Newbie question?

[son of thunder]

Hi,

Im new to these excellent forums But need lots of advise Basically Ive always wanted to go to Orlando im 30 but still a big kid I have a wife and daughter who is 8. Weve decided that we need a big holiday cause we havent been on one for ages. The missis wanted to go to the caribbean for a relaxing Holiday but I pointed out that our daughter would be Bored (maybe me too lol) so too please all of us of I suggested How about going to florida and split it up, say a week in orlando and a then a week relaxing in somewhere like Clearwater which seems to please all of us now im gettin to my point eventually. First of all Virgin Holidays do exactly this kind of deal and it works it out at roughly £2000 plus extras like tickets and food is this a good price or any other suggestions? Also wife is concerned about security what is it like in Orlando lately she gets put off by crime stories sometimes on the news.Also I know theres a heck of alot to do in Orlando so could we get to see enough in a week, the 2 main places we would want to go to is Disney and Universal sry gor long winded post but any suggestions would be Great thanks

 

[SpottyDog]

Hiya SoT, we're all big kids here so you'll fit in just nice

Where to start? There are plenty here that have done 'two centre' trips so it's obviously do-able. Meself I can't see how it can all be fitted in in a week- it's bad enough with two or three weeks to play with.

I'd suggest you glean all the information you can from here and ask loads of questions - there are no silly questions here. Reading trip reports will show you how others do Orlando and give you an idea of those things you might not want to miss.

One you've got a list of 'must do's' then fit them into a plan and go from there.

I can understand the need to compromise to suit your wife's holiday tastes and Clearwater, like all the Gulf Coast, is a great place to holiday too. Besdies, she'll be able to do all the other Orlando things on yer future trips. Coz you WILL be goin back, promise

So.....

When're yer goin ? and What do you want to know?
(Start a new thread with each question and you'll get loads of information.)

 

[LFC Nut]

Just wanted to say welcome. This is certainly the place to have your questions answered.

Your DW sounds like mine in that she just wants to laze about on a beach. To get over this we now hire a Villa and plan 'non-park' days so she can laze around topping up her tan (BORING).

Never having done a 2 Centre holiday I can't comment on this, however 1 week is not enough time to even do Disney & Universal IMHO.

As far as security is concerned you should have no worries we have never felt threatened at all in Florida. Just as there are places in UK cities where you would be careful the same applies over there.

Good Planning

 

[son of thunder]

Hey thanks for the quick replies well im hoping we go later this year in about october all going well. I tryed to persuade wife for 2 weeks in Orlando but the only compromise was a week in Orlando week in clearwater it was good suggestion about hiring a villa it was what I was trying to suggest but because of the missis worrys of security she feel hapier in a hotel (cause we come a real safe place "Birmingham"lol)So I guess a week in in Orlando is better than none, your right tho not enough time really going to need to prioritise.So is it better to get tickets before we go or when we get there?

 

[Leech esq]

As you've probably worked out,nobody is trying to sell Orlando to you on these boards,so they're all honest opinions.It's like all holiday destinations,you should read the safty tips you're given by Virgin,certain areas are to be taken with care.But,to be honest,the place your most likely to feel un easy is your local bus or railway station.I know when we had to travel from Blackburn to Gatwick on train,for our holiday,the station was the most uncomfortable part of our holiday.You're just glad you're leaving it all behind.

 

[Claire L]

Son of thunder,
Is ther no way you can squeeze in three weeks?? If you can then the first two weeks in Orlando will be so much easier less rushed and more seen. Then you can do a week on the beach and get totally relaxed. Besides if you have traveled all that way an extra week isn't too much more on the holiday cost as the majority of it is airfare.
The other option is splitting it 10 days in Orlando and 4 days on the beach. If DW gets the feeling of relaxing in Orlando then leave her by the hotel pool while you and DD go out to the parks!!
On the subject of crime I feel more vulnerable in this country than I do Orlando. As long as you stick to the main areas and don't 'advertise' yourself to any would be criminal by exposing expensive jewellery or cameras etc you should have no problem.
Are you hiring a car?? If not and you plan to do mainly Disney then a hotel in the Lake Buena Vista area would be a good bet.
As for who to travel with I have been with a few different companies and rate Virgin as one of the best. If you book on the internet they give 10% off most holidays.
With regards to ickets I find its nicer to have them in your hands before you leave then you can go straight to the parks and not worry about where to get them. Keith Prowse often do special offers on park tickets. I'm sure someone else on these boards knows of other similar companies who do discounts on tickets.
Hope this is of some help.
Claire

 

[Hilary]

Hi and welcome to the boards!

We've started splitting our Florida trips between Orlando and the Gulf coast recently, but it is practically impossible to do as much as we'd like to in the theme parks by doing it this way. It's all down to compromise - DH couldn't take two weeks in Orlando!

The first couple of times we went we did spend the whole two weeks in Orlando (one trip we spent the whole two weeks never setting foot outside of Disney property ), and we still didn't see and do everything on offer - there's always something new to experience.

As for security - if your DW is worried, I'd suggest looking at staying in one of the Disney resorts. Not that I've ever felt concerned anywhere else either, but within the Disney complex I have always felt totally comfortable.

