A few questions!

[nitnat]

Just out of interest and to help n my planning of Florida 2012 can I ask......

1) Who do you normally book with & why?

2) Do you buy your park passes through your travel agent or from elsewhere?

3) Which park passes are best, if you are wanting to see as much as you can?

4) For a 3 week stay are you better to have two hotels?

5)Do you bother with car hire, or make do with hotel transport to parks etc, and taxi for those not covered by the hotel transport?

6) Which park in your eyes just cannot be missed?

7) Any families of 6 out there......where have you stayed and what are your views?


Lots of questions....sorry!
Thanks in advance
Nat

 

[torsie24]

All my replies are posted in bold purple.

Just out of interest and to help n my planning of Florida 2012 can I ask......

1) Who do you normally book with & why? I book accomodation direct with Disney and flights direct with the airline

2) Do you buy your park passes through your travel agent or from elsewhere? They came in with our hotel offer direct from Disney (14 for the price of 7)

3) Which park passes are best, if you are wanting to see as much as you can? The 14 day ultimate, all parks and waterparks and disneyquest, plus unlimited park hopping. (Just saw yours is a 3 week trip, I think you can get 21 days, but read below answer for what I'd do

4) For a 3 week stay are you better to have two hotels? If I were luxky enough to be going for 3 weeks I'd change hotels for sure! I'd have a first week at one of the Universal Studios hotels, and do US/IoA and also Seaworld and Discovery Cove and other IDrive things, then I'd move to Disney.

5)Do you bother with car hire, or make do with hotel transport to parks etc, and taxi for those not covered by the hotel transport? I am too nervous to try driving abroad yet, so we are more than happy to rely on Disney transportantion. For our one non-disney day we have a Mears shuttle booked to take us to Universal, and we will get the Lynx bus 111 to the Florida Mall from DTD.

6) Which park in your eyes just cannot be missed? All 4 of the Disney ones!

7) Any families of 6 out there......where have you stayed and what are your views? Sorry - we're just a couple.


Lots of questions....sorry!
Thanks in advance You are more than welcome! Have fun plannning!!!
Nat

 

[team harris]

Wow, how many questions?! (lol)

1) We book with whoever is offering the best deal! Last couple of times it has included free DDP - 2007 was with Thomas Cook, - 2009 after booking with Travel City Direct and losing the holiday, we booked flights direct with BA and accomodation direct with Disney UK, both online.

2) Get Disney tickets with whoever accomodation is booked with - need to, to qualify for free DDP. Normally surf the net for best deals for our Universal tickets.

3) tough question - do you want to do it all? Is everyone in your group into fast rides? We are a family of 4 - have the Disney ticket for duration of stay and then 3 day tickets to Universal - have one/two days away from it all e.g Space Kennedy Centre, beach, Converse shopping etc. Have done SeaWorld once with our boys, although they thoroughly enjoyed it in 2003 (their first trip), they have not been overly interested in going back. You can get the Orlando Flexi ticket that will get you into SeaWorld, Wet'n'Wild, Busch Gardens.

4) I personally would stay in one hotel, I couldn't be bothered to move - I figure you would lose best part of a day to pack, move, unpack etc. If you have a car, it's not really that far to other places. There is the benefit of staying at a Universal Hotel - you get free front of the line passes (you still have to pay for entrance). Last few times we have stayed onsite and would do this again in the future (just have to work on DH!)

5) Disney Hotels give you free transport to Disney parks. If you stay onsite, but decide to drive yourself, then you don't pay for parking at Disney parks. In 2007 we had a car that mostly stayed parked at the hotel - just used it to and from the airport and Universal. This year we used ME to and from the airport and Disney buses (Have read bad reports on them, but can honestly say never waited more than 10 mins for one - normally less) - we hired a car for the middle 7 days which enabled us to stock up on water, coke and beer from the supermarket as well as get us to Universal and St. Petes Beach. Haven't used taxi since 1990's, struck me as expensive and driving is a pleasurable experience!

6) As a family we love rides, so always do Universal - a day in each park and then split the third day between the two redoing our favourite rides. MK, DHS, EPCOT, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are a must for us two - always start and end the holiday with a Disney park.

7) Can't really comment as family of four, but OKW do have 2 bedroom flats.

Happy planning.

 

[wayneg]

1, Usually hotel I book with whoever has the best deals, Hotelopia, Expedia, Netflights, numerous others. This August best deal was with Disney.co.uk they gave 42% Discount and free Dining plan at OKW or SSR(might do same next August)

2, This time had to buy with hotel to get free DDP, check Kenny's weekly list for best deals. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2277833

3, Once you have decided what parks you want and how many days post again and ask which are best tickets, so much choice.

4, We don't like to move hotels but many do. This time we did 16 nights OKW then 7 nights cruise and last 2 nights at Regal Sun DTD. Did't like the moving but can't avoid sometimes. Next year considering a few days at a Universal hotel to get front of line access on the rides.

5, We seriously would not goto Florida without a car, many people have great holidays without but I love driving over there. This trip only did one Disney bus journey so I could drink at Hoop Dee Doo reveiw, took 1hr 15 mins for a trip that would have taken about 5-6 mins by car. We are just not a bus family. Love getting in the car and driving away from the main area.

6, Very difficult to answer we all like different things. Busch Gardens is probably my fave park but many don't do it on their 1st visit.

7, Can't answer, only 3 of us, list below where we have stayed.

Don't be sorry for asking questions. We like to answering.