Disney Florida Advice

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nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
We've decided to have our Hol of a life time either next Easter or Easter 2015.

Had a quick look last night on Virgins Website and I'm seeing mainly 13k Holidays !! Way, way out of our price range.

So advice please from the Florida collective who have already done the leg work...

I want it to be an all in package.

I don't want to rent a Villa.
I don't want to hire a car.

Traveling : Me, Mrs H and Little H.
Cost : Must not be over £7k including everything.
Parks to visit : SeaWorld, Disney, Universal any others ?

Maybe a visit to Kennedy.

Are we going to get a decent holiday for that price with a nice place to stay ?




Countdown

39,688 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
I would have though it was easily achievable with a £7k budget. Obv. going during school holidays will make it a bit more expensive but I would have thought it was still do-able. We went last year and it cost just under £12k for 6 of us. However we rented a fantastic villa smile

I would recommend having a look at The Dibb website - there's normally a few good tips on there.

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
Ok, not Easter, but got back last week.

12 days, BA club out, premium economy back, Mustang convertible, 6 person villa with pool, 3 of us, all booked through BA as a package £6500.

You should have no problem with your budget

Odhran

579 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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Skyscanner flights, booking.com hotels should bring it well in under budget.

rasto

2,188 posts

236 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
We did this back in Easter 2006, me + wife + 2 daughters (aged 8 and 5 then). 10 days in Florida, villa + car and then 4 days in New York in a hotel. Cost us just under 10k if I remember correctly and that was with a lot more flights than you so I would imagine it is doable now for your budget.

Things not to miss when you are there:

Fireworks at Epcot, a truly memorable experience.
A day trip down to the Everglades and an airboat trip out in the swamp, great close ups with alligators smile

I wanted to visit Kennedy but we ran out of time. 2 days in the magic kingdom was just about enough time for the girls to see everything without having to rush around and queue for hours at a time. The weather in easter is also quite good as it doesn't get unbearably hot.

It definitely filled our criteria of holiday of a life time.

Sheepshanks

32,522 posts

118 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
Next Easter and Easter 2015 are the same thing!

Easter is about the dearest and busiest time to go.

How old will Little H be when you go? This will make quite a difference to theme park ticket costs (free if the kid is under 3 when you start your holiday).

This is a car forum and you're saying you don't want a car? It's positively mental not to have one possibly unless you're staying on-site (within WDW) and even then we always get one. We had a villa for our last trip (got back last week) and we had 2, even though everyone fitted in one car.

Usually it's cheaper to sort out flights and accommodation separately but not everyone is comfortable doing that. Try somewhere like Charter Travel.

Need to decide which area you want to stay in.

Join The Dibb.

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
Next Easter and Easter 2015 are the same thing!

Easter is about the dearest and busiest time to go.

How old will Little H be when you go? This will make quite a difference to theme park ticket costs (free if the kid is under 3 when you start your holiday).

This is a car forum and you're saying you don't want a car? It's positively mental not to have one possibly unless you're staying on-site (within WDW) and even then we always get one. We had a villa for our last trip (got back last week) and we had 2, even though everyone fitted in one car.

Usually it's cheaper to sort out flights and accommodation separately but not everyone is comfortable doing that. Try somewhere like Charter Travel.

Need to decide which area you want to stay in.

Join The Dibb.
Thanks all :-) Yeah I meant 2015 / 2016 !

This maybe a 'Car Forum' But this is the 'Holidays & Travel' part of that Forum. Am I not allowed to post unless I hire a car ? ;-)

Like I said I do not want to hire a car so please leave it at that ... I don't want this to degenerate into a 'He's not hiring a car' lets bash him thread ...

stevensdrs

3,208 posts

199 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
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I have done the Florida thing 3 times and experience tells me it cannot be done without the use of a car unless you want to spend the whole time in WDW.

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
Thanks all :-) Yeah I meant 2015 / 2016 !

This maybe a 'Car Forum' But this is the 'Holidays & Travel' part of that Forum. Am I not allowed to post unless I hire a car ? ;-)

Like I said I do not want to hire a car so please leave it at that ... I don't want this to degenerate into a 'He's not hiring a car' lets bash him thread ...
This is not a bash.

Please think carefully about not having a car. The US is not public transport friendly. You will seriously constrain yourself without a hire car at least for some of the time. I'm sure you have good reason not to get one, but for a holiday of a lifetime you should consider it.

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
stevensdrs said:
I have done the Florida thing 3 times and experience tells me it cannot be done without the use of a car unless you want to spend the whole time in WDW.
I was hoping that staying in a decent hotel they would run a courtesy bus to the various parks ?

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
This is not a bash.

Please think carefully about not having a car. The US is not public transport friendly. You will seriously constrain yourself without a hire car at least for some of the time. I'm sure you have good reason not to get one, but for a holiday of a lifetime you should consider it.
Noted smile

DUMBO100

1,878 posts

183 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
Every one drives in Florida. It's difficult to get anywhere without a car and you can turn right on a red light. The driving is easy over there so get a big family fun wagon

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
OK... Interested to from anyone who has done the the Florida hol WITHOUT a car.

pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
First time I went about 20 years ago we didn't book a car, we went and got one on day 3 as it was impossible.

As said if you just want to do parks and not really see the other 50% of Orlando you could manage.

Countdown

39,688 posts

195 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
I was hoping that staying in a decent hotel they would run a courtesy bus to the various parks ?
Yes they do but I imagine it would seriously cramp your flexibility. Are you planning to restrict yourself to the 6 WDW theme parks? No eating out or visiting the malls, going airboat riding etc...

CatfishCKY

904 posts

171 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
With regard to your comments about shuttle buses, some hotels do offer them, however it will honestly severely limit you on where you can go or what you can do.
There is so many decent places to eat, so many things to see, so many times a car will be useful I truly believe you should think about reconsidering! smile
For example, we went to a place called Solomon's castle when we went last - and it was two hours away from anything. We never saw any public transport once. Obviously, you probably won't be going to a place like this, but it really will be a disadvantage not to have a car. Especially if if you just cruise up Highway 192 with all its eateries, the world's biggest Orange and one of the biggest roadside alligators, then it's worth having a car just for that smile
As for things to do - with a young one Disney is definitely a must. In my opinion Epcot isn't amazing, but if it's the first time you are going you probably will want to visit. I personally don't support the idea of Seaworld and what it promotes, but again, if it's the first time you are visiting you will probably want to experience it. Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Universal, Islands of Adventure and Aquatica should all probably be on your list to do, they need at least a day each. These could probably be done by shuttle if you were adamant about not having a car. Busch Gardens is another good one but that is Tampa rather than around Orlando like the others. Probably would be doable with a shuttle too, but it will be a long journey!
Hope this helps in some way smile We're going for our fifth time next month, but we are skipping Disney altogether - though Universal will still be done smile

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
OK... Interested to from anyone who has done the the Florida hol WITHOUT a car.
Is hiring a car not possible given your circumstances?

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
simoid said:
Is hiring a car not possible given your circumstances?
Yes. I just don't want to ...

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
Yes. I just don't want to ...
Ok. Prepare for a lot of people to continue telling you it's best to hire a car driving

nick heppinstall

Original Poster:

8,054 posts

279 months

Saturday 6th September 2014
quotequote all
Yes ... Well lets say then that if your post involves car hire from now on then please don't post. I understand what everyone is saying and have taken it on board.

I would like to hear from people that have done the Florida trip without a car.... If their are any !! ;-)