Finally Florida booked...
Discussion
It's been about 6 years in the making but we've finally managed to book a Florida holiday this year. Only this year it's going to be a little different in as much as the 'kids' (30 y/o) are coming with, indeed it was daughter and SiL who wanted a family holiday so it's going to be a total change for me (the last time I had a family holiday I was about 16!).
Trying to get prices has been an even bigger pain than I remember (in fact it seems worse than booking a cruise, and that's saying something!). That said we've decided to save a few pennies here and there and have booked BA to Tampa and will drive to Orlando (Four Corners) for a saving of about £1,200 on the holiday (with BA of all people - whether they've improved since the last time I used them is a different issue), yes it is an extra hour or so each way but that's enough of a saving to make a skinflint like me start paying attention!
Accommodation is sorted as we're staying at Encantada in Four Corners. I have no doubt that there are 'better' places but having been there a number of times we like it and it's familiar. The only questions remaining are:
- are there any good new eateries (for reference we like Texas Roadhouse and, indeed, BBQ style places in general) in Kissimmee/Orlando
- any new non-Disney/Universal attractions to visit for the older 2 (ie me and SWMBO)?
- car hire prices seem to be all over the place. Outside of DFCH and USCH are there any to try (though in fairness SiL may get a work discount so this may be a moot point anyway)
Trying to get prices has been an even bigger pain than I remember (in fact it seems worse than booking a cruise, and that's saying something!). That said we've decided to save a few pennies here and there and have booked BA to Tampa and will drive to Orlando (Four Corners) for a saving of about £1,200 on the holiday (with BA of all people - whether they've improved since the last time I used them is a different issue), yes it is an extra hour or so each way but that's enough of a saving to make a skinflint like me start paying attention!
Accommodation is sorted as we're staying at Encantada in Four Corners. I have no doubt that there are 'better' places but having been there a number of times we like it and it's familiar. The only questions remaining are:
- are there any good new eateries (for reference we like Texas Roadhouse and, indeed, BBQ style places in general) in Kissimmee/Orlando
- any new non-Disney/Universal attractions to visit for the older 2 (ie me and SWMBO)?
- car hire prices seem to be all over the place. Outside of DFCH and USCH are there any to try (though in fairness SiL may get a work discount so this may be a moot point anyway)
DodgyGeezer said:
It's been about 6 years in the making but we've finally managed to book a Florida holiday this year. Only this year it's going to be a little different in as much as the 'kids' (30 y/o) are coming with, indeed it was daughter and SiL who wanted a family holiday so it's going to be a total change for me (the last time I had a family holiday I was about 16!).
Trying to get prices has been an even bigger pain than I remember (in fact it seems worse than booking a cruise, and that's saying something!). That said we've decided to save a few pennies here and there and have booked BA to Tampa and will drive to Orlando (Four Corners) for a saving of about £1,200 on the holiday (with BA of all people - whether they've improved since the last time I used them is a different issue), yes it is an extra hour or so each way but that's enough of a saving to make a skinflint like me start paying attention!
Accommodation is sorted as we're staying at Encantada in Four Corners. I have no doubt that there are 'better' places but having been there a number of times we like it and it's familiar. The only questions remaining are:
- are there any good new eateries (for reference we like Texas Roadhouse and, indeed, BBQ style places in general) in Kissimmee/Orlando
- any new non-Disney/Universal attractions to visit for the older 2 (ie me and SWMBO)?
- car hire prices seem to be all over the place. Outside of DFCH and USCH are there any to try (though in fairness SiL may get a work discount so this may be a moot point anyway)
I can't comment on eateries, when I was in Florida last year and the south (Georgia + South Carolina) I skipped chain restaurants and usually looked for places with a good variety of local/regional food. From eating gator tail in Florida, to some of the best fried chicken I've ever had in Savannah and really good BBQ in Charleston. Trying to get prices has been an even bigger pain than I remember (in fact it seems worse than booking a cruise, and that's saying something!). That said we've decided to save a few pennies here and there and have booked BA to Tampa and will drive to Orlando (Four Corners) for a saving of about £1,200 on the holiday (with BA of all people - whether they've improved since the last time I used them is a different issue), yes it is an extra hour or so each way but that's enough of a saving to make a skinflint like me start paying attention!
