Florida advice

[BobHaidong]

With the encyclopaedic knowledge base available in here, I thought I’d check in with the board.

I’m looking to take my wife and 10 year old to Florida next year - 11 at time of return.

It’s nearly 30 years since I went, and I’m looking for advice on where to go, what to do, and most importantly, how to keep the costs down.

I’m thinking May time, and ideally would like a villa close to the attractions.

Does anyone have a property, or know someone who rents a property out there? Clarets discount happily accepted.

Any other tips and tricks to get the most out of it at the best price.

Thanks in advance from a poor NHS worker still paying off a hefty student loan after retraining.

[Darthlaw]

Look at non direct flights for a start. By connecting somewhere in between, you can save up to 40% on your flight costs during school holidays.

Another is to get your hire car from somewhere not on the airport. This year I got offered something like a ford focus size for £800 from the airport, alternatively I've got a guaranteed BMW X3 for £550 from SIXT by grabbing a 20 minute uber to their office on international drive.

Lastly shop around for your park tickets. When we got ours, attractionticketsdirect were offering 15% cheaper than any other websites. Black friday is also a good time to look.

Finally, for my advice of a 'what to do', take a night time alligator spotting trip on an airboat at Boggy Creek. Going out in the pitch black on the swamps is like nothing else.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

There’s an app and website called Turo.
Individuals rent you their own personal vehicles.
Substantial savings if you can get one sorted ahead of time.
I use it all the time if I leave town to save the wear on my vehicle ( closest big city to me is 270 miles away so makes sense)

[Clive 1960]

I would make a day at Bush Gardens in Tampa a really wonderful place for all the family and also not forgetting Disney World..

[Garnerssoap]

Disney world is dogga . I’m ashamed I bothered. Like a week in Blackpool but without the Lancashire Manx cup. The lasses in the tinker bell tent however are a laugh till the missus clocks it. The margaritas at chilli’s are good. Found a good dive bar near Kissimmee (route 128 possibly). The Rasta ice cream van that comes round the gated communities has lovely extras for when the kids are zonked out in bed. The coast resorts either side are pretty cool - they have a California vibe about them.

[Clarethalffull]

We just recently returned and. Had an excellent time. I know people tend to think you need a villa and a car but we stayed at a resort linked to universal studios that included free shuttle buses to the parks every 10 mins or so. We used uber and lyft for everything else. Worked out much cheaper than renting a villa and car and have no regrets. Some universal hotels include lightening passes which in hindsight would have been a good idea but we stayed at surf side which is a budget hotel. It really didn’t feel budget tho. Great hotel.

[Claret16]

I agree the need for a car overrated if you’re just doing theme parks. All the parks charge $30+ a day for parking and you can get an Uber or Lyft for less and be dropped off nearer the entrances of the parks

If you want to go to Universal look at their top tier hotels as you get a free express thrown in and the rooms can sometimes be less cost than the express pass on its own. Great value

[burnmark]

We love the place and are returning this summer. If you are looking to keep the costs down and aren’t bothered about staying on site at Disney or Universal look on Travel Republic. We are staying at a Rosen Inn on International Drive for our first three night for a grand total of £180. There are no resort or parking fees. It’s not the Ritz but we use it as base for a couple of nights before we move onto staying at Universal and Disney.

Uber and Lyft are reasonable enough for travel to the parks and means you won’t need to pay extortionate parking fees at the parks. However, try and weigh up how much these would cost you in transport to and from the theme parks each time as it might not be much more to stay on site at Disney where dependent on what time of the year you are travelling could well include the free Dining Plan.

For our Universal tickets we used www.orlandoattractiontickets.co.uk. Very low deposit and were the cheapest anywhere online.

[colne-claret]

Disney world is dogga . I’m ashamed I bothered. Like a week in Blackpool but without the Lancashire Manx cup. The lasses in the tinker bell tent however are a laugh till the missus clocks it. The margaritas at chilli’s are good. Found a good dive bar near Kissimmee (route 128 possibly). The Rasta ice cream van that comes round the gated communities has lovely extras for when the kids are zonked out in bed. The coast resorts either side are pretty cool - they have a California vibe about them.

I’d disagree on Disney, we loved it when we went. But we love theme parks and it was a huge part of why we went.

If you search Florida in the search box at the top, there was a pretty big thread on it not that long ago with hints and tips etc. Should be useful.

[box_of_frogs]

Go at Easter. It’s epically hot and humid in the summer!

[Casper2]

Been at least a dozen times , would not go again until the serial sex abuser is out of the White House,

[Taffy on the wing]

Lay off the wild-water swimming!

[Tribesmen]

If you are worried about costs maybe go somewhere closer to home . A lad asked for advice about doing NY on the cheap , I told him not to go because everything is expensive .

[Oshkoshclaret]

The Florida theme parks are fundamentally and unavoidably expensive, and it sounds like you’re a bit hard up. So can I politely ask… do you really need to do this? A holiday is supposed to be a time of relaxation not a constant stress over money.

[ollieclarets8]

A long time since I went (just over 30 years), but as a family we stayed in a villa in Kissimmee. It was a pain to find (no Sat Navs), but wasn't too far from Disney World.

[bart_claret]

The Rasta ice cream van that comes round the gated communities has lovely extras for when the kids are zonked out in bed.

Lovely extras. Are you saying what I think you are saying?

[SlidingTackle]

Avoid Alligator Alcatraz.

