Help

[lindaanddarren]

Hi,
I've been to Orlando a few times however, this was with my ex and my own children who are now grown up. I am now with a new partner and he has heard nothing but Florida, Florida, Florida for the last few years and we have now decided to go . We are going with my partners 14 year old son and as I have ranted on and on about how brilliant everything is in Orlando they have VERY high expectations...and I obviously want them to love the place as much as I do.
Here lies my problem, since the last time I was there everything has risen sooo much in price and I just cant decide on anything . The last time I booked flights they were £299 each, now they're anything from £700 -£900 (flying October around the 18th 2013) I cant even decide where to stay as we really need a separate room or area for partners son. On my last visit we stayed a 5days onsite (value with free ddp) 2 days at universal and the final week at Floridays on international drive. I enjoyed being on site although thought the value was a little basic We would prefer not to drive ( which I have done a few times and used shuttles/taxis) want to stay 2 nights at Universal (where we dont mind sharing room ) but apart from that cannot decide on anything.
So in a nutshell I need help with flights , accommodation and anything else that might help in my planning.
Sorry this goes on sooo much

 

[disneychic2]

Hi,
I've been to Orlando a few times however, this was with my ex and my own children who are now grown up. I am now with a new partner and he has heard nothing but Florida, Florida, Florida for the last few years and we have now decided to go . We are going with my partners 14 year old son and as I have ranted on and on about how brilliant everything is in Orlando they have VERY high expectations...and I obviously want them to love the place as much as I do.
Here lies my problem, since the last time I was there everything has risen sooo much in price and I just cant decide on anything . The last time I booked flights they were £299 each, now they're anything from £700 -£900 (flying October around the 18th 2013) I cant even decide where to stay as we really need a separate room or area for partners son. On my last visit we stayed a 5days onsite (value with free ddp) 2 days at universal and the final week at Floridays on international drive. I enjoyed being on site although thought the value was a little basic We would prefer not to drive ( which I have done a few times and used shuttles/taxis) want to stay 2 nights at Universal (where we dont mind sharing room ) but apart from that cannot decide on anything.
So in a nutshell I need help with flights , accommodation and anything else that might help in my planning.
Sorry this goes on sooo much

I can't help about flights, but have you considered renting DVC points? I've never done it, but plenty of people have and say it is very cost efficient. You can get a 1 bedroom villa that has a sofa bed the son can use. Good luck with your planning!

 

[lindaanddarren]

Thanks I have looked at DVC however, it didnt seem to work out very cost effective when I looked at it although I may have been calculating it wrong. I'll have another look .
I have rang a travel agent and asked to have 3 locations and she was quite surprised that anyone would move once far less twice while on holiday. Does anyone else stay at more than one location.? Anyway she quoted over £8k for 2 weeks...not sure if that is the average price or id save doing it DIY (which I have done in the past)

 

[orangetiggs]

We are going this nov, staying in a two bed villa at old key west, free dining and park tickets for 5 adults and 2 children who are two so no tickets for them and we are paying just over £7000 so i think thats quite high

Ok this was a deal on that has finished for next year but the free dining might be back

I have been pricing packages up this mornng for three weeks at all stars next sept and its coming up around £5000 for all of us with tickets, far too expensive so i will do a diy holiday

Flights i will pay around £500 if i can and then book the hotel direct with disney as it will work out cheaper for us i feel

 

[Cyrano]

We have just come back from a stay at Old Key West in a 1 bedroom villa and Royal Pacific Resort for the Universal onsite element.
Our group is 2 adults and 3 kids (14, 12 and 10)

The 1 bed villa has a double bed settee and single chair bed settee. The bedroom has an enormous queen bed.
This would be more than adequate for you if you want the separate space from the 14 year old .

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

We stayed at Royal Pacific for four nights this year before moving on to Disney and we loved it there. We actually stayed Club Level which worked out cost effective as we only paid for 1 meal a day.Also staying at Universal you'll get the early entry to Harry Potter and Front of the line passes for most rides.

In Disney your options are really SSR, OKW, renting DVC points, but you would have to buy DDP with that option, or have you looked at the new Art of Animation? That has a separate area for children to sleep in.
Hopefully Free Dining will be back because it does make a huge difference to the price.

Start looking for flights at 11 months out and if you find a direct flight between £500-£600 grab it, as think thats a good price these days, or you could consider flying indirect which lots of people here do

BTW. We have been lots of times and have never driven.