Accommodation is sorted as we're staying at Encantada in Four Corners. I have no doubt that there are 'better' places but having been there a number of times we like it and it's familiar. The only questions remaining are:
- are there any good new eateries (for reference we like Texas Roadhouse and, indeed, BBQ style places in general) in Kissimmee/Orlando
- any new non-Disney/Universal attractions to visit for the older 2 (ie me and SWMBO)?
- car hire prices seem to be all over the place. Outside of DFCH and USCH are there any to try (though in fairness SiL may get a work discount so this may be a moot point anyway)
If you're willing to drive a bit I'd suggest the Kennedy Space Centre, I'm going there myself for the first time this year and eager to see how it is. And if you're flying in and out of Tampa, I'd suggest hiring using the Alamo Brits discount from Tampa airport, prices right now are pretty decent.
75Black said:
I can't comment on eateries, when I was in Florida last year and the south (Georgia + South Carolina) I skipped chain restaurants and usually looked for places with a good variety of local/regional food. From eating gator tail in Florida, to some of the best fried chicken I've ever had in Savannah and really good BBQ in Charleston.
If you're willing to drive a bit I'd suggest the Kennedy Space Centre, I'm going there myself for the first time this year and eager to see how it is. And if you're flying in and out of Tampa, I'd suggest hiring using the Alamo Brits discount from Tampa airport, prices right now are pretty decent.
KSC is certainly on the list of things (been there at least 5 times but I love it and the 'kids' want to go so it's an easy win If you're willing to drive a bit I'd suggest the Kennedy Space Centre, I'm going there myself for the first time this year and eager to see how it is. And if you're flying in and out of Tampa, I'd suggest hiring using the Alamo Brits discount from Tampa airport, prices right now are pretty decent.
) Will have to look at Alamo Brits - we're out in Nov so there's a while to go yet, just want to be (relatively) well organisedAbsolutely loads of places to eat on the 192, just turn right out of Encantada. We sold our place there in December 21….
I4 is shockingly bad, so prepare for a few stop and starts as you get nearer your destination
We have a SunPass, great for the toll roads of which there are many, and increasing; plenty are moving to electronic only, though not all…. Yet..
Avis is our go to on car hire, using preferred on the app, can be competitive.
The 192 can be busy at the wrong times of day, so just add another 10 minutes if going to Disney from there..
Target is 10 minutes, turn right.
Walmart is 15+ minutes, turn left then right on the 27.
I4 is shockingly bad, so prepare for a few stop and starts as you get nearer your destination
We have a SunPass, great for the toll roads of which there are many, and increasing; plenty are moving to electronic only, though not all…. Yet..
Avis is our go to on car hire, using preferred on the app, can be competitive.
The 192 can be busy at the wrong times of day, so just add another 10 minutes if going to Disney from there..
Target is 10 minutes, turn right.
Walmart is 15+ minutes, turn left then right on the 27.
Edited by Grey_Area on Saturday 25th February 01:01
The biggest change with Disney is the change from the free Fast Pass system to the chargeable Genie+ system. We were there 3 weeks ago and it cost an extra $15.00 a day minimum each for that plus some rides like Rise of the Resistance you have to pay an additional sum over that to skip the normal queue. For 2 of us over a week I think we spent an additional $250 for this which is on top of the cost of the park entry tickets. We decided to pay up as we were only there for a week and didn't want to waste much time standing in queues which were often up to 2 hours for the most popular rides. Be aware though that Disney hotel guests get first dibs on these additional tickets and apparently numbers are limited each day although we didn't have any issues getting them but we were staying onsite.
