Florida For Family Of 3 - October

[98elise]

We go to Florida regularly and if you are on a budget here is my advice:

Get a villa with a pool, they are by far the best value. We've paid anything from £350 to £600 per week depending on season. We always rent private as what you see is what you get, we've booked through this site, and it has a forum as well https://www.orlandovillas.com/

Villa's also have the benefit of being able to "eat in" which can save you loads. You can do a couple of chill days around the pool for very little cost.

Unless you really want to visit Disney then don't bother. Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios are better if you're kid is into rides. The 14 Day pass into both parks is £150, its great value for money https://www.park-tickets.com/universal-orlando-tic...

Universal studios and IOA are next to each other and joined by City Walk, so you can hop in and out of both parks easily. 14 days in Disney will cost you twice as much and is half the fun.

Kennedy is a must if you have any interest in space. They have a Saturn 5 and a shuttle exhibit, both are stunning.

Don't bother with Busch Gardens, its a long drive and a couple of the big rides were out of action permanently this summer.

Don't even think about doing Florida without a car

Edited to add. Food wise I would eat a decent breakfast in the Villa (buffets are cheapish but generally crap), skip lunch (way too hot to eat, just drink lots of water), then go out in the evenings. Plenty of choice and you can eat from about $10 - $20 dollars per head (plus tip). That includes a half decent steak as well

I would budget $75-100 (£50-75) per day for all 3 of you if you don't go mad.


.....just seen that you've already booked!!

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 14th January 13:41

Edited by 98elise on Thursday 14th January 13:53

[Sheepshanks]

I know the OP has booked, but some generic thoughts of my own:

98elise said:

Villa's also have the benefit of being able to "eat in" which can save you loads. You can do a couple of chill days around the pool for very little cost.

It's a different vibe in a villa - I miss the interaction with other people and hustle and bustle of a holiday hotel. If you've got kids they like playing with other kids. Of course many may prefer a quieter place!

There might be other reasons to eat in, but the thing that always amazes me about Florida is food in supermarkets is similar pricing to here, yet eating out (at any given quality level) is far cheaper.

I also hate "chill days" - it's costing a small fortune to be there so I want to get value out of it!

98elise said:

Don't even think about doing Florida without a car

Agree - we usually stay on Disney property and still always have a car even if it's not used for a couple of days at a time.

We stayed in a villa last year as we took family - 7 in total. We got a minivan for all of us, and another car to provide a bit of flexibility.

98elise said:

Edited to add. Food wise I would eat a decent breakfast in the Villa (buffets are cheapish but generally crap), skip lunch (way too hot to eat, just drink lots of water), then go out in the evenings. Plenty of choice and you can eat from about $10 - $20 dollars per head (plus tip). That includes a half decent steak as well

Again, YMMV but we found we were usually still stuffed in the morning from dinner the night before. We don't go mad with food but it's generally much richer there. So tea/coffee first thing and cereal/toast for the kids was fine. Then we generally had an early lunch (if it's hot outside it'll freezing in any eat-in place you go to) and then dinner. So really only eating 2 meals a day.

[Thankyou4calling]

Here's my take on the above.

I've stayed in Villas and apartments.

I know exactly what you mean about other people around, it is kind of nice and makes you feel more on holiday. A couple of places i've stayed in, as well as the private pool with the villa they have a communal pool on the estate, stayed in a really nice one in terra Verde that had the pool, gym, cafe etc so you had your own villa plus resort amenities.

I find supermarkets in Florida quite a bit more expensive than in the UK and if i'm on holiday i don't want to go round them doinfg a food shop to come back and prepare a meal especially when i can get a huge breakfast buffet for less than $10 a person and well over 100 restaurants on I drive that start at similar money none of which are awful.

A car is a must. Even walking from one shop to another can be a journey and it means if you fancy a day at the coast it is easy.

One poster said busch gardens is a long drive from orlando, it isn't as most people stay on the south side of orlando so it is less than an hour for a great day out.

Clearwater beach is very nice and you can do a private fishing charter, not cheap but fun and if you or anyone likes to shop the outlets on I drive are top draw.

And finally like the above poster no way am i doing chill days around the pool. I'm up and out from morning til night.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Thursday 14th January 17:34

[98elise]

On the chill days front, we've been about 6 times so we like a few days to relax! I'd agree that if its the OP's first time then every day will be full on, especially if he only has 10 days.

