Travel: USA - Florida/Orlando

[Dnls_mum]

hypergatak:

Thanks alot for the info, Dnls_mum.


Initially we plan to stay in Disney All-star Resort, good value, but after reading about the bad review on the transportation here, we changed our mind. Now, we are considering Port Orleans French Quarter.

We are moving to Universal on-site hotel (maybe the Hard Rock Hotel) in the second half of our trip. Is it easy to move around via the itrolley from there to outlet shopping malls, sea world, etc from here without car?

I assume you will be in disney in Nov since you said you will miss the new fantasy land opening. Just to let you know that Disney's offering 30% off room rates in Nov (excluding Thanksgiving week now). Another promotion is free dining. You get a free quick service dining plan if you stay in a value resort, or a regular dining plan if you stay in a moderate or deluxe. You can go the the website and price out both package to decide which is cheaper for you. Since you mentioned All-star, have you considered the new Art of Animation resort? It just opened in phases this year and has theme rooms. It is a value resort. If you stay POFQ, you will only be serviced by buses at your resort same as the All Star. Disney is very realistic. You get what you pay for generally. That means, more buses and frequency of services to Deluxe then Moderates, then better for moderates than Value. There are also 2 types of Deluxe resorts, those on the MK monorail and those not. As you can expect, the hotels along the MK monorail are more expensive. The same apply on the Disney Magical Express from the airport. Wait for deluxe is shorter then moderates, and shorter for moderates than value.

I think there is only a food court POFQ, ie just quick service meal, and no table service restaurants. But I believe you are near Epcot which has lots of dining options. Generally, only Deluxe resorts have table service restaurants. Do you plan to be on the dining plan? If you intend to have any table service meal, you must make prior reservations. If you have not already done so, my advice is to do it immediately. I am concern that you may not be able to get the more popular restuarants or decent dining hours now. It is difficult to compare All Star and POFQ as one is a value, the other a moderate. So quality will definitely be different, but then, so is the price. The Art of Animation being a new value with theme rooms is more expensive then All Star but should generally be cheaper then a moderate. But another thing to consider is free dining. Given that value resorts only gives quick service plan and moderate gives regular plan for the free dining promotion, if you prefer table service meal, a moderate will be more worth it. Hope I have not confused you further.

Hard Rock Hotel is convenient. We stayed there previously and will be staying there again this year. It is only a short walk to Universal
studios. Slightly further walk to Islands of Adventure, but still not far. Best of all is the Express Pass and early entry to WWoHP!

Sorry, can't help you with itrolley as we rented a car previously, once we moved out of Disney, and will do so again this year. We prefer the convenience and it saves more time. We went for the medieval show and pirate show previously too and loved it. Will be doing medieval show again and trying the sleuth mystery show this year. Without a car, it'll be difficult to do all these.

[Dnls_mum]

friendship:

USA has a strict regulations with oversized luggage. They don't mind for the passenger to separate the weight into two or three luggages up to 32kg.

But they mind if putting the whole weight 32kg into one luggage.

The reason: Airlines do not want to be sued when employees sprained their back. In US, it is a common practise people suing one another.

Got it thanks. Our big bag which had been all over the world with us will need to stay at home this trip.

[friendship]

In USA domestic connection is a norm for their flights to be can cancelled or they put you to another time slot of departure.


Get ready with the hard copy of your documents even though all confirmations are via softcopy.

As long as you are still in US, bag restrictions are still in force. Split your 32kg (Gold member right) luggage into 2-3 smaller bags

[Miracle Child]

Planning to go Orlando during the year-end school holidays. Usual itinerary which will include Disney World and Universal Studios. Appreciate if anyone could share on the following:-


1. If we are going for 2 week in laste Nov to early Dec, will Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon be too cold?

2. Is Kennedy Space Center worth going?

3. Is Orlando Science Center worth going?

4. Florida is famous for oranges. Any one been to one of those \"pick your own oranges\" orchards? Any orchard to recommend?

5. Any other places to visit?

Thanks.

[tankee]

there is a Legoland there too

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Planning to go Orlando during the year-end school holidays. Usual itinerary which will include Disney World and Universal Studios. Appreciate if anyone could share on the following:-


1. If we are going for 2 week in laste Nov to early Dec, will Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon be too cold?

2. Is Kennedy Space Center worth going?

3. Is Orlando Science Center worth going?

4. Florida is famous for oranges. Any one been to one of those \"pick your own oranges\" orchards? Any orchard to recommend?

5. Any other places to visit?

Thanks.

We are also going that period. Was there 5 years ago same period too.

