Florida for 1 week???

[Booknut]

I need your opinions please, is it worth going to Florida for only 1 week? Do you feel too tired or do you feel like you're rushing around when you get there?

Would love to hear from you!

Thanks,

Eloise

 

[jns]

we done it last Oct for a week without the kids
Had a ball , done only Disney

Most Americans only stay for a few days

Go for it
a week is better than not going at all

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It is difficult to say really, we are lucky and have been regular visitors for many years and hence have never felt the need to rush around.

1 week is always better than 0, however, personally especially taking into account the long flight 1 week would not be worth it (in my opinion).

It does take us a couple of days to acclimitise so sorry without appearing negative I would say no.

If you bear in mind the fly-drive price we are paying in August is £849, and the 9 hour flight , we are actually going for longer ,3 weeks.
My wife being a school teacher and our son at school means we can only go in summer and it's the only holiday we have all year.

I am sure many people go for 1 week so you will get plenty of positive feedback, however it's just not for us.

 

[terrynewpack]

Been for just a week quite a few times. However we only go for a relaxing time and don't spend 7 days rushing around the parks. If you plan to do the parks then 7 days might not be as good.


Terry

 

[jen_uk]

If you go for a week then just make sure you dont do too much, if you try to cram in Disney, Universal and Seaworld you will exhaust yourself! If you just stick to Disney you would be able to spend a day in each park as well as the waterparks. 1 week isnt very long as there is loads there but its better than nothing!!!

 

[carolfoy]

The first time I went we did a week, stayed off site in maingate which was a bit of a hinderence as we spent a lot of time actually getting to the parks, we had 5 days in WDw and 1 day shopping, 1 by the pool, it was great, now I know my way around I'd definately do it again, we did miss the waterparks, DTD, and all the extra bits but if you stay on site I don't see that it would be that rushed!!

 

[wilma-bride]

We went for a week last September. To be totally honest, although I loved it because it was Orlando and still enjoyed the parks and everything, we did feel more under pressure to fit everything in. In order to do everything we wanted, we had planned no rest days but, by Saturday (we arrived on Tuesday) we had to take a break as we were both starting to get really stressed and tired.

As it was only my second time visiting, I've no idea if we enjoyed it less because it was only a week or whether it didn't have that special 'first-time' feel. However, we both agreed that we wouldn't go just for a week again, unless we had been loads of times and were only going to limit ourselves to a couple of parks.

Just wanted to add that we didn't do a lot of the stuff we wanted to, after all that, because we felt so under pressure and needed a break so we had to forego some of our plans. Don't get me wrong, we had a good time but, personally, it's not worth it to us to go for less than a fortnight. In terms of costs, aside from spending money, you can go just as cheap for 2 weeks as you can 1.

 

[Soprano]

I'd vote No.

We went a few years ago. Bargain £660, but awful Monarch Arlines (never been charter since!)

You can't help but try to cram in so many things, its hard to relax. As been said, it can take two days to adjust to the climate/time difference. We didn't regret going, but didn't really have time to soak up the atmosphere. The week flew by and we were home before it even felt like we arrived. Going for two weeks is short enough.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We went for a week last September. To be totally honest, although I loved it because it was Orlando and still enjoyed the parks and everything, we did feel more under pressure to fit everything in. In order to do everything we wanted, we had planned no rest days but, by Saturday (we arrived on Tuesday) we had to take a break as we were both starting to get really stressed and tired.

As it was only my second time visiting, I've no idea if we enjoyed it less because it was only a week or whether it didn't have that special 'first-time' feel. However, we both agreed that we wouldn't go just for a week again, unless we had been loads of times and were only going to limit ourselves to a couple of parks.

Just wanted to add that we didn't do a lot of the stuff we wanted to, after all that, because we felt so under pressure and needed a break so we had to forego some of our plans. Don't get me wrong, we had a good time but, personally, it's not worth it to us to go for less than a fortnight. In terms of costs, aside from spending money, you can go just as cheap for 2 weeks as you can 1.

I fully agree with Joh and understand what she means.

Furthermore , Eloise as for my earlier post please do not think I am being negative, just that in addition to what me and Joh have said...I am also not the best flier and our son is also Autistic, lovely playful boy just cannot talk, so with Joshua having such a wonderful time on his holiday we just think we want to go for 3 weeks now.
Especially with the fly-drive prices being so high in August when we have to go.
Can only comment on our personal cirucmstances and 1 week just is not worth it for us.

 

[Booknut]

Hi

I do appreciate your opinions, and I think we're going to have to scrap the one week idea. Why can't Florida be just a wee bit closer!

I had hoped if we went for one week our expenses would be less but i'm probably fooling myself. It wouldn't be much less...there is just no way to make this holiday cheap!!! argh!!!!

Thanks again for your opinions. I'm going back to my calculator...I need to do this holiday for under £2,000 for both of us. And we aren't that keen on hotels so...

Eloise

 

[Tink78]

Me and my Mum did a week in Sept 2001 instead of a weekend in NYC.
It was fab.

We had our itinery planned and just got on with it.

