Diy?

[sha_sha]

Hello

I have been to Florida twice now on package deals. Were going back again in Feb 2011 and we have decided to do it ourselves.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or tips on DIY? For example when is it best to purchase flights, as soon as they come out? Same with Park tickets is there a best time to purchase those, and also where is the best places to get them from? We are looking to stay in a Villa or a condo and we are 4 adults.

We are going for 3 weeks, we are staying in Orlando for 2 and a half, and then heading to the Keys for a few days, so if anyone has any advice about the Keys also it would be much appreciated, as we have never been there before.

Thank You any help or advice would be really appreciated.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Hi, DIY is soooooo much cheaper than a package, we DIY every year now. If staying in a villa you should book earlier rather than later as villa prices don't tend to change and the best villas are always snapped up first.

Regarding flight prices - not sure as we have booked at various different times of year and it doesn't seem to change much - others will probably be able to better advise you.

Whatever you do, keep coming back here as there is a wealth of advice on offer.
x

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It all depends on what your preferences are regarding park tickets, there are many websites both in the UK and the US that you can get your tickets from - we all use various sources.
If you have an idea of which parks you are going to and what tickets you may require we can probably be more specific.

We use www.mapleleaftickets.com for our Disney tickets as we prefer passes that do not expire.
www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com is also worth a look, as well as Universal and Sea World's own websites as they often have offers on.

We have rented villas for many years now, the choice is massive. Given the size of your party a proper villa rather than a condo may be better for you. All the villa developments are named and have various locations, for example if the home is located in Kissimmee you have a pretty central location that is ideal for restaurants, the theme parks and supermarkets.

A couple of good websites are below:

www.villas2000.com
www.vr360homes.co.uk

It's many years since we went to the Keys, the drive across the different keys is fabulous, it is a long drive from Orlando, personally I would stop somewhere around the Miami or Key Largo area to split the journey up.

 

[~Piglet~]

Just a word of caution regarding park passes, if you are buying them early check that they will still be valid when you travel in 2011.

Here is a link to Pegasus928's thread which will give you an idea of current ticket prices http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2362482

Enjoy your planning!