Florida holidays/deals

[clonmult]

First time in my life, I'm actually planning a holiday way in advance. Normally gone for last minute deals.

Looking at heading over to Orlando next august with SWMBO, the 3 kids, mum, sister, sisters other half and her other halfs son. 9 of us. Could be an absolute nightmare, but everyone gets along incredibly well.

So been browsing a few sites - first choice, virgin, and as expected, its not exactly cheap. Effing virgin actually had the gall to list the 8 and 9 year olds as adults!!!

Onto the question - any suggestions on places to go for the best deals on the holidays/hotels/flights/packages?

[Deva Link]

Presume you mean Aug 2010? When in Aug - anytime in the school hols will be expensive but prices drop off later in August? If you're looking at staying onsite (in Disney property) then there's usually free Dining from later in Aug. This has pros and cons but is fantastic value.

Have a look at the http://www.thedibb.co.uk/ and particularly the planning forums, there's some good stuff but you have to wade through a lot of crap (it's mostly bored council estate housewives on there). Be nice on there (I'm forever being suspended).

Virgin shouldn't have the kids as adults but the 9yr old will need an adult Disney ticket.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 27th April 11:14

[davidjpowell]

We went mid March with First Choice (booked direct) for £1100 including accomm (4* hotel RO) flights and car. The flights were good with better seat pitch than Virgin or BA so worth a quick look. If you are going in the holidays you will be bled dry.

[staceyb]

http://www.travelcitydirect.com/

[Deva Link]

staceyb said:

http://www.travelcitydirect.com/

Do you realise that TCD went bust and Virgin just bought the name?

[SwanJack]

We went last year and got a villa through these
http://www.direct-holidayvillas.com
The three of us (two adults and a three year old) ended up in a five bed four bathroom villa with free pool heating (needed in February) for the sum of £250 a week. The place was massive. Got a free upgrade on a mid size car to an SUV and flights in the Virgin sale. At that time it was $2 to the £, it was cheaper than going to a villa in the med.

Edited by SwanJack on Monday 27th April 12:24

[clonmult]

Deva Link said:

Presume you mean Aug 2010? When in Aug - anytime in the school hols will be expensive but prices drop off later in August? If you're looking at staying onsite (in Disney property) then there's usually free Dining from later in Aug. This has pros and cons but is fantastic value.

Have a look at the http://www.thedibb.co.uk/ and particularly the planning forums, there's some good stuff but you have to wade through a lot of crap (it's mostly bored council estate housewives on there). Be nice on there (I'm forever being suspended).

Virgin shouldn't have the kids as adults but the 9yr old will need an adult Disney ticket.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 27th April 11:14

The prices were generally scary ... but we're not sure on when in August yet - its basically any time over the summer hols, but we haven't had all involved sit down and discuss the exact dates yet.

I'll register on that site, ta, it'll be interesting to see how long I can last.

9 year olds count as adults for disney tickets???? Thats silly, but there isn't a huge price difference between the two.

Have been to Orlando once, that was 10 years back for my honeymoon .... it'll be interesting to see how much its changed.

[Deva Link]

clonmult said:

9 year olds count as adults for disney tickets???? Thats silly, but there isn't a huge price difference between the two.

I just checked and the price changes at 10yrs old. 0-2 free, 3-9 kid, 10+ is adult.

The cost comparisons people have mentioned are pointless due to the time of year. To be perfectly honest I don't think I would go in July/August anyway - it'll be tremendously hot & humid and it'll lash down with rain every afternoon.

We've booked all kinds of different ways (even used TCD twice, before they went bust). For the last few years we've booked Virgin flights off their webiste, accomm and tickets from WDW UK and a car with a UK based agency. I've got to the point where I don't even think about the cost - it's a lot, however you look at it, but I think I would pay extra to avoid a cretinous tour operator. It's always been in the region of £6K-£7K deal (inc spending money) for a family of 4 in the summer - it's probably no dearer now that it was in the early 90's.

One year the flights on Expedia where way cheaper than Virgin IF you added the hotel accomm. They dropped from £800ish to £400ish and the accomm was no dearer than booking any other way. That was on a fairly late booking.

I guess you're probably looking at Villas though?

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 27th April 13:13

[clonmult]

I'd consider a villa, but my other half is preferring a hotel - that'll actually feel more like we're on holiday. Not the same pressure to make your beds every day, and a much larger pool for the kids to use up their energy on non-disney days.

It'll be early June before we can all get sat down together to discuss the finer details, but no doubt quite a lot of phone calls in the mean time.

[SLacKer]

I always have a villa it is a home from home. I use http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/florida/c... which covers the whole of the US but is a direct link to villa owners plenty of which are in the UK and paid in sterling.

No affiliation with them and of course with anything internet proceed with caution. Never had a problem myself.

Get good car rental from http://www.floridacarhire.net/Default.aspx#