I prefer the villa to get away from people, its subjective of course

[surveyor]

Thankyou4calling said:

Here's my take on the above.

I've stayed in Villas and apartments.

I know exactly what you mean about other people around, it is kind of nice and makes you feel more on holiday. A couple of places i've stayed in, as well as the private pool with the villa they have a communal pool on the estate, stayed in a really nice one in terra Verde that had the pool, gym, cafe etc so you had your own villa plus resort amenities.

I find supermarkets in Florida quite a bit more expensive than in the UK and if i'm on holiday i don't want to go round them doinfg a food shop to come back and prepare a meal especially when i can get a huge breakfast buffet for less than $10 a person and well over 100 restaurants on I drive that start at similar money none of which are awful.

A car is a must. Even walking from one shop to another can be a journey and it means if you fancy a day at the coast it is easy.

One poster said busch gardens is a long drive from orlando, it isn't as most people stay on the south side of orlando so it is less than an hour for a great day out.

Clearwater beach is very nice and you can do a private fishing charter, not cheap but fun and if you or anyone likes to shop the outlets on I drive are top draw.

And finally like the above poster no way am i doing chill days around the pool. I'm up and out from morning til night.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Thursday 14th January 17:34

+1 on Busch gardens and Clearwater

[VTECMatt]

Useful thread thank you.

We are planning on going either late October or February, is February likely to be poor weather?

[Thankyou4calling]

VTECMatt said:

Useful thread thank you.

We are planning on going either late October or February, is February likely to be poor weather?

February will be very variable.

Nights and early mornings are properly cold and even at the height of the day 20 degrees can be your best.

Not too much rain though so it can be a nice time to visit as long as you don't expect to be in your pool for an early swim followed by breakfast and a stroll in t shirt and shorts.

That's how I've found February in Orlando.

If you get further South it can be a fair bit warmer.

[bakerstreet]

Thankyou4calling said:

February will be very variable.

Nights and early mornings are properly cold and even at the height of the day 20 degrees can be your best.

Not too much rain though so it can be a nice time to visit as long as you don't expect to be in your pool for an early swim followed by breakfast and a stroll in t shirt and shorts.

That's how I've found February in Orlando.

If you get further South it can be a fair bit warmer.

Worth mentioning that rain in Orlando can be torrential. IE, a five minute run across a large car park will leave you completely soaked. I know, because it's happened to me several times

We got quite a shock when we went in December. Very very cold. At one point it hit 3C and we all did Bush Gardens when it was 7C. That was a little chilly!

Although, I've been several times before, I can never remember where I have eaten, so if people want to post up their recommendations on this thread, that would be great

[Muskythedog]

Just had an email from Virgin advising of a change of a couple of hours from 12:15pm to 10am, now it doesn't seem a massive issue but in order to make life more comfortable we're probably going to have to stay over in the airport now rather than getting up before 5am in order to leave plenty of time to get there. Sent them an email complaining in a hope of getting either a bit of money off to cover it or possibly get the V lounge thrown in. Anybody have any experience of anything similar?

Also, to those offering eating advise - what chance of us finding a fairly 'authentic' BBQ joint and/or Triple D style diner near International Drive?

[Sheepshanks]

That sounds like they've cancelled the later flight that day. What date are you going?

Normally the earlier flight is a bit dearer as people prefer to get there before it goes dark, and it arrives first of the UK flights so you get through Immigration quicker. The Virgin flights are OK, but any interaction with their customer service will likely end in (your) tears.


Not sure on the food question - there's a whole bunch of choices but I'm not that familiar with the I-Drive area.

[Muskythedog]

Sheepshanks said:

That sounds like they've cancelled the later flight that day. What date are you going?

Normally the earlier flight is a bit dearer as people prefer to get there before it goes dark, and it arrives first of the UK flights so you get through Immigration quicker. The Virgin flights are OK, but any interaction with their customer service will likely end in (your) tears.


Not sure on the food question - there's a whole bunch of choices but I'm not that familiar with the I-Drive area.

At the risk of you tracking me down and burglarising me, 4th October. Cost me nowt to send an email so it's a shot to nothing and secretly as you say it's probably a better flight apart once we actually get to the airport.

