Hi All !!

[mulhjnr]

Just made it back to the boards after a 2 year absence - so long in fact that my old user name (gmul) was extinct.

I have been looking to book for April 2006 as I now have a new addition to the family who is going for his Disney introduction.

Shortened version is now that we are a family of 4 with 2 kids aged 10 and 1 !!

Has anybody any advice considering the age gap ?

Our last trip was to Boardwalk / Riverside in 2002 but I don't think that Boardwalk will be workable with a 2 year old.

Good to be back.
Pat.

 

[Verity Chambers]

Welcome back!!!!!!

Verity.xxx

 

[Rosie]

Welcome back!

I can't offer advice about accomodation, I just wanted to say I wish I had introduced my DS10 and DD8 to WDW/DLP a long time ago. We went to DLP two years ago and to WDW this April and found they are not interested in characters or parades.

If I had known how quickly my kids would worry about appearing cool I would have had them in those parks before they could walk! Still, theres nothing to stop me waving like a freak at Mickey!

A friend of mine has also been trying to book up for April 2006 and says flydrives are sold out for the school hols. (which are first two weeks of April here) so just a heads up for you.

Happy planning!
Regards
Rosie

 

[alisonbestford]

Hi there,
I know Virgin FlyDrives appear to be booked for Easter - unless you pay for the Premium seats
We've just booked 3 flights with Virgin Atlantaic for 23rd March - 13th April. Not as cheap as a fly drive granted but we got the flights we wanted
We did WDW with DD (then 4) and DS (then 15) and it was cool - saying that DS will let DD twist him round her little finger so he was the one who had to do the tea-cups etc I guess, at 15, DS was old enough to be able to go off and meet up with us later but I'm sure you'll be okay.

 

[natalielongstaff]

wecome back to the boards

 

[mulhjnr]

Thanks for the welcome and the info.

A busy afternoon checking prices has resulted in the following options :

depart Gatwick 30 April for 15 nights in POR / 2 adults + 2 kids

Virgin - approx £ 2700 including flights from Belfast with 7 seater car and insurance

TravelCityDirect - approx £ 2200 ex Gatwick for 14 nights with Compact car / insurance

DIY - approx £ 2500 ex Belfast for 14 nights (assuming AP discount for POR)

Only thing not included is park tickets.

Our previous 3 trips were all with Airtours direct from Belfast but are scheduled flights worth the extra ?

How do these prices appear ?

Thanks,
Pat.

 

[mulhjnr]

Double post

 

[trudster]

Hi Pat, we will be going from Belfast next year also. The prices you have seem not too bad. I personally think, IMHO, it's definitely better going scheduled, but it is a hassle to have to fly to the mainland especially with a small child. Did you consider Dublin at all. We did that last time. It was especially nice clearing US customs at Shannon. The only downside is the drive home again after a long flight at the end of the holiday

 

[KayleeUK]

Hi Pat

Can't really help with prices but Welcome Back

 

[Night-train]

we will be going from Belfast next year also

Are you from NI too Jan??? If so, whereabouts? Hope you don't mind me asking but there seems to be a few of us around now!!

 

[Freaky]

Hi Mulhjnr,

We are others from N.I. who have been missing from the boards for quite some time - but now we are planning our 2006 trip

We have two kids aged 9 & 5 and introduced our youngest to Disney Florida when he had just turned 2. Flew with Virgin out of Gatwick using the Flybe transfer from the City Airport and we're not tempted to fly any other way.

Pros:
Luggage can be transferred straight through from Belfast.
Great kids pack and dedicated kids tv channels on seat back tv screens (our eldest watch the same film 3 times in a row)
Flying into MCO rather than Sanford saving about 30 mins driving time.

The only problem we have had is delays on the transfers so always book the 12.30 flight out of Gatwick (in fact next time we are going the night before)

We are currently pricing Dec 06 with flydrive prices good if you pick the right dates - luckily we can be quite flexible as not too worried about the kids missing a few days of school. Your prices seem quite good - have you signed up for the Virgin Flying Club on their website as you will get an extra 10% off by quoting your club membership number.

Bye for now

Tracey & Jonny

 

[mulhjnr]

Freaky (et al).

Thanks for the info about the FlyBe connection. I will try to arrange this but Virgin has advised that the connection flights will only be confirmed 30 days before departure.

This is a surprise holiday for my 10 year old son who does the Transfer Test in November 05 so this will be either a congratulations or commiserations vacation (as if taking him out of school for more than 2 weeks isn't enough of a surpise.

We have booked Virgin as follows :

30 April-15 May 15 nights at POR
2 adults / 2 kids (1 free child place)
7 seater car with full insurance (no charge upgrade from compact on the web-site)
Belfast connections (3 x £ 10 plus 1 free child)

Total price was £ 2721 including 10% Virgin Flyer discount (thanks for that tip !!)

The price increased for 01st May departures and later.
Also the free child place and free car upgrade was not available after 30th April.

We had originally wanted 11 nights at POR and 4 nights at Hard Rock Hotel but again the free child place was not available as Virgin classed this as a multi-centre.

We booked over the phone and dealt with a great rep - Sharon.

I also checked out the Dublin option but the scheduled flights (Delta / American/Continental/Aer Lingus) but the savings for DIY were not there and the charter option with Budget Travel won't be released for months.

TCD came close to Virgin on price but only for 14 nights with a compact car.

Airtours ex Belfast was within £10 of Virgin but again for 14 nights with a compact car.

Jetsave / Funways could not touch the Virgin price (I think because of the 10% discount from Virgin).

So now that the heart rate has slowed a little, the real planning can start - PS list; Fantasmic Dinner and DiveQuest to come !!!!

Many thanks for all the help and advice thus far but expect a lot more questions to come LOL.

Pat.

 

[trudster]

Are you from NI too Jan??? If so, whereabouts? Hope you don't mind me asking but there seems to be a few of us around now!!

Hi, yes I'm in Lisburn. Have been here a while but don't post that frequently.

Pat, I think you got a great price.