Disneyland First Time Booker - HELP!!

[daz1985]

We are travelling June 18th from Gatwick 2 weeks with Thomson. Not staying onsite but choose Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando, as it is an inclusive holiday includes Park Tickets. Cost £4985. Includes flight, 14 nights Rosen Inn, Car hire, 14 day ultimate Disney ticket and 5 park Universal ticket. Myself, DH, DD, DS

hi is that resort close to disney?

also i know its not important but what does DH, DD, DS mean?? I assumed Husband, Daughter, Son I just dont know what the D means!

 

[wayneg]

hi is that resort close to disney?

also i know its not important but what does DH, DD, DS mean?? I assumed Husband, Daughter, Son I just dont know what the D means!

Full list here.
It means, Dear/Dearest/Disney.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

Rosen Inn Pointe is on IDrive, http://www.roseninn9000.com/
Not somewhere I like myself, if I am offsite I prefer Lake Buena Vista, right outside the gate.

 

[VailaTigger]

are there any good books that will help me plan? thanks

Hi!

Looks like everyone has already given you loads of good advice.

The first time I went, we did absolutely no planning at all, so don't worry too much. The fact that you're asking all these questions means that you'll have a head start over most of the other visitors!

You ask about books:
I like the 'Unofficial Guide to WDW', the descriptions of the rides are good - but it's a hefty read, and is really more for American visitors than UK.

So try the 'Brit's Guide to Orlando' by Simon and Susan Veness - comes out every year, and is great. I've used it a few times to help plan.

 

[joolz1910]

thanks will look on those sites. going to pop into travel agents today too.

not sure i can wait until next may! is there another month thats good to go?

are there any good books that will help me plan? thanks

We went at the end of October and it was perfect. It was hot enough to go to the pools but not too hot. No rain, cooler in the evenings. You also get Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) which is a ticketed event, Food and Wine Festival and Eat to the Beat. Have a look at me trip report if that time of year appeals to you - the link is in my signature x

Don't book with a high street travel agent before checking with the people on this forum - they will tell you if you are getting a good deal.

 

[stubb]

Hello you are going to have a fantastic time and your children are lovely ages. The dis boards are brilliant it may be worth reading a few trip reports as they can be really informative.

I would say going to WDW is unlike any other holiday there is so many things to do and to see however it is a holiday and not a military operation. Ensure that you factor in some relaxation time , there will be a lot of walking and kids can get tired! If you don't get to do all the rides it's not the end of the world.

Have fun planning
Michelle

 

[Elise79]

thanks will look on those sites. going to pop into travel agents today too.

not sure i can wait until next may! is there another month that's good to go?

For us September and May would be our chosen times if we were not tied to school holidays.

I like it HOT to swim so I want 90F weather - not everyone likes the heat though. I have never found it a problem even in summer as there are so many air-conditioned buildings you don't have to be out in it if you don't want.

September is fairly quiet although it is busier than a few years ago it is nothing compared to peak times. At the end of the month you have food & wine festival (F&W) at Epcot and Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween party (MNSSHP). Rides will generally have short queues most of the day.

May is nice if you go at the start as you catch the end of Flower & Garden (F&G) at Epcot which makes the park look stunning. Last year they added food booths around World Showcase (WS) which was a nice addition.

Don't worry about booking late it will not be the end of the world - we have done it. Yes you might not get the most popular TS restaurants but there are so many places to eat in Orlando you won't go hungry.

I would suggest not paying for the DDP and maybe hire a car instead. Driving in Orlando is easy - everywhere is very well signed and the roads are nice and wide.

Offsite there is an amazing choice of restaurants for every budget and taste

 

[wayneg]

thanks to everyone for the replies - even if it does seem that my first estimate probably wont come down by much. very good advice on the scale of things though and I think if we just did Disney and universal that's going to be fine we'll just have to come back another time for the rest!
to answer this post I would be looking at mid may departure. im in somerset so Bristol airport would be most convenient but tbh London or Southampton is also fine.
car insurance was added but the quote had the basic level of everthing and the price would shoot up if I went for better versions of everything.

seems like staying in Disney is the best option anyway then as I like the idea of fastpass and not worrying about hire car. (incidentally if I didn't hire a car could I easily get to supermarket and universal?)

