twin center holiday

[Disney Princesses LW]

love all the really useful tips I have found on this forum so hoping you all could offer some good tips to help me start planning my next trip to Florida..
we want to have 10 days in disney thought about staying either in a disney hotel or DTD hotel but we plan to do seaworld too..... then we want to have 7 days somewhere relaxing like clearwater or tampa bay etc..

Where do I start pricing up a DIY twin center holiday myself ???

thanks in advance everyone xxxxx

 

[wayneg]

First get your flights so you know your exact dates.
Then buy your hotels, a good start is Travelsupermarket.com.
When you are ready to buy post your best prices, ask if anyone has seen cheaper or better.

While many people enjoy a week at the coast we didn't. We had 2 weeks in Orlando then 1 week at Clearwater, one of the worst decisions we ever made. We were bored stiff wishing we were back in Orlando the whole week.
We have been back to Clearwater a few times since for 1 day and love it but will never stay there again, 5 or 6 hours is enough for us.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

First get your flights so you know your exact dates.
Then buy your hotels, a good start is Travelsupermarket.com.
When you are ready to buy post your best prices, ask if anyone has seen cheaper or better.

While many people enjoy a week at the coast we didn't. We had 2 weeks in Orlando then 1 week at Clearwater, one of the worst decisions we ever made. We were bored stiff wishing we were back in Orlando the whole week.
We have been back to Clearwater a few times since for 1 day and love it but will never stay there again, 5 or 6 hours is enough for us.

thanks great plan... we were in Florida last summer and by 10 we were all themed parked out and would off loved an extra week to chill on a beach somewhere any recommedations for good place ??

 

[NatalieMT]

One year we did 4 days in NYC, 5 days in Santa Monica and 7 days in Orlando (plus 2 days in Miami tagged on the end!) - it was one of the best trips because we got a little bit of everything in there. I've also done NYC, Boston then Orlando before too. This year we're hoping to go to Key West for a few days and then on to Orlando.

Personally what I do is choose an approximate time that I want to go, usually late August and then look for the exact dates which come out cheapest or see if there seems to be a price drop after a certain day and then go with that and fit hotels around it. I usually trawl through Tripadvisor reviews of hotels in places I am unfamilar with or ask a family friend who is a travel agent specialising in US trips. At Disney we always stay on property but there are equally great places offsite, it's just personal choice. It's relatively easy to get from Disney to Seaworld. We have stayed in the hotel across the road from Seaworld too, the Renaissance and that was very nice. Once you get an idea of exactly what you want it'll be easier to decide!

 

[cliveywolves]

love all the really useful tips I have found on this forum so hoping you all could offer some good tips to help me start planning my next trip to Florida..
we want to have 10 days in disney thought about staying either in a disney hotel or DTD hotel but we plan to do seaworld too..... then we want to have 7 days somewhere relaxing like clearwater or tampa bay etc..

Where do I start pricing up a DIY twin center holiday myself ???


Hi...

Thats very much what we are doing this year in August we fancied something different we booked it all ourselves worked out loads cheaper.. We are doing 10 nights at All Stars in DW then driving down to clearwater for 4nights and staying there. If you want any more info feel free to ask away..

Complete Orlando were very helpful again worth calling them too..

 

[orangetiggs]

We have also done a week at st petes and two in orlando and like wayne didnt like it, we were glad virgin called us on day two to say they were evacuating the area as a hurricane was comeing, we got bored so like the extra few days in orlando

 

[JohnnySharp2]

thanks great plan... we were in Florida last summer and by 10 we were all themed parked out and would off loved an extra week to chill on a beach somewhere any recommedations for good place ??

It depends. I actually think it's a great idea getting away from Orlando and seeing more of Florida.

The best beaches are on the west coast, especially Clearwater, Anna Maria Island and St Pete's. Further south Naples is really nice but very quiet.
Not a lot to do, but that's part of the idea really.

On the east coast it's much livelier with Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Miami.
Probably more suited to couples.

I have been and stayed at all of the above so maybe can advise if you have any specific questions, hotels etc
Personally I would perhaps initially suggest maybe just a 4 night stay, a week would be too long but the idea is great and I would highly
recommend a 2 centre holiday.
I do like Orlando but as a city there are nicer places if you get what I mean, and it's also a complete contrast.

This is a good website:
http://www.beachhunter.net/

 

[s.and.s]

Another variation is to do a two centre just in Orlando. Have done this a few times now, staying on-site at Disney then moving to a hotel on International Drive (or vice-versa). Staying on site at Disney you feel obliged to be active all the time to make the most of the cost. Moving out then to I-Drive allows you to be a bit more relaxed. Sea World/Universal are at hand if you need more Theme Park experience but you can relax at the hotel and still have all the shopping outlets and restaurants on-hand. Last time we stayed at the Doubletree and Sea World was just a short walk across the street. Had multi-day tickets so did not need to pack in a full day at Sea World as you might if doing a “Day trip” from a hotel nearer Disney, just dipped in at leisure (they also had a free shuttle to US/IOA).

Cheers

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

Thats very much what we are doing this year in August we fancied something different we booked it all ourselves worked out loads cheaper.. We are doing 10 nights at All Stars in DW then driving down to clearwater for 4nights and staying there. If you want any more info feel free to ask away..

Complete Orlando were very helpful again worth calling them too.. [/QUOTE]

did you use complete orlando to book flights with and who did you book hotel with ?? I definatky want to stay in Disney for the first 10 days.