Florida

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Discussion

mikechandler

Original Poster:

1,998 posts

209 months

Thursday 4th June 2009
quotequote all
Guys, considering Florida next year or year after with the wife and kids. Is it better to rent a villa and sort the flights myself or book through a tour operator? I had a quick look before on the Virgin website and it was coming in at £6k for a fortnight - including car rental and passes to parks etc.

Also, how much spending money would I realistically need for a fortnight there?

Ta guys,
Mike

srebbe64

13,021 posts

244 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
The fact you talk about 'tickets' I presume you mean Orlando?

We have timeshare in Orlando and tend to go most years. If I were you I'd do it all through one party (Virgin in your case) so if there are 'problems' then it's a 'one stop shop' for you.

As for spending money, there are six of us (2 adults and 4 kids) and we would normally spend about $150 on food plus $100 on odds and sods. So that's $250 per day. Because there are four of you I guess $200(ish) per day.

HTH

jamoor

14,506 posts

222 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
mikechandler said:
Guys, considering Florida next year or year after with the wife and kids. Is it better to rent a villa and sort the flights myself or book through a tour operator? I had a quick look before on the Virgin website and it was coming in at £6k for a fortnight - including car rental and passes to parks etc.

Also, how much spending money would I realistically need for a fortnight there?

Ta guys,
Mike
When are you looking to go in the year?

Usually April/May/June have extremely cheap charter flights as they have begun their summer timetables but noone goes for obvious reasons.

I booked a villa on eBay lastminute -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOLIDAY-VILLA-ORLANDO-FLORID...

I think I ended up paying 1300 pounds for a week for 4 people incl car rental excl tickets.

Personally I think 6k sounds like alot. Plan to go lastminute, you will havea 99% chance of success and it will cost you a fraction of the price.

davidjpowell

18,138 posts

191 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
jamoor said:
mikechandler said:
Guys, considering Florida next year or year after with the wife and kids. Is it better to rent a villa and sort the flights myself or book through a tour operator? I had a quick look before on the Virgin website and it was coming in at £6k for a fortnight - including car rental and passes to parks etc.

Also, how much spending money would I realistically need for a fortnight there?

Ta guys,
Mike
When are you looking to go in the year?

Usually April/May/June have extremely cheap charter flights as they have begun their summer timetables but noone goes for obvious reasons.

I booked a villa on eBay lastminute -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOLIDAY-VILLA-ORLANDO-FLORID...

I think I ended up paying 1300 pounds for a week for 4 people incl car rental excl tickets.

Personally I think 6k sounds like alot. Plan to go lastminute, you will havea 99% chance of success and it will cost you a fraction of the price.
We went in March - temp in the 80's every day, no rain, theme parks relatively quiet. Flew with First Choice Package (decent plane more leg room than Virgin!) and stayed in a 4* hotel for £1,100 (3 of us) inc. car hire.

Spending money about £100 per day, but park tickets are on top of that. YOu can spend a lot, or not a lot on food.

Ticket wise there are loads of ways to go, and much depends on your budget and the age of your family. First time we went we pre-bought the disney pass, this time we had a pass to Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. Just paid on the door for a coupe of Disney parks.

Finally if you time it right, and they are still doing it, Disney offer promotions to anyone on their birthday. In my case it was free entry (saving £75), but they do others if you have already bought the pass

SwanJack

1,920 posts

279 months

Friday 5th June 2009
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We went in Feb/March last year, there was the odd day when jumpers were needed. We booked tickets in the Virgin Atlantic sale £300 return and got a Villa through these www.direct-holidayvillas.com £269 a week and they were giving free pool heating, it was needed. Car hire (medium size) was £125 a week all in. There is no way of getting cheap Disney tickets, although the more entry days you buy the more cost effective it becomes. Take a look at the forum's over here www.thedibb.co.uk very informative.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
If your visit is going to be Disney centric, for a significant period, if not the whole holiday then it makes real sense to stay on Disney property. Perhaps do that for a week and a villa for a week if you're doing Seaworld, Wet n Wild, Discovery Cove, Busch etc as well as the Disney parks.

S7Paul

2,103 posts

241 months

Friday 5th June 2009
quotequote all
Have a look at the Travel City Direct website. Now that they're owned by Virgin, the main criticism of old (delayed flights on ancient aircraft) should have been overcome as they now use Virgin flights.

In the past, I've used TCD for the flights, the car and the first week's accommodation in the Orlando area, and then booked the second weeks accommodation on the Gulf Coast separately. Try:

http://www.villas2000.com/

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/