Florida & Disney

[x5tuu]

To everyone mentioning about Villas, there is also the like of the Hilton Grand Vacations properties (Marriott, IHG, etc, all do their own versions too), that are serviced apartments on gated complexes with all the amenities of a hotel and villa combined into one with great pools and security.

Worth a consider, theyre what we used to use out there and always delivered.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

sjg said:

This has been a useful read, planning to go next October (SIL 50th, kids will be 9 and 7 and they get a 2 week half term). Main thing is Disney but planning a day trip out to Kennedy Space Center, maybe a day at Universal for my Minions-obsessed son and a few other things.

Going back and forth between a week in a Disney hotel then villa or just doing a villa for the fortnight - what's the realistic time from the close-by villa complexes to the Disney parks with traffic, parking up etc? The Disney rooms are £££ but is it worth it if you can escape the middle of the day, cool off in the pool then go back a bit later?

imho disney transport is really not great so popping back isnt exactly a 5 minute thing its easier if your at a skyliner hotel but if your on the bus!

journey time can very massively depending where you stay say windsor hills as a close one its 2.9 miles to holly wood studios that could be 10 minutes it could be 30 minutes it could be longer still if st happens champions gate another popular area about 12 miles 16 to 30 minutes it says to get there for 9am but ive been sat on 14 for over an hour doing that journey

you could stay in one of the hotels at lake buena vista close to disney springs like the candle wood suites or the other side of the i4 the holiday inn resort lake buena vista (7-14 minutes) hotels can be cheap and closer to the parks and have easy access to food and other supplies

disney pop century is a 32 minute walk and skyliner ride to get to hollywood studios and a 5-10 minute car journey but i dont know if it goes via another resort first so that could be higher

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Wednesday 6th September 11:57

[Mashwort]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

who did you use?
we used fun2dive this year and before that captain mikes we preferred fun2dive

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Tuesday 5th September 12:04

We used Manatees in Paradise and would highly recommend. They take a max of 6 people out on the trip and seemed very focused on the wellbeing of the animals - we noticed other operators dumping 10 to 12 people into the water near a pair and paying little attention to what their 'guests' were upto. We paid a little extra to have the boat to ourselves and the guys where brilliant at finding a manatee in an area my son felt comfortable swimming in (he wasn't keen in the murkier water).

[Mashwort]

sjg said:

This has been a useful read, planning to go next October (SIL 50th, kids will be 9 and 7 and they get a 2 week half term). Main thing is Disney but planning a day trip out to Kennedy Space Center, maybe a day at Universal for my Minions-obsessed son and a few other things.

Going back and forth between a week in a Disney hotel then villa or just doing a villa for the fortnight - what's the realistic time from the close-by villa complexes to the Disney parks with traffic, parking up etc? The Disney rooms are £££ but is it worth it if you can escape the middle of the day, cool off in the pool then go back a bit later?

drive from our villa (Old Lake Windsor Road) was about 10 to 15 mins (never had any traffic issues), then about another 10 or so minutes to get parked up / walk to entrance (bit longer in magic kingdom as you need to ride monorail / boat as well). Time to get through security and then through the entrance really depended on time of day (we tried early doors a couple of times and spent 45mins or so waiting and my finger print never worked so had to wait for a supervisor every time). Guess big advantage of hotels is the early entry.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Mashwort said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

who did you use?
we used fun2dive this year and before that captain mikes we preferred fun2dive

Edited by Trustmeimadoctor on Tuesday 5th September 12:04

We used Manatees in Paradise and would highly recommend. They take a max of 6 people out on the trip and seemed very focused on the wellbeing of the animals - we noticed other operators dumping 10 to 12 people into the water near a pair and paying little attention to what their 'guests' were upto. We paid a little extra to have the boat to ourselves and the guys where brilliant at finding a manatee in an area my son felt comfortable swimming in (he wasn't keen in the murkier water).

will look at that company for next year

yeah the first trip we did was more people this time there was 4 of us but they guide was trying to control them other boats were shocking though, this time it was very quiet and people were well behaved but we did the 7am swim as well americans dont get up that early!

