Florida Newbies!

[BettyBoo29]

I FINALLY FOUND THE UK FORUM BOARDS! Where have I been looking?! Haha

well..

Me and my boyfriend have our two weeks stay at the Quality Inn down I Drive on the 16th September 2014 (seems a lifetime away!)
This will be our very first time and I can't tell you how excited I am! Just need a little help a lon the way if anyone can help?!

Well we love our food and defiantly not fussy at all so any suggestions on where to go for all you can eat breakfasts and tips on good places?!

We are getting the all in one 14 day Disney and universal ticket and I defiantly want to do discovery cove with the dolphins, just not too convinced on sea world at the minute?

We have decided we are only taking the clothes we are travelling in and one other outfit and literally buying everything else there (I'm abit if a shopaholic if I do say so myself!) does anyone know of good shopping malls (as they would say haha)

Would love to do the crystal palace character dining one morning does anyone know anything about how to book and how much is costs?

I will be 21 when travelling and my boyfriend will be 22, I am in need to have a little neb at someone's itinerary if they have one handy? Just a brief guide of what order to do things would be so helpful.

That's all I can think of to ask at the mo but if I think of anything else ill be sure to add to it!

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me (a bit of a minefield for a first timer isn't it!)

Beth x

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[dixonsontour]

Welcome to the DIS

Please stick around and ask away.

For eating at disney you can book by calling them or online on the official disney website. Reservations open 180 days (6 months) in advance. The most popular meals and slots do book up.

Crystal palace brekkie is $24.49-$28.79 a person (varies slightly if you are peak or off peak)

Allears.net has menus and prices for all the parks.

For offsite eating places like ponderosa, sizzler and golden coral do the all you can eat breakfasts.

I prefer the diner places often similar cost. There are links in my signature to my two dining on a budget reviews - lots of ideas for cheaper eating eg friendly's, ihop, village inn.

Ticket wise work out where you want to go and ask on here what is the best and cheapest way to do it. eg You can buy the US disney tickets for just a few days if you wont get use out of a 14 day disney ticket.

How are you travelling to the parks?

Shopping wise there are outlet malls at the top and bottom of i drive (premium outlets) plus florida mall and millenia mall (more upscale stuff) Plus walmart etc

 

[chmurf]

We are getting the all in one 14 day Disney and universal ticket and I defiantly want to do discovery cove with the dolphins, just not too convinced on sea world at the minute?

you'll get a 14 days unlimited access to seaworld with your Discovery Cove reservation, so if you want to have a peek, it's already included.

We have decided we are only taking the clothes we are travelling in and one other outfit and literally buying everything else there (I'm abit if a shopaholic if I do say so myself!) does anyone know of good shopping malls (as they would say haha)

start with the premium outlets at the top of international drive.
florida mall also has lots of shops awaiting your credit card

Would love to do the crystal palace character dining one morning does anyone know anything about how to book and how much is costs?

book on WDW's website, or call Disney Dining reservations. Reservations can be made 180 days in advance
current pricing is $28 + tip (18 to 20%)

I will be 21 when travelling and my boyfriend will be 22, I am in need to have a little neb at someone's itinerary if they have one handy? Just a brief guide of what order to do things would be so helpful.

order to do things will depend on crowd calendars.
It's rather important to pick the right day for the right park
easyWDW has a pretty accurate prediction records http://www.easywdw.com/
you'll need to wait a few months before your dates are available, but you can have a look at september 2013 to get a general idea

I would also add that you're both under 25, if you intend to rent a car it will be rather pricey, as 21-25 drivers pay a huge surcharge ( doubles the rental price )

If you don't intend to rent a car, then let me advise you that staying offsite on Idrive is not really adviseable. You'll spend lots of time on the buses or shuttles.
I hope you understand how huge WDW is, and how far apart Universal is from WDW.

 

[Tony Bush]

Hi Beth,

Welcome to the madness of the DIS boards

The best thing we ever did when we first went to WDW was to buy a book called ' A Brits Guide to Orlando" by Simon and susan Veness. It is just about the bets book on WDW. It has been our travel bible every time we've gone. A new version comes out with updates every year. Simon used to be very active on here too and lots of his book was compiled with the help and tips from this community,

Buy it ! - you won't regret it. It has tips on parks, rides, shopping, food etc etc its all in there !!


Tony

 

[LeaversOnTour]

My Husband and I stayed on I drive all the time before we got married and had children. We have never hired a car despite both being able to drive and having 4 children.

We still stay on I drive now but combine it with a stay at disney to take out the travel time.

I assume your Hotel has a shuttle service to the theme parks. Which whilst confine you to specific travel times is not the end of the world. Although we did get stuck with one return shuttle from Epcot which left at 9pm, just as illuminations started. Not great timing!

Food wise it depends how long you plan on spending in the parks. Youw ill rarely make it back to I drive before dark with shuttles. But if you dont mind eating late there are some great places on Idrive as well as some not so great places.

Ponderosa, sizzler are a couple of good ones for breakfast. Chillis and TGI are pocket palletable for dinner. But you also have Hard Rock, Bubba Gumps there is also a Brazilian steakhouse i foget what its called but it is supposed to be really good. This is on my todo list this year.

Being young i am sure the travelling wont phase you in the slightest it didnt us when we used to do it. Just be prepared to go home more tired than you arrived. But with REALLY good clothes

 

[talbot3186]

Hiya your going be out there same time as us, we fly 8th September 2014 stay at Rosen inn at pointe Orlando for 4 weeks, also our first time, this forum has been great just reading all the post has been a great help with work out this for going.

 

[BettyBoo29]

Hiya your going be out there same time as us, we fly 8th September 2014 stay at Rosen inn at pointe Orlando for 4 weeks, also our first time, this forum has been great just reading all the post has been a great help with work out this for going.

