I-Drive May2008

[garyh]

Hi,

Just joined forum after browsing for a good few weeks, and after a bit of advice.

Looking to go 2nd or 3rd May08 for 21 nights, 4 adults and 2 children (4 & 2). First time going with our 2 young children.

Have priced up with Virgin, Ocean Florida, and TCD, and all similar for 21 nights. Working out approx £5000 total for accom, car hire & hire insurance.

I have 2 Questions and any advice would be appreciated.

1. Does £5000 seem about right for 21 nights at this time of year, staying on international drive (similar prices for holiday inn, rodeway inn, fairfield inn etc). I know I can save money by hiring car seperately, which i would look into before I book it.

2. For anyone who's booked late availability for May this year, how easy was it to get flights / accom you wanted, how late did you have to book and was it much cheaper? Also I understand only certain operators do 21 nights, is this likely to be a problem if booking late.

Sorry for length of post, and thanks for any info/advice given

Gary

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Not sure if that is expensive or not!!!

We have booked with Virgin for next May (we go on the 12th) - its costing £5200 - thats for 2 adults, 1 child (4yrs) and an infant (8mths) - this includes a luxury car and platinum ins for 23 nights, 3 nights in the Polynesian (which is very expensive!) and 13nights in a 3 bed villa (at Lindfield Reserve) - we are doing our own thing for 7 nights in the middle which saves a bit but that £5200 does include 21 day disney passes and 14 day seaworld/busch/aquatica passes. What type of car are you getting and does that price include the theme park tickets???

 

[amystevekai&bump]

actually just re-read your thread and see that it is for 4 adults not 2! - so ignore me - I think that probably is a reasonable price!!

 

[garyh]

That includes a 7-seater with platinum insurance, flights and hotel but no park tickets or travel insurance. We were going to do them seperately.

 

[crabbie1]

Gary are you having 2 rooms on I drive or a suite with 2 bedrooms?

 

[garyh]

That is based on 2 rooms at Holiday inn, rodeway inn or fairfield inn (all similar prices).

We found a 2 bedroom suite worked out quite a bit more expensive for us

Forgot to say I was pricing up flying from Manchester.

 

[Graeme]

We flew from Manchester this year on 5th May and intend to go the same weekend next year. Our flights cost £270 direct to Sanford with Mytravel about two months in advance, then didn't come down a great deal until about three weeks before when they started dropping. They were going for about £100 the few days before and there were plenty of empty seats on the plane when it took off.

Thomsonfly flights were very expensive until about a fortnight before. Don't worry about the length of the holiday. If you leave it for late availability they'll sell you whatever you want. In the past I've seen them with one tour operator then phoned an independant, such as dial-a-flight, and given them the flight number and the price I could get it for and they've beaten it.

 

[wicket2005]

The price has to be right for you. If you like the sound of it just go ahead and book it. If I am happy with a price that is just what I do, I much prefer to book ahead and get exactly what I want rather than take the chance I might not get it if I leave it to later.

You have decided on when you want to go and where you want to stay, so provided everyone is happy with the price I would just get it booked up, sit back and start planning.

I would say in answer to your question that for that price it seems good but I have not compared prices. We stayed in the Rosen Centre last year in July, for two weeks, for 4 people (2 adults and 2 teenagers that unfortunately class as adults) in one room, with insurance, car hire, car insurance, airport parking for just under £4000 if that is any help. I can recommend the Rosen Centre, it was a lovely hotel.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I have stayed at the Rosen Center twice, very good place to stay at the quieter and much nicer end of I drive.
Not a hotel that would be full of tourists, it is close to the Convention Center and in many ways it is a business hotel.
You won't see many people in Mickey Mouse t-shirts I suspect.

 

[wayneg]

I would say it is not cheap but not OTT, We would expect to pay around £2,200 for 3 adults BUT I would not stay on IDrive. Personally prefer LBV area, Usually get the Courtyard by Marriott for about £25/night which is our favourite hotel just now.