A ramble and a few random questions...

[Squidgyness]

Incoming ramble, apologies..:

So, I have begun once more to plan a trip to the states for some sun and thrills! We last visited Orlando in 2009. Since then we've had some... Interesting developments personally, financially and professionally in our lives. Assuming my parents want to go back and can afford it I'll be making the trip with them, if not I'll be aiming for a solo trip if my mother allows me to fly the coop on my own for that long...

Unlike the last time I started planning to go back, this time I am A) employed and earning a modest but sufficient wage rent free that is enough to get serious savings on the ball, B) More determined, and lastly C) not going to cave and opt for a cheaper break in Europe again. Honest! I'm planning to go either onsite at universal in the case of a lottery win or sudden promotion to CEO, or international drive, the more realistic albeit less glamorous option.

However, I do have a few questions, which are as follows:

1. I'm going for a (hopefully) not so mad/gruelling trip compared to our old July/August trips, so I'm thinking June, extremely early July or September. Are there any obvious things that I'm overlooking such as American/British school holidays, weather disasters, or ride renovations? I'll be doing searches on this and asking the other sections for advice closer to the time but I thought it best to ask here just in case.

2. Out of interest, Does anyone know if the entry procedures from the UK have changed greatly since 2009 in a major way? I know about ESTAs and the green cards, but I don't know if I'm forgetting anything else big. I might be jumping the gun here but I wanted to get a grip on this early.

3. Are the prices for next year going to be put up before the end of this one? We always booked many many months in advance when I was a child, sometimes more than a year (the wait was killer!), but right now I can't get prices online more than 10-12 months out. I'd like to have a rough idea of when I can get serious about budgeting precisely.

4. Just a general question, do I stand to save a lot if I go DIY or should I stick with a package for the protection of ABTA etc? Right now I can get a solo occupant double room on I-drive for two weeks with flights from June or September 2016 at appx. £1500 as a general reference. I've never ever gone this route so any advice here would be most welcome.

5. Does anyone have any tips for flying from Manchester? Seems most Orlando flights go from there now (originally we flew from the old Teesside airport!) and I've never used it. Coming from the north east, might it be best to get a room and go down the night before? Similarly, what do people think of MCO, we always went through Sanford.

6. By any chance has anyone got experience of upgraded seats on the Dreamliner, or the dreamliner in general? Want to get a sense of if its worth it to upgrade. We upgraded last time on an old (really old) Airbus and it was nice, but to upgrade now is £250 and up! I have lost six stone in weight since I last flew long haul so that might help...

Phew! Thanks for listening to me ramble/reading my questions if you made it this far, I just needed to get all that off my chest. I'm probably nuts thinking this far out given the last time I tried to plan an Orlando trip it never went anywhere... *touches wood*! I appreciate any help you can give me.

 

[chmurf]

1. I'm going for a (hopefully) not so mad/gruelling trip compared to our old July/August trips, so I'm thinking June, extremely early July or September. Are there any obvious things that I'm overlooking such as American/British school holidays, weather disasters, or ride renovations? I'll be doing searches on this and asking the other sections for advice closer to the time but I thought it best to ask here just in case.

september is the only time of year when you'll get slower crowds and less heat (albeit still humid), but that's still in peak hurricane season.

2. Out of interest, Does anyone know if the entry procedures from the UK have changed greatly since 2009 in a major way? I know about ESTAs and the green cards, but I don't know if I'm forgetting anything else big. I might be jumping the gun here but I wanted to get a grip on this early.

ESTAs need to be done
if you connect through Canada, they also have their own version of ESTA you'll need to do as well
and a valid passport, of course.

3. Are the prices for next year going to be put up before the end of this one? We always booked many many months in advance when I was a child, sometimes more than a year (the wait was killer!), but right now I can't get prices online more than 10-12 months out. I'd like to have a rough idea of when I can get serious about budgeting precisely.

which prices ?
Disney packages are already available on the UK site for 2017
Many here wait for the released of the much awaited free dining deal for 2017, and that should be out end of april

if you're talking about flights, they're released 11 months out from return date. Booking 8-10 months out often works best, but it's not perfect science.

Similarly, what do people think of MCO, we always went through Sanford.

much closer and magical express if you go for disney

.

 

[Squidgyness]

september is the only time of year when you'll get slower crowds and less heat (albeit still humid), but that's still in peak hurricane season.



ESTAs need to be done
if you connect through Canada, they also have their own version of ESTA you'll need to do as well
and a valid passport, of course.



which prices ?
Disney packages are already available on the UK site for 2017
Many here wait for the released of the much awaited free dining deal for 2017, and that should be out end of april

if you're talking about flights, they're released 11 months out from return date. Booking 8-10 months out often works best, but it's not perfect science.



much closer and magical express if you go for disney

.

Thanks for the response chmurf! I meant prices for I-Drive through thomson etc. We did pick up a few brochures today and one was an advanced look for 2017 so I'll be looking at that. Thanks for the info!