Suggestions for Orlando trip

[kt_mom]

I'm looking to take my DD13 and DS6 to Orlando over spring break in March. We can't afford to Disney this year but DD thought it would be fun to go to Orlando and see what else there is to do and maybe go to downtown Disney and stuff. I thought about maybe seeing about universal but I don't know what the tickets cost for that and if DS will be tall enough to do everything. (He doesn't like to have to sit out and I want us to be able to do everything together)

Any suggestions on hotels with nice pools? DD had a great time at the Poly pool this year, he liked the slide and stuff. I don't know even where to look to stay at or what else there is to do down there so any suggestions would be great, we usually stay on Disney property all week when we go.

 

[kt_mom]

Well I just looked up universal and the tickets are way more then I want to spend for this trip. So we won't be doing that.

 

[100AcreWood]

If I were planning to go and skip Disney, I would buy a pass for the Disney water parks for $115 each. That would be a great deal for a week's worth of fun!

Hotels: Maybe Holiday Inn at Orange Lake. Never stayed there but it comes up often on this board and has a great pool and lazy river.

 

[perditax]

Well I just looked up universal and the tickets are way more then I want to spend for this trip. So we won't be doing that.

You could check out CityWalk at Universal for free, although there may be a parking charge.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm looking to take my DD13 and DS6 to Orlando over spring break in March. We can't afford to Disney this year but DD thought it would be fun to go to Orlando and see what else there is to do and maybe go to downtown Disney and stuff. I thought about maybe seeing about universal but I don't know what the tickets cost for that and if DS will be tall enough to do everything. (He doesn't like to have to sit out and I want us to be able to do everything together)

Any suggestions on hotels with nice pools? DD had a great time at the Poly pool this year, he liked the slide and stuff. I don't know even where to look to stay at or what else there is to do down there so any suggestions would be great, we usually stay on Disney property all week when we go.

Tonight, Groupon has a code for $15 off $60...and they have all access tickets to Wonderworks for $60 for 4 people, so you could have passes for $45 for your family (they also have 1 and 2 person buys with different groupon code options). I would never pay suggested price for this attraction, but for $11/person, it could be a very fun afternoon. Tickets expire March 31, 2017. All Access tickets include entry to: All WonderWorks exhibits, The 4D XD Motion theater, Laser tag, and The glow-in-the-Dark ropes course (requires closed-toe shoes and signed waiver).

Using the $10 off $40 code, Groupon also has tickets to the Skeltons: Animals Unveiled exhibit. Using this code for a family of 4, you can enter for $35. Again, this is about the right price for the exhibit and would be a fun 2 hours.

 

[kt_mom]

Thank you for the ideas, I looked at the holiday inn, I think its the same one, looks like it has a really cool pool. DS would love that. I was looking at Cabana Bay too, it looks neat. We'll do our family Disney trip in the fall, so this is just to get away for spring break. So free stuff or cheap stuff is great. We've never done City Walk so that would be cool to try and we'll plan Downtown Disney and maybe even go and try to eat somewhere on property if we can. Would love any other ideas hotel or activities. Definitely want a nice pool because we'll probably spend most of our time there. I wouldn't say no to a pool bar either, lol

 

[HeatherC]

Check out Bonnet Creek Resort...awesome pools. Also Marriott Grande Vista is beautiful with multiple pools.

If you are on a strict budget...which we usually are, Regal Palms Resort has a great pool area and is very affordable. They have 3 and 4 bedroom town houses that you rent. If you decide to stay there, I would definitely rent through an owner on VRBO.com. going through the resort, you may be put in a unit that is not so great. You can usually stay here for under a $100 a night...taxes included....but there is like a $15 a day Resort fee. Some owners include this in their price so be sure to ask.

Orange Lake Resort has an awesome water park area as well.

Hope this helps give you some ideas!

PS..these allhave pool bar/ restaurants as well.

