1st holiday to orlando,HELP!!!

[lillady]

hi,have just booked our holiday to orlando for aug 08 will be staying offsite on i-drive best western plaza,has anyone stayed there? is there a shuttle to disney? will we be in walking distance to shops and places to eat? really excited but getting a little stressed there is so much we want to do dont no how we will fit it all in any sugesstions we want to do mk,mgm,ak,epcot,us,ioa,seaworld,dc and waterparks. thank you.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We haven't stayed there, I'm afraid, only Holiday Inn and Quality Inn, but you will most definitely be within walking distance of shops and restaurants. I-Drive it littered with them, although the shopping is generally the cheap tourist-orientated stuff. You need to go to the main shopping malls for the 'real' shopping. Premium Outlets and Festival Bay are both easily accessible from I-Drive.

Are you guys driving or using public transport? I-Drive has the I-Ride, which runs up and down the entire length, and will take you to Wet'n'Wild and SeaWorld. You can also get off at Wet'n'Wild and either take a 15mins walk or wait for a Lynx bus (which could be up to an hour depending on day/timetable!) and go to Universal. There is also a Lynx bus from the SeaWorld area that takes you to the TTC at Disney, and from there you can use the free Disney transport to get to whichever park.

Most of the hotels along I-Drive have some form of transport to Disney, but it depends what they offer as to how frequent it is and how much it costs. Did you book with a Tour Operator, like Virgin? They were last year doing transfers for $7 per person from I-Drive to Disney, which, depending on the size of your party can work out cheaper.

There will be plenty of others that can give you more information!

 

[ppow]

We too have booked for first time (last week Oct/1st week Nov 08) and we are already stressed with all that we want to do. We will have a 7 year old and 13 year old with us. We want to do MK, AK, MGM, Epcot, Blizzard Beach, Typ Lagoon, Universal x 2, Seaworld and Busch...... or are we trying to do toooooo much????

We are staying In Lake Buena Vista and have a car..... any help much appreciated.

Also if Aquatica is open (should be) then kids will want to do that to.

 

[macca77]

ppow i wouldnt say your doing too much, typhoon lagoon and blizzard beach our half days at most to spend at, so the other half day you could spend in the parks or go shopping.
It will be helpfull driving in lake buena vista, also i think theres a premium outlets near there that will be very good for shopping.

To the 1st person who started this thread i drive is great imo, always stayed there and been 4 times now.
Dont know much about your hotel but they should say if they offer transport to the theme parks if you dont drive, Universal studio and wet and wild you could walk too, though universal may be a bit far if its a really hot day.
There is a iride bus that will trake you up and down i drive and stops at sea world so thats handy if you dont drive.
Restaurants galore and a few english bars in the evening or crazy golf for after dinner or rest days.

Have a great time all of you going for your 1st time but be prepared, as you wont want to come back and when you do come back, you will want to book again.
If you need anymore help then just pm me, or post on here plenty of helpfull people on here.

 

[ppow]

macca

thanks ... will keep watching and posting and hopefully will arrive at WDW very well informed next year

 

[natalielongstaff]

welcome to the disboards

 

[scottishsue]

Lillady, Hi there.

We have stayed at the Best Western twice now - it's your basic holiday motel, but comfortable. If you only want somewhere to sleep it's fine. They do have a pool, and entertainment room, but we never used them. We were out from early morning and not back until later at night pretty much every night.

With regard to eating places, you have Ponderosa within walking distance (we went there every morning for breakfast). There are loads more but can't think of any others at the moment. There are also loads of shops also within walking distance. You have the Pointe Orlando right opposite your hotel.

I'm not sure about shuttle to Disney as we had a car - but ask at reception. I'm sure there will be, as most hotels in I-Drive have this service.

You'll find you have no problem fitting all the parks you have mentioned into your itinerary. We didn't think we would fit them all in the first time we went either - but its surprising. You need to fit in a day for the Malls too. Shopping in Orlando is amazing !!

Not sure if you have any family or not, you don't say, but even with small children everything is so accessible. Our youngest was only 4 the first time we went !!

To ppow......... I think Aquatica will be open when you go. Just keep checking out the Sea World site, it should give you information on opening dates. We're going October 08 too, so I am also hoping it is open.

Feel free to PM me.

 

[irongirlof12]

You should get youself a couple of guide books, these will help you to plan each day and work around the crowds etc.