[Sheepshanks]

I was asking as we're going 29th Oct, but I picked a Saturday as less chance they'll cancel one of the flights that day. At that time of year I think most days there's only one flight anyway.

It's a bit North of you, near Universal, but as a reference point, is this is sort of restaurant you had in mind: http://bubbalous.com/ (Kirkman Road one for you)

ETA: I just read back through the thread and see you're staying at Universal anyway - I had it my head you were further down International Drive.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 2nd February 23:23

[Muskythedog]

Sheepshanks said:

I was asking as we're going 29th Oct, but I picked a Saturday as less chance they'll cancel one of the flights that day. At that time of year I think most days there's only one flight anyway.

It's a bit North of you, near Universal, but as a reference point, is this is sort of restaurant you had in mind: http://bubbalous.com/ (Kirkman Road one for you)

That BBQ place looks just what we're after.

[bakerstreet]

Sheepshanks said:

I was asking as we're going 29th Oct, but I picked a Saturday as less chance they'll cancel one of the flights that day. At that time of year I think most days there's only one flight anyway.

It's a bit North of you, near Universal, but as a reference point, is this is sort of restaurant you had in mind: http://bubbalous.com/ (Kirkman Road one for you)

ETA: I just read back through the thread and see you're staying at Universal anyway - I had it my head you were further down International Drive.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Tuesday 2nd February 23:23

That restaurant is being added to our list of places to eat when we head out there in September!! I love BBQ food. Also our flight time has also been changed. The Plane was also downgraded, so we lost our £60 spare seat. Fairly annoyed as we are travelling with a 20 month old

[Sheepshanks]

bakerstreet said:

That restaurant is being added to our list of places to eat when we head out there in September!! I love BBQ food. Also our flight time has also been changed. The Plane was also downgraded, so we lost our £60 spare seat. Fairly annoyed as we are travelling with a 20 month old

That's annoying - is Virgin putting A330's back on?

We're going PE and PE was terrible in an A330 some years ago. I'll be a bit miffed if they mess our flights up.

This place https://4rsmokehouse.com/ gets a lot of recommendations - they started in Winter Park which isn't far from the Universal area. I think it's counter service, but has seating.

[Matt Harper]

Muskythedog said:

Sheepshanks said:

I was asking as we're going 29th Oct, but I picked a Saturday as less chance they'll cancel one of the flights that day. At that time of year I think most days there's only one flight anyway.

It's a bit North of you, near Universal, but as a reference point, is this is sort of restaurant you had in mind: http://bubbalous.com/ (Kirkman Road one for you)

That BBQ place looks just what we're after.

Forgive me for sticking my oar in here, but BubbaLou's is pretty crap barbecue, I'd recommend you try Yellow Dog Eats at Hempel Ave in Gotha (just to the NW of the I-Drive tourist area). It's generally regarded as the best in town and it's off the tourist radar (which is a distinct bonus).

Speaking as a local, I'd suggest you avoid Kirkman Road, period. Too much street crime these days...

4 Rivers Smokehouse is also pretty good - but a real schlep from I-Drive (it's out near University of Central FL, so is also full of pissed students, later in the evening.)

For downtown, go to Wildside BBQ on corner of E Washington and Summerlin - there are some good bars in that neighborhood too.

Just be mindful that the words, International Drive and "authentic" don't really go together.

[Sheepshanks]

Matt Harper said:

Forgive me for sticking my oar in here, but BubbaLou's is pretty crap barbecue, I'd recommend you try Yellow Dog Eats at Hempel Ave in Gotha (just to the NW of the I-Drive tourist area). It's generally regarded as the best in town and it's off the tourist radar (which is a distinct bonus).

Speaking as a local, I'd suggest you avoid Kirkman Road, period. Too much street crime these days...

4 Rivers Smokehouse is also pretty good - but a real schlep from I-Drive (it's out near University of Central FL, so is also full of pissed students, later in the evening.)

For downtown, go to Wildside BBQ on corner of E Washington and Summerlin - there are some good bars in that neighborhood too.

Just be mindful that the words, International Drive and "authentic" don't really go together.

These places aren't my cup of tea at all, but the poster who originally asked wanted triple D so I thought Bubbalou's would fit the bill. I think it's a plastic plate place. I've certainly also seen rave comments about Yellow Dog Eats but didn't realise it was relatively close.

