2 Centre or villa + days out - Opinions

[SidB]

I'm going to book our next trip within the next week and the wife's thrown a spanner into the works. Originally we were going for a villa around Orlando/Kiss, and take day trips to the beach, Busch Gardens etc. Now she's saying why not try a 2 centre holiday. We've been twice before and stayed on I-Drive and spent most of our time in the parks. This time we'd like to explore a little more. I'd prefer to have a villa where we can unpack and settle in properly, stock up the kitchen, and relax. I don't want the hassle of re-packing everything and unpacking at the new place etc. I'm supposed to be relaxing, not acting as a sherpa !

Anyway enough complaining. I'm looking for an idea of how long it takes to get to the coast and any other places of interest. I have to admit that I've not read The Brit's Guide again (the wife's lent it to a friend), so I can't get Simon's view of the distances and traveling times involved. I don't mind driving so that's not a problem.

Some of you out there must have done a 2 centre holiday, so what are your opinions ? Was it worth the hassle ? Where would you recommend ? etc etc.

We've got 2 daughters, who'll be 7 and 11, and my mother.

Opinions please......

Oh yeah. I don't care about what's going on in the Middle East, I'm booking regardless.

 

[Hilary]

I would recommend going for 2 centres - yes, the unpacking may be a bit of a bind at the time, but we think it's worth it! I suppose it depends just how much you hate the idea of uprooting.

We have taken a couple of single centre Orlando trips, but most of our visits have been split between at least two places, even if that's two (or more) different bases within Orlando. We think it makes the holiday seem to last longer - it's almost like having two (or more ) separate holidays within the one trip.

I'm sure day trips would be perfectly viable if you do decide to stay in one place, although you'll be more limited in the extent of your travals away from Orlando. You can reach the Atlantic coast within an hour or so, and the Gulf coast is maybe half an hour further.

Have fun deciding!

 

[SpottyDog]

Sid, we stayed at Clearwater Beach for two nights last year, which we found to be a great compromise. We got a change of pace from Orlando and got to see the coast etc but without makin our Parks time too short to fit everything in.

We left Sunday, visited Busch on the way, then travelled on to CWB (The EconLodge Hotel). Has a pleasant night findin our bearins and a bar, the full day Monday to do the Dolphin Encounter and Beach/Pier experience, then called into Busch for a second day on our way 'home' on the Tuesday.

WDW to Clearwater Beach direct is about 90 minutes btw - via Busch nearer 2 hours total drivin.

We reckon it added £300 to our holiday costs and was well worth it.

 

[WDWfan uk]

We do three centre!! It just needs more thought as to what goes where in the suitcases - using a separate suitcase or ensuring what you need for the first leg is on the top of the case.

Clearwater Beach is a 90 minute drive from Orlando, and we have also stayed further down the coast in Sarasota.

We like four nights at the coast.

You can really relax at the coast resorts - in fact, we find the total change of pace feels odd the first day when you have little to do but stroll onto the beach and take a dip in the pool or the ocean!!

(We like to spend four nights at the beach).

 

[wigeboo]

hi there sidb
we stayed in international drive for one week and clearwater for the next week. It was great we felt like we were having a holiday on top of a hoilday, we got really excited about it, it was brill.

It took us about an hour and a half to get there, but it was early in the morning, and we hit the rush hour.

You may find that there not much to do for kids, I took my brother
(13) and he spent most of his time fishing, which he enjoyed, and I spent most of my time reading in the sun(as we don't get much in the u.k ). If you are looking to have a lazy week then go for it.

2000 all star movies
2001 ramada international drive
2002 fairfield inn international drive/ bellview clearwater
2003 holidayinn universal

 

[BevS97]

if you do a 2 night trip to the coast, like Spotty did, then you could keep the villa and leave base camp all set up, so you would just need to pack an overnight bag.

We have done 2 centres on both our trips, mainly because I love to stay onsite but can't afford 14 nights, so we start offsite, and finish up onsite. We are not very organised and usually lose about 1/2 day moving.

Next trip we are thinking of keeping our villa for the 2 weeks, and just having one night at Universal, mainly for the front of line perks. We will just take an overnight bag with us for that.

Bev

 

[alisonia]

We like to have a trip out too-so we have stayed at Clearwater, Miami and Sarasota.

As it is our own house and we get to see it so little -we never like to be away for too long-so usually just one night overnight is all we do.

We stayed at The Red Roof Inn at Clearwater-right opp the beach. Not every room is an ocean view-so you might want to ask specially. It's worth it when you are there for such a little time.

We had a huge room for $100-it was almost like a suite with cooking facilities and 2 queen beds. My frind has a beach condo at Indian Rocks which is supposed to be very nice. I haven't got there yet-but we are meeting up in May.