Having said that the new Star Wars themed area in Hollywood Studios is brilliant especially if you're a fan. Rides of the Resistance is absolutely brilliant technically and if you're a fan you will love it along with Smugglers Run. Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway is also very entertaining and definitely worth going on. All these are in Hollywood Studios My wife's favourite ride in this park though is Toy Story Mania which is a bit like Buzz Lightyear in MK but much better.
Ratatouille in Epcot is brilliant as is the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster in the same park. Epcot is also undergoing some extensive changes where the fountains used to be behind Spaceship Earth but these might be finished when you get there.
Animal Kingdom now has Avatar Flight of Passage which is a bit like Soaring but 10 times better and finally Magic Kingdom will shortly have the new Tron Lightcycle roller coaster which is supposed to open this Spring. We talked to a few cast members that had been on it as part of the testing and they all said it was brilliant so will have to go back at some point to try it.
We hadn't been to Disney World for 4 years and apart from the extra costs for Genie+ we really enjoyed it. Prices for everything seemed much more expensive generally but that's probably more to do with the exchange rate than anything else.
We also went to Universal last year and that was equally great fun. The new Velociraptor roller coaster is brilliant as is Hagrid's Motorcycle ride both in IOA. If you've not been there for 6 years you will probably not have seen the expanded Harry Potter world where you can get a train from IOA to US or vice versa. Potter fans will be completely entranced as it's very clever.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Having said that the new Star Wars themed area in Hollywood Studios is brilliant especially if you're a fan. Rides of the Resistance is absolutely brilliant technically and if you're a fan you will love it along with Smugglers Run. Mickey and Minnies Runaway Railway is also very entertaining and definitely worth going on. All these are in Hollywood Studios My wife's favourite ride in this park though is Toy Story Mania which is a bit like Buzz Lightyear in MK but much better.
Ratatouille in Epcot is brilliant as is the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster in the same park. Epcot is also undergoing some extensive changes where the fountains used to be behind Spaceship Earth but these might be finished when you get there.
Animal Kingdom now has Avatar Flight of Passage which is a bit like Soaring but 10 times better and finally Magic Kingdom will shortly have the new Tron Lightcycle roller coaster which is supposed to open this Spring. We talked to a few cast members that had been on it as part of the testing and they all said it was brilliant so will have to go back at some point to try it.
We hadn't been to Disney World for 4 years and apart from the extra costs for Genie+ we really enjoyed it. Prices for everything seemed much more expensive generally but that's probably more to do with the exchange rate than anything else.
We also went to Universal last year and that was equally great fun. The new Velociraptor roller coaster is brilliant as is Hagrid's Motorcycle ride both in IOA. If you've not been there for 6 years you will probably not have seen the expanded Harry Potter world where you can get a train from IOA to US or vice versa. Potter fans will be completely entranced as it's very clever.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Edited by Voodoo Blue on Saturday 25th February 12:28
Did the same last weekend with BA to TPA from LGW rather than into Orlando and it was less than half the price on the flights and the car hire was significantly cheaper too
It’s a decent option cost-wise when the TUI flights aren’t operating into Melbourne - which is equally out of the way but a faster airport to transit due to its small size (but it’s a rubbish airport with zero facilities)
It’s a decent option cost-wise when the TUI flights aren’t operating into Melbourne - which is equally out of the way but a faster airport to transit due to its small size (but it’s a rubbish airport with zero facilities)
We have just got back after our first trip of not doing parks (ok we did SeaWorld and discovery cove) and honestly it was our best trip yet
Crystal River, st Augustine, mt Dora, bok tower, shingle creek pioneer village, the downtown Orlando museum and lots of other bits
We won't be going back untill after the new universal park is open
Honestly $10 beers aren't much fun food prices are through the roof even fast food we paid $52 for a delivery pizza, salad and some brocolli + tip!
Crystal River, st Augustine, mt Dora, bok tower, shingle creek pioneer village, the downtown Orlando museum and lots of other bits
We won't be going back untill after the new universal park is open
Honestly $10 beers aren't much fun food prices are through the roof even fast food we paid $52 for a delivery pizza, salad and some brocolli + tip!
