First Independent Holiday to Disney

[The First Davenger]

Hello everyone!

I hope I'm not causing any annoyance by creating this thread with there already being a few similar in nature, I'm just feeling like I'm missing something with my holiday planning and heard wonderful things about this forum - so here goes!

I'm looking to travel to Florida next year between 4th May and 7th June for a 14 night stay. This I must admit is the first holiday I will have been on without my parents (At 23 that seems somewhat childish to admit xD), and will also be the first holiday with my girlfriend.

So - I'm at a bit of a loss on what would be the best course of action, I've been to travel agents (who seem pretty extortionate in comparison to the Disney website itself) and have heard of a number of other means of booking this holiday, one in particular the american company Small Word Vacations. So I've pretty much narrowed down the choice to the last two, the Disney website and SWV - my first question is if I book through Disney, are there any hidden service costs or the like going to surprise me once I get there? And secondly has anyone from the UK used SWV before and would they recommend them? Especially over the Disney Official web?

I realise this is probably a sparse bit of information to base any suggestions on, so the following is what I want out of this holiday:

• Hotel: Disney's Art of Animation OR Disney's All-Star Movies (Not really interested in staying outside of the resort)
• Dates: between 4th May and 7th June (14 Night Stay)
• Travel: As neither of us drive public transport routes will be a big factor
• Food/Dining: Disney's Quick Service
• Budget: Under £4000
• Other Attractions: Star Wars Weekends (When do they start?), Universal and IOA and Malls / I-Drive. (Not fussed on the others)

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Right, so thats the main bit out of the way, there are a few other factors I could do with some tips on. Based on the above:

• What sort of spending money would be advisable?
• What sort of Travel Insurance is recommended, and is there a company you would point me to?
• Is it possible to add extra baggage allowance on the return leg only with say Virgin or the others?
• Is Disney's Photopass service worth the money? We are a bit concerned that with us going as a couple there will be very little opportunity to get photos of the both of us together without asking total strangers to take one for us. Are cast members likely to take a photo for us?
• Whats the weather generally like around that time of year as a basic rule of thumb?

...Phew! Sorry about the essay there folks, its just a daunting experience even contemplating this, never mind chewing on it!

I reckon I've got the majority covered, however if there are gaps anyone notices that I've missed or even ANY tips and suggestions you could throw my way it would be awesome.

Thank you very much in advance and kind regards,

Dave Thorne

 

[WiganTony]

Hi and welcome. Just done a quick check on some prices for you booking "diy" staying 11-25 May:

Hotel:

14 nights All Star Movies Resort £1,064
Add on Quick Service Dining Plan £700
Total £1,764
Or

14 nights Art of Animation resort £1,288
Add on Quick Service Dining Plan £700
Total £1,988
Or

14 nights Port Orleans French Quarter including free Quick Service Dining Plan - £1,680 (note - this is a higher category of hotel and works out at better value than the two other hotels if you add the dining plan). You could, if you wanted to, upgrade to the Disney Dining Plan with Table Service/Buffet meals included for £420. NOTE THAT THIS OFFER CURENTLY EXPIRES TOMORROW (20TH JUNE) ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL BE EXTENDED OR OFFERED LATER IN THE YEAR.

Then add on 2 x 14 day Ultimate Tickets £504.

Travel:

From www.kayak.co.uk:

Gatwick to Orlando International (direct) £525pp, total £1,050 dates as above.

When staying on-site at Disney, you could use the Disney Magical Express to transfer to free of charge from Orlando International to Disney, and the on-site transport to get around to the parks.

Other:

If you chose Port Orleans, 2 weeks would cost you approx £3,300 so a bit left for other stuff (like Universal or shopping ).

Universal tickets can be had for around £95pp for an unlimited 2 week ticket, but you would also have to factor in travelling costs there and back.

You could use the Lynx Bus to get to the Florida Mall ($2 pp each way) and use connecting buses to visit either of the Premium Outlet malls (or taxi).

For baggage, with BA you get a 23kg checked baggage allowance plus cabin baggage which has unlimited weight (as long as you can put it in the overhead bins!!), so you may not need any additional allowance.

Hopefully others will be along to answer some of your other queries, or to supplement the above.

 

[torsie24]

Welcome

Your budget sounds very do-able. Although you might consider upgrading to a Moderate resort so you can benefit from free dining? AoA looks wonderful though.

Booking directly on the Disney site is nice and easy, I prefer not to go through an agent. Same with flights.

We always stay onsite and have never rented a car. This is the trip we've now done twice to US/IoA - suits us great and 1 day has been plenty for us to do everything there, but i see they now offer 2 days for a small amount extra, so that might be worth it too:


Universal ticket with Rountrip transfers.

You can add extra baggage, do that on the VA site when you book.

CMs will definitely take photos for you, as will the PP photographers.

 

[dixonsontour]

Just to say welcome to the DIS

Any questions please do ask away - this is a friendly forum where people try to help if they can.

 

[dixonsontour]

Personally i'd book a moderate or deluxe resport to get free QSDP or free dining plan.

You are going to be eating onsite at disney anyway - better to have it included.

It does get busier end on May - US schools break up for summer and UK kids get last week of May off as half term. There is also Star wars weekends, memorial day holiday and 'Gay days'.

