Spec me Florida!

Django x2

Django x2

Django x2

Soldato
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:cool:

If the price is right, I'm hoping to take the other half to Florida in mid June 2010.

Just looking for people who have done it, away from the main travel agents if possible, where did you stay, price, etc.

Advice on things like, park tickets, hotels, etc, all appreciated
 
Hi, go for it. I have been quite a few times.

Get a small 3 bed villa with pool. I have used these numerous times, very good:

http://www.floridasunshine.com/

Hire a car separate and source your flights online.

When you get there go to Walmart and stock up.

When I go I have always got tickets there from the booths etc as the dollar has usually been in our favour.

One year we got VIP universal tickets off a tout, got in 2 hours 8am before the public and went on all rides with no queues, was just incredible. We had been on everything before the public got in at 10am.
 
Cool, thanks.

Spit, have you used those people before? What are their prices like? I guess I need to call them / get them to call me?
 
I'd actually recommend going a bit later. Last time I went was in October. We were there for Halloween. We didn't get any of the sudden afternoon thunderstorms that are pretty much daily in june/july. It was still in the 30s after the sun had gone down and we never queued more than 5 mins for rides at any of the theme parks.
 
Can I recommend going last week in May 1st week in June for your Hols. Temperature is just great(Low to mid 80's). Last Monday of May is a bank Holiday over there and its the biggest sale weekend so there are plenty of bargains to be had. Kids are back in school over there so you should just walk onto rides if you are doing the theme parks.

As per other posts, book flight, car and accommodation separate for the best deals

http://www.totalflorida.co.uk

They get some really good rates off Virgin for flying direct to Orlando Intl.
 
Yes, i have used them 6 times over the last 10 years. never had a bother.

I got virgin flights to miami once and stayed in hotel there for a couple of days then drove to orlando, was a great experience.
 
Spit said:
Hire a car separate and source your flights online.

When you get there go to Walmart and stock up.
Click to expand...

Couldnt agree more tbh, my family has a villa near Port Charlotte, Florida - very very quite area, great for chilling out lounging in the pool. Various golf courses over the road, canal out the back with our own dock to fish from.

Hour and a bit up the road is Tampa where there is Busch Gardens, a great theme park if you like rollercoasters. Also Adventure Island if you fancy water parks. Beach down the road also.

Big mall in either direction and also retail outlets.

We usually get flights to Miami and drive across Florida to the villa or if we can get the correct dates fly from Gatwick to Tampa (business route, generally quieter) and then its not as much of a trek.

All depends what you want to do really.. there are a lot of places on the west coast that I would recommend. ie San Fran, Vegas etc

http://villas.matchexist.com/ excuse the pooor poooooooor website
 
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Arrange your own flights and car hire, and book a villa rather than stay in a hotel.

I've been about 10 times, mostly with parents when I was younger but a couple of times in the last few years under my own steam.

Went with my partner last summer and spent a week at this villa: http://villa4orlando.com/

Generally they're all much of a muchness, so a recommendation from someone that somewhere is clean, well maintained and in a good location is what you're looking for really. They generally all have a similar floor-plan, furnishings, decor etc.
 
Having been to Florida on ten occasions and being booked up to go again in May, I recommend it to anyone. What's all this nonsense about California being better? The entire area of Disneyland (and it's car parks) fits into the car park of Disneyworld's Magic Kingdom. Bigger is most certainly better.

Immerse yourself by getting a villa or hotel close to I-Drive. Universal Studios and Seaworld are at opposite ends of I-Drive and Disneyworld is easily accessed via the I4 which also allows easy travel to Tampa, Cocao Beach and Daytona Beach. Check out the Quality Inn Plaza for a good hotel in a good location which doesn't cost too much. I've stayed there on numerous occasions and never had a problem.

Big malls are easy to reach too, with the Florida Mall just south of I-Drive (follow Sandlake Road), Florida Outlet Mall (formerly Belz) and Festival Bay at the end of I-Drive and Mall At Millenia just a short journey from those two (big name shops like Tiffany and Chanel which should impress the missus).

If the 90 minute drive to the beach is too much, you can hang out at two Disney waterparks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach) or hit the newer park beside Seaworld (Aquatica) although that one does tend to get very busy very early. Avoid Wet'n'Wild as I have found it to be lacking on several areas compared to the other three (attendants and cleanliness).

Whatever you intend to do, have a blast. Visit all the theme parks at least once and make sure you pack a light anorak for the ever present thirty minute downpours that always occur around 3pm.

Check out this site for tickets

Have fun.
 
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Was there in 2004. Just make sure it's not hurricane season. We didn't, lol :p
Spent 9 days in a hotel in the worse parts of Miami. Not exactly the best vacation.

We flew to New York and then ordered a flight from there to Miami. Was the cheapest we could find but I guess the prices have changed in six years. Renting a car is def something you should do :)
 
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I prefer Disneyland over Disneyworld, it has a much nicer feel to it, it is much more charming and less corporate.
I am struggling to think of any rides that are missing from Disneyland despite its more compact size.

Universal Studios in Hollywood has actual sets and is a working studio, which is interesting.

Isle of Adventure was great in Florida though, and the Disney Water parks are fun.
I agree I-Drive is a bit nasty, where there are English pubs and fish and chip shops is usually a bad sign.

Animal Kingdom is good, but there are two great Zoo / Safaris in San Diageo.

Epcot is my favourite Disney Park in Florida.

The Sea Worlds are just about identical, except Shamu is in the water, not in a Manchester United top.
 
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