Waylander Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 Having rashly promised Miss Waylander that if she passes any of her Grammar School exams we would be going to DisneyLand Florida - well first result in today and she passed Hoping to go for 2 weeks at Easter to Florida and squeeze in an internal trip across to Vegas for 2-3 days for Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. I would really liked to have flown BA or Virgin or BA is about twice cost of America Airlines which comes out at ~£400 and Virgin is nearly £1k which considering we are moving house as well imminently is too rich for my blood. SO tips would be appreciated to be able to plan a kick-ass trip but might need to cut a few corners (eg depending on costs might get a Villa instead of staying at Disney Hotels etc) Comments/tips/advice appreciated. Thanks+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 (edited) A friend of mine owns this place www.windsorhillsluxuryvilla.com it is a lovely villa and comes with everything it's pretty high end but might be bigger than you need. The big advantage of there or that resort is how close it is to the parks. Others are often a bit cheaper but you spend hours travelling all day, this one it's easy to get in a side entrance in a few minutes. They often go in the morning to the parks come back for lunch and a swim and then go back again later. Hire car a must and they join loyalty schemes to get things cheaper in the long run. Edited October 16, 2012 by CarMad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byron13 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 These guys were great http://www.ocean-florida.co.uk/l - tailor made and good prices for an odd schedule - my only advice was it is never cheap and have a rest after the parks and get out to Clearwater on the second week. Clearwater Beach Hotel is lovely! Enjoy mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Many thanks I will look into both. I have been to Bonita Springs a couple of times so know about it - it is lovely! I figured the little jaunt to Nevada at the end of Orlando might serve as the relaxing bit? Mind you the kids want to go on an airboat and see 'gators like I did on my last "conference" trip last year! I had set aside ~£5k for this but I am getting the sinking feeling I will need to look behind sofas for a little more......! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 America Airlines There's reason why AA is so cheap, they're the RyanAir of the cross-atlantic route, plus they've been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for almost a year. More than 1,000 AA flights have been canceled and 12,000 delayed in the past month alone (due to lack of pilots, lose seats and bits falling off) plus they have one of the oldest fleets in the business. I hope they're still in business when you plan to fly. A villa and is car is the best way to do florida - drive down to Daytona, across to Clearwater - there's so much more to do and see without the mega bucks of theme parks. One week car hire with Hertz will only set you back £150 for a family car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I meant american airlines in general not specifically American Airlines the company.Agreed re other stuff in Florida but in 2 weeks I can't see that we would have too much time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Don't forget to visit the Kennedy Space Centre if you haven't been before. Worth it alone just to see the Saturn V in the flesh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I meant american airlines in general not specifically American Airlines the company. Thank goodness for that! Article here on theme are tickets: Cheap Disney Tickets: 30 tricks to cut the cost of Florida's theme parks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Waylander I sent you an email Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 lol I was just coming online to say the same and thank you for it. It is a wealth of info and extremely helpful - as is that link Andy. Thank you both very much. To really bring it home that this is the reward for her hard work I will take kids to travel agents on weekend to go brochure shopping and get an idea of package prices. S_K who did you you book the villa from please? (Carmad yours is fantastic but a little too rich for my blood sadly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I booked through Thomas Cook or Tui, but I was working for them so it changes the game a little in terms of pricing. They both used same company in Florida so I'll do a google tomorrow and see if I can find their office on street map as I remember roughly where it was and what it looked like!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 I didn't realise quite how many Theme Parks there were! I figured we would want to see: Magic Kingdom Animal Kingdom EPCOT Disney MGM Universal Studios Harry Potter World SeaWorld What have I missed? Disney currently doing 14 day pass for price of 7 so that takes care of that I guess (although have to book within a month).... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Universal Studios has 2 theme parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Yep - I think Harry Potter world is in the 2nd one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Having rashly promised Miss Waylander that if she passes any of her Grammar School exams we would be going to DisneyLand Florida - well first result in today and she passed Congrats on the pass, nice one. We promised Little Miss P a mobile phone... cheapskates, obviously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Yep - I think Harry Potter world is in the 2nd one No, I meant the normal studio park and the Islands of Adventure park. Each is a park in it's own right. Harry Potter Park wasn't around the last time I was there in 2004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 No, I meant the normal studio park and the Islands of Adventure park. Each is a park in it's own right. Harry Potter Park wasn't around the last time I was there in 2004 Whizzarding World of Harry Potter is at Islands of Adventure - I went last year in a free day I had on a biz trip! Do get on the Hulk ride :roflamo: The original universtal studios (film lot) park is still pretty good so long as things are working... (revenge of the mummy ride was great!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Yes, Hulk and the Mummy rides are both really good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) Few years since I went, but agree on the Hulk ride, was great. The area in between Islands and Universal was excellent in the evenings too, loads going on. We stayed in a hotel about 2 mins walk from Universal, can't remember the name but it we called it the 'twin towers' because predictably, it was two towers vaguely resembling a much much shorter version of the New York ones, Was near an 'Ale House' that did amazing onion rings and ranch dip. Edited October 18, 2012 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpongpo Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Aren't Air New Zealand meant to be pretty good in terms of pricing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 The area in between Islands and Universal was excellent in the evenings too, loads going on. IIRC that are was called The Boardwalk and totally agree with you some bars and the Nascar cafe. Downtown Disney is pretty good in the evenings too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Sounds about right, had some great evenings there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted October 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2012 Pretty annoying I have had to hold off booking flights until at least next week for siblings to decide what they want to do and in the meantime have gone up by ~£100pp We are sold on the idea of a villa rather than resort hotel mainly to be able to chill in a private pool in the afternoons and evenings...although again haven't started looking in earnest until I know if I need a 3/4/5 bed one! Kids came back travel agents with an arm full of brochures so are well into this now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Well flights are finally booked - 2 weeks immediately after Easter. Can't wait!! Just finalising shortlist for villa then car and looking at theme park tickets+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted November 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Flights booked. Villa Booked (5 min from Disney) Car Booked:cool: Tickets now booked (saved a small packet using avios points) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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