First timer October 2015?Few questions!

[brandysticks]

Hi all,
Well I am aiming to make it over to Florida in October 2015 for a 2 week hol (would consider 10 days if significantly cheaper) and just had a few questions. We are budgeting £3000 for flights and accommodation (2 adults/2 children(7yo and 4yo), £1000 for park tickets (looking at just doing Disney World this trip as the kids still a bit young imo for Universal, Bush gardens etc) May pay more on tickets and do a day at Seaworld or blow the budget completely and do Discovery Cove and Seaworld (aware my daughter will be too young to swim with the dolphins though so may be a bit cruel to do that!). Then £2000 spending money - so £6000-£7000 total.

-Is this a good choice of time to go?We are slightly limited in when we can go as I want the kids missing as little school as possible (not sure school would agree it anyway), and October half term seems to be the best combination of price, weather and crowds- would you agree???are there any other days I should look at?
-How much would I be looking at paying for a Villa for 2 weeks and any recommendations/villa websites to look at?Would I need pool heating at this time of year?
-Which airline would you go with? We have friends who swear by Virgin but just wondered why/if they're generally considered to be any better than the other airlines.
-Is it even worth looking at booking accommodation direct with Disney? Or is it crazy expensive?

Thanks in advance. Just trying to weigh up hotel/villa option and package/DIY options - pricing up for the same time next year Virgin hotel package seems to be coming out the cheapest.

 

[joolz1910]

We went last October for our first visit. I have a link in my signature to my trip report. I broke down all of the costs in the pre-trip report. We have 3 children and just did Disney, which was more than enough to fill the whole 2 weeks!

Have you considered staying onsite? We found it invaluable to be able to pop back to the the pool in the middle of the day, no parking fees, (potential) free Disney dining and onsite magic!

We flew with Virgin and it was fine.

Late October / early November was a great time to go - not too hot but warm enough for swimming. Plus there was the Food and Wine Festival, MNSSHP and MVMCP.

 

[brandysticks]

Ah thanks for reassurance joolz - I'll stick with my plan then and start saving!and price up all options nearer the time.have started looking at your trip report-looks fab.will enjoy reading the rest when I have time!

 

[joolz1910]

Ah thanks for reassurance joolz - I'll stick with my plan then and start saving!and price up all options nearer the time.have started looking at your trip report-looks fab.will enjoy reading the rest when I have time!

The advice on here was invaluable when I was planning my first trip. I booked with Cinder's Mum from The Dibb, she is a Travel Counsellor and was fantastic. I will be booking with her again for our return trip.

 

[Julia Ann]

I'm so excited for you october is my favourite time to go as we love the halloween celebrations. We too are looking at going in 2015 this time with our daughter she will be nearly 8, it will be her first trip. We are looking around the same budget as yourself 5-6k, (2 adults 1 child) probably will stay off site though as we have done before....will weigh it all up nearer the time. We have always flown virgin but may try thomson next time.

 

[WiganTony]

Hi,

-Which airline would you go with? We have friends who swear by Virgin but just wondered why/if they're generally considered to be any better than the other airlines.

No better, no worse in my opinion. Not sure where you are located, but you can fly direct to Tampa and Orlando with BA from Gatwick. You can also find indirect flights from most major UK airports (e.g. from Manchester with AA, Aer Lingus, Delta, United) which could work out a lot cheaper than direct, with the bonus of clearing immigration at the first US airport you land at thus avoiding the scrum at Orlando.

-Is it even worth looking at booking accommodation direct with Disney? Or is it crazy expensive?

If Disney offer free Dining, it can be as cost effective booking an on-site stay with tickets rather than a villa plus paying for food in the parks. For example, last August, we paid approx £120/night for a Studio at Old Key West, and as we booked our tickets with Disney as well, we got the free Disney Dining Plan which meant we had a Quick Service and Table Service meal each day. If we had paid for these ourselves, it would have cost us over $1,800 (approx £1,200) for three of us. Taking this dining into account, the accommodation effectively cost us £40/night.

That said, if we had stayed off-site, I suspect that we wouldn't have eaten at a Disney Table Service restaurant every night!!

 

[Rach78]

Hi!,
Very exciting for you!
We went last October for the 1st time and it was an amazing time to go. I did take my 2 children, 5 and 13, out of school for 7 days but it was so worth it for the lovely weather, low crowds, halloween etc! We stayed onsite at OKW for 8 nights, with free ddp, we did non stop disney, some lovely character meals etc. Then we had 8 nights off site in a beautiful villa and also went to seaworld which my kids loved. Both on site and off site were great and had there pluses so it was the best of both worlds. Onsite for the convenience, dining, free parking, beautiful resorts etc Offsite for the space in villa, own pool, self catering, relaxing. To me it was the perfect way to do Florida.
We flew BA Edin-Gatwick-Tampa. It was fine and at the time one of the cheapest I had seen. I personally would just go with whoever is the cheapest. Also look at US Airways, about 1800 for 2 adults and 2 kids in October flying Man-philly-Orlando.
Whichever way you do things you will have an amazing time, but be prepared to want to go back the second you arrive home!!!
Rach