I've been to Winter Park (from WDW) and don't remember it as a huge trek - and from the Universal area it's surely not far at all? Is it really impacted by the university - that looks a good few miles away?

ETA: I just looked and there is a 4 Rivers Smokehouse at the University too - I was referring to their original Winter Park location.

By the way, not quite the same sort of place, but do you know Teak Neighborhood Grill - any good?

Edited by Sheepshanks on Wednesday 3rd February 18:53

[Matt Harper]

Sheepshanks said:

These places aren't my cup of tea at all, but the poster who originally asked wanted triple D so I thought Bubbalou's would fit the bill. I think it's a plastic plate place. I've certainly also seen rave comments about Yellow Dog Eats but didn't realise it was relatively close.

I've been to Winter Park (from WDW) and don't remember it as a huge trek - and from the Universal area it's surely not far at all? Is it really impacted by the university - that looks a good few miles away?

ETA: I just looked and there is a 4 Rivers Smokehouse at the University too - I was referring to their original Winter Park location.

By the way, not quite the same sort of place, but do you know Teak Neighborhood Grill - any good?

Edited by Sheepshanks on Wednesday 3rd February 18:53

Yellow Dod Eats is between Widermere and Ocoee, so the route would be west on Sand Lake Rd to Apopka Vineland and then head north. 10-15mins drive from I-Drive.

You are correct, Winter Park is a short drive eastbound on Interstate 4 and lies just to the north of downtown Orlando.

Universal and University are very different.

Teak Neighborhood Grill has been called so many other things over the years that I've kind of lost track. I first used it as a Friday evening after work venue for my co-workers in 2003 when it first opened. Back then, MetroWest was a pretty decent apartment-complex oriented neighborhood. It's a bit sketchy these days. I started avoiding the place after two friends got their cars broken into in the middle of the afternoon. All of that area on Kirkman, north of Conroy Road is dubious - too close to the ghetto and experiencing increasing incidence of street crime.

[bakerstreet]

Matt Harper said:

Forgive me for sticking my oar in here, but BubbaLou's is pretty crap barbecue, I'd recommend you try Yellow Dog Eats at Hempel Ave in Gotha (just to the NW of the I-Drive tourist area). It's generally regarded as the best in town and it's off the tourist radar (which is a distinct bonus).

Speaking as a local, I'd suggest you avoid Kirkman Road, period. Too much street crime these days...

4 Rivers Smokehouse is also pretty good - but a real schlep from I-Drive (it's out near University of Central FL, so is also full of pissed students, later in the evening.)

For downtown, go to Wildside BBQ on corner of E Washington and Summerlin - there are some good bars in that neighborhood too.

Just be mindful that the words, International Drive and "authentic" don't really go together.

According to the web site, 4 Rivers Smokehouse is opening in Kissimmee in summer 2016. Win Win Thanks for the advice on Kirkman road. Many years ago my step father and I had a week in Florida and we arrived at 1am in the morning and ended up very lost in Miami and we were certainly not driving round Miami's best bits, so that kind of local advice is quite useful.

Now if someone could just point me to somewhere I can purchase the insurance for the hire car then that would be really useful. Like most people I hate a hard sell and I know I will be very tired and cranky (9hrs on a plane with a toddler) and I want to get in and out of the car hire place as quickly as possible. IE, I dont want to be told I have to be more insurance etc etc.

[Matt Harper]

bakerstreet said:

Now if someone could just point me to somewhere I can purchase the insurance for the hire car then that would be really useful. Like most people I hate a hard sell and I know I will be very tired and cranky (9hrs on a plane with a toddler) and I want to get in and out of the car hire place as quickly as possible. IE, I dont want to be told I have to be more insurance etc etc.

Presumably you are booking your rental car (and insurance to a level you are comfortable with) from the UK, right?

If so, just tell the desk clerk you don't need ANY extras, thank-you. End of discussion. They will try to convince you that your world could come to an end if someone's hat blows off and you drive over it, but as long as you are comfortable with the coverage you bought during booking, reiterate - "I DON'T NEED ANY EXTRA COVERAGE, OK?"

They are paid commissions to up-sell insurances, GPS, SunPass etc.etc., which is why they are persistent.