1. We went Blizzard Beach in Dec 07. We had a blast of a time then. Weather was warm enough and pool is heated. We are planning to go again this year. Just remember to check the weather forecast and pick the warmer day. The temperature can vary drastically if the cold front comes in. I believe this year Nov/Dec Typhoon Lagoon is closed so you will only have Blizzard Beach. Disney closes one water park at any one time during each winter.

2. Kennedy Space Centre - did not go previously and don't intend to go this time cos read some reviews that it is quite boring unless you are a space shuttle fan and have good imagination to imagine what is in the buildings. This is quite an extreme view :rotflmao: but since our boys say they have no interest, we decided skip it. Some people do like it. You may want to check out the reviews on tripadvisor.

3. One new thing we are trying this year is an Airboat tour. Did not try it last time, but understand from someone who lives in Florida that it'll be really fun for the kids. Hope we can spot the alligators and wild life! :xedfingers:

4. Another new thing we will be trying is of course Legoland, mentioned by Tankee.

5. Mini golf should also be fun. We plan to go to Disney's wintersummerland at least. Disney also has a Fantasia garden mini golf. universal has a new one that just opened this year too.

6. Dinner shows. They are pretty fun. We tried the medevial show and pirate dinner show previously. Going for the medevial show again and will try sleuth's mystery dinner this year since our boys are older now.

Have fun!

[Miracle Child]

[quote=\"Dnls_mum]


We are also going that period. Was there 5 years ago same period too.

1. We went Blizzard Beach in Dec 07. We had a blast of a time then. Weather was warm enough and pool is heated. We are planning to go again this year. Just remember to check the weather forecast and pick the warmer day. The temperature can vary drastically if the cold front comes in. I believe this year Nov/Dec Typhoon Lagoon is closed so you will only have Blizzard Beach. Disney closes one water park at any one time during each winter.

2. Kennedy Space Centre - did not go previously and don't intend to go this time cos read some reviews that it is quite boring unless you are a space shuttle fan and have good imagination to imagine what is in the buildings. This is quite an extreme view :rotflmao: but since our boys say they have no interest, we decided skip it. Some people do like it. You may want to check out the reviews on tripadvisor.

3. One new thing we are trying this year is an Airboat tour. Did not try it last time, but understand from someone who lives in Florida that it'll be really fun for the kids. Hope we can spot the alligators and wild life! :xedfingers:

4. Another new thing we will be trying is of course Legoland, mentioned by Tankee.

5. Mini golf should also be fun. We plan to go to Disney's wintersummerland at least. Disney also has a Fantasia garden mini golf. universal has a new one that just opened this year too.

6. Dinner shows. They are pretty fun. We tried the medevial show and pirate dinner show previously. Going for the medevial show again and will try sleuth's mystery dinner this year since our boys are older now.

Have fun![/quote]

Thanks for the ideas, Dnls_mum.

Where will you be putting up? I am still quite confused about the locations of accomodations and their respective transportation accessibility. Thought of not driving for the first few days when we will be visiting the various parks at DisneyWorld and to only drive when we move onto Universal Studios - does this make sense?

What are the accomodations that are easy to get transportation?

Thanks.

[Miracle Child]

Dnls_mum:

Miracle Child:

Planning to go Orlando during the year-end school holidays. Usual itinerary which will include Disney World and Universal Studios. Appreciate if anyone could share on the following:-


1. If we are going for 2 week in laste Nov to early Dec, will Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon be too cold?

2. Is Kennedy Space Center worth going?

3. Is Orlando Science Center worth going?

4. Florida is famous for oranges. Any one been to one of those \"pick your own oranges\" orchards? Any orchard to recommend?

5. Any other places to visit?

Thanks.

We are also going that period. Was there 5 years ago same period too.

1. We went Blizzard Beach in Dec 07. We had a blast of a time then. Weather was warm enough and pool is heated. We are planning to go again this year. Just remember to check the weather forecast and pick the warmer day. The temperature can vary drastically if the cold front comes in. I believe this year Nov/Dec Typhoon Lagoon is closed so you will only have Blizzard Beach. Disney closes one water park at any one time during each winter.

2. Kennedy Space Centre - did not go previously and don't intend to go this time cos read some reviews that it is quite boring unless you are a space shuttle fan and have good imagination to imagine what is in the buildings. This is quite an extreme view :rotflmao: but since our boys say they have no interest, we decided skip it. Some people do like it. You may want to check out the reviews on tripadvisor.

3. One new thing we are trying this year is an Airboat tour. Did not try it last time, but understand from someone who lives in Florida that it'll be really fun for the kids. Hope we can spot the alligators and wild life! :xedfingers:

4. Another new thing we will be trying is of course Legoland, mentioned by Tankee.

5. Mini golf should also be fun. We plan to go to Disney's wintersummerland at least. Disney also has a Fantasia garden mini golf. universal has a new one that just opened this year too.