Ooh that's great, someone to share tips with
Where are you flying from? We was going to stay in the Rosen inn too but they both seemed the same!
Do you have your park tickets yet? And are you driving?

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[talbot3186]

We going from gatwick, we got our tickets from attraction tickets direct paid a deposit and paying balance of 6 weeks before we fly and tickets come then, we not having a car, my boyfriend looked into it and said it easy to get around on the buses and then we don't have to worry about paying parking at the parks.

 

[BettyBoo29]

We going from gatwick, we got our tickets from attraction tickets direct paid a deposit and paying balance of 6 weeks before we fly and tickets come then, we not having a car, my boyfriend looked into it and said it easy to get around on the buses and then we don't have to worry about paying parking at the parks.

Yeah we looked into it aswell but figured the same, I see in another thread you've said you have already booked DC, do you mind me asking which day you've chosen as people say you need to schedule it when it's not busy? But who knows what's its going to be like that far in advance

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[Julia Ann]

Welcome you guys are going to have an amazing time. We have stayed at Quality Inn International (which is now Rosen Inn - but you may be at the other Quality Inn as there are 2 on I-Drive) twice and will be going back again in 2015. You will be there for the Universal Studios Halloween Horror nights http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/ it's pretty intense and the haunted houses are just like being on a horror movie set. We have done this night 3 times. If you love horror movies then I recommend it, but it's not for everybody, if you do decide to go get one of the tickets whereby you can go on multiple nights as you won't do it all in 1 visit. I also recommend The Brit Guide book, and make sure you have some kind of itinerary before you go, this can be flexible but to get the most out of your stay its best to plan ahead. Happy planning

 

[Claire Bear]

Yeah we looked into it aswell but figured the same, I see in another thread you've said you have already booked DC, do you mind me asking which day you've chosen as people say you need to schedule it when it's not busy? But who knows what's its going to be like that far in advance

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DC limit the amount of guests to 1,300 people each day therefore, I chose a day when I knew the others parks would be busy because at DC in peak times will be full but like I said that's still only 1300 people. I chose a Saturday. Hope that helps.

 

[talbot3186]

We booked for 22nd September,, like the person above said dc only lets in so many people a day so it be nearly same when ever you go. Also remember to book not at end of your trip as if there bad weather on day your ment to be going and cd closed you still got days to rebook for.

 

[BettyBoo29]

We booked for 22nd September,, like the person above said dc only lets in so many people a day so it be nearly same when ever you go. Also remember to book not at end of your trip as if there bad weather on day your ment to be going and cd closed you still got days to rebook for.

Thank you for your help.
So middle of the holiday prob sounds the best bet? Nice chill out day in the middle of our holiday?

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[talbot3186]

That's want we though go in mad to have a chill out and relax, we doing trainer for day but hoping if we got the money by next year to go back the next day and do a non swim day just to relax,

 

[LeaversOnTour]

I am dying to do DC ever since i swam with dolphins in the Dominican Republic! but our eldest is only 4 and yougest 4 weeks so will be while until we do that. I need to wait until at least one of them can do it as my Hubby hates all things water related.

 

[BettyBoo29]

I know me too it's the main thing what I'm most looking forward too! Haha, I know you don't get long with the dolphins but its something I've aalways wanted to do!

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[BettyBoo29]

Hi Beth,

Welcome to the madness of the DIS boards

The best thing we ever did when we first went to WDW was to buy a book called ' A Brits Guide to Orlando" by Simon and susan Veness. It is just about the bets book on WDW. It has been our travel bible every time we've gone. A new version comes out with updates every year. Simon used to be very active on here too and lots of his book was compiled with the help and tips from this community,

Buy it ! - you won't regret it. It has tips on parks, rides, shopping, food etc etc its all in there !!

Tony

Thanks Tony

I will be sure to buy that book I need all the help I can get!

& yea you are right, the Dis boards is madness!! -.-

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[crabbie1]

Welcome to the boards. How exciting your first trip. Well as you are both young I think you will have no problems with the shuttles. If for any reason you do want to stay later than your last bus. Grab a disney bus to down town disney and get a cab back. It will be cheaper from there than from the park. Also with your crystal palace booking try and book early morning. If you book 8am and it is not an extra magic hour day(for resort guests only) you will see magic kingdom empty. Great to walk down main street and have loads of pics taken.
Premium outlets is your place. You can join their vip club online and get vouchers. My Ugg boots cost me $135!!!! And they are navy blue. £210 over here. Not a bad difference.

 

[BettyBoo29]

Welcome to the boards. How exciting your first trip. Well as you are both young I think you will have no problems with the shuttles. If for any reason you do want to stay later than your last bus. Grab a disney bus to down town disney and get a cab back. It will be cheaper from there than from the park. Also with your crystal palace booking try and book early morning. If you book 8am and it is not an extra magic hour day(for resort guests only) you will see magic kingdom empty. Great to walk down main street and have loads of pics taken.
Premium outlets is your place. You can join their vip club online and get vouchers. My Ugg boots cost me $135!!!! And they are navy blue. £210 over here. Not a bad difference.

What you said about uggs has just made me grin from ear to ear as I love them and I'm so excited to get a new pair haha!

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[winniepie81]

Aah, reading your post brings back great memories. Me and my boyfriends first trip together was at quality inn an oct 08. We ve been back 4 times since so must ve done something right! Discovery cove def the highlight of the trip well worth the money. I get so excited when I hear about people's first trips! It truly is the best place. Great places within walking distance from your hotel will be tgi Fridays, Denny's, McDonald's (handy for a quick breakfast) ponderosa, bahama breeze, millers ale house and hooters! Have fun with your planning and the Brits guide to Orlando will def be well worth the money!