Disney Florida - Likely damage
Discussion
I have made the fatal mistake of epxlaining to my Disney Princess obsesed 3 year old daughther what the castle is on the DVD splash sceen of Disney DVDs. After telling her about Disney Land she said can we go, and I said of course, one day. Now she wont shut up about it and has told all hear friends and teachers at pre-school that she is going.
Out of interest has anyone been recently who can tell me what the likely damage is for this holiday? 2 adults, 2 kids, villa, tickets, flights, car hire. Are we talking a couple of grand or closer to 10?
Out of interest has anyone been recently who can tell me what the likely damage is for this holiday? 2 adults, 2 kids, villa, tickets, flights, car hire. Are we talking a couple of grand or closer to 10?
We did Disney a couple of years ago, I try to forget how much we spent for the two weeks we were there but 9k is a hard number to forget as much as i try that number will haunt me forever.. On the upside your children will love it and you for taking them! (we went in the summer holidays so it was more expensive as is any holiday that time of year)
As above - I have also tried to forget the figure but when we went in May last year - 2 adults, 3 kids - £10k. That was staying in a villa shared with others, but it was also on the basis that we wouldn't be repeating it for a long time. A few mall visits, eating out every night etc soon adds up!
We've been to Disney Florida many times since the mid 80's, but in the last few years the prices have become ridiculous if you want to go during the school holidays (which we have to as the wife is a teacher). The last couple of years we priced 2 adults 2 children around £4k for flight/car/3 star hotel. When you add on theme park tickets of £1k-£1.5k, spending money around £1.5k it soon gets expensive. My advice would be to go during term time in March for example when the temp isn't too hot and the parks aren't too busy and the chances of getting a cheaper deal are much higher.
Went in January for two weeks - me, my wife and our 2 year old.
From memory/ e-mails/ online banking costs were:
Flights and Villa - £2,250 (Virgin flights booked with Villa via Thomas Cook)
Attraction tickets - £800 (Under 3's were free)
Car - £450 (Ford Escape)
Spending money £2,500 (We budgeted £100 a day for food/ drinks and then had quite a few shopping trips)
Total cost c. £6,000
From memory/ e-mails/ online banking costs were:
Flights and Villa - £2,250 (Virgin flights booked with Villa via Thomas Cook)
Attraction tickets - £800 (Under 3's were free)
Car - £450 (Ford Escape)
Spending money £2,500 (We budgeted £100 a day for food/ drinks and then had quite a few shopping trips)
Total cost c. £6,000
RicksAlfas said:
I wouldn't go to Florida until the kids are older and can make the most of it. The last thing you want is to spend all that money and the kids are asleep by 11a.m. standing in a queue to meet Mickey.
Spot on. We went in January more for me and my wife as we wanted to go. At 2 our daughter was a bit too young to fully understand what was going on and missed out on a fair bit. We said when we were there that we wouldn't go back until our youngest (who my wife was carrying in Florida) was 5 (Which also gives us time to save as my wife wants to stay in a Disney hotel next time!) Just booked mine,
2 weeks
GBP
600 villa rental (rent outside disney costs next to nothing and you get 3/4 bedrooms private heated pool)
618 car rental (challenger or camaro)
484 flights return (800 premium economy) (2k for a mix of business and first)
130 disney parking
330 14 day disney/waterparks/universal studios tickets
600 spending money
and thats for one person.
Did it when I was a kid with my family though and was one of the best holidays I've been on! And everyone else is right the Paris one is a waste of money, defiantly no magic there just the Europeans and the faint smell of manure
2 weeks
GBP
600 villa rental (rent outside disney costs next to nothing and you get 3/4 bedrooms private heated pool)
618 car rental (challenger or camaro)
484 flights return (800 premium economy) (2k for a mix of business and first)
130 disney parking
330 14 day disney/waterparks/universal studios tickets
600 spending money
and thats for one person.
Did it when I was a kid with my family though and was one of the best holidays I've been on! And everyone else is right the Paris one is a waste of money, defiantly no magic there just the Europeans and the faint smell of manure
Edited by ez64 on Tuesday 10th July 15:13
Edited by ez64 on Tuesday 10th July 15:15
Edited by ez64 on Tuesday 10th July 15:15
Went last year and paid £400 each for Disney tickets only to find that they closed the Magic Kingdom at 6pm and wanted you to pay another $50 to stay till 11pm. Universal is much better value for money.
Its a downright rip-off now.
Friends there recently said Florida generally has got very expensive - almost as dear to eat out there as it is in the UK.
Cost us about £500 each for flights (via Newark), £400 a week for a villa (but we were friends with the owner and got an extra special deal), £400 each for Disney tickets, £85 for Universal, £550 car hire, $250 fuel. We don't do Busch Gardens or Sea World, or Wet n Wild
We've been several times now and have come to the conclusion that if you go to Florida, go for 3 weeks. Our flights were actually cheaper for 3 weeks than 2, which offset the extra villa cost. Food you would buy anyway, but the extra time lets you go round the parks on alternate days and not come back home needing a holiday!
Its a downright rip-off now.
Friends there recently said Florida generally has got very expensive - almost as dear to eat out there as it is in the UK.