I honestly have no idea of the scale of things, is universal next door or miles away??!

finally is the Disney dining plan worth it? it adds over a grand to the holiday price - quite a lot for the sake of 2 weeks meals

thanks

Just had a quick look at flights. Cheapest dates for direct flights from Gatwick to Orlando International seem to be 14th-28th May.

Flights Virgin Atlantic £2,194.68 less 1% Quidco(£21.95) = £2,172.73
All Star Sports/Expedia £757.26 less 10% Quidco(£75.73) = £681.53
14 day tix/WDW £1,100.00 less 2% Quidco(£22) = £1,078

Full Size Car, ebookers £251 (SUV £266) less 10% Quidco(£25) = £225

Total £4,156

Also got quote from WDW for flight inclusive package without car = £4,392 less 3% Quidco(£131) = £4,260 add car at £225 = £4,485. £329 more but includes a $150 gift card to spend and you can do £600 deposit, balance later.

Virgin Holidays £4,823 less 2.5% Quidco(£120) = £4703

Travel City Direct £4,576

Gives you an idea, possible savings with a little searching.

 

[DLPDreams]

Just had a quick look at flights. Cheapest dates for direct flights from Gatwick to Orlando International seem to be 14th-28th May.

Flights Virgin Atlantic £2,194.68 less 1% Quidco(£21.95) = £2,172.73
All Star Sports/Expedia £757.26 less 10% Quidco(£75.73) = £681.53
14 day tix/WDW £1,100.00 less 2% Quidco(£22) = £1,078

Full Size Car, ebookers £251 (SUV £266) less 10% Quidco(£25) = £225

Total £4,156

Also got quote from WDW for flight inclusive package without car = £4,392 less 3% Quidco(£131) = £4,260 add car at £225 = £4,485. £329 more but includes a $150 gift card to spend and you can do £600 deposit, balance later.

Virgin Holidays £4,823 less 2.5% Quidco(£120) = £4703

Travel City Direct £4,576

Gives you an idea, possible savings with a little searching.

Gosh Wayne, you are a star!

Can you do me a quote when WDW offers come out too please ? Just goes to show, doing DIY often pays dividends if you know what you are doing. I was originally all for TA booking albeit a specialist, but I'm getting braver the more reading I do.

 

[wayneg]

Gosh Wayne, you are a star!

Can you do me a quote when WDW offers come out too please ? Just goes to show, doing DIY often pays dividends if you know what you are doing. I was originally all for TA booking albeit a specialist, but I'm getting braver the more reading I do.

DIY trips to Orlando are so easy, TA earn money for doing nothing. Best saving I had was a couple of years back, booked cruise, OKW, Virgin flights, tix & car hire, VH's wanted around £12,000, I used some airmiles and did everything DIY for under £6,000.
Then there are glitches that come along every now and then, like business class flights for £470 in August hols, 4 weeks car rental for price of 1 etc. Had some great deals over the years.

 

[DLPDreams]

DIY trips to Orlando are so easy, TA earn money for doing nothing. Best saving I had was a couple of years back, booked cruise, OKW, Virgin flights, tix & car hire, VH's wanted around £12,000, I used some airmiles and did everything DIY for under £6,000.
Then there are glitches that come along every now and then, like business class flights for £470 in August hols, 4 weeks car rental for price of 1 etc. Had some great deals over the years.

I have found most 'high street' TAs don't have enough knowledge to book anything different from a standard package holiday.

I am worried about booking everything myself but as I work from home and have access to web most of the time, I am hoping I'm in a reasonable position to shop around etc. I think like everything, if you have the time to look and research, you can find glitches etc but I know not everyone can do that/or would want to - some people can't be bothered to spend hours looking!

I may need some help with car hire nearer the time please, if that's OK

Getting back on topic, Daz, how did you get on at TAs today?

 

[daz1985]

I have found most 'high street' TAs don't have enough knowledge to book anything different from a standard package holiday.

I am worried about booking everything myself but as I work from home and have access to web most of the time, I am hoping I'm in a reasonable position to shop around etc. I think like everything, if you have the time to look and research, you can find glitches etc but I know not everyone can do that/or would want to - some people can't be bothered to spend hours looking!

I may need some help with car hire nearer the time please, if that's OK

Getting back on topic, Daz, how did you get on at TAs today?

hi I wasn't able to go today so going tomorrow. I have found this on expedia would someone tell me why it isn't a good deal lol:

it is 14 nights (15-29 may) at Seralago Hotel & Suites Main Gate East via expedia and is £2500 for flights from heathrow and stay but we will have to provide all food and any transport ourselves.