The bottom line is that I'd be happy to go to Orlando for a week (rather than not at all , and Florida has a lot to offer as well as the theme parks - hopefully plenty to keep the whole family happy!

 

[signtalker]

welcome to the boards!!!.

I can only mirror what everybody else has said, it nigh on impossible to do disney ,universal/IOA in a week, especially with a child in tow(weve got 3 weeks to look forward to in May,and I only have 2 days left in my schedule!!).

Lots of people on here do a DIY trip, booking flights and accomadtion direct, this brings down the initial cost.
All I can say is PLAN if you can only have one week in WDW prioritise, what is a must for your daughter?(character meal?).Personally myself we arent the kind of family that has to head off halfway through the day for a rest, it eats into your time and to be honest just grab a drink and watch the world go by if you need a rest!(lets face it you can rest when you get back to blighty!).

With regards to tickets DO purchase them before you go
www.ticketmania.com
then it wont eat into your spends when you actually arrive, and the best hint of all is to purchase the "BIBLE"
no not the religious one, our own Simon Veness "A Brits guide to walt disney world and orlando".
It is worth doing your homework!!.

Jules

 

[vernon]

Does it have to be the beach? or is pool time adiquate? If it's the second then get some information on the waterparks at Disney. You and DD can go off and enjoy the slides and other things while DW toasts herself at either the hotel pool or a quiet spot at the waterpark ( Typhoon Lagoon is the better choice for "quiet spots") .

If she is insistant on the beach option and you and DD get fidgety, Busch Gardens is only 30 minutes from Clearwater and they have some great rides and animal exhibits. One of the beauties of a holiday in Florida is there really is something for everyone. It can only get a bit sticky if you expect her to go on the park visits when she doesn't want to , or she expects you to stay on the beach with her when you don't want to.

You can do a 7/7 split, but if you can find a few things in Orlando she would like doing ( there are some fantastic shopping opportunities in the area) then maybe a 10/4 split would be possible. There is so much to do that in a week you struggle to complete half of what Disney alone has to offer. You won't even get started on Universal, IOA or SeaWorld.

On the crime front, Orlando is a huge city, downtown Orlando is a long way from Disney. It's a bit like worrying about crime reports from Brixton, when you're visiting Chessington. That doesn't mean you should not be aware that crimes do occur in any city in any country. The area around Disney has a pretty good record and they work quite hard to maintain that.

If you haven't been before than booking through a company like Virgin will make things simpler. There are cheaper ways to go, but I do understand the argument for taking the more expensive option for peace of mind's sake. Personally I would always now book flight,car and hotel separately as I have found this to be quiet easy to do and usually a lot cheaper. There have been times when the package has worked out the better deal, but not often. I'd echo jules suggestion of buying Simon's excellent book. It will help you to get some ideas together.

 

[son of thunder]

Thanks again for your help everyone it is possible that i might get 10 days now in orlando and 7 in clearwater so getting better still not enough I know but better than 7. Good sugestion of yours vernon about bush gardens because I was thinking of that actually is it worth going there then? dd loves animals and that as far as i can tell looks just the ticket. Looks like because its first time will be going with Virgin also noticed that because of the price of a disney hopper maybe best to book cheaper disney hotel with free access to parks than an off site hotel then spending £500 on tickets. cant quite stretch to 3 weeks in total because of getting time off work and school.Got to say this is an excellent forum though, thanks again for advice!

 

[Gilligan]

Hi, I've been following the boards since booking our flight last September, but this is my first posting, so here goes!
We're going to WDW in April - got 12 days (courtesy of inflexible air-mile dates) and am splitting it 8 days at disney/orlando, and 4 days at Naples (I'm insisting on visiting the beach and the Everglades). I'm trying not to panic at the thought that 8 days isn't enough (how many days IS enough?!). Still, just go with a plan, a couple of 'must-sees' and enjoy the experience & atmosphere even if you don't do it all.

I'm really excited about our trip - (holding off telling DS & DD until Feb. half-term), but - heretic that I am - think there is more to Florida than just the theme parks. So enjoy Clearwater, or wherever else you decide to go!

 

[Julia Ann]

Hi,

I too am from that safe place in England called Birmingham. ..compared with the Brummie daily shooting, Orlando is a safe haven in comparison

Obviously you don't do anything stupid like you wouldn't do here, like walk around late at night in unlit areas... and leaving your hotel room/balcony unlocked, just common sense.

Me and my other half went twice in Oct, an excellent choice of time of year to go - especially if you enjoy Halloween, but your little one may be too young to enjoy the extremely intense Universal halloween special night, we are going late august this year only cos of work committments and we are sad not to go again around halloween.

I agree on doing lots of planning before you go, get yourself the Brits Guide for def. and no, a week is not enough but all hotels have pools and the Disney water parks have make believe beaches and sea! try and talk her into 2 weeks orlando...why fly all the way there to lie on a beach that you can do in Spain!

Also, shop around for theme park tickets and buy as much as you can before you go - don't waste any time whilst there faffing around buying tickets etc.

Happy planning, hope was useful.

Julia