Orlando - advice needed

bruce wayne

guys,

I need a little bit of advice for an upcoming trip to Orlando. So far we've booked the flights with virgin via Gatwick. But the other half badly wants to stay in a Disney hotel (big bucks), has anyone had any experience of staying in a disney hotel? Or any experience in using the Disney Dining Plan (basically prepaying vouchers for food and drink in the Disney resorts/Hotels) ?

thanks
B

keefg

maybe this will help you decide

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g34515-zfn1-Orlando_Florida-Hotels.html

Spook_ie

bruce wayne wrote:

guys,

I need a little bit of advice for an upcoming trip to Orlando. So far we've booked the flights with virgin via Gatwick. But the other half badly wants to stay in a Disney hotel (big bucks), has anyone had any experience of staying in a disney hotel? Or any experience in using the Disney Dining Plan (basically prepaying vouchers for food and drink in the Disney resorts/Hotels) ?

thanks
B

Not sure if this tip will help but if you are doing Universal Studios stay in an on site hotel, the keycard to your hotel room acts as a fastpass ticket, leastways it did when we went 2 years ago. Straight to the front of the queues:D

quickstitch.ie

My 2 cents? Stay downtown, miles cheaper than the international drive area, it's easy to get to i drive from there too

rovers_runner

You'd be better off in international drive, myself and the missus are heaedin there on Fri week and it's close to Disney/Universal/Malls etc.

Also if you are there in the next few weeks check out whats on in universal, there is a TNA wrestling event on there in the park at start of sept open to the public.

NBA in off season unfortunately.

Ms Inquisitive

Disney hotels are situated a good drive from Universal and international Drive, Universal Hotels would be a much better suited base!

I stayed on international Drive when I was there and it was easily accessible to everywhere! Those green trolleys are great!!

If ye are intereted in shopping at all, I'd highly recommend Florida Mall! It used to cost us about $15-$20 in a taxi and was much better than any of the outlets!

mickcarroll10

Ok have been to orlando 4 times so I ll give you my 2 cents worth.The best hotel i have ever stayed in was the Crown Plaza orland on I drive.

It was perfect the rooms the bed all 10/10 cant praise it high enough.I got it through a website cant think of the name but hotel sites were quoting 200 $ a night think i got it for $ 70 dollars a night.its 4 star no doubt.

Check out the reviews it gets on tripadvisor.com.

It quite central great quality good price and has a good pool .

So of the expensive branded disney,universal hotels can be crap and over priced.

ag1975

i'm heading there for the 3rd time next week. stay in international drive, in a quality hotel or something cheap and cheerful, they are all a good standard. keep your money to spend on doing stuff, there is so much to do and see..

dingding

Try bidding on priceline.com for a hotel in the international drive area.

Wisesmurf

Stayed in Orlando in July.

I stayed in the comfort in on Universal Bvd just off I drive. Cheap as chips and all you'd want, the beds are MASSIVE.

I've stayed in Orlando twice now and I would recommend not staying in a Disney hotel. The whole 'Disneyness' of the hotels becomes too much after a few days.

As an adult you'll enjoy Universal studios most and Universal citywalk (for a few drinks at night) is much better than its Disney alternative.

I'll stop now...getting carried away! If you want any more info pm me or I may stumble upon this thread again.

beanflick

Blue man group still in universal a must see. City walk is very quite mid-week downtown orlando is wear its at for youger crowd. Still plenty of choice for older crowd downtown loads of bars. The irish bar on int Drive is crap and overpriced in my view. hope this helps

Don't forget if you stay in one of the hotels in universal,your room key is a fast pass for the queues at all the rides there.
It's the difference between queueing for 45mins to maybe 90 mins and breezing into the ride in 5 or 10 mins.
When there look for the fast track sign at the entrance to the various attractions.