I personally like a website called touringplans.com. Costs about $10 to sign up for the year but tells you how busy it is each day and any special events to help you decide when to go.

We've just come back from an early May trip and it was a great time to go crowd and weather wise.

It is easy to book DIY and the majority of the time will be significantly cheaper than using a travel agent.

Book your accomodation and tickets (and free dining) and magic express transfer from the airport with disney.

Then book some flights separately. Have a look on a site like kayak for an idea on price of flights.

On top of that you need an ESTA which you do online (visa waiver), Travel insurance and some spends.

 

[wayneg]

Welcome to DISboards

Deluxe resorts OKW or SSR would be £2,268.00 & £504 for tickets less discount = £2,658.60 less 3% Quidco = £2578.84 (includes $200 giftcard)

I am not a fan of the value resorts but many enjoy them. I would book Deluxe with the Dining plan included if onsite was the only option. Free dining is not great value when only 2 in a room thats costing about £150/night but if you are not willing to stay offsite then those are the prices.

 

[The First Davenger]

Thank you very much for your warm welcome everyone

Wow, thank you all so much! 5 quality responses!

Its good to see that not all internet forums have descended into troll ridden cesspits.

The upgrade suggestion sounds to me like a great idea, plus the deposit is only £50 each, I think I'll be booking that one tonight! We've decided to stay at the French Quarter on the 6th May to the 20th May - does anyone know if those dates will include a Star Wars weekend?

Thank you for the link about Universal, its a big help! And the info about the Lynx bus too, we were somewhat worried about transport, last time I was in Florida was when I was 16, so I didn't have to worry about these things haha!

Are there any particularly impressive guide books I should invest in to plan with and to take with us?

And regarding spending money, what would be a sensible amount to take? (£4000 was the holiday budget, i.e hotel, flights etc not inclusive of spending)

I am already very impressed with these forums, I expect I'll be sticking around here for some time

 

[torsie24]

The unofficial guide is great. No pictures, and it's the size of a bible, but it coveres everything in WDW in detail and is great.

Here's it on amazon

And also if you buy it, then you get a discount on touringplans.com which is worth joining.

We don't spend loads at WDW, and if you have free dinng that'll be even less you'll need. It really just depends how much you'd like to buy.

 

[dixonsontour]

Thank you very much for your warm welcome everyone

Wow, thank you all so much! 5 quality responses!

Its good to see that not all internet forums have descended into troll ridden cesspits.

The upgrade suggestion sounds to me like a great idea, plus the deposit is only £50 each, I think I'll be booking that one tonight! We've decided to stay at the French Quarter on the 6th May to the 20th May - does anyone know if those dates will include a Star Wars weekend?

Thank you for the link about Universal, its a big help! And the info about the Lynx bus too, we were somewhat worried about transport, last time I was in Florida was when I was 16, so I didn't have to worry about these things haha!

Are there any particularly impressive guide books I should invest in to plan with and to take with us?

And regarding spending money, what would be a sensible amount to take? (£4000 was the holiday budget, i.e hotel, flights etc not inclusive of spending)

I am already very impressed with these forums, I expect I'll be sticking around here for some time

Star wars weekends started May 18th this year. I can't see the dates for next year yet, you may just catch it. Parks are good for your dates mainly 5/10 out of busyness.

If you have QSDP included you wont need to pay any extra for food or drink unless you want to. So spends just for any shopping you want to do and alcohol.

Brit's guide to disney by simon veness is a good intro to Florida and all the parks.

I also like the unofficial guide to wdw - try amazon for both.

Do stick around and ask anything you need to know.

 

[zippy99]

I just had a look on Complete Orlando

2 Weeks (13/05 to 27/05) At Port Orleans French Quarter:

POFQ = £1582
Dis Tickets = £508

(their free Dining offer is running until 10th July - if that gives you some more time.

You can book flights with them too for £1311 (LGW-MCO Direct)

Booking all the elements through one company would come to £3400 - plus they do low deposit too

Or you could go indirect flights for around £500pp to save £300 odd

Have a look at their website - I find they have the benefit a convenience of regular tour operator - but with the prices of DIY or booking direct.

I have booked my last two trips with them and found them to be excellent.

Have also looked at the package with Cosmos - same dates £3105 with dining plan and park tickets - only snag here is flying in to Sanford which is further away than MCO - although the price does include the transfer on a shared coach. Also think you can get Quidco Cash Back on Cosmos too.

 

[The First Davenger]

Again, HUGE thanks for all the info and suggestions, you guys are awesome - should be putting a deposit down in the next few hours after a bit more snooping around!

 

[The First Davenger]

And we are booked with our deposit!

Thank you everyone for the info and help, we ended up with the following package:

Hotel: Port Orleans French Quarter
Dining: Disney Quick Service
Park Tickets: Ultimate 14-Day
Dates: 6th May - 20th May
Extras: $200 Gift Card

All for the nice tidy sum of £2100

Initial price for the flights are looking at £1200 mark, so about £3400 including flights...

...Excited doesnt even cover it!

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Wonderful choice we stayed there on our 1st trip ...... gosh that seems such a long time ago

Have a fantastic time now with all the planning

 

[wayneg]

Enjoy your planning