[Timothy Bucktu]

We are in Florida now. One thing that immediately springs to mind is...its ferociously expensive everywhere!!
I mean inside the parks you kind of expect it...soft drinks are $5 a pop. Ice creams and the like...$6. Burger and chips...$16 all plus tax (so nearly £100 a pop for four of us!). We now buy sandwiches in the morning and take them in the parks.
Eating out...we did it once a few days ago when we first arrived. But after leaving with a £130 lighter Chase card (food, plus tax, plus the obligatory 20% tip) for four people for a very basic meal...we now buy stuff from Walmart and cook it in the villa. Which is also pretty expensive, but not quite so much.
We think the UK is expensive...but my God the US is crazy now.
I know PH members are all millionaires, and will no doubt ridicule anyone talking about expenses...but just be prepared for the huge cost is all I suggest to the normal people. I'm not struggling, and knew things had got bad here so was prepared...its not till you see it though that it hits home.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

i was watching a guy the other day a gallon of milk bread and jam was $18 where he was


there was an interesting video by even edinger on food costs usa vs uk and that was using sainsburys as a benchmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqu4F9PhDsc

then vs aldi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmWBqjBLVYM



on the whole americans do get paid more than us $55640 so about £44600 at the moment obviously other things over there are different like income tax etc no idea what average take home is

[bakerstreet]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

i was watching a guy the other day a gallon of milk bread and jam was $18 where he was


there was an interesting video by even edinger on food costs usa vs uk and that was using sainsburys as a benchmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqu4F9PhDsc

then vs aldi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmWBqjBLVYM



on the whole americans do get paid more than us $55640 so about £44600 at the moment obviously other things over there are different like income tax etc no idea what average take home is

Florida is notoriously expensive for groceries and I am told that Orlando is particularly bad. I suspect some of this is down to a bit hiking for the tourists.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Indeed get out from the tourist bit it drops but not a huge amount but $10 pints are all too common

[98elise]

Timothy Bucktu said:

We are in Florida now. One thing that immediately springs to mind is...its ferociously expensive everywhere!!
I mean inside the parks you kind of expect it...soft drinks are $5 a pop. Ice creams and the like...$6. Burger and chips...$16 all plus tax (so nearly £100 a pop for four of us!). We now buy sandwiches in the morning and take them in the parks.
Eating out...we did it once a few days ago when we first arrived. But after leaving with a £130 lighter Chase card (food, plus tax, plus the obligatory 20% tip) for four people for a very basic meal...we now buy stuff from Walmart and cook it in the villa. Which is also pretty expensive, but not quite so much.
We think the UK is expensive...but my God the US is crazy now.
I know PH members are all millionaires, and will no doubt ridicule anyone talking about expenses...but just be prepared for the huge cost is all I suggest to the normal people. I'm not struggling, and knew things had got bad here so was prepared...its not till you see it though that it hits home.

It's one of the reasons we always have a villa.

[Actual]

98elise said:

It's one of the reasons we always have a villa.

We do villa but don't cook much more than snacks as US grocery stores are vast but basic and don't seem to have the equivalent Finest or Taste the Difference ready meals.

[ecsrobin]

Timothy Bucktu said:

We are in Florida now. One thing that immediately springs to mind is...its ferociously expensive everywhere!!
I mean inside the parks you kind of expect it...soft drinks are $5 a pop. Ice creams and the like...$6. Burger and chips...$16 all plus tax (so nearly £100 a pop for four of us!). We now buy sandwiches in the morning and take them in the parks.
Eating out...we did it once a few days ago when we first arrived. But after leaving with a £130 lighter Chase card (food, plus tax, plus the obligatory 20% tip) for four people for a very basic meal...we now buy stuff from Walmart and cook it in the villa. Which is also pretty expensive, but not quite so much.
We think the UK is expensive...but my God the US is crazy now.
I know PH members are all millionaires, and will no doubt ridicule anyone talking about expenses...but just be prepared for the huge cost is all I suggest to the normal people. I'm not struggling, and knew things had got bad here so was prepared...its not till you see it though that it hits home.

We did Florida in April, my wife shot of part way through to catch up with friends outside of San Diego, it made Florida cheap! Having spoken to a few others it seems Florida is one of the more cheaper places to eat out in the US right now.