Thank you wayne again for your post - and everyone else who has contributed in fact. This is by far the most friendly helpful forum ive ever known

Along with Disney tickets I really want to do universal. crocs, space center, seaworld can wait until next time (see this forum has already convinced me that there WILL be a next time!)

 

[chmurf]

would someone tell me why it isn't a good deal

it is 14 nights (15-29 may) at Seralago Hotel & Suites Main Gate East via expedia

it's not that far from the parks (6 to 8 miles depending on which park you're going to)
but that is not a place I'd want to stay.
It's one of the "dodgiest" part of US192, or so it was in october 2012 when I last dared set foot on this side of Orlando.
we were waiting for a take out pizza at pizza hut, 300 yards from the hotel, and we were possibly the only people who were not legally drunk on that block ...

I know the city of kissimmee has done a lot to rehab 192 so I can't say for sure, but I don't like the place at all, and that would be my only reason not to stay there.

And I'll add that Expedia can get you a value at disney's for £724pp (flight inclusive), so for £400 more you'd get the onsite perks, and could skip the car rental + parking fees + gas for the WDW part of your stay

 

[daz1985]

thanks thats great advice would much rather pay the £400 extra I obviously didnt look that far down the list!

 

[bex7583]

DIY trips to Orlando are so easy, TA earn money for doing nothing. Best saving I had was a couple of years back, booked cruise, OKW, Virgin flights, tix & car hire, VH's wanted around £12,000, I used some airmiles and did everything DIY for under £6,000.
Then there are glitches that come along every now and then, like business class flights for £470 in August hols, 4 weeks car rental for price of 1 etc. Had some great deals over the years.

i was very nervous about booking diy for our first trip last year with 3 young children , but it was amazing i had lots of help and guidance from people on here , had a few breakdowns as it got closer that something would have been forgotten or done incorrect but all went so smoothly , had some great tips and support from people on here to help and calm me down, also the quotes i had were up from 17k to 20+ virgin did tell me it was impossible to do 5 people 3 week with theme parks and road trip for my budget , in total we spent £11,436 but that was everything form suitcases we had to buy before we went to every cent of spending money , plus we went slightly bonkers shopping dh got 6 pairs trainers and kids 4 pairs each

 

[wayneg]

You need to decide if you want to go cheap as poss or willing to pay a bit more with the benefits. eg the flight you have seen there is indirect, you will have a 4 hour wait in Ireland on your way back.

If you did want to go down the cheapest route then Expedia are often not the cheapest. Book the flights and hotel separate, the Seralago Hotel & Suites would cost around £340 for 14 nights. I don't know the actual hotel but I have no problem with the area, stayed opposite at the Holiday Inn(when it was a Travelodge) 3 times. You are not in the Disney bubble and not a 99% tourist area like Lake Buena Vista, the 192 towards Kissimmee is integrated with the local community.

Go the day before and the direct flights from Gatwick I posted are only slightly more than the indirect routes.

If you are considering offsite I will search for deals but as Chmurf as said the savings are not massive for your dates, Disney are discounting quite a lot this year so might be worth paying the extra with 2 young children.

 

[DLPDreams]

hi I wasn't able to go today so going tomorrow. I have found this on expedia would someone tell me why it isn't a good deal lol:

it is 14 nights (15-29 may) at Seralago Hotel & Suites Main Gate East via expedia and is £2500 for flights from heathrow and stay but we will have to provide all food and any transport ourselves.

Thank you wayne again for your post - and everyone else who has contributed in fact. This is by far the most friendly helpful forum ive ever known

Along with Disney tickets I really want to do universal. crocs, space center, seaworld can wait until next time (see this forum has already convinced me that there WILL be a next time!)

You seem to have some good advice about the area of that accom. I don't know the areas at all, so I'm no help .

Like Wayne says, you can go all out and splurge the budget or keep it minimal - things like park tickets are a massive cost just on their own!

For us personally, for a first visit, WDW is our main focus, followed by US and DC. And therefore we are hoping to stay on WDW for the onsite perks, less travel time etc. If it were only a shade more to stay onsite and I had a tight budget, I would pay the extra and stay onsite. There are lots of people here who wouldn't and tbh they know more than me as they've been . But I've been to DLP several times and staying onsite is magical - some people like being in the Disney 'bubble' some don't - it's a personal choice and shaped by budget as well.

