Please help - problems deciding where to stay/what to do???

[neil2jo]

Hi all, I would be grateful if anyone could please offer some advice as I am a little lost with what to do. I aplogise in advance for the many questions.

I am quite a newbie and have only been to WDW once before in 2006 with my DH & DS who was 2. We stayed at ASM for 7 nights and then drove to Clearwater for 7 nights.

While this was all very nice, my DH did not like ASM at all and has agreed if we go back this year he wants to stay somewhere else.

We are looking to go at the end of March for 14 nights (school holidays!!). We would like 7 nights Disney and 7 nights somewhere else. My DS is now 4 and we have a 1 yr old DD. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where we could go this time for the second 7 nights which would not involve too much driving and is suitable for children. Also do you all go for package deals or do you always book everything yourself separately?

A travel agent has quoted me £3,000 for us to fly to Miami, stay 1 night, take a Royal Caribbean cruise for 3 nights and then a 10 night stay at the Comfort Inn in LBV and to then fly home from Orlando. The price seemed o.k to us but I have seen bad reviews about the Comfort Inn & think it will be worse than ASM. DH also thinks we will not get the 7 nights chill out holiday that he also wants.

Any suggestions would be greatfully received. Sorry for the long post. Thanks

[Mrs Doubtfire]

hi there

Are you wanting to stay on or off site when at Disney - also will you be hiring a car as this will affect the decision as to where it is best to stay.

Samantha

[neil2jo]

Hi,

Sorry, I should have said. Yes we will be hiring a car. I would like to stay on site if the price was right but would consider off site if the hotel was nice, nice pool for the kids, fairly close to Disney etc.

Thanks

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We have stayed at POR (this gets good reviews) & WL (pricier) - you may be able to get cheaper off some sites. If Wayne sees this thread he will give you the info!

Off site lately we have stayed at Windsor Hills & rented a TH with a splash pool. WH is very close to AK & only a short drive. You also have a lot more space than staying in a hotel room.Also stayed at Sheraton Vistana in a condo on Intnl Drive South.

I'm sure other will pitch in with sugeestions. I normally don't buy a package nowadays, but always check prices incase it does work out cheaper.

[casinocolin]

What is it you dont like about ASM?

[neil2jo]

My DH thought that the rooms at ASM were very dark inside and he felt quite clostraphobic?? Also, he found them a bit small for having a lively child with you. He knows you get what you pay for and it was probably not helped by the fact that when we went to Clearwater for our second 7 nights the room was large and very bright so made ASM seem worse.

[wayneg]

Hi
Where to start.
Is there a reason flying into Miami? RCCL also do 3 and 4 nights from Port Canaveral. I have just booked 4 night for August just over £200 each for outside cabin from here cruisedirect.com(they give 2.5%cashback thru rpoints.com)
We stayed at Comfort Inn LBV last Xmas, others have no problems there he had roaches and cleaning was non existant. Glad we had only paid £20/night.
ASM, I agree stayed there 8 years ago, small rooms, very basic, overpriced, will not go back there again.
I presume you mean this Easter? If so I think you have left it too late for good prices on flights, virgin dont even have availabilty on a lot of dates.
Easter is not the cheapest time to be getting rooms, somewhere like here is reasonable, just built, can get for under £40/night for a 2 bedroom condo. http://www.caneislandrental.com/ near Old Town if you know it.
So many options, get back if you want any info or help with anything.
We didn't like Clearwater either. You have probably picked the 3 things we have not liked in all 14 years of visiting Florida, Clearwater, Comfort Inn and ASM.:rotfl2:

[neil2jo]

Hi Wayne.

In answer to your questions. The travel agent (Going Places) decided it would be best for us to fly to Miami, stay the night and get the cruise from there - not our choice. We liked the cruise idea as it was different but ideally wanted it after our time in Orlando and not at the beginning.

Yes I am talking about this Easter. Its actually after the easter bank holiday but I had a feeling we had left things a little late. To be honest we were unsure where to go this year because of our 1 yr old but then decided we should get on o.k. in Disney.

I'm glad we were not the only ones who did not like ASM & Clearwater and the more I read about the Comfort Inn I am finding more bad than good so whatever happens I don't think I would like to take the kids there.

We were also quoted £3,700 for the same trip but staying at POR rather than Comfort Inn. Do you think this is a good price? This is the first time we have been anywhere in school holidays so everything seems really expensive!!

[wayneg]

What dates you looking for? which UK airports from? are you paying for a seat for 1 y.old or on your lap?
Will have a look at flight options then tell you if its a resaonable price, flights take up a lot of cost at peak times.
If you can go after schools are back then cost will be a lot less.
Did you see my recent thread about our August trip? cost breakdown in there post #13 http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1688704

[neil2jo]

Our ideal dates would be leaving from Gatwick or Heathrow on the 29th March (or up to 2 days before) but if there is a large price difference we would also be willing to go on the 17th May. The 1 yr old will be sitting on our laps. I am hoping that whoever we fly with may be able to provide a skycot so she can sleep some of the time (only just turning 1 so not that big!!).

