Me and my girlfriend are trying to make plans for our 1st vacation together. We want to go to Disney World and the surround areas, I went when I was younger but she has never been. I think it would be very exciting to go with her as it will be her 1st time. But since it is our 1st vacation together and definately our 1st time planning something like this I thought I would ask for a little bit of advice and/or help...Thanks in advance. - Whats the best time of year in Orlando Florida? - Where is a good place to look online for good package deals? - Where is a good place to look online for more information on Disney and surrounding areas? Yes, Ive looked online a bit but wanted to know if anyone else has come across better sites than I have - Does anyone have any good experiences/places that I should make sure I go to when I visit? If anyone else has anything to add please feel free to. I will need any advice that anyone has to offer. Im excited. Thanks again...
or if anyone can request a travel agent that would be nice. im planning on going to disney world, epcot, disney stuidos, mgm studios, universal studios....am i missing anything?
Sea World. At about 2 miles from Universal Studios, on the International Drive strip (FAO Schwartz, Ripley's Believe it or Not, largest McDonald's in the World, and what not). See the other "Disney World" or Orlando Vacation threads. I've given many an advice on the subject. Been there twice alone for work-related conferences, twice with the family. I have been there three times by plane, once by car (23 hour drive, pit stop at Slidell, LA). My family and I loved it in 2003. Sorry I can't tell you more today... I am sleepy... brb this morning while at work to give you some pointers.
You could also check out a Magic game if you go before the season end. Travel agent? Do people still use them?
go in mid to late October. my family heads to disneyworld nearly every year around that time. not as crowded and much cooler outside. avoid school holidays in the parks...whether it's summer, spring break or christmas vacation.
You probably want to check out Islands of Adventure. It's got the most roller coasters of any Orlando park and everyone raves about the Spider Man ride.
You can also drive down to Tampa... it's about a 2 hour trip if you do the legal speed limit. But I don't know what there is to see there... Daytona Beach is closer to Orlando than Tampa. Good point. The O-rena is in downtown Orlando, about 10 miles north from Universal Studios and Sea World. So... you have Downtown Orlando, then 10 miles south is Universal Studios, Sea World, etc., then 10 more miles south are the Disney parks. That would actually be a GOOD idea. An Orlando vs. Houston game... just schedule your vacation at that time... Go Rockets! I used a Travel Agency, but only 'cuz I had it from work and only 'cuz a friend was in the agency for my personal trips. Yes, they DO work and they DO set you up with nice discounts.
My girlfriend and I... I've been there twice. Had an amazing time, of course, but my fam drove and brought the pop-up camper trailer with us...prolly cause we're too cheap to rent a hotel.
I started looking at this for Spring break for me and the kids... Holy Crap its expensive... Plus tickets are outrageous for that time peried...From what I remember, tickets for 4 were $1100...If I choose a hotel on site, it was another $2400...Airfare, $1500 on SWA, with on free ticket...If we stayed right outside the park, of course the lodging would be cheaper... My boss said a great time to go is right before xmas as its not crowded...
The Lowest Attendance -- * January (except New Year's Day) until just prior to Presidents' Week in February * The week following Labor Day until the week prior to Thanksgiving * The week following Thanksgiving until mid-December More Moderate Attendance: * After Presidents' week in February through early March * Late April through early June (except Memorial Day weekend) * Columbus Day Weekend (October) * The first part of Thanksgiving week Highest Attendance: * Presidents' week in February * Mid March through Late April ("Spring Break") * Memorial Day weekend * Mid June through Labor Day * Thanksgiving Day and weekend * Christmas week through New Year's Day http://allearsnet.com/pl/attend.htm If you go during the low season, you can get a pretty good deal, I'm taking my wife and daughter in a couple of weeks and we got 6D/7N w/ 7 day park hopper tickets and the dinning plan @ a moderate resort for $2100 total. This same package during the summer would cost almost $4k If you're wanting to stay on-property, and there are a lot of good reasons to do so, then you have to book through Disney or a travel agent that books through Disney. During the low seasons, Disney offers incentives like free park hopper options, free water-park tix, I've even heard of free dinning plans. http://allearsnet.com is a good site for info. the agent I used is Jen Kistler, millstreamtravel at sbcglobal.net, just drop her a line with the number in your party, ages of the kids and the dates you want to go and she'll give you a quote.
