Newbie - and need help

[orlando123]

Hello,

I am travelling with my family of 4 (and another family) to orlando on Feb 2nd week for a week. are there any good deals for park tickets ? what parks visits are a must? i intend to visit Disney and Universal. Also are there any hotel deals ?

Also, if i search for "orlando deals" in google, i get a bunch of links to with 1-800 number that tell us to call them , that would provide hotel and 2 tickets of our choice .

For example :

Choice of:

A 2 Adult Tickets for a 1-Day, One park admission to the Walt Disney World® theme park of your choice (retail value up to $142)

-OR-

2 Adult Tickets for a 1-day admission to SeaWorld® (retail value up to $138);

-OR-

A 2 Adult Tickets for a 1-Day, Two park admission valid for Universal Studios® and Universal's Islands of Adventure® (retail value up to $155

are these worth?

please help us as we are going for the first time and we intend to at least get the best deals.

thank you

RS

 

[sympatico]

Sounds like a timeshare presentation ad. If so you would need to attend a presentation of up to 90 min. in order to get the tickets or whatever. Sometimes they can be very rude if you say you don't want to buy.
Legitimate places to get discount tickets: undercovertourist.com , mapleleaftickets.com or even on this site at the top of the page.
You can get a condo or townhouse or even a pool home for what it would cost for 2 hotel rooms for both families. Try looking through the listings on vrbo or homeaway.
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/central-disney-orlando/kissimmee
http://www.homeaway.com/search/keywords:Kissimmee
Here's a map to show you where all of the subdivisions are but if you do this you will need a car.
http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa-map.php

 

[Popsicle]

Welcome, Orlando123! We LOVE newbies on the DISboards.

You are going to get so... much... help. That's what Dis'ers do.

My suggestion, sign up at Mousesavers.com. That site is a treasure trove of information... discount tickets, discounts on hotel, discounts on transporation.

Read the various threads here on the DISboards. (Some believe you've crossed over to the "darkside" when you talk about Universal, but it's great, too.) You'll get lots of opinions on a variety of subjects with HELP being the watchword. Just sift through the information for what's best for you.

Can only remember my first time, but I STILL remember my first time. I'm envious of that wonderful experience. (But they're all wonderful experiences.)

Enjoy your trip!

 

[chalee94]

skip the ticket scams (and definitely don't shop for disney tickets on ebay.) small discounts are available on disney tickets if you buy from reliable resellers like undercovertourist or mapleleaftickets, but that's the best you can really hope for. this is not an area for taking chances with your vacation, IMO - save money on food and lodging instead.

if you love big, fast rollercoasters, then you have to spend a day at islands of adventure. the spiderman ride is amazing as well.

if there are pre-teens involved, the magic kingdom is a must.

i love epcot, with its representation of foreign countries and their foods, and soarin' is one of the best rides in all of disney world. it can seem a little too "educational" for some folks, though.

animal lovers should go to animal kingdom. i could ride the safari ride several times a day. it's not quite a full day park yet IMO, but even if you skip the park, i would highly recommend making a reservation for dinner at the animal kingdom lodge (buffet at boma or more elegant at jiko), and if there's still a little daylight when you arrive, you can also step outside and say hi to the giraffes and zebras on the savannah.

link to dining at boma

IMO, if you love movies, disney/mgm and universal are pretty much even. (the mgm park might have a slight edge since i love the rock'n'rollercoaster.)

(i haven't been to seaworld in a long time, so i can't speak to that.)

there are pretty decent ticket deals available for a couple of days at universal and islands of adventure, but i doubt you'd want to spend more than 2 days there, tops. disney tickets do get a little cheaper per day when you buy at least a 4 or 5 day ticket.

 

[spiceycat]

www.skyauction.com - if you like to do auctions.

www.condodirect.com - if you don't.

for hotels
www.travelzoo.com
www.hotelmartusa.com

 

[FoggyToad]

Hello and welcome!

This is what I would do:

1) Get a copy of the 2008 Unofficial Guide to WDW asap and read all the parts that pertain to your trip. Very beneficial!

2) Look for various threads of info on Disboards.com. Don't be afraid to lurk and ask and learn. Priceless!

3) Buy your tickets from Undercovertourist.com using the Mousesavers newsletter link for the best price out there. Fabulous & professional! (Skip any Timeshare presentations unless you are ABSOLUTELY desperate for cheap tickets/hard sell presentation.)

4) If you choose to stay offsite in a rental home, try VRBO.com. The extra space and conveniences they provide over individual hotel rooms will never send me back to a hotel (even if I'm going to Orlando area and the theme parks solo!!)

5) Consider also going to SeaWorld. It has a lot to offer and I wouldn't miss it. Be sure to catch the mime before Seamore and Clyde's show and the Budweiser Clydesdale horse barn/photo op.

 

[spiceycat]

for park information start here - the dis home page

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/themeparks.htm

there is also a page on Universal Studio, Island of Adventure and Seaworld.

 

[spiceycat]

for park information start here - the dis home page

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/themeparks.htm

there is also a page on Universal Studio, Island of Adventure and Seaworld.