 

[perditax]

Thank you for the ideas, I looked at the holiday inn, I think its the same one, looks like it has a really cool pool. DS would love that. I was looking at Cabana Bay too, it looks neat. We'll do our family Disney trip in the fall, so this is just to get away for spring break. So free stuff or cheap stuff is great. We've never done City Walk so that would be cool to try and we'll plan Downtown Disney and maybe even go and try to eat somewhere on property if we can. Would love any other ideas hotel or activities. Definitely want a nice pool because we'll probably spend most of our time there. I wouldn't say no to a pool bar either, lol

I haven't stayed at Cabana Bay myself, but right now it seems to be in some sort of sweet spot for room size, theming, food ... all at a surprisingly low price point. And I think there's an on-site bowling alley.

Also, I think Downtown Disney is now called Disney Springs, and there have been a lot of changes even just recently.

(No shade, but isn't Bonnet Creek the one where you have to sit through a time share sales presentation?)

 

[TwoMisfits]

Another very inexpensive afternoon outing might be a journey to the Harry P. Leu Gardens and Leu House Museum. These are $10 adults, $3 kid (up to age 17). For the winter, they have a Dinosaur Invasion exhibit (for your son) and their normally beautiful gardens and historical museum (for your daughter). http://www.leugardens.org/

And there are discount Ripley's Museum tickets ($12/$7) and Chocolate Museum tickets ($9) on travelzoo that could also work for your trip dates. I have done Ripley's and it's a fun 2 hours worth what the discount tickets cost (but not the full price ones - this seems to be my theme)...I haven't done the Chocolate Museum, but free samples after the tour - how can that go wrong?

If you booked everything I sent, I think you are still right around $50/adult ($11/WW, $9 Skeletons, $10 Gardens, $12 Ripley's, and $9 CM) and less for kids (since your son is $5 cheaper at Ripleys and both kids are $7 cheaper at the gardens)...

If I was doing this trip, for the week, I'd plan on having a nice inexpensive new outing every day that I could look forward to that would bookend all the swimming and relaxing. Disney Springs is nice (and there is a Groupon for their balloon for $11.50/person) as is City Walk, but entertainment/shopping there will add up if you're not careful...

There is also the Citrus 4X4 adventure that others have posted that's also fun and still in the $11/person category (again, a Groupon item)...and Groupons aplenty for mini golf if your eventual resort doesn't have it...

 

[David Brent]

(No shade, but isn't Bonnet Creek the one where you have to sit through a time share sales presentation?)

you don't "have to" sit through anything. they may ask but you can refuse if they ask. that is same with all timeshare resorts.

 

[BigredNole]

My input would be to go to Orange Lake (I have not been and want to at some point) or Wyndham Bonnet Creek. At both of these you can spend the entire vacation at the resort and have a blast. You can cook your own meals which would be the same as staying at home. You can limit what you spend on other activities.

 

[mjhtvchick]

The last two years we have gone to Orlando and not gone to Disney. We got our "Disney fix" by visiting Disney Springs and dining at one of the resorts.

I think Orange Lake is a great option as well as Cabana Bay - one nice thing about staying onsite at Universal is that you can "pool-hop" to any of the other resorts. We stayed at Royal Pacific Resort but spent one day by the pool at the Hard Rock Hotel, which was a lot of fun!

If you are looking for an some "activities", check out the i-Drive 360 complex - http://i-drive360.com/ Some fun things to do and not too pricey! You can buy individual tickets to the different attractions or a variety of combination tickets - even those that include Legoland.

There are so many fun things to do in Orlando, many in the International Drive area alone!

 

[kt_mom]

I looked online at Disney today and they are really booked up. I thought it would be fun to do a value resort and some on property dining and then we could use the Disney transportation to go to Disney Springs and maybe do a water park or something. But they are really booked up. I've been in March before and I know its busy but I was surprised at how booked up they are at the resorts.

