Travel: USA - Florida/Orlando

[rkjk]

Thks everyone, for your opinion and kind advice. Like Laura02, my son does not know who is Harry Porter yet, so WWOHP is not our main priority. Busch Garden was highly recommended by most of our friends who visited that theme park before. So, we will give it a try as our son likes animals alot… We do intend to rent a car for the first 2-3days to go outlet shopping and Legoland, after which we will stay probably move ard using the free transport in WDW. Thks Honey for the info on the driving license.

[Dnls_mum]

WDW is giving free dining for stay in Disney resorts, valid through Nov and Dec on selected dates. I had already booked my package with dining plan. So i just called disney yesterday to change my hotel reservation from the Contemporary Resort theme Park View room to the Polynesian Resort Theme Park view room. Saved USD1400 for our 11 nights package. The same Package at the Poly would have cost us USD1000 more then our original booking at the Contemporary without the promo. So real savings is USD2400! Yippee!!


Check out the promo if your are planning to go WDW

[despmom99]

WWOHP - Kids who have read Harry Potter will love it! As an adult, I liked it too although the price of tic was a little steep.

[despmom99]

Check google maps online to show the public buses that you can take from bus stops near Downtown Disney. Can take the public buses to go to Universal Studio but I cannot remember the bus number.


You may want to bring your own packed food to WDW. Nothing too obvious. Sandwiches, bananas, muffins etc to save on food cost. Food is really expensive at the theme parks and the queues are long

[Dnls_mum]

despmom99:

Check google maps online to show the public buses that you can take from bus stops near Downtown Disney. Can take the public buses to go to Universal Studio but I cannot remember the bus number.


You may want to bring your own packed food to WDW. Nothing too obvious. Sandwiches, bananas, muffins etc to save on food cost. Food is really expensive at the theme parks and the queues are long

Thanks. We are staying 11 nights at WDW and 5 nights after at Hard Rock at Universal. Will be renting a car for the last 7 days or so. I've checked prices of car rental. Very reasonable, about USD300+ for one week for a Std SUV with GPS and booster seat. A sedan will be even cheaper.

As for food at Disney, we are on the dining plan so no need to bring food. :))

[Kittenprincess]

Hi all, I’m not sure if this had been covered in the thread already …i’m new to KSP, might have missed it out…


I’d like to ask for advice - for those who have been to florida/orlando, how did u cope on the flight (should be around 24 hrs??) with a toddler (1.5 years)? Easier than expected? Or you would advise against bringing a toddler on such a long haul flight ?

TIA.

[Dnls_mum]

Kittenprincess:

Hi all, I'm not sure if this had been covered in the thread already ...i'm new to KSP, might have missed it out...


I'd like to ask for advice - for those who have been to florida/orlando, how did u cope on the flight (should be around 24 hrs??) with a toddler (1.5 years)? Easier than expected? Or you would advise against bringing a toddler on such a long haul flight ?

TIA.

We left our 1.5yo DD at home when we went Orlando previously. That's why we are making a second trip there this year now that she is 6yo. I personally advise against bringing your toddler. It is not only the flight but really will the rest of the family be able to enjoy all the rides with a 1.5yo in toll? WDW is really huge. If it is your trip, you really can't imagine how tiring it can be.
But if you want to bring your child, I advise getting an airline with good inflight entertainment. I prefer SQ when I travel esp if it is with my kids. Without inflight entertainment, it can be hell.

[Laura02]

I agree with Dnls_mum that it’s not convenient to bring a toddler to the theme parks. But … here’s some things I tried when dc was younger.

1) a day or two before leaving, try to tweak nap times so that toddler is wide awake till roughly an hour after scheduled take off time. If not, on day of flight, try to time naps so that toddler remains awake till after the flight takes off. It may not work, but it’ll be ideal if toddler sleeps shortly after plane takes off.
2) time milk feeds to roughly coincides with take off/ landing. Ask for warm water before take off/ landing. If child refuses, try giving a sweet to suck on.
3) I let my toddler run around the cabin, at will. Most people would smile and play with a happy kid. Let them entertain the kid. I think it’s asking for the impossible to expect a kid to sit still for most of the journey.
4) SQ gives kids a kid pack with activities and games, and provide kids menus. Just order it online when selecting seats.
5) if child is fussy, be prepared to spend most of the flight walking up and down the cabin carrying and soothing said child, while enduring the irritated stares of fellow passengers.
I’d try a shorter journey if it’s the child’s first flight.

[micollh]

not sure should i take up this challenge… F&E , with DH, (by then) 5.5 & 3… is May a good time to go ? i still cant imagine the whole itinerary…as i myself haven been to USA… i think i will go disneyland… besides that where should i go ? shopping ? what can i do ? where to stay… if i dont drive… how to get around… is taking direct flight better than flight with transit ? usually transit is how many hours? how many days is good to stay there…


sorry… as ive been following this thread for awhile… but i still dun get the whole thing u guys describe… not like melbourne… easier to visualise…haaaa…my kids have no prob with HK/Mel journey… so i guess we can try longer next year…

[verykiasu2010]

micollh:

not sure should i take up this challenge.. F&E , with DH, (by then) 5.5 & 3.. is May a good time to go ? i still cant imagine the whole itinerary..as i myself haven been to USA.. i think i will go disneyland.. besides that where should i go ? shopping ? what can i do ? where to stay.. if i dont drive.. how to get around.. is taking direct flight better than flight with transit ? usually transit is how many hours? how many days is good to stay there..


sorry.. as ive been following this thread for awhile.. but i still dun get the whole thing u guys describe.. not like melbourne.. easier to visualise..haaaa..my kids have no prob with HK/Mel journey.. so i guess we can try longer next year...

for Florida / Orlando, to keep kids occupied, try SQ's Houston flight with transit at Moscow. The transit is about one and half hours.

From Houston, take a connecting flight to Orlando. Pretty doable

Or try Emirates with transit at Dubai, which could be many hours to waste and the kids may get restless ....

the rest depends on your choices. taxi fare in US not cheap, rental car are reasonable in pricing.