Cost us about £500 each for flights (via Newark), £400 a week for a villa (but we were friends with the owner and got an extra special deal), £400 each for Disney tickets, £85 for Universal, £550 car hire, $250 fuel. We don't do Busch Gardens or Sea World, or Wet n Wild
We've been several times now and have come to the conclusion that if you go to Florida, go for 3 weeks. Our flights were actually cheaper for 3 weeks than 2, which offset the extra villa cost. Food you would buy anyway, but the extra time lets you go round the parks on alternate days and not come back home needing a holiday!
grumpyscot said:
Went last year and paid £400 each for Disney tickets only to find that they closed the Magic Kingdom at 6pm and wanted you to pay another $50 to stay till 11pm.
Did you go out of season? We were there last month and the fireworks didn't finish until 10.30 so there was no danger of it closing at 6!
We have been to Florida several times and Euro Disney twice.
All I can say is, save up for Florida!
<rant>
Euro Disney is :
- Very expensive for food and drink.
- Very badly run, the rides are operated very slowly and have rubbish capacity as a result, leading to massive queues.
- Full of rude people who push in ( most seem to be French ).
- Shows are in French so not ideal for kids unless they are bi-lingual!
- Weather is normally crap.
- Hotels are expensive and not very good.
- Food places are massively over crowded and over priced.
Florida is also busy as you would expect but the staff are friendly, rides are run very efficiently, food is reasonably priced, weather is usually good and there are four parks to choose from ( not to mention Universal, Busch Gardens and others in the area ).
I think it is a great shame they didn't build Euro Disney in southern Germany. If you want to go to a fantastic park in Europe with fantastic rides which is fantastically run try Europa Park!
Euro Disney is hell on earth and should be demolished.
</rant>
All I can say is, save up for Florida!
<rant>
Euro Disney is :
- Very expensive for food and drink.
- Very badly run, the rides are operated very slowly and have rubbish capacity as a result, leading to massive queues.
- Full of rude people who push in ( most seem to be French ).
- Shows are in French so not ideal for kids unless they are bi-lingual!
- Weather is normally crap.
- Hotels are expensive and not very good.
- Food places are massively over crowded and over priced.
Florida is also busy as you would expect but the staff are friendly, rides are run very efficiently, food is reasonably priced, weather is usually good and there are four parks to choose from ( not to mention Universal, Busch Gardens and others in the area ).
I think it is a great shame they didn't build Euro Disney in southern Germany. If you want to go to a fantastic park in Europe with fantastic rides which is fantastically run try Europa Park!
Euro Disney is hell on earth and should be demolished.
</rant>
I have spent some of the figures mentioned on family holidays but to spend it going to a theme park, no flippin' way.
Cost me over £120 just to take myself and my two eldest to Thorpe Park. Thing was they didn't want to go on any of the good rides as they were too scared. Leaving your kids by a tree and then trying to keep a bead on them whilst flying around on a roller coaster was not one of my best ideas
Cost me over £120 just to take myself and my two eldest to Thorpe Park. Thing was they didn't want to go on any of the good rides as they were too scared. Leaving your kids by a tree and then trying to keep a bead on them whilst flying around on a roller coaster was not one of my best ideas
We've been 4 or 5 times.
Previously we've been during term time, when the kids were young. We never paid more than 2k for flights/villa/car. On top of that the weather is nicer, and the queues are tiny.
This year were going in the school holidays, and flights/villa/car is costing us just over 4k for the 4 of us.
We did get a great deal on a 6 bed, two living room villa, at £500 per week. We don't need the space, but it was the same cost as a 3 bed place!
Previously we've been during term time, when the kids were young. We never paid more than 2k for flights/villa/car. On top of that the weather is nicer, and the queues are tiny.
This year were going in the school holidays, and flights/villa/car is costing us just over 4k for the 4 of us.
We did get a great deal on a 6 bed, two living room villa, at £500 per week. We don't need the space, but it was the same cost as a 3 bed place!
croyde said:
I have spent some of the figures mentioned on family holidays but to spend it going to a theme park, no flippin' way.
Cost me over £120 just to take myself and my two eldest to Thorpe Park. Thing was they didn't want to go on any of the good rides as they were too scared. Leaving your kids by a tree and then trying to keep a bead on them whilst flying around on a roller coaster was not one of my best ideas
I'm not sure you can compare Thorpe Park with the parks in Orlando Cost me over £120 just to take myself and my two eldest to Thorpe Park. Thing was they didn't want to go on any of the good rides as they were too scared. Leaving your kids by a tree and then trying to keep a bead on them whilst flying around on a roller coaster was not one of my best ideas
The cost of flights is the main variable expense. It will be a lot cheaper if you go outside school holidays - so you might want to consider that as a reason for going before the kids are school age. I went around Easter time and paid £1000 per person return to Miami...because Orlando was £1500. You should be able to half that at a different time of year.
I found Easter uncomfortably hot as it was 90 every day, although this was a record apparently. Summer will be unbearable - even September is very hot and humid.
Find out when the US holidays are and avoid that time as well. And avoid the main parks at weekends. The parks are not enjoyable place when it is busy...far too many crowds for my liking.
I found Easter uncomfortably hot as it was 90 every day, although this was a record apparently. Summer will be unbearable - even September is very hot and humid.
Find out when the US holidays are and avoid that time as well. And avoid the main parks at weekends. The parks are not enjoyable place when it is busy...far too many crowds for my liking.
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