We managed to do both Universal Parks, the 4 Disney Parks and had a spare day to go back and do all our fave disney rides, by park hopping.
It was a brilliant holiday and I have very fond memories of it.

Go for it!!

 

[Goofyish]

I would definately go for just 1 week, but it would be to do WDW only and staying on-site. Especially having been a number of times and not feeling under any pressure to see and do everything.

If it was my first trip, then I don't think I would go for just a week.

 

[Tink78]

I would definately go for just 1 week, but it would be to do WDW only and staying on-site. Especially having been a number of times and not feeling under any pressure to see and do everything.

If it was my first trip, then I don't think I would go for just a week.

Yes, we did stay on site, but did find time to do the 2 Universal Parks.
I wouldn't do WDW for a week for my 1st trip either.

 

[angel659]

Hi

I would definately go for a week if this was the only way you could go. We went in 2004 for a week and we did Disney only and had a fab time. We stayed in All Star Movies and we loved it. If we could only go for a week again we would not hesitate in booking a week again.

Michelle

 

[WDWfan uk]

We have mostly been on 3 week trips, or 2/3 weeks, BUT I have now been on 3 one week trips, and they were fabulous!

They were more carefully planned and focussed, but worth every second. The greatest difference was that on the one week trips we stayed put instead of changing resorts and travelling, and did not hire a car for the duration. Instead had towncar round trip to the resort, and hired a car just for 24 hours on one of the trips to visit Busch Gardens.

 

[LindseyUK]

Hi Eloise
Never done a week but would if it was the only option!
Does your £2000 budget include park tickets, spending money etc or just the actual holiday price? And what time of year are you thinking of? We have done 2 weeks (not in a hotel!) on less than that but it was in "low" season....

 

[Booknut]

This would be our second trip, our first trip was 2 weeks last September and we stayed in a villa and had a car and saw a bit of the coastline on the Gulf of Mexico (which was fabulous!).

I want to go again this year but we really can't spend what we spent last year (which i'm waaaaaaaaaaaaaay to embarrassed to tell you!) and so i'm trying to come up with cheaper ways to do this.

So far British Airways have flights between £300-£410 each which is not bad off-peak. Car rental around £230 with Avis (through BA) and I got a coupon in the Mail this Sunday for £30 off (woo hoo!). And I think I can snag the villa again for around £750 for 2 weeks. So we're looking at around £1600.

But...and its a big but...the expense is in the smaller things isnt it! Disney tickets, Universal tickets, meals, all those irresistible souvenirs, Coke Slurpees (just kidding!).



I'm suffering severe Disney withdrawals today...so is DH. When his work situations is sorted i'll look into this more deeply. Thanks again for the words of advice.

BTW, if anyone IS interested in cheap one week deals, I saw First Choice had a 1 week trip leaving 11 March I think, flights, car rental and hotel at the Maingate East, for £846 for two people, that's very good!

Eloise

 

[jen_uk]

Have you looked at staying onsite, if you stay at a value hotel you can get some good deals, plus it means you can save on the car hire cost as you can use their transport.

 

[wilma-bride]

OK, I can totally understand the urge to go again - it's such a fantastic place. I also understand how it is easy to spend so much more than you really want to so it's a good idea to have a budget. I take it you've tried finding package deals? Do you have specific dates you want to go?

Aside from that, this is what I would suggest.

I think I can snag the villa again for around £750 for 2 weeks.

Just my opinion but do you have to have a villa? And a car? Why not try and stay on site or stay at an I-Drive hotel that provides transport to the parks. We have done that both times and, yes, it is a bit more restrictive but you can certainly save money that way.

But...and its a big but...the expense is in the smaller things isnt it! Disney tickets, Universal tickets, meals, all those irresistible souvenirs, Coke Slurpees (just kidding!)

OK, there are ways you can save money on tickets, spending money etc. I'm no expert but, for 2 of you, you could either get the 14 day ultimate for Disney (£159 each approx) or a 5 or 7 day MYW pass (take out hopping and extras and it will save you more). Universal are currently doing a deal on tickets at the moment where you can buy a 2 day/2 park and get 3 days free (if you take a look at the Universal board, you may discover another way you can save some money here - or PM me for details). Skip Sea World (save £60 each). As for meals, DH and I don't do brekkie so we always have a light snack mid morning and then an evening meal (outside the theme parks mostly).

I am not saying don't go for a week but I just know how we felt after last year's holiday and it was disheartening to come back wishing we had gone for 2 weeks and thinking we could have had a better time if we had. At the end of the day, though, you will know what's right for you. We are not all the same and what works/doesn't work for us may be the opposite for others. Hope you manage to get your fix

 

[Madjock]

I took my two DDs for one week in Oct 2004 after having been twice before. We stayed on site and used Disney transport. We had a fabulous time however it did help having been before and knowing what we all liked and didn’t like which helped us plan a list of must do’s for each park. We also had the length of stay pass at that time which was also a great benefit as you could park hop or just laze by the pool in the morning and then go to the park in the afternoon and stay for the evening fireworks. At that time of year we not only did everything we really wanted but also managed most of the stuff on our ‘if we get the chance list’.

I would definitely go back again for 1 week if it was all we could manage.