Trustmeimadoctor said:
We have just got back after our first trip of not doing parks (ok we did SeaWorld and discovery cove) and honestly it was our best trip yet
Crystal River, st Augustine, mt Dora, bok tower, shingle creek pioneer village, the downtown Orlando museum and lots of other bits
We won't be going back untill after the new universal park is open
Honestly $10 beers aren't much fun food prices are through the roof even fast food we paid $52 for a delivery pizza, salad and some brocolli + tip!
I was paying £13, pounds not dollars for lager at Cityworks@disneysprings, I've said on another thread if it wasn't for my wife I would never go to a Disney theme park again, price gouging I think is the phrase they now use.Crystal River, st Augustine, mt Dora, bok tower, shingle creek pioneer village, the downtown Orlando museum and lots of other bits
We won't be going back untill after the new universal park is open
Honestly $10 beers aren't much fun food prices are through the roof even fast food we paid $52 for a delivery pizza, salad and some brocolli + tip!
Sheepshanks said:
Bearing in mind you were there three weeks ago, so not an obviously busy time, was something going on to cause those wait times, or is it always like that now?
New normal at Disney. Currently there's not a big downtime and hard to predict when it might be quite.A week or so ago the negative stars aligned and was a Holiday weekend with a cheer comp and baseball comp and wait times for multiple rides hit 3 hours. As a comparison the same rides in Disneyland Paris had 20-30 min max wait.
Disney is pretty complex with park reservations and park hopping rules, Plus Genie+. Magicband's and so on
Happy for anyone to PM me if they want any tips and trips or basic help.
Edited by J210 on Sunday 26th February 19:29
Alorotom said:
Did the same last weekend with BA to TPA from LGW rather than into Orlando and it was less than half the price on the flights and the car hire was significantly cheaper too
It’s a decent option cost-wise when the TUI flights aren’t operating into Melbourne - which is equally out of the way but a faster airport to transit due to its small size (but it’s a rubbish airport with zero facilities)
We were there last year. Melbourne is amazing. It has all the facilities anyone needs from an airport. Agreed it's a crap shopping mall. The staff, and the non-existent queues are amazing. We were in the hire car, 15 minutes after arriving at the terminal. Just as good going the other way.It’s a decent option cost-wise when the TUI flights aren’t operating into Melbourne - which is equally out of the way but a faster airport to transit due to its small size (but it’s a rubbish airport with zero facilities)
We found Orlando very very busy - far busier than it ever used to be. You need to book tables for dinner. Everything seemed very expensive. I miss 2$ to the £1!
Sheepshanks said:
Voodoo Blue said:
.....queues which were often up to 2 hours for the most popular rides
Bearing in mind you were there three weeks ago, so not an obviously busy time, was something going on to cause those wait times, or is it always like that now?Genie+ does work well though but requires a bit of planning and regular checks and updates each day to get the most out of it. The key difference between it and the old Fast Pass (apart from the extra expense) is you can only book each ride once each day and that is wholly dependent on availability. For example, I never got to go on Tower of Terror because I prioritised other rides I wanted to go on that day and by the time I'd done them there were either no Genie+ slots left or they were much later in the day and we didn't want to hang around and wait just for that or the normal queue was well over an hour which we didn't want to do.
The key advantage with Genie+ was that we never waited more than around 10 minutes before getting on the ride, unless it broke down of course which happened a couple of times. And you can only book one ride at a time so you need to check availability of other rides once you've checked in for the ride your going on and plan on the fly which takes away a bit of the fun but for us it worked quite well.
We want to Epcot on Saturday afternoon and it was absolutely rammed, people were queueing for everything, restaurants, bars, food trucks, shops, toilets, everything. We literally walked from the main entrance to the world entrance and left. Got on the Skyliner and went over to Hollywood Studios which was still busy but not as bad.