I know it will be cheaper after the schools go back but we don't want to take DS out of school for 2 weeks so prepared to pay a slightly higher price.

I looked at your recent thread and thought that was a very good price, especially as that is school holiday time.
Have you stayed at the Country Inn & Suites before? Where abouts are they?

[wayneg]

Our ideal dates would be leaving from Gatwick or Heathrow on the 29th March (or up to 2 days before) but if there is a large price difference we would also be willing to go on the 17th May. The 1 yr old will be sitting on our laps. I am hoping that whoever we fly with may be able to provide a skycot so she can sleep some of the time (only just turning 1 so not that big!!).

I know it will be cheaper after the schools go back but we don't want to take DS out of school for 2 weeks so prepared to pay a slightly higher price.

I looked at your recent thread and thought that was a very good price, especially as that is school holiday time.
Have you stayed at the Country Inn & Suites before? Where abouts are they?

Is indirect an option, I know some people won't consider but we don't mind doing it. Probably not with having 2 children but it makes a massive difference. Delta go via NYC from about £1000 for all of you, cheapest Virgin is £1,893 on the 27th.
May prices with Virgin vary from £1,373-£2,282 depending which dates you go.
Hotels will be a cheaper in May, just had a quick look Country Inns & Suites back down to normal price and also BW lakeside another good budget hotel we use, both as is every other hotel overpriced for your Mar/Apr dates.
We have not stayed there before but we have been to have a quick look at the outside, see this thread I started about it. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1676497
http://www.countryinns.com/orlandofl_wdwresort

A 4 night RCCL from Port Canaveral will cost only £700ish in May but says sold out for Apr, not sure if system is not working properly but no time to try another search engine. Thats for a superior outside cabin.
Hope it helps, too many figures to take in when you are looking at different dates.

[neil2jo]

Hi Wayne, thanks for your help so far it gives me something to go with. I have always opted for a package holiday but do like a challenge so going to start looking around now for maybe going in May rather than March.

[wayneg]

Good luck with it, either PM me or ask on boards then others can give their input also.
Booking all separate is half the fun of a holiday for me, I have really enjoyed last few weeks organizing 3 trips to Florida this year and 3 cruises between Easter this year and Aug 09.
Also checkout Virgin holidays, either flydrive or Package (but dont take their car) sometimes it works out as cheap doing it this way. This is how we are doing it for Xmas this year.

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I apologise if this has already been said (I have only read the opening thread as I haven't been on Dis for weeks and I am trying to 'scan' lots of threads!!;) )

- But we have stayed at both All Stars (twice) and Comfort Inn LBV ( 3 or 4 times) and whilst they are good value for money and ideally located (we love the Lake Buena Vista area) - If your DH didn't like All Stars then I definitely wouldn't take him to the Comfort Inn - Its cheap and cheerful but not as good as the All Stars and he will be disappointed.

- I hope that helps a little!;) :thumbsup2

[crabbie1]

IMO I would book everything seperate.I always booked with TA before coming on these boards for security really and I saved over £800 this year by booking seperate.Wayne is excellent at getting bargains.Have you looked at the Disney cruise or is it too expensive at that time.We have stayed at POR and CBR and POP and liked CBR best because of the beaches.Good luck with your planning hope you find a good deal:thumbsup2

[neil2jo]

Hi, thanks for the further replies. We have now had a total change of heart. If I can get it booked, we are still going to Disney but will be going in May (rather than March) to the POR for 14 nights. We then hope to maybe try going to Daytona beach or St Augustine for the day (if not too far!!) and possibly going to Miami and staying there for a night or 2 (whilst staying checked in at POR). Think I will be booking with a TA as they are offering free child places so their price is very reasonable compared to the separate prices I was getting. Thanks again :thumbsup2

[wayneg]

Hope travel agent gets you a good price, I gave up on them years ago.
Let us know if you change your mind or want any help with anything.
Have a great trip.

[CHEK]

Hi, thanks for the further replies. We have now had a total change of heart. If I can get it booked, we are still going to Disney but will be going in May (rather than March) to the POR for 14 nights. We then hope to maybe try going to Daytona beach or St Augustine for the day (if not too far!!) and possibly going to Miami and staying there for a night or 2 (whilst staying checked in at POR). Think I will be booking with a TA as they are offering free child places so their price is very reasonable compared to the separate prices I was getting. Thanks again :thumbsup2

Just a word of warning, the 1st time we travelled to WDW we were naive and booked with a TA, got our 1st DD for £199, 2nd DD for £349 and then got stung with a £500 under occupancy for not having 4 adults sharing the room!!