Cabana Bay went up and its more than I want to spend now especially since I have no intention of getting universal tickets. For that cost I could get the 4 day ticket special disney is running right now. I found a good price for Caribe Royal so that's a possibility and the Holiday Inn with the cool pool too. Now I'm thinking I want something that will be easy to get to Disney. I made a breakfast reservation for DD's birthday at Kona because we really like it there. That's what got me to checking the rates on property. I wish we could just do Disney but I needed to save our DVC points for our October trip and this is supposed to be a cheap little get away. I'm getting carried away and trying to justify booked a $200+ room at a moderate..... DH is going to nix this trip altogether if I get too carried away.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

I looked online at Disney today and they are really booked up. I thought it would be fun to do a value resort and some on property dining and then we could use the Disney transportation to go to Disney Springs and maybe do a water park or something. But they are really booked up. I've been in March before and I know its busy but I was surprised at how booked up they are at the resorts.

Cabana Bay went up and its more than I want to spend now especially since I have no intention of getting universal tickets. For that cost I could get the 4 day ticket special disney is running right now. I found a good price for Caribe Royal so that's a possibility and the Holiday Inn with the cool pool too. Now I'm thinking I want something that will be easy to get to Disney. I made a breakfast reservation for DD's birthday at Kona because we really like it there. That's what got me to checking the rates on property. I wish we could just do Disney but I needed to save our DVC points for our October trip and this is supposed to be a cheap little get away. I'm getting carried away and trying to justify booked a $200+ room at a moderate..... DH is going to nix this trip altogether if I get too carried away.

If you don't want to get "too carried away" then STOP trying to book a WDW vacation lol! Stick with your original plan of staying somewhere off site, having loads of pool time, & a few cheap, fun outings.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Also, if ya want a free Disney fix, why not do the Chip & Dale campfire sing-a-long at Ft. Wilderness? Roast marshmallows (and hot dogs) over the campfire, enjoy the show, meet & greet with Chip & Dale, then stay for the free movie.

 

[kt_mom]

Peggy you are so right, I had to just get off the computer and go to bed last night, looking at Disney hotels was making me want to stay on Disney property, but if we are not doing parks and stuff then being on property isn't that important. I think we can have a nicer hotel/pool offsite then a value resort onsite so I'll just go with whatever has the best value and ease of getting around. We're only going to do a few things on property most likely. I made the one breakfast reservation and I know DD wants to do Disney springs.

I didn't think of the campfire thing, I don't think we've ever done that, but that's a great idea and I bet my son would like it!

 

[katie111]

We're doing a similar trip in April. We booked at 2 bedroom condo at Bonnet Creek for about $1000 for 7 nights. I think I am going to buy a 3 day ticket to Seaworld, Busch Gardens, & Aquatica. They are $120 per person so a pretty good deal. We'll then spend every other day relaxing at the pool, going to Disney Springs, maybe visiting a Disney resort for a meal, etc. I had planned on doing no theme parks on this trip (DH doesn't really like them) but I know I can't be in Orlando & not do anything. Good luck with your planning, staying away from Disney can be tough!

 

[mom2rose&john]

How far do you want to travel? We did a day trip and did a kayak guided trip. The drive was about an hour. It lasted 2 hours and was awesome. The Manatee swam right up to us, they are very curious creatures and we were about 15 feet from a pod of dolphins. After that we spent time at the beach and had dinner before heading back to Orlando. It was the highlight of our trip. After spending 6 days in the park we were ready for a little more nature.

 

[rg35]

It's a 2 hour drive from the Orlando area, but I've always wanted to check out the Weeki Wachee mermaid show.

I don't know where you live, but there are plenty of vacation destinations in America. If you're going to Disney in October, why not go somewhere else completely for this trip?

 

[kt_mom]

Well we want to go to Florida because we want to be warm over Spring Break. DD really wants to go to Orlando and try to do some things that we wouldn't normally do on our Disney trips. She just wants to see Orlando. March 13 is her birthday so we'll be there over her birthday.