[bakerstreet]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Indeed get out from the tourist bit it drops but not a huge amount but $10 pints are all too common

Same as London. My leaving drinks were in the depths of lockdown and App Ordering was just made available at the pub nearest the office. a pint of ale was £7.95

I hardly ever drink, so price of alcohol doesn't bother me too much. We are flying out Christmas Day for 11 nights. Its been the dream holiday for years. Staying in a apartment complex with pool and gym and that will have everything we need. Happy with breakfast in the apartment and we will probably resort to food in the parks, but certainly not every day.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

honestly the park food isnt great at all
its all done for the "gram" as in it takes a nice picture but flavor is left way down the line of things they have given a st about

except dole whips and the buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich at the ABC Commissary at hollywood studios they are always good

and at $11.59 with a side the grilled cheese is great value (comparatively)

[bakerstreet]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

honestly the park food isnt great at all
its all done for the "gram" as in it takes a nice picture but flavor is left way down the line of things they have given a st about

except dole whips and the buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich at the ABC Commissary at hollywood studios they are always good

and at $11.59 with a side the grilled cheese is great value (comparatively)

You are saying what I have read elsewhere. I have a sweet tooth, so looking forward to trying some of the deserts and I don't have a complicated pallet, so my expectations are low. I won't be wasting my money on a cup cake though. Style over substance!

I quite fancy trying the Konga French Toast at the Polynesian Resort. Trying to build up a list of places worth trying, so welcome any recommendations. Has to be proper cooked deserts though.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

avoid the carrot cake cookie


people love it for some reason it was a bland cold lump of meh

sanna at animal kingdom lodge is a decent place to eat the bread service is great

usually the best stuff is at the pop up food places during the food festival and garden festival at epcot

also base line taphouse in hollywood studios


also avoid the spring rolls especially the hamburger ones everyone loves ive never eaten a more inedible geese flavored spring roll in my life

the cobb salad at the brown derby is good to oat hollywood studio

[scouseVR6]

littlebasher said:

scouseVR6 said:

We are going in early June next year, 2 adults 2 children, these post are very useful as we need to plan carefully to get lots done

If you haven't already, book car via Alamo Brits (google it), as it was cheaper and included all the options. Regularly recheck prices then rebook every time the price drops. I did it around 5 times and by the end the price was half what i originally paid.

We went June -> July earlier this year. It was roasting hot and very busy everywhere, barely any rain.

Universal made Disney look quiet. If i could turn back the clock, i would have saved myself $$$ and not bothered with it.

Animal Kingdom by far the quietest of all the Disney Parks. Walked straight on to most of the rides that day.

If you go to the Kennedy Space Centre, try to pick a date where there isn't a launch. We queued for an hour just to get into the car park !

We are going end of May early June so hoping its a bit quieter, we are not going to hire a car and just use the taxis and buses

[Chuffedmonkey]

Outside of the parks I thought food prices in restaurant's were comparable to the UK (Harvester, TGI Fridays, Franki and Bennies etc), its the tips that make the difference. 18/20% percent on top. 4 meals around 15-20 dollars plus a few drinks and tips its easy to spend 130 dollars plus. A lot of places include the tip within the bill, its worth checking your receipt so you don't tip twice.

Beer in the parks is eyewatering, Anything from 10 to 15 Dollars. Outside the parks expect 6 to 8 Dollars but they do sell different sizes from 14Oz,16Oz up to 22Oz. We did happen to stop at a bar quite away out from the parks whilst our Wives were out doing something. It was a bit of a rough place. food for burgers and fries was around 8 dollars but we didn't eat there. We did drink though, 8 beers and 4 kids soft drinks with unlimited refills $40.

I thought clothing would be cheaper, I wanted a new pair of Jeans (Levi's), possibly new trainers or boots but they are cheaper in the UK. Crocks if that's your thing are cheaper Wife got a pair about 25 pound cheaper then the UK (Barbie). We visited Disney Springs and a couple of Malls around the area.

Supermarkets I agree seem expensive, I don't think I found anything that was cheaper than the UK.

Overall its an expensive place and I mostly think it is because its full of Tourists. venture out a little, far away from tourism and the prices for food and drink are cheap. We visited all the Disney parks, Universal, Sea World and Clear Water. They are all same prices as above as its tourism.

[x5tuu]

scouseVR6 said:

We are going end of May early June so hoping its a bit quieter, we are not going to hire a car and just use the taxis and buses

It won’t be - prime time for lots of end of term school trips, end of term university trips, some US schools will be finished for the summer then too. Be prepared for large groups of kids in matching T-shirts running raucous through the parks.

There will be a lot less brits though.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

x5tuu said:

scouseVR6 said:

We are going end of May early June so hoping its a bit quieter, we are not going to hire a car and just use the taxis and buses

It won’t be - prime time for lots of end of term school trips, end of term university trips, some US schools will be finished for the summer then too. Be prepared for large groups of kids in matching T-shirts running raucous through the parks.

There will be a lot less brits though.

Spring break! Prepare for the dudes