6. Dinner shows. They are pretty fun. We tried the medevial show and pirate dinner show previously. Going for the medevial show again and will try sleuth's mystery dinner this year since our boys are older now.

Have fun!

Thanks for the ideas, Dnls_mum.

Where will you be putting up? I am still quite confused about the locations of accomodations and their respective transportation accessibility. Thought of not driving for the first few days when we will be visiting the various parks at DisneyWorld and to only drive when we move onto Universal Studios - does this make sense?

What are the accomodations that are easy to get transportation?

Thanks.

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Thanks for the ideas, Dnls_mum.

Where will you be putting up? I am still quite confused about the locations of accomodations and their respective transportation accessibility. Thought of not driving for the first few days when we will be visiting the various parks at DisneyWorld and to only drive when we move onto Universal Studios - does this make sense?

What are the accomodations that are easy to get transportation?

Thanks.

On our previous trip we stayed 6 days at Disney's Contemporary, 4 days each at the Holiday Inn Sunspree and Hard Rock Hotel. Holiday Inn is significantly cheaper then the other 2 hotels but of course hotel std also different. But still very decent. We chose to stay there for a few days to save money

But for this trip we have decided not to switch hotel so many times. So we have decided to stay 11 nights at the Disney's Polynesian Resort and 5 nights at Hard Rock Hotel. I have wanted to stay at the Contemporary again for the convenience, but as I wanted theme park view room, only the Polynesian had TPV room on the free dining promotion. So we switched to Polynesian and it ended up cheaper then the Contemporary even though it would normally have been more ex. Hard Rock is chosen for its proximity to Universal Studios and the early entry to Wizarding World of Harry Potter and unlimited espress pass.

We will only be renting car on the last 7 days of our trip. Will pick up car at Walt Disney World and return it at the airport. For the first 9 days, we plan to use the free Disney Transportation as we will be moving only within WDW. Since we will be staying at the Polynesian Resort, we will also have easy access to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Monorail. The car will be able to take us shopping at the outlet, go to our airboat tour, Legoland and the dinner shows. Without a car, it'll not be convenient to move around. As we stay onsite at WDW, we will be using the free Disney Magical Express pick up from the airport.

Which hotel you choose depends on your budget and whether you plan to rent the car for the whole trip. Orlando has different categories of hotels to suit all budget. Generally speaking, the hotels at Disney are the most expensive comparing like for like with non- Disney hotels. universal hotels are cheaper then Disney hotels but more expensive than external hotels.

1. Guest of Disney hotels will have early entry privilege or stay late after park hours at the different theme parks. Things that you buy at the parks can also be delievered to your hotel. Very convenient, no need to carry things around. Staying within WDW will mean that you need not rent a car when you move around WDW and can also use the free airport transfers. There are 3 categories of hotel within Disney - Deluxe, Moderate and Value. If you book now and stay at least 6 nights, you can get a free dining plan. The type of dining plan you get depends on the category of hotel you book. If you stay less than 6 nights, you can still go for the 30% room discount. Check out the details in the link below.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/

2. If you can, try to stay at least 1 night at a universal resort hotel. One night stay will give you 2 days of Express pass and early entry privileges to WWOHP so it is very worth it. They have 3 hotels. Most expensive is Portofino Bay, next is Hard Rock, then Royal Pacific which is the cheapest of the 3.

3. If you stay at a non-Disney hotel, you should rent a car for the whole period. Much more convenient. I recall that off site hotels only have fixed shuttle timing and these are not always ideal. Taxi will be too expensive. There are many reasonably priced hotels around Vineland Ave which is near Disney. Marriott Village has several category hotels in one compound to cater for different budget. I can't remember all the names of the diff marriott but there is a Fairfield inn, Springhill suite, Courtyard etc. There are many hotels that are apartment style which will allow you to do cooking if you like. But I personally don't think I want to cook in the US as there are lots of affordable food around. It really depends on you. The amount you save on room cost can jolly well pay for the car rental. Besides Marriott, there is also Sheraton, Hilton Doubletree etc.

4. Disney's Swan and Dolphin. These hotels are by Westin but located within WDW. They have early entry privileges to Disney too. So these could be possible alternatives as well.


Hope I have not confused you! :?
Let me know if you need more info.

[Dnls_mum]

United Airlines has changed their Houston to Orlando flight timings. There is now a perfect connection if you fly SQ from SG to Houston. You will touch down around 2.15pm and can catch a Houston to Orlando flight 2 hours later at 4.07pm. This is great because previously the connection is either around 1.5 hours (a little risky since you'll need to clear immigration at Houston) or 4 hours ( which is really long). So if any KSP interested to go Orlando, you may want to consider this route now.