Family of 5 planning florida may 08 please give your ideas on best hotels and park ticket packages youve used?

Show all answers

itchianna

I purchased a book to help me plan our first trip, it was wonderful and even told when and where to stand for parades. We have made one trip every 18 months for a total of eight trips. All my children were over 5 when we went so some of this may not apply to you.

We stayed in moderate and value resorts. We tend to leave early and return late so the PoP Century is our favorite. We always get the Park Hopper Tickets to allow us to avoid crowds. We also take advantage of the Dinning Plan. The last three trips we kept all reciepts and documented a saving of at least $ 525 savings each trip.
We prearrange priority seating 120 days before our trip. I then make an itenerary for each day with each meal and the reservation number.
Character Meals are a blast for all, my youngest is 15 and still loves the meals. Go the www.waltdisneyworld.com and search for meal, the descriptions are great.
We also purchase the refillable cups at the hotel, one person goes gets coffee, tea, juice and or hot chocolate each morning and each night.
We wear waist packs because they are easiest for the rides, and we now carry the single serving koolaid packages, cheese sticks and beef sticks, snacks are for the lines and not hunger the dinning plan is amazing, but lines tend to be annoying. We also pack books, IPODs, game boys an download videos to their IPod each nignt for entertainment in lines.
You can not go wrong with a Disney Vacation, there are numerous books for preplanning and websites are helpful too.

Good Luck and have a Blast

viporlandovillas

Over the years we have found the private villas to be the most cost effective for us - especially when you are not flying in 'peak season' and you dont mind driving to the parks.

Best thing about that is that you have 4/5 bedrooms instead of 1/2 at the hotels. We also have 3 bathrooms which is a blessing when 5 adults and one child are trying to get ready.

Some days we have breakfast at the villa and others we have them on the way to the parks - the all you can eat buffets will set you up for most of the day. You can stock up on drinks, food and snacks from the local supermarkets so the family can eat and drink when they want.

It also means that with little ones, you can get back to the villa during the hottest part of the day for a dip in the pool or a nap in the cool then back to the parks for the evening shows feeling refreshed.

Sorry, I realise this sounds like and advert, it is not, it is simply my opinion and how we manage to save money.

You will have a great time and will want to go back again and again.

paul p

Hello,
i dont know if you have already planneds a date for your trip but if you have not check out the school holidays for both america and england as this makes the parks packed. Also avoid things like american equivelent to bank holidays as they are also really busy. We went this feb and landed when it was presidents day. We knew about it but thought that one day would only affect us for one day. Wrong!!!! presidents day is a celebration that lasts all week over there and its also the busiest time you can go so the locals said. A definate one to avoid.

As for where to stay. We have been three times now and i can hand on heart say that staying in a villa is without a doubt our favourite. We had a villa with a pool and jucuzzi, games room inc pool table air hockey and foosball. laundery room, outside poolside shower and toilet, two master suites both with en suite and two twin rooms that shared their own bathroom, walk in wardrobes for every room and every item you could want in the kitchen all for about Â£500 a week. Obviously you can get hotels for cheaper but the experience is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. It makes the holiday for us. It feels like you live there for the duration.

Park tickets will depend on your groups interests.
Epcot is thought of as boring for a lot of people. Personally i like it. Its like a walk around the world with some rides thrown in. Not the most exiting park, more relaxing than the others and not so in your face. Magic Kingdom is a must if you have little ones. Things like its a small world are there and the shows there are the best ones. MGM studios are also good and there is lots here for your age kids buzz lightyear etc.

If you want to get up close to dolphins and see shamu then dont forget sea world. If you have the money to you could also swim with dolphins at discovery cove which is like paradise island. They only allow 1000 visitors a day in there so the experience is nice and personal but unfotunatly your youngest would not be able to swim.

For fast rides go to Universal studios. They have ALL the classics like ET JAWS and back to the future and loads more to boot. If you are likely to go out of a night time a good place is downtown disney which will be covered on certain tickets. One thing their kids love is Disney Quest. It is five floors of arcade games, kids rides, design your own roller coaster and ride it and SO much more.

If you punch in "Disney dvd florida free" you will find a free informational dvd which disney will send to you which breaks down all the experiences superbly and will help you decide where you want to spend you time and your hard earnt cash. You can also get the same type of dvd for the universal tickets which is the orlando flexiticket.

Beleive me if you have decided to go for two weeks this will definatly not be enough time. We have been three times and there is loads we have not done.

Before i go you should also take a look at Gatorland. It is the oldest park they have over there its great. I have photos of my kids sitting on a 15ft gator and no one else holding it for safety. Its a great shot.

I could talk all day about the place as its absolutely brilliant and im jealous your going and im not.

For a good beach check out clearwater. Tom cruise has a place there to give you an idea how nice it is.

Simon W

If I was you (and if your budget allows), stay in the WDW Resort. You get (or got a few years ago when we last stayed there) your park hopper tickets for your stay unlimited and thrown in as part of the deal.