Thanks for that. We've been most years for quite a long time now, but 2019 was our last trip, when we took our "kids" and their kids. Oddly, as that was during the summer holidays, it wasn't too busy. We were booked to go in 2020 but of course that got cancelled.
Must admit I'm not reading anything that makes me want to rush back. It's been very busy at some random times we've been - Nov 16 was so bonkers that Disney was dynamically changing the park hours due to demand - and it's always taken a lot of planning but one thing I liked about that was once you got there you didn't have to think about it, the holiday just rolled out in front of you and you followed the schedule. I really wouldn't fancy having to do that on the day and I make a point of not carrying my phone when on holiday too.
Must admit I'm not reading anything that makes me want to rush back. It's been very busy at some random times we've been - Nov 16 was so bonkers that Disney was dynamically changing the park hours due to demand - and it's always taken a lot of planning but one thing I liked about that was once you got there you didn't have to think about it, the holiday just rolled out in front of you and you followed the schedule. I really wouldn't fancy having to do that on the day and I make a point of not carrying my phone when on holiday too.
Grey_Area said:
We have a SunPass, great for the toll roads of which there are many, and increasing; plenty are moving to electronic only, though not all…. Yet..
I don't know what the latest status is but visitors could get a Florida Visitor Toll Pass - when we went it had to be picked up from Orlando International, although people that don't land there could still go and get one. That made the tolls much easier, and something I didn't realise until we had one, is the electronic charge can be less than if you pay cash. Other people just let the rental car pick up the charges - I suppose in the grand scheme of things it's neither here nor there.
Sheepshanks said:
Grey_Area said:
We have a SunPass, great for the toll roads of which there are many, and increasing; plenty are moving to electronic only, though not all…. Yet..
I don't know what the latest status is but visitors could get a Florida Visitor Toll Pass - when we went it had to be picked up from Orlando International, although people that don't land there could still go and get one. That made the tolls much easier, and something I didn't realise until we had one, is the electronic charge can be less than if you pay cash. Other people just let the rental car pick up the charges - I suppose in the grand scheme of things it's neither here nor there.
Sheepshanks said:
Thanks for that. We've been most years for quite a long time now, but 2019 was our last trip, when we took our "kids" and their kids. Oddly, as that was during the summer holidays, it wasn't too busy. We were booked to go in 2020 but of course that got cancelled.
Must admit I'm not reading anything that makes me want to rush back. It's been very busy at some random times we've been - Nov 16 was so bonkers that Disney was dynamically changing the park hours due to demand - and it's always taken a lot of planning but one thing I liked about that was once you got there you didn't have to think about it, the holiday just rolled out in front of you and you followed the schedule. I really wouldn't fancy having to do that on the day and I make a point of not carrying my phone when on holiday too.
You're welcome. It's all basically the same as the old Fast Pass system but the rules have changed and of course now you have to pay. We had no intention of going to Disney again this year but were in Florida anyway and got a great deal on the hotel plus a $500 credit. Then they stopped charging for parking for on site hotel guests just before we went so decided to invest that saving into Genie+. Must admit I'm not reading anything that makes me want to rush back. It's been very busy at some random times we've been - Nov 16 was so bonkers that Disney was dynamically changing the park hours due to demand - and it's always taken a lot of planning but one thing I liked about that was once you got there you didn't have to think about it, the holiday just rolled out in front of you and you followed the schedule. I really wouldn't fancy having to do that on the day and I make a point of not carrying my phone when on holiday too.
It is a bit of a pain having to check you're phone regularly to check plans and updates but I tend to take loads of pictures on mine while away so I didn't find it too inconvenient overall. An example of how it worked for us was, we managed to snag a Genie+ slot on Ratatouille one afternoon when just leaving Hollywood Studios so jumped on the Skyliner and we were on the ride 40 minutes later. The wait time for the normal queue when we got there was just under 2 hours. When we checked in for Ratatouille we got a slot an hour later for Test Track and then after that a slot for Soaring so we found it does work if you're prepared to manage it.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff