Orlando in 2009

TheHairyFairy

OK so the kids have sorta grown up now and will be 13,11,9 next year we are thinking of doing the holiday of a lifetime to Disney World and surrounding area for 21 days next summer. Have had a quick look at prices an while they are not as cheap as a European holiday they are not too bad either.

The Disney hotels them selves seem overly expensive, and I'm not sure they are worth it tbh. My main question would be should we do a package with say Virgin Holidays or book flights and accom seperately?

On this point who else does package hols to Orlando? If you have been to Disney and surrounding area, especially with kids, then please post any tips and ideas you have here. Just hope that the dollar stays where it is now and it will be even better .

pol

I find it best to book everything myself.

Disney are doing a good offer at the min for next year

http://wdtc.disneyinternational.com/147FreeDine/

flikflak

When I went I did everything separately. Villa, flight and car. Decide when you want to go then do a scout round for flight prices. Once you have that sorted choose a villa and then your car.

Check out www.thedibb.co.uk for loads of tips, advice and trip reports about everything Disney.

jimmycrackcorm

I used ebookers to mix and match flights and accomodation. I wished that for the money that I had done 21 days instead of 14.

mackey087

i priced flights to orlando 20/06/09 to 04/0709 on e bookers for 1100euro. we are thinking of going to orlando for the first week and miami for the second. 850euro for the 2 hotels through 1800hotels. 2 adults only.

ncmc

TheHairyFairy wrote: »

OK so the kids have sorta grown up now and will be 13,11,9 next year we are thinking of doing the holiday of a lifetime to Disney World and surrounding area for 21 days next summer. Have had a quick look at prices an while they are not as cheap as a European holiday they are not too bad either.

The Disney hotels them selves seem overly expensive, and I'm not sure they are worth it tbh. My main question would be should we do a package with say Virgin Holidays or book flights and accom seperately?

On this point who else does package hols to Orlando? If you have been to Disney and surrounding area, especially with kids, then please post any tips and ideas you have here. Just hope that the dollar stays where it is now and it will be even better .

I always book everything seperatly and find it usually works out cheaper, however with the way flights are skyrocketing at the moment, that might not be true for next year. The thing about booking a package is that they probably have their prices fixed for the last couple of months. Why not just price both and see what works out best. IMO Virgin Atlantic are expensive, why not try Panorama or Tour America, they night be a bit cheaper.

The Disney hotels are more expensive, but in my opinion they are worth it. They offer free transport to all the Disney parks, so a good option if you are not renting a car. They also open one park for an extra hour in the morning and one for an extra 3 hours in the evening for Disney resort guests only. This is great if you are going at peak summer time and want to beat the crowds. They are also very close to the parks, so handy if you want to go back to the hotel for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then back to the parks. I just really enjoy the themeing and the 'Disney Magic' of these resorts, but then I am a Disney fanatic! At Disney there are four theme parks, Downtown Disney (a shopping/dining/entertainment area) and two water parks, so there is plenty to keep you busy. Make sure you get a ticket that gives you entry to the water parks, they are such a fun day out, they have amazing waterslides and 'watercoasters' but also lazy rivers, wave pools and lounging areas.

You don't say if you are planning to do the Universal/Seaworld parks, since you are planning such a long break, why not split your holiday and stay 2 weeks in a Disney resort or near Disney in Lake Buena Vista and then a week on International Drive, closer to the other parks. At the age your kids are I think they would really like Universal and especially Islands of Adventure, there are alot more 'big thrill' rides here than at the Disney parks. Seaworld is a nice park too, it has a couple of big rides and then of course the whale and dolphin shows.

After 21 days in Orlando, you might be itching to get away from the parks, so I would recommend doing an airboat ride, we used www.oldfashionedairboatrides.com and it was great fun and not very expensive, we saw quite a few alligators, but even the boat ride part was fun. You could also spend a couple of days at the beach, there are nice beaches at St Pete's and Clearwater, both about two hours away from Orlando. Don't forget the shopping, the Premium Outlet Mall offer great savings on well known brands and the Florida Mall and Mall at Millenia are more your standard designer malls (still a lot cheaper than here of course!)

There is loads to do in Orlando, you won't be bored in your 21 days! Make sure you pick a hotel with a nice pool, you'll need a few days just chilling by the pool after the manicness of the parks, trust me!