Staying at Disney, what to do out of Disney?!

[dean308]

Hey everyone,

Happy New Year!! Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Got a few last minute questions after browsing unsuccessfully for a while today for ideas on some different things to do...

My partner and I are flying out on Sunday for 2 weeks at the Yacht Club with DxDP. We have plenty of nice dining options booked and some good days planned including 2 days at Universal/IOA, a day at Mall at Millenia and possibly Florida Mall if there are more than 2 or 3 rainy days.

Having done Sea World and Busch Gardens before, what other trips would you guys recommend are worth doing in January (or anytime of year for that matter).

Only slight dilemma is that we will be relying on Taxi's, Disney transport etc... as we will not be renting a car.

Some questions:

Is celebration too costly by Taxi? What transport links are available as alternatives to such destinations? Or is it not worth a 3-4 hour visit anyway in your opinion?

What is I-Drive like nowdays? I was about 11 when I last visited I-Drive and now 14 years later, I have no clue.

Whilst on a day to Universal Studios, is the Blue Man Group concert worth watching? We both love musical shows such as Thriller and any upbeat music/concerts if that helps?

Any last tips for Disney and Florida for must sees or must do venues etc...?

We plan to do both Disney water parks subject to the weather (one is open each week of our visit) and don't plan to do any separate water parks such as Wet n Wild.

Thanks for any input and wishing everyone a wonderful 2011

Dean

 

[dixonsontour]

TBH without a car and on deluxe dining i'd concentrate on disney unless there is something you really wanted to see offsite.

If you want a change of pace you could have a stroll at the boardwalk instead of Celebration.

We always do several visits to DTD.

Have a great trip.

 

[UK Princess]

We fly on Sunday too! Are you going from Manchester???

In reply to your post, kind of, we did 11 nights on site for our honeymoon without a car and didn't go off Disney at all. We made full use of the transport system and did loads of resort hopping, DTD, Boardwalk etc.

We stayed at the GF and did every mode of transport, including different boats like from MK to the Wilderness Lodge and the ferry to the Ticket Center.

I spoke to a guy who had got a taxi to Universal and he was saying he really wished they hadn't bothered after he added up the costs which reassured me that we did the right thing!

This time we are in a villa with 2 cars (7 adults!) so it will be a different trip entirely but if I had my way it would be onsite all the time!!!!

 

[dean308]

Thanks for the replies

Princess....we are flying from Manchester at around 1025 on the Virgin 075 flight if my memory serves me right

Staying at the radisson on saturday night so we aren't up at a ridiculous hour to travel over from the over side of Sheffield.

We did the exact same trip January 2010 at the same hotel, it was my 6th trip but my partner's first Disney stay for her 21st birthday and she hasn't stopped talking about it since!

On previous visits with family with done the Villa stays and had rent-a-cars, but we are a little young to rent-a-car this time. Done a couple of Mears taxi estimates online using their calculator and might pop over to Celebration at $18 each way....simply because I loved the set up down there when I visited a few years ago with my parents.

We do Universal once or twice and a shopping day just for a Disney alternative and to break things up.

Which is your flight? I plan to have a random Mickey jumper on for the duration of travelling ha!

Hope you and the other 6 have a magical trip and enjoy the space and flexibility of the Villa....you'll all love it x

 

[UK Princess]

Same flight

Unfortunately we are not staying over the night before but getting picked up by taxi at 7am (I think)! There will be 6 of us in the taxi but my brother in law is flying in from Dublin so I am quite nervous about him making the flight although chances are he'll be there way before us!

I will be the most excited of our group by far although in self defence, and to save my husband having to do it, my best friend is coming who is just about as WDW crazy as I am! Since I booked the Keys to the Kingdom tour yesterday our excitement levels have gone a bit mad!

So when you spot 2 reluctant Italians (DH & B-I-L), 3 sleepyheads (Mum, Dad & Bro) and 2 over excited would be cast members that's us! If you give us a wave I'll let the comment about being too young to rent a car go!

 

[dean308]

oh sugar i guess that comment did sound like that sorry!

what is the best way of booking the keys to the kingdom tour and are there regular day slots available for couples? and what's the rough cost at present if you don't mind me asking?

so excited it is unbelievable, 3 sleeps to go and your on the best flight with us! We hope we land in time to get to our first ADR at Ohana's at 7:15pm.

have a wave just incase we don't see you