the ticket advice, will check them out.

jas72 · 14 Mar 2013 at 12:24

regarding June

I was merely responding to your quote of "

All I can say is I must be better at finding good deals.

It's easier to find good deals in June

I've been loads of times in September/October and never been bothered by bugs? What bugs are you talking about?

I would say there's more chance of bugs Spring after a dry winter.

R-evans · 14 Mar 2013 at 13:32

jas72 said:
regarding June

I was merely responding to your quote of " It's easier to find good deals in June

I've been loads of times in September/October and never been bothered by bugs? What bugs are you talking about?

I would say there's more chance of bugs Spring after a dry winter.

OK

I was responding to the people who could not believe you can get to Florida for the price I said. I just guessed they are maybe going to travel agents who charge over the odds.

Regarding the bugs, I don't know there actual name but we were told 'Love-bug'

due to them usually coming in twos, stuck together in some sort of a mating grip. They were everywhere in Sept, couldn't go out without getting loads hitting you in the face, going in your mouth, swarming the outdoor buffet breakfast our hotel put on every morning. Most people would not go in the swimming pool due there been a layer of them on the surface.

That's why we avoid late summer.

R-evans · 14 Mar 2013 at 13:34

Here you go

http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/28/floridas-love-bugs-fact-or-fiction/

Unless you have visited Florida during May or September, you may not have seen these weird creatures that even fly joined at the...well, you know.

jimjamuk · 15 Mar 2013 at 09:51

Been in Feb, April and August before and no great bug thing going on that I remember. Flightwise everytime before its been via Virgin but this year via Air Canada and Villa everytime and I never go to a travel agent and just book it all myself.

Looking to do the space center this time - any good?? Wife obviously wants to see Harry Potter world in US and I expect Disney will take a couple of days also. Also never been to Discovery Cove but hear good things about it?

R-evans · 15 Mar 2013 at 20:16

Haven't been to Kennedy Space Centre so can't say.

Harry Potter was boring - good if you're a fan I suppose. Universal (other bit) is good.

Disney is a must. Not excellent, but great fun and just has something that is better.

Discovery Cove is ok but very expensive for what it is. Swimming with dolphins is the only worth while thing, we did that first time but second time for the same price we had a day in Key Largo and a day in Miami with transport/hotel. We swam with dolphins in Key Largo (included in the price) and it was much more interactive. At DC you pretty much stand in a shallow pool and 'touch' the dolphin in a group of 8-15 for 10 mins, in the Keys we swam (to of us alone) for 30 mins with two dolphins, much better!

[TW]Fox · 15 Mar 2013 at 20:36

I went to the Space Centre. It was really interesting, glad I went. Skipped the rest of the parks. Drove to Florida Keys instead, which was beautiful.

R-evans · 15 Mar 2013 at 20:56

[TW]Fox;23945690 said:
I went to the Space Centre. It was really interesting, glad I went. Skipped the rest of the parks. Drove to Florida Keys instead, which was beautiful.

+1. Forgot to mention Key Largo was stunning.