Well done on your gung-ho-I'm going attitude. In the Sunday Mirror last week it actually said that Florida and the US are seen as safe bets. Security is a high priority everywhere.

I've got guests going out on Wednesday-so I'll keep you posted. Also spoke to a property manager today-and he confirmed that life is just going on as normal-so that's good news.

Alison

 

[scoobie's m]

I would alos recommend two centre. We did this for the first time last trip, and I found the packing and moving no hassle and I did ALL the packing for all 4 in our family. It's not like packing for the flight, I find, when everything has to be secure and packed in the right bags etc. If you miss something you can just chuck it in the car. It is only a half days disruption and we also found it was like starting a whole new holiday.

 

[allie5]

Weve done a couple of 2 centre holidays...the best being 7 nights Orlando, 7 nights Gulf Coast and 7 nights Disney (downtown area). We have also done 10-4 combos and also had a permanent base and gone fro day trips to both coasts.

As you have children, then a full 7 nights on the coast MIGHT be too much. You can see and do an awful lot in 3 nights. Unless you want a lazy week, just sunbathing and chilling, then stick in Orlando for the majority of your stay. We find the Gulf easily accessible for day trips, and are staying 15 nights in the villa this year, with 3 trips planned "west side"...... Busch G, Clearwater/St Petes and Sarasota.

It depends what you want out of your holiday really.....sun and sand or theme parks and shopping!!!

Have fun deciding......its a good time to book. We just got a GREAT deal as there are so many softies not booking due to the war!!

Allie.

 

[SidB]

Boy, this seems very one sided. Looks like a 2 centre is the way to go. Some thoughts and questions.

We all love animals so we want to go to Busch Gardens. Does a 1 day visit do it justice, or do we need 2 ?

If we're doing Busch Gardens it seems logical to stay on the Gulf Coast. What are the beaches like ? Is there anywhere to avoid. Bear in mind that my daughters will be 7 and 11.

My wife fancies Clearwater. What's it like ?

I reckon a 10-4 day split, rather than 7-7. My youngest loves the beach, just like her mum. The rest of us aren't too fussed. Is there anywhere that we can drop the sunseekers off and take a walk locally for a couple of hours, meet for lunch etc ? I'm thinking a picnic on the beach ? Are there any laws banning this ? I vaguely recall something about driving on to the beach. Has anybody done this ? Where is it, what's the sand like etc ?

Finally, dolphins. My eldest loves them. Apart from Dolphin Cove where else can we interact with them. We've fed them at Seaworld and the look on their faces made my day. The thought of spending a fortune to go to Dolphin Cove makes my wallet wince, so I'm looking at something a little cheaper. I've seen boat trips to see dolphins in the wild advertised. Has anybody been on one, how was it, what did it cost, where was it, etc.

I know there are loads of questions here and very much appreciate the help.

Tony

 

[WDWfan uk]

Yes you can cover Busch Gardens in one day - when we stayed at Clearwater Beach ( the Clearwater Beach Hotel), we went from there. Although I wish we hadn't chosen to go the day after we arrived as two of us were very tired and no matter how good a park is, tiredness does affect your enjoyment!!
Then we lost our way driving back to Clearwater ) Busch Gardens does have big rides - are you all white knuckle ride fans? I would also recommend getting there for park opening.

The beaches are wonderful in Clearwater Beach and St Petes -the sand is like a fine powder - not the gritty stuff!

Whilst others enjoy the beach, why not go out on a boat trip from the marina to see dolphins? I'll get some links for you.

Regarding Discovery Cove, don't forget you also have 7 days of unlimited admission to Sea World thrown in and those who don't want the dolphin encounter pay less and can do everything else but the encounter.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Here is a link to one of the companies that takes you out on the sea where you will hopefully encounter dolphins - www.seascreamer.com

and for information about the Aquarium in Clearwater and to get general information I would recommend www.clearwaterbeach.com

A boat trip to Caledesi Island always comes highly recommended on this board, info for this can be found at
http://www.flausa.com/destinations/location.php/location=ci-clb

 

[alisonia]

We liked Clearwater very much-although we are not beach people. We live a mile from one at home. We had Sunday breakfast brunch at The Clearwater Hotel which was lovely and very inexpensive.

There is a lovely restaurant just down from the Red Roof Hotel (opp beach) where we stayed. It's name escapes me-but you can't miss it-all the steps are painted as if they are part of a huge lagoon. We've eaten twice there and the food is lovely.

There are plenty of boats offering Dolphin cruises.

On Saturday nights the local young people do a sat night beachfront cruise in their car. I don't know whether it had been prom night for some of them but the girls were dressed up in the long pretty dresses. They were parked opp the hotel and it consisted of them driving up and down, whooping to their friends and giving one another high 5's. All rather innocent and comical really.