 

[lillady]

there are 6 of us going in total 2 adults 4 kids ages 14,14,9 and8.we have not got a car was a bit worried about driving .i have ordered unoffical guide 2008,which other guides would be good? is tour guide mike worth joining? thanks for the advice so far

 

[natalielongstaff]

i reccomend the brits guide to orlando.....a very informative guide

 

[Deedee]

With regard to eating places, you have Ponderosa within walking distance (we went there every morning for breakfast). There are loads more but can't think of any others at the moment. There are also loads of shops also within walking distance. You have the Pointe Orlando right opposite your hotel

Isn't there a friendlys next door? Milk shakes to die for!!!!!

 

[ppow]

We are a family of four... me, DH, DD13 & DS7. Son will have his 8th birthday whilst there.

Have got a copy of Brits Guide 2007 .... which is great.

Just wish it was this year!!!!!!! Its seems soooooooo long off.

How do I start a ticker counter please?

 

[margaret2]

hi,have just booked our holiday to orlando for aug 08 will be staying offsite on i-drive best western plaza,has anyone stayed there? is there a shuttle to disney? will we be in walking distance to shops and places to eat? really excited but getting a little stressed there is so much we want to do dont no how we will fit it all in any sugesstions we want to do mk,mgm,ak,epcot,us,ioa,seaworld,dc and waterparks. thank you.

hey lillady what date in Aug 2008 are you going as its in the same month as i am going to the same hotel too

 

[GemmaPixie]

We are a family of four... me, DH, DD13 & DS7. Son will have his 8th birthday whilst there.

Have got a copy of Brits Guide 2007 .... which is great.

Just wish it was this year!!!!!!! Its seems soooooooo long off.

How do I start a ticker counter please?

I have a ticker on my signiture. Click on it and it wil bring up the website where you can create your own ticker. Create it and then copy the URL into your signiture.

Prepare for countdown

 

[lillady]

hey lillady what date in Aug 2008 are you going as its in the same month as i am going to the same hotel too

hi margaret2,we are going 16th aug 08,cant wait,what date are you going?

 

[margaret2]

hi margaret2,we are going 16th aug 08,cant wait,what date are you going?

we are there on the 30th going for three weeks

 

[margaret2]

sorry forgot to ask how long will you be there for lillady

 

[Goofyish]

Welcome to the DIS

We stayed at the Best Western Plaza during our first trip to Orlando in 1997

The rooms were clean but basic. Pool area is nice, with towels available and a small pool side bar.
There is also a laundry room next to the pool.
The hotel is in a great position on I-Drive.
Plenty of shops and restaurants within easy walking distance
We tended to make good use of the Ponderosa, although we did try the Friendlys restaurant once (right next door to the hotel).
A short walk south of you you will find Race Rock (motorsport themed restaurant), Sizzler (Ponderosa style buffet meals), Pizza Hut and large Chinese resturant.
Near the Pondorasa there is Tony Romas - a great place for ribs! and small supermarket.
You can also use the I-Ride Trolley Bus to get to anyplace on I-Drive and even down as far as the Premium Outlets Mall and Seaworld.

A cab to Universal costs around $10 plus tip each way.

If you take the I-Ride to Seaworld you can then catch the Lynx bus to WDW (TTC) - bus number 50. Only costs a few $$ per trip.

You should be able to get a 7 day I-Ride Trolley pass from the hotel reception - costs around $7 for 7 days and gives unlimited travel

We used the hotel free shuttles and found them OK. They ran on a schedule of 3 times in the morning to WDW (drop off at TTC) and then 3 return times in the evening (pick up from the TTC and Epcot).
We always found the return trips to be very busy and very rarely got a seat!
Also, not sure if the latest return time is late enough for you to stay for some of the later evening fireworks like Illuminations in Epcot.

If you have any specific questions please fire away

 

[kizzy212]

We too have booked for first time (last week Oct/1st week Nov 08) and we are already stressed with all that we want to do. We will have a 7 year old and 13 year old with us. We want to do MK, AK, MGM, Epcot, Blizzard Beach, Typ Lagoon, Universal x 2, Seaworld and Busch...... or are we trying to do toooooo much????

We are staying In Lake Buena Vista and have a car..... any help much appreciated.

Also if Aquatica is open (should be) then kids will want to do that to.

NOooooo... we too also think have we planned to much. we go every two years and always add on extra each time. as long as you and your family like walking and early starts then you will be fine.

we buy the 5 day disney pass
5 park fexi pass
discovery cove
big breakfast, snack at park,and meal on night sometimes take away. some days we swop have little lie in, big dinner at park and take away back at hotel car is essential. if no transport then it couldnt all be done.

 

[lillady]

sorry forgot to ask how long will you be there for lillady

we are going for 2 weeks,so will b leaving as you et there