New York / florida

[greencinders]

We were planning on going to disneyworld as we've already booked the hotel , we were hoping for 3 weeks , we also have been thinking about New York . If something came up that was a good deal , be it linked with the florida holiday or separate holiday , anyway booked our flight with thomas cook last night , Manchester to New York 25th of July to 29 august . So I have loads of planing todo and need to book flights form New York to orlando , as well as finding a nice cheap safe family hotel in New York also does anyone have any tips not so much for florida but New York

 

[Elise79]

Can't help with hotels as we stay with family in NY.

Flights there are quite a few carriers that do NY to MCO but for us we would choose JetBlue every time August 2015 flights aren't out yet though so you will have to wait a bit for them.

 

[greencinders]

Can't help with hotels as we stay with family in NY.

Flights there are quite a few carriers that do NY to MCO but for us we would choose JetBlue every time August 2015 flights aren't out yet though so you will have to wait a bit for them.

Thank you very much , we're so excited , never been to New York before , hoping to see and do loads

 

[sandshal]

Flights ... Book with Jet Blue (although they won't be out until about February)

Hotels .... Radio City Apartments is ideal if you have kids as 2 bed apts (book now though as sell out fast) no deposit and can cancel no problem.

We also stayed at Courtyard Marriott Manhatten / Chelsea last month ... Almost brand new, good sized rooms and great location

Hope this helps

Sharon

 

[NatalieMT]

Whenever we've been to NYC we've done flights through Continental (as it was before it merged with United) or Delta as it was easy to book a multi stop trip.

We've stayed at Intercontinental Barclay, which was nice when we went, big rooms for NYC and good location but they're closing for a year for refurbishment so probably wouldn't recommend until after then.

Last place we stayed was Paramount Hotel - very good, safe location but very small rooms!

 

[mgsquared]

JetBlue for flights!! They have them out of JFK or Newark and it's easy to take a train to either. They also allow one free checked bag. The other airline that allows free checked luggage (2 pcs) is southwest but it was never cheaper when I was looking. Watch out for delta as they charge baggage fees and it's often not cheaper then.

 

[greencinders]

Thanks everyone will have a good look at those hotels and wait for flights back and forth orlando , any good tips on attractions

 

[disneyholic family]

agree with jet blue - least painful of the domestics heading for orlando..

as for things to do - what are the ages in your group?

a good starter is the double decker bus tour - gives you a good lay of the land and the view from the upper level of the bus is good..

also the circle line around the island is nice...

my kids love the central park zoo and the museum of natural history....

and depending on ages, broadway....we always see two or three musicals when we're there....(not exactly cheap, but very enjoyable)..

the first time we visited with the kids, they were teenagers (actually it was 2 weeks before 9/11)....at first they hated the city (a bit disturbing to DH and me given how much we love it)..
so i started showing them all the movie sites in the city....places they knew from movies they'd seen (like the library from ghostbusters)...
that turned the tide and they had a great time... (especially at the museum of natural history and the central park zoo)

 

[greencinders]

agree with jet blue - least painful of the domestics heading for orlando..

as for things to do - what are the ages in your group?

a good starter is the double decker bus tour - gives you a good lay of the land and the view from the upper level of the bus is good..

also the circle line around the island is nice...

my kids love the central park zoo and the museum of natural history....

and depending on ages, broadway....we always see two or three musicals when we're there....(not exactly cheap, but very enjoyable)..

the first time we visited with the kids, they were teenagers (actually it was 2 weeks before 9/11)....at first they hated the city (a bit disturbing to DH and me given how much we love it)..
so i started showing them all the movie sites in the city....places they knew from movies they'd seen (like the library from ghostbusters)...
that turned the tide and they had a great time... (especially at the museum of natural history and the central park zoo)

Children will be. 14 and 5 and are very easily pleased and are happy to walk their little legs off as their used to it with florida , the eldest will be into sight seeing and little one will be more than happy as long as there's nice food lol , we want to do the usual ' Statue of Liberty , Brooklyn bridge and so on also hubby would like a trip to DC but not sure hot to go about it , thanks for your tips will be looking into these x

 

[mgsquared]

I forgot to add one more tip:

If you use a US based disney travel agent- they send you your travel docs and luggage tags for ME. Your flight is domestic then and it qualifies. Disney won't ship to Europe but the TAs do! (at least mine did- make sure to use a well recommended TA)

Since your flight is domestic you will also be able to check your luggage in at the hotel and get your boarding pass there too on the day you leave (these perks don't work with all airlines but jet blue is one where they work).

Another TA perk for me has been having her make all the calls. I find it really tedious to do that and I hate the unreliability of Skype so that has been a big bonus.