[Claret knight]

We are off in September for the 50th + time ,no kids or grandkids this time so no parks , 3 bed villa in Kissimmee £1050.00 2 weeks with a pool lakeside ,£480.00 SUV car booked off booking .com airport pick up ,best value parks to go to sea world and Busch gardens , we used 30,000 of our air miles and paid £480.00 2 flights with virgin ,when we go to the park we get our tickets off undercover tourist
Have a nice day

[exilecanada]

Any other tips and tricks to get the most out of it at the best price.

Top tip: Stay in Blighty, why would anyone choose to visit 'Useless State of Murica'? Nasty country. Spend your hard earned money on a trip to Cornwall and Devon, now that's God's country

[Casper2]

We are off in September for the 50th + time ,no kids or grandkids this time so no parks , 3 bed villa in Kissimmee £1050.00 2 weeks with a pool lakeside ,£480.00 SUV car booked off booking .com airport pick up ,best value parks to go to sea world and Busch gardens , we used 30,000 of our air miles and paid £480.00 2 flights with virgin ,when we go to the park we get our tickets off undercover tourist
Have a nice day

Not sure how something like Sea World is still open in this day and age , it’s a disgrace particularly the Polar Bear enclosure.

[ollieclarets8]

Avoid Alligator Alcatraz.

There used to be a place called Gatorland.

But they closed it down I think several years ago.

"Tresspassers will be eaten"

[ISpeds00]

Having just got back - Below is June Related
Regular traveller

1 - Epic Universe (Need more than 1 day 100%) Universal & Islands of Adventure easily done in a full day
2 - Toll Roads/Car Hire (Toll Road pass at the airport saved me plenty - Get the Visitor Toll Pass app before you go) - Pass is collected in the car rental terminal
3 - Sat Nav - Take a car cradle for your hire car, and pre load Florida into google maps before you travel. Can run the phone as a SAT NAV without ROAMING enabled
3 - Good eats included Chilis, Zaxbys - plenty accessible on most major roadways if in a car
4 - Sea World & Busch Gardens - Quiet and easy to get on all rides in a day
5 - Siesta Beach - USA's best beach, and one of the worlds best. Agree. However, not much going on other than sea and sand. not many shops or bars/restaurants. Wont go back
6 - Dollar Tree - alternative to WALMART for your Villa neccesities and dirt cheap.
7 - International Drive - looks now like Blackpool and is an absolute sh it hole. Avoid unless going to Icon Park for a mooch
8 - Buying day tickets for parks - Cheaper to buy in US than Orlando Attraction Tickets. We did Legoland

Sneaky tips - Some people were seen to be entering heavily queued rides via the EXIT - and joining the queue at the CHILD SWAP location - without any interference. If you are stuck with 3 hours queues for a couple of the rides, and all of you dont want to go on - send them to the exit and tell an attendant they are doing a child swap. They let them straight on

Dont pay for FAST PASS at Seaworld or Busch Gardens - you get on everything easily anyway, but nobody checks a ticket at any of the ride entrances or when you get on the ride. Again, people were just walking on that way.
Get the DINING plan at these 2 parks. The food is great, saves you a fortune and you can go and get food every 90 mins. No wonder i saw so many bit units

[ISpeds00]

There used to be a place called Gatorland.

But they closed it down I think several years ago.

"Tresspassers will be eaten"

Gatorland is still there and open

[clarethomer]

The cheapest way we have done our recent trips is by collecting points with Virgin Atlantic using their credit card. I put everything on the credit card and pay it straight off.

Going in August and will be 3rd time in 18 months. Only paid taxes on the flights through using the above method on each occasion.

Best time to go is Feb/March I think but consider taking the fine for outside school holidays (but also check the US school/public holidays too).

Flights

https://www.google.com/travel/flights?hl=en-GB
https://www.skyscanner.net/

Use these tools to find out when there may be cheaper flights to plan the optimal time.

Accommodation

https://www.debbiesvillas.co.uk/
https://www.booking.com

Car hire

https://www.discountfloridacarhire.co.uk/book/
https://visitortollpass.com/ - to reduce costs of tolls

Tips/resources for planning

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/index.php

Park Tickets -

https://www.attractiontickets.com/en
https://www.floridatix.com
https://www.orlandoattractiontickets.co.uk/

In my experience, getting a 14 day ticket is better value than buying locally - unless you have a specific park and only intend to do a day - as these were around $170 a day per person at disney last time we went. Similar at universal.

The other thing to think about is that car parking at the parks - so it may be worth using uber or lyft for taxis.

Hope that helps

[Hanoverusaclaret]

Since we live in Yankeeland we go quite often. In fact, my wife and son are heading to Tampa next week (Busch Gardens) and then over to Orlando to Universal. Disney gets a lot of guff, but the truth is they are a class act. You will never see one piece of litter and if you plan right, it is a great experience. The new Star Wars stuff is breathtaking. The Animal Kingdom and Epcot are fantastic places too. Drinking around the World in Epcot is something you have to do at least once in your lifetime.
Last time I was down myself we were seated next to Alan Knill (Chris Wilder's right-hand man) at one of the restaurants at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
We rented DVC (Disney Vacation Club) Points which made our room (overlooking the giraffes) at the Lodge a lot cheaper. My wife knows all the Disney tricks of the trade. Make sure you research the restaurants. Some are amazing (The Cantina, Boma, everything at Epcot) but others are bang average.
The weather in summer is usually stiflingly hot and humid. I've been in December and April, and it was even pretty hot (for a native Nelsonian).
Have fun and avoid the concentration camps they're building!