WOW. That's good stuff to know, Dionysus... you drunk person, you. rusHour, have you ordered the DVD? It's free, yo. Einhorn = Finkle? I knew it didn't sound like Mr. Tavern.
what about if i wanted to go to miami around the ending of March?? How much would that be? Or where can I find a good deal???
Went this last year... Don't forget the Park Hopper Pass... A MUST!! Do ride "Soarin" in Epcot... "Expedition Everest" in Animal Kingdom... "Rockin' Rollercoster" in MGM... All the rides in Magic Kingdom are best for the "Disney purists" -if you loved all the movies as a kid, or your girl did/does... Magic Kingdom will still be the best part. The fastest coaster there is the runaway mountain train next to Splash Mountain (awesome ride btw)... but the most famous coaster is Space Mountain... a must do as well. FWIW, we went in June with all 4 of us, and then went back in July just the wife and I for our anniversary... it was crowded both times, but more humid in July... Like they say, it's not the heat... it's the humidity. Bring your own water bottles... and refill them in the filtered water fountains... if you wonder why, well it will save you a good $20 a day on drinks... Water is $2 - $4 a bottle, depending on where... and they cannot keep you from taking in your own on a hot day... another option ws to just buy one early, then refill. About length of stay... if you've never been to Disney together, make the trip to WDW about 3 days to see all of it, "skimming" all of it, 5 days to really do it all... if it's a short trip, you at least need 2 days... All total, my wife and I had 5 days in-park(s) last summer, and didn't hit everything there at all. We spent one full day top to bottom at Magic Kingdom, split Animal Kindom and first half of Epcot on day 2, 2nd half of Epcot and MGM on day 3... there from open to close each day... then went back and did Magic Kingdom again for a full day, then spent time at Downtown Disney another day (not so "in-park" - but some things require a park pass)... Make sure you go to Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island for the clubs and some really good dining... We had Italian at the Portifino... Or you can just stay "on site" (which I recommend if you can afford it) at the parks and eat there anytime... the resort food is top notch... the inside the park cuisine is anything from McDonalds (lowest=$)to Cinderella's Castle (highest=$$$$)... We drove both trips, from Dallas! About 24 drive. Broke it up the first time with a stop in Pensacola (where I was born), stayed at the beach... Another thing to not miss if you're interested in surfing is the Ron Jon surf shop at Cocoa Beach... on the Atlantic coast... it's huge! Then just a short drive up the coast is the Kennedy Space Center... then Daytona (you can drive on the Atlantic beach front... and if you like the Krispy Kreme's, try one of the original locations less than a mile from the Daytona International Speedway... If you have the time (though we have not*), check out the Universal parks... They really have more of the "grown-up" attractions. *Every time we plan a trip we think... "Naaaah, Disney is too great to waste our time somewhere else! If you're flying, make sure you land in Orlando, not outside like Tampa or elsewhere and have a shuttle or bus ride over. Some bargain-priced trips are like that... so pay attention to it. We have always driven (my family as a kid, and now that I'm the dad), but we like to leave some time on either side of the Disney trip to "get lost on purpose" and see more of the state/states on the way... not so much of like I-10 or I-75, but the smaller HWY's and towns. Hope some of that helps... and yes, order the DVD. One final tip... the best advice I can give... if you don't just absolutely have to stay "on site", stay across the street... be sure and call and ask them which location is across the street from the Animal Kingdom entrance. We stayed, family of four, 4 nights for $169!!! And we were five miutes from the gates/parking lots. It's also a "Disney Preferred Neighbor"- which is code for "We Are Disney Owned." I believe it is this location Masters Inn Main Gate. Note: This is not a luxury place.. more like a La Quinta than an Embassy Suites... but it very clean and conveniently located close to Disney... (you can even buy your park passes right in the lobby!!) Just remember, if you go fro open to close... you'll be tired and the hotel is just a place to sleep, and well... whatever you do behind closed doors. Have fun!
wow i almost forgot about this thread being as though ive been semi busy with work and trying to figure the details out. my girlfriend and i are very thankful for the advice and valuable info. i have ordered the dvd but it said to take 3 weeks to receive it. i have also went to a travel aqency (happens to have one the next builing over from the office i work at). got a few brochures although they were from last year and they have yet to the new ones. so i guess we will see. of course i want to go off season but im not so sure work will allow it. ive seen different packages (similiar to the one someone mentioned above around 2100) and they are some good deals out there. next step is to talk to the boss. thanks again guys