 

[disneyholic family]

Children will be. 14 and 5 and are very easily pleased and are happy to walk their little legs off as their used to it with florida , the eldest will be into sight seeing and little one will be more than happy as long as there's nice food lol , we want to do the usual ' Statue of Liberty , Brooklyn bridge and so on also hubby would like a trip to DC but not sure hot to go about it , thanks for your tips will be looking into these x

we've always talked about adding DC to one of our trips, but never have..
rather sad really considering DH was born and grew up there....

yes, the ferry to the statue of liberty is nice...

and just walking around central park..
oh, i forgot...the carousel in central park is very nice and maybe your 5 year old would like it..
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/carousel.html

and here are other things to do in central park:
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/

including my kids favorite, the zoo:
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/central-park-zoo.html

,

 

[greencinders]

we've always talked about adding DC to one of our trips, but never have..
rather sad really considering DH was born and grew up there....

yes, the ferry to the statue of liberty is nice...

and just walking around central park..
oh, i forgot...the carousel in central park is very nice and maybe your 5 year old would like it..
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/carousel.html

and here are other things to do in central park:
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/



including my kids favorite, the zoo:
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/central-park-zoo.html

,

This is fab , thank you very much , really appreciate it x gonna have a sneak before bed

 

[Elise79]

I forgot to add one more tip:

If you use a US based disney travel agent- they send you your travel docs and luggage tags for ME. Your flight is domestic then and it qualifies. Disney won't ship to Europe but the TAs do! (at least mine did- make sure to use a well recommended TA)

Since your flight is domestic you will also be able to check your luggage in at the hotel and get your boarding pass there too on the day you leave (these perks don't work with all airlines but jet blue is one where they work).

Another TA perk for me has been having her make all the calls. I find it really tedious to do that and I hate the unreliability of Skype so that has been a big bonus.

It's not the fact your flight is domestic that qualifies you to use the DME luggage service - any flight qualifies going into MCO.

Children will be. 14 and 5 and are very easily pleased and are happy to walk their little legs off as their used to it with florida , the eldest will be into sight seeing and little one will be more than happy as long as there's nice food lol , we want to do the usual ' Statue of Liberty , Brooklyn bridge and so on also hubby would like a trip to DC but not sure hot to go about it , thanks for your tips will be looking into these x

If you want to go up the Statue of Liberty to the crown make sure you book early as it gets booked up and we missed out last time.

 

[scoobydooby]

Luggage tags do not get sent to the UK for DME so I'm not sure how they identify your luggage? I always pick up my own cases and take them to DME so never bothered to find out what I would have to do to have them collect my luggage, or even if this is possible. Certainly none domestic flights can use the actual bus though.

 

[Elise79]

Luggage tags do not get sent to the UK for DME so I'm not sure how they identify your luggage? I always pick up my own cases and take them to DME so never bothered to find out what I would have to do to have them collect my luggage, or even if this is possible. Certainly none domestic flights can use the actual bus though.

When you go to the desk you give the your baggage receipts from the airline & a description and they collect and deliver your bags.

I have never done it as I like my cases to arrive at the resort with me and don't want to be waiting on them.

 

[greencinders]

Thanks for all your replies sorry to be a nuisance but I have a couple more questions, looking to be flying from New York to MCO on August first, any idea of how much we are going to be looking at, I have a quote of United via skyscanner for £68 per person that's flying out of EWR, this is without baggage which $25 per case, we will be looking at 3 to 4 cases so in total for the 4 of us it will be around £372 pound one way. First question, is this a good deal? Also which is the easiest airport to fly out of and into . and any idea of what price we will be looking at to fly back has skyscanner doesn't go that far in advance. Thanks again

 

[disneyholic family]

look at kayak.com to compare air fares...

don't you need a roundtrip that gets you back to new york to fly back to the UK?

 

[Elise79]

In December we have paid $137 each to fly on JetBlue EWR - MCO which is about £85 at the moment...

 

[NatalieMT]

In terms of attractions if you want to see musicals go to the TKTS booth in Times Square, you can buy last minute discounted tickets there for musicals the same evening etc. We got some really good tickets that way for a pretty good price!

Although everyone wants to go up the Empire State, Top of The Rock is actually much better in my mind. Less crowded and better views! We always enjoy the Ellis Island/Liberty Island ferry tour and another of my favourite things to do is go to the Whole Foods by Central Park and just spend the day there. The little zoo is cute too!

 

[starrysky]

We are going to NYC for the first time this October. We have booked to stay at the holiday inn express just round from Madison Square Garden as we are going to a concert there. We have also booked a 7 hour walking tour with Real New York Tours costs $70 per adult but they offer shorter tours as well. They have great reviews on trip advisor and two of my friends have said they were fantastic.
We head to Boston after NYC (then from Boston to Orlando) so have booked with Jet Blue as they worked out the cheapest with the best flight times. As has been mentioned the free bag also helps as one of the other airlines was cheaper but was more once you added the bag cost.
I've been advised the best way to see the Statue of Liberty is from the free Staten Island ferry.
Can't wait for our trip.