Added to this you get free shuttle buses that run VERY regularly to all of the four parks and two water parks and Downtown Disney.

We stayed in the All Star Resorts, which were very good to be honest. As a simple base in the heart of WDW they were perfect. They sold cups for about $10 which came with free refills throughout the stay and the food court offered enough choice for breakfast (the only meal we were in for!) at reasonable prices.

If you fancy something more upmarket try any of the other resorts, but we've stayed in the value resorts on four occasions and cannot fault them. Also, your children will love the giant themed figures around the place.

If you do this you can still make the most of the rest of Florida. Spend a day or two in Universal and SeaWorld. There are coaches available (for a small fee) or if you have a car then International Drive is within 20minutes of the Resort and if you come back early (as you may from SeaWorld)- simply catch a bus into one of the four theme parks for the rest of your day.

I'd also recommend spending at least one evening seeing what International Drive has to offer- it's buzzing! Like a family-orientated Vegas in the East.

Finally, if any of the children are boys, check out Skull Kingdom. It may be a bit scary for the five year old and possibly the eight year old, but I loved it when I first went (at 10 years old) and its worth considering depending on how steady your family's nerves are!

btlrboyz

we stayed at the polynesian--any hotel with the monorail made our stay so easy. It was also nice to have a beach area to use and a pool. We didn't get hopper passes--my kids were done at the parks around 5 and then we went to hang at the hotel. We plan to go back in 2009 so we got non-expiring tix. If you don't plan to return in the close future you won't need that. Definately do the dinning plan--you will save $$$~~~

ead824

I recommend the DisneyWorld vacations. Now beofre you go all out on the disney vacations website, check with your credit card company to see if you have reward points, if so you may have enough to cover airline tickets and or rental car.
Definitely stay at the All Star Movies resort I do every year when my family & I vacation in Florida. It is a Disney value resort very reasonable rates, clean & safe for the kids. Stay on the disney property gives you advantages such as, Free Transportation services to & from the parks; if you are driving staying at a Disney resort gives you free parking at all the parks.
The tickets I recommend are length of stay park hoppers, unlimited access to all theme parks, water parks, disney quest (an interactive video arcade, but much much more than an arcade.)
I hope this information helps if you need more information regarding disney check out their website you can find everything I mentioned including photo's. Take care & good luck with your vacation planning.

JOHANNA C

Hotel, Sheraton vistana resort in Lake Buena vista, beautiful 2 bed apartments, and an ideal location 5 minute drive to Disney, 7 minute drive to Seaworld, and about 15 minutes max to universal. such an ideal location. we have only just got back from there and loved every minute, i will stay at same hotel next time i visit.. we bought the disney 14 day ticket and universal 5park flex ticket for 14 days. i would reccomend these. you will have a great time.

Dan

Most first time visitors zero in on Disney, and for good reason, and you didn't say how long you'll be here or your mode of transportation. But, as well known as Disney may be, there is MUCH more to do here. Cape Canaveral, the beaches, the Florida Keys, the Everglades, St Augustine (nation's oldest city), and that is just in south and central Florida.

One area that often doesn't get the publicity that Orlando gets is North Florida. I live in a small town just north of Gainesville (that is where the University of Florida is located). In our area, we have world class springs. Many divers from all over the world come here to do cave diving. And, we have crystal clear springs and rivers so that you can do tubing, canoeing, etc. A lot of swimming areas all over Florida as well.

My suggestion would be that you go online to the Florida Tourism folks (google search) and write for a travel guide. Start with that, and then you can do other searches to find the best prices. With kids in that age span, you'll have to do a variety of things because the 10 year old and 5 year old may not like the same things.........I'm a native Floridian and know the state pretty well, so if I can help, feel free to ask me questions as you plan.

gdovhull

Definately get a villa not a hotel room especially with children of that age. It can be a real struggle in a small hotel room after a long hot day at the theme parks. A villa makes it much easier and gives you alot more time and space.
If you really want to stay on resort then Disney do have some villas at the wilderness lodge but they can be very expensive and the only real benefit is that some parks open an hour early for people on resort but it can be really hard to get anywhere that isn't Disney unless you get a car.
Universal studios also have their own hotels but my advice is to get a villa which are suprisingly cheap. The best location I find are the places off the Highway 27. We stayed in southern dunes the last time we visited and it was very high quality.

As for tickets I would suggest the Disney magic your way pass as it includes all disney parks which i'm sure you will want to do with your children. Also I suggest a 7-day park hopper at universal which is probably more suited to your 10 and 8 year old (depending how much they like rides).
Sea world, Busch Gardens and Discovery cove sometimes do a combined ticket but I would not recommend Busch gardens for you, most of the rides are very large looped rollercoasters that do not really suit anyone under 12. There is still a small safari here but disney's animal kingdom is much better and of a higher quality. Adding that busch gardens is at least an hours drive away then I wouldn't bother.

