Where to start?!

[amylouv]

I really want to start planning a trip to WDW for either 2013, or 2014 if I leave it too late. However I've never even been to the US before and am just completely stumped on where to start!

Could anyone give me any tips? We'd be 2 adults going (20 y/o) for 14 nights and being on a grim wage at work I'd like to keep the cost down without ruining the trip.

So if anyone has any websites with good deals, tips on transport and hotels or just general advice it would be much appreciated!

 

[Kath2003]

First, you need to pick your dates and decide a budget. You could easily do two weeks flights & nice hotel for well under £700 if you wanted, or go nuts and spend well over £7000. Orlando has TONS of options. Then, start shopping for flights. Flying indirect can be significantly cheaper and is only a little more hassle.

Then you need to decide which parks you want to do - that'll then determine where you want to stay within Orlando With just the two of you, a hotel room will be cheapest. Staying outside of Disney property will be less than half the price of staying onsite but some think it's less convenient. Offsite, £30/night should easily cover your hotel.

If you want to drive, think about getting a small car. If not, stay on International Drive where the excellent bus systems will take you everywhere you need to go for around £10 per week each.

Finally, going for 14 days often puts flight prices up - consider adding a day or two, or chopping off a day or two, to save hundreds.

My max budget is £100 per adult per day all inclusive. We meet this.

 

[amylouv]

That is an unbelievable help to me, thank you! I never even considered amending the length of the stay while shopping for flights

 

[orangetiggs]

I was 20 when me and then dbf went for our first trip , i turned 21 out there and hired a car for 2 days

We then booked a package but now i would book it seperately as its cheaper

Fly midweek as its cheaper than weekends as well

We have booked our trip with complete orlando for next year and will add flights to it when they are out for a deposit only

 

[bex7583]

im the same its a lot to organise !! i started by just collecting loads of brochures and working out areas etc i may like and parks i want to visit so i had a rough budget to work with

i have struggled though as i love it soo much and what i want to do and what i can afford has not always matched up

 

[Kath2003]

im the same its a lot to organise !! i started by just collecting loads of brochures and working out areas etc i may like and parks i want to visit so i had a rough budget to work with

i have struggled though as i love it soo much and what i want to do and what i can afford has not always matched up

Some people see it as the trip of a lifetime and go all out - top hotels, all the parks etc. in one trip. Personally we're the opposite, we'd rather stay in a decent 3* hotel and do 2-4 parks per trip and go twice as often

 

[MrRomance]

For me, a trip to FL can be as expensive or inexpensive as you decide to make it. I have stayed off-site many times for much less than I pay now and enjoyed every minute, but for me staying on-site wins out these days. It's particularly useful if you are worried about driving in the US or if you are a young driver (insurance rates are ridiculous for youngsters like yourselves).

September is a cheap time to go, as is the end of January. Avoid school holiday times for the cheapest deal.

As the PP said, if you're staying off site, International Drive is the area that most people head for due to transport links. However, staying in the Kissimmee area (US 192) can work out cheap too.

If you know what your budget is, then you can work from there. Connecting flights will save you hundreds but are less convenient because you have to navigate through another airport to your next gate, you can miss connections if there are delays on your first flight etc.

I'd recommend the dining plan if you're staying on-site. It takes the hassle out of your food budget and it will save you money in my experience. When we go, we do go more top end than bottom end but we have done both over the years.

Spending money is as much or as little as you want to spend. We take more than we'll need because we like to take advantage of the cheap clothing and the great deals at the outlet malls.

 

[juliebro]

I'd recommend getting a book to help you plan.

The Brits' Guide to Orlando and WDW by Simon and Susan Veness is a great book with lots of helpful info.

We buy it every year!

 

[dixonsontour]

If you are able to go at short notice there are usually some great deals for may and sometimes sept and early December with monarch (cosmos) or Thomson flights.

If you book in advance the main expense is the flight - consider all options eg indirect, flying on a Monday not a Saturday, avoid school hols.

I prefer to book DIY - so sort flights then hotel not a package holiday.

Do think about transport - car hire can be dear for under 25. Stay on site may be worth it for transport.

 

[WiganTony]

When I have been looking at flights previously, it seems that midweek flights (Tues/Wed/Thurs) are cheapest, and even more so if you can fly indirect.

Also, if you can avoid peak times such as spring holiday (around March to Easter), US school holidays (for the crowds usually mid June to early August), and UK school holidays (flight prices increase significantly), you will have a better chance of securing a cheap flight.

If looking at renting a car and not staying on-site, you need to allow around $15 parking for each day.

As for where to stay, it is generally more expensive to stay on-site at Disney (although I have seen rooms at the Disney Value resorts available for the £60/night mark). If you are planning to visit mainly Disney, you may want to consider hotels/apartments in the Downtown Disney area which have a frequent bus service to the parks, or in the Lake Buena Vista area - those along Palm Parkway will mean that you can use the local Lynx Bus to get to and from Disney and to Seaworld.

If you are travelling off-peak, then it may be worth checking out a 2 or 3 bed villa from those available onthe dibb villa boards.

HTH