Personally I wouldn't want to stay a full week at the beach as I love everything that's goes on in the Orlando area-so probably a 12-2 would suit me-just my persoanl preference.

In fact I would be tempted to stay a night at Clearwater and a night close to Busch Gardens as often Busch do a second day free-you would need to check.

This is the trouble-isn't it. So much to do and so little time!

Alison

 

[SidB]

Great feedback guys, just what I need.

I think Clearwater's the place for us. We normally overdose on the parks so it'll be good to finish with a relaxing few days. Probably spend the last 4 days there.

Re the getting lost, don't we all. First time we went the kids made my wife wear a Dopey hat becasue of her navigating skills (no my right, not yours !). She only agreed to wear it if I didn't shout at her. Fair enough as it's hard to get upset with a woman wearing a hat, holding a map upside down, trying to drink and deal with the kids whilst trying to work out which hand is left.

Don't think I'm being sexist. I only drive because my navigating skills are worse (although I do know my left from right).

Regarding Discovery Cove (yeah I know I got it wrong), I can't justify over £600, even with days at Seaworld. More than 2 days there would just mean missing out on something else. Having said that, my youngest would spend all day watching the sealion and otter show if we'd let her.

Busch gardens, well it's the animals rather than the big rides that appeal to us.

Thinking about it, it wouldn't be too bad packing up at the villa because most stuff could then remain packed up in the suitcases. All we'd need would be 4 days of clothes etc.

What a site. Better than me in my swimming shorts, "what a sight" !!!

 

[vernon]

With Busch usually offering 2nd day free it gives you the option of having a second (maybe half a day) to complete or revisit favourite attractions. There is a lot to do at BG and many chances to interact with the animals (feeding the lorikeets was great fun) . One thing you'll need to make sure of is having a car with sufficient luggage space at the end of the holiday. With three females there is a chance you're goingto be loaded up, a short drive to the airport packed to the gunnels isn't too bad, but 90 minutes (plus) from clearwater to the airport may not be as achievable if you over dose on the purchases.

If you do split the holiday I would opt for 10 days in Orlando and 3 oir 4 at the beach JMHO

 

[SidB]

Vernon, you must know my wife. Last time, and the time before, we had to buy extra suitcases over there. This year we brought back 11 pairs of shoes more than we went with !!! Perhaps next I'll get one of those massive pick-up trucks.

This time we had a Dodge Intrepid, which was just big enough. The problem is when we arrived back at Gatwick. We couldn't get all of our luggage into a Peugeot 406 ! Still it keeps her happy.

 

[alisonia]

We've never taken Busch up on the offer of the second free day as we have so many things we want to do-but it's great if you are staying around that area.
Also worth a look if you stay at Clearwater is St Petersburg. Personally we all preferred Clearwater- but if you fancy a drive down to St Petersburg and head for John's Pass you'll find a marins, little shops and a huge array of pelicans. I love these birds and counted 40 in one go.

On the way down Sid, if your wife like shopping on the main road-think it's the 19 just between Clearwater and St Pete's is a small shopping complex called Parkside Mall I believe. You'l spot a JCPenney outlet. Now this as far as I know is the only outlet store in the whole of Florida I believe. I have had some incredible bargains for the villa here, comforter's towels, cross trainer etc and it really is a shopper's paradise as you never know what you will find-particularly upstairs where they stock a lot of thier ex-catalogue and internet stuff.

My daughter bought an angel comforter-and it was only here she found the sheets!!!

So take plent of money-and empty suitcases. There's a couple of shops close by in the same mall that also come up with the odd bargain or too!

Alison

 

[SidB]

I've taken the plunge ! Got the fly-drive booked and we're looking to take 2 weeks in Orlando and 1 on the Gulf coast. I've been checking out www.villas2000.com and I'm sure we'll find something. Only thing that my wife insists on is that we get a jacuzzi !

Thanks for all the help.

Now I've got to figure out how to set up one of those "countdown" thingys.

 

[UKDEB]

Well done, Sid. It's a great feeling once you've booked the flights, isn't it? You know it's really going to happen!

FRbVO is a great site with stacks of choice, as you will know. When you start making enquiries of the owners, be sure to get specific confirmation from anyone who claims to have a jacuzzi, that it is a hot tub. To my knowledge, it is only villas on the newer developments which have them - they seem to be the latest thing.

When we stayed on Sunset Lakes back in 2000 (in a then brand new villa) the 'jacuzzis' were only heatable to the same temperature as the pool. We've since stayed at 3 different villas on Formosa Gardens which have all had proper hot tubs. Of course not all properties on the newer sub-divisions will have them as they will be optional extras for purchasers, but I think it's fairly safe to say that, on the whole, you won't find them on the older developments.