New member help

[samwood]

Hi all

Just joined as a new member after spending a few hours reading all the great posts and fantastice support and suggestions.

Booked our first WDW trip for next May for 14 days for me hubby and DS who will be 6 next year, with Thomas Cook in a villa - southern dunes if anyone has any info.

Any suggestions for a complete novice would be really appreciated, but firstly I am bemused by the car hire situation. Car hire is included in the price but the insurance is only third party. The upgraded insurance is 22 pounds per day which is ridiculous, but am i right in thinking that this is where they make their money???? Would i need to pick up this car and what would happen if I arranged a car with another company, would I have any penalties to pay???

All advice from parks and passes to eating out and saving money would be fantastic.

Thanks all

 

[paulh]

first off welcome
Advice will come a plenty here
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Welcome
Disboards are as addictive as going to Florida.

Can't help with Villa, we prefer hotels so don't know villa communities.

Your car, I am sure it will be same as Virgin Holidays, don't pick it up and you won't be charged, maybe someone will post with Thomas Cook experience. With Virgin holiday package you can opt to not take it and book elsewhere with no penalties(unless its a flydrive then there is a £30pp fee if you tell them, just don't tell them ), many on here use USrentacar(including me) I booked full size thru them with Dollar at Easter for £251, 14 nights platinum/gold cover it only takes a few minutes to get an online quote, have a look how much for your dates.

You need to try plan which parks you want to visit and how many days you want in each park, then you can ask which are best passes to get.

Eating offsite is a lot better value than onsite, but many like to eat onsite. We do lunch in parks and offsite evenings.
You are best posting about 1-2 months before travelling to ask about discounts and vouchers for food, most vouchers have expiry dates or you need to register closer to travelling.

 

[Goofysmate]

Just wanted to Welcome you

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Agree with Wayne about the car, we have rented independantly and you just don't collect car that comes with the fly-drive.

I have never stayed at Southern Dunes, to be honest it isn't my preferred location as it is very much south of the central Orlando area.

It may be a good idea to do some research on the internet as to what is in the area supermarket/restaurant wise etc

 

[Gaynor]

Hi & this board is full of information and knowledgeable people, but I would also recommend buying a copy of the 'Brit's Guide to Orlando' it's a really useful book especially for 1st timers.

On our first trip we stayed at Ridgewood Lakes quite near to Southern Dunes. There is a massive Walmart on your doorstep, but I found it quite a trek to the parks. It's a nice area though and the villas looked good and I believe more restaurants have opened in the area since we went.

Gaynor

 

[natalielongstaff]

Welcome to the disboards

I agree with the other posters that you should arrange your own car seperatly and just don't collect the other one !

 

[Hbabe78]

i booked through TC as well i have switched my car hire for free transfers to the hotel, wish is off site near sea world so i think getting about will be ok

i looked at a site for car hire through here and for 2 weeks full insuerence was less than the insurence alone with TC.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Welcome.

I'd echo the car hire advice above.

Also see here for the route I'd take to Disney from Southern Dunes. Take J8 on the SR429 toll to World Drive.

For Universal you would carry on the I4 instead of the SR429 for another 20 mins or so.

Southern Dunes seems to be a decent resort to stay in, maybe a bit far out for my liking for getting to places we like to eat in the evenings but manageable.

 

[neilsalop]

We stayed at SD several years ago. It's a beautiful estate and the kids could walk to Walmart.

As has been stated, it's quite a way south of WDW on the 27. If you are going to Disney stay on the 27 all the way and come in from the west, but if you go to Universal or Sea World get onto the I4 about five miles or so up the 27. Allow 25 mins to WDW or 40 to US/ SW.

My best advice is don't try to do everything (we did first time and when we got back we were knackered) and try different places for breakfast (first time we spent most of our time offsite eating McDonalds) Shoneys, Ponderossa, Dennys all offer great value breakfasts to set you up for the day (also saves a fortune as you're not starving when you get to the parks).

 

[Callum]

A friend has stayed at Southern Dunes a couple of times and has had no problems. Villas were fine. We have stayed at Royal Palms (a couple of miles North of SD) but found it a bit too far out for us.

I would certainly get a copy of the Brits Guide before you go. Worth every penny

Never cancelled inclusive car hire but Wayneg has given a good price indicator of around £250 for 14 days fully inc. I think we paid £280 in January.

Enjoy your first visit

 

[darthtatty]

cool, when are you going in May? im going on the 14th
i agree with the advice buy the Brits guide book- theres a new 1 out due in Oct, which im waiting for


happy planning

 

[samwood]

Firstly, just to say a BIG THANKS to all who replied, you are very helpful and welcoming.

Think i will just book another car and leave the included in price one, seems ridiculous but rather save money.

Going on the 16th May next year and cant wait, also this board is very addictive my hubby cant understand that I spent hours on it last night reading all the posts.

Has anyone who is going next year pre-ordered their currency to get good deals?? I am kicking myself that I didn't pick up some when it was 2 dollars to the pound.

Thanks again everyone.xx

 

[wayneg]

People are split on the best way to go with their money.
If you mean preorder with companies like Crown Currency, Kensington and similar companies then I am totally against them they are unregulated and you send your money now for them to keep, anything can happen to the best of companies in a few months, they have problems you loose your money, some think its a risk worth taking, I dont.
If you mean exchange at somewhere like the Post office then that is almost certainly a bad thing to do so far away.
Doing either of these options you are losing interest on your money. Say you are wanting to exchange £1,000, you would lose about £50 interst in 12 months.
I and many others have found the best option consistantly is to keep your money in the bank and use a fee free credit card for everything, Today you would be getting $1.965 with it. If you don't like credit cards then Nationwide do a fee free debit card, same rate. Its the full Corporate rate not the tourist rate. With these cards your not messing changing money then losing again changing back.
There are a few companies do fee free cards, Nationwide, Post office, Thomas Cook, Abbey+ more I forget.
Only downside is if the £ collapses against the $ but it would have to down a lot to be worse off.