As you are planning on doing a fair amount offsite too - perhaps a villa with it's own pool would suit you better - and may be cheaper? Especially if you are going to have car hire the full time?

Hope you get somewhere today with your options. That is one thing I've learnt quickly - there are way too many options which makes it hard to decide .

 

[daz1985]

You seem to have some good advice about the area of that accom. I don't know the areas at all, so I'm no help .

Like Wayne says, you can go all out and splurge the budget or keep it minimal - things like park tickets are a massive cost just on their own!

For us personally, for a first visit, WDW is our main focus, followed by US and DC. And therefore we are hoping to stay on WDW for the onsite perks, less travel time etc. If it were only a shade more to stay onsite and I had a tight budget, I would pay the extra and stay onsite. There are lots of people here who wouldn't and tbh they know more than me as they've been . But I've been to DLP several times and staying onsite is magical - some people like being in the Disney 'bubble' some don't - it's a personal choice and shaped by budget as well.

As you are planning on doing a fair amount offsite too - perhaps a villa with it's own pool would suit you better - and may be cheaper? Especially if you are going to have car hire the full time?

Hope you get somewhere today with your options. That is one thing I've learnt quickly - there are way too many options which makes it hard to decide .

hi we will be focusing on disney and i am certain i also want to do US. Everything else is not important for this trip, now that i have seen how far and how much there is to do at these places. So based on that I have decided I want to stay either onsite at Disney or just outside it and NOT hire a car just get transportation to and from airport and then also to US for the 2/3 days we spend there. The only other thing we need to consider is where to get food from as i dont like the DD plan very much so im hoping there are 'normal' supermarkets nearby where we can grab cereal and easy meals to do ourselves.

so need to book flight, hotel, disney tickets and US tickets i believe.

 

[wayneg]

hi we will be focusing on disney and i am certain i also want to do US. Everything else is not important for this trip, now that i have seen how far and how much there is to do at these places. So based on that I have decided I want to stay either onsite at Disney or just outside it and NOT hire a car just get transportation to and from airport and then also to US for the 2/3 days we spend there. The only other thing we need to consider is where to get food from as i dont like the DD plan very much so im hoping there are 'normal' supermarkets nearby where we can grab cereal and easy meals to do ourselves.

so need to book flight, hotel, disney tickets and US tickets i believe.

All the resorts sell the essentials but as with onside food and drink the resort shops are also the same for prices, approx. double offsite prices.
I can't help much with getting to an offsite supermarket without a car, I guess you will either have to call a taxi or negotiate the bus system. If you stayed at somewhere like All Star Sports the nearest Walmart is over 7 miles away https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sadd...DEP94H2VWpnkA&oq=walmart+w+ir&mra=ls&t=m&z=13

 

[queendisney]

The only other thing we need to consider is where to get food from as i dont like the DD plan very much so im hoping there are 'normal' supermarkets nearby where we can grab cereal and easy meals to do ourselves.

so need to book flight, hotel, disney tickets and US tickets i believe.

What sort of things do you like to eat? The DDP has loads of different foods to chose from.

To get to a supermarket from Disney by bus is very easy and quick. You pick up the Lynx 56 from the TTC and ask the driver to drop you at either the new Publix by Celebration or at the huge Walmart further down the road. It prob wouldn't cost too much by taxi either to the new Publix but we find the Lynx very quick, reliable and cheap.

 

[joolz1910]

hi we will be focusing on disney and i am certain i also want to do US. Everything else is not important for this trip, now that i have seen how far and how much there is to do at these places. So based on that I have decided I want to stay either onsite at Disney or just outside it and NOT hire a car just get transportation to and from airport and then also to US for the 2/3 days we spend there. The only other thing we need to consider is where to get food from as i dont like the DD plan very much so im hoping there are 'normal' supermarkets nearby where we can grab cereal and easy meals to do ourselves.

so need to book flight, hotel, disney tickets and US tickets i believe.

If you can get the free DDP, it is great. Another option would be to get a Garden Grocer delivery to your hotel but you would probably need accommodation with a fridge etc to make that work. Onsite is my preference as the transportation is regular. I have heard (not experienced) offsite shuttles can be a bit hit and miss. With your children, I would want to be able to get back to my accommodation without long waits and hassle.