Have a great holiday and don't hesitate to contact me for more info. :)

willy444

Hello. When we took our kids a few years ago we got a hotel right on Disney's property. I can't remember the name but it was a medium rated one. It was excellent though. It was costlier than hotels not at the resort but very convenient. You won't spend much time in it anyway but the buses picked you up nearby to take you to the sites. The biggest advantage is that you get to have an early morning pass that allows those who stay at the resort to get on all of the rides before the outside world. You won't wait in long lines and you can go on all of the most popular ones before anyone else. It was so worth it. Then when others come into the resort ,you can go to the less popular ones and not wait because most are lining up for what you already experienced. Being onsite reduces time and stress. Disney will also bring your bags to your room from the airport and will deliver them to the airport when you depart. It all worked out perfectly for us. Also,we got a paperback book on how to visit Disney cheaply. These and many more suggestions were in it. Check with a bookstore about this. Have a great time.

interstatetours

Orlando is truly a magical place to come visit for your vacation. Definitely one that will make a long-lasting impression. Depending on your budget, then it would be wheter or not I would recommend staying within Disney or at a Hotel right outside of Disney. Staying within Disney truly has its perks, however, it is fairly more expensive than staying off Disney property.
We are actually a Tour Operator here in the area, we offer Vacation Packages, Hotels Accommodations, Tickets and more, you can visit us at http://www.interstatetours.com or write us at info@interstatetours.com and we will be more than happy to further assist you in planing your dream vacation.
Good Luck and hope to see you in Florida soon!

princealixfever

youve probably already guessed disney world. but i can tell you that they have good packages for familys such as park hoppers or magic your way. disney has a large number of hotels but my favorite is the grand floridian. Disney world is a great place. the magical effect it has on kids is unbelievable. if u decide to go there then cherish that moment. im 13 years old and i really do miss that place. i want a job with disney as well because its affected me so much.

Molly SH

To be honest, the Disney website itself is great with prices if you do a magic your way package. Choose your hotel, tickets (get the park hopper) and the dining plan. Definitely ask for the magical express transportation to and from the airport.

Get your airline tickets separately. I got mine on Air Tran and they were incredibly cheap. You can go with orbitz, travelocity, cheaptickets, etc. but remember that they charge a small fee in there. For example, my Air Tran flight on the Air Tran website was $99/person. On the other websites, that same flight was $105. They are charging you more because you are paying for the convenience for them to search many airlines. Use them to search, but when you find a flight go to that airlines website, and see how much that flight is from the website, often times it is cheaper

Since you are staying on property you don't need to rent a car because Disney provides transportation to all the hotels, parks and the airport. If you need to go to Universal Studios, Sea World, or somewhere off property use Mears Transportation services. You call them 24 hours before you need the service and they will provide roundtrip service. 407-423-5566

Because it is Disney, you will spend around 2 grand, but if you get the dining plan (which I believe is free for trips through Sept 22) you will save tons of money because you will not have to pay for lunch and dinner.

To utilize your plan properly and get the most out of eat. Use the counter service meal for lunch, the table for dinner (try and go with the more expensive restaurants) and if you can use the snacks to buy cereal and milk in the morning or a snack during the day.

In your luggage, pack a 24 pack of water and bring the bottles to the park. Water in Disney costs around $4, so if you bring a bottle per person you can fill it up at water fountains. Plus you can use the empty suitcase at the end of the trip to bring home souvenirs.

Get the Disney Credit card for your trip and your trip only. You get 0% apr for the next 6 months, so you can pay off your trip in 6 months with no fees! Also you get Disney Reward points. You can then trade these in for Disney reward Dollars, which is basically a gift card that you can use in Disney. This means that your trip just gave you money for souvenirs and other stuff to use in the park.

One more tip. Start saving your change. Use this as the souvenir fund or another fund that you will need money for. You will be surprised how fast your change adds up. We have been saving since March and we have $80 and we almost never use cash!

Disney has 5 different seasons for 2007. based on the hotel you are looking at the seasons change slightly, but not much. they are Value Season (when there are the least crowds, regular season, summer season, peak season, and holiday season. based on these seasons you can tell when the crowds are heaviest. Value season is when the hotels are the cheapest and Holiday is the most expensive. everything is is in order from lowest to highest.

Value season: Jan 1-Feb14, Aug 5-Oct 3, Nov 25-Dec 19
Regular season: April 15-May 23, Oct 4-Nov 24
Summer Season: May 24-Aug 4
Peak Season: Feb 15-April 14
Holiday Season: Dec 20-Dec 31

If you want to avoid crowds, try going during the value season

houghton weaver

try this travel firm they have been good to us in the past,just email them from their website with your dates etc

http://www.kenwoodtravel.com/

for theme park ticket try this site,we always buy ours before we go its cheaper and you dont feel the pinch on your wallet as you have already purchased them

http://www.themeparkticketsdirect.com/tickets/web_finder.buy

have a nice stay

SCOTT & ELLIE W

write me privately with budget, number of days, gender of kids, etc...

Too many variables otherwise!

ivette2929

Have something very important in mind, Disney raise their ticket prices and the same thing did Universal Studios couple of days ago.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: