Travel: USA - Florida/Orlando

[G Tan]

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?

remember to go tp the Orlando Outlet Mall for shopping :rahrah:

Thanks.

[Miracle Child]

Thanks, G Tan.


As for the shopping, not too hopeful, DH and DS are not shopping crazed...usually, it is 2 votes against 1 vote. :mad:

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Thanks for the advice, Dnls_mum.


If we intend to stay at non-WDW hotels and rent a car throughout the period, is there parking at the WDW theme parks?

Just pondering which route to go - stay at WDW hotels and take their transportation or stay at non-WDW hotels and rent a car :scratchhead:

As the air-tickets are so expensive, thought of saving some money by staying at non-WDW hotels. :roll:

There are lots of parking at WDW, no worries. If you stay at non-Disney hotel, you will need to pay for parking fee of about USD14 per day. You can only park at ticket and transportation centre when going to MK. From TTC, you take monorail to MK. monorail is free. For DHS, Epcot and AK, parking is outside the park. If you park too far, there is normally a tram to take you from the further car parks to the entrance on the parks.

There are pros and cons to staying in or out of the World. I have done both.

1. The value resorts at WDW are good alternatives to non- WDW hotel too. How many days do you intend to stay in WDW? Assuming you are going in Nov/Dec, you may be able to get free dining or 30% discount which makes it comparable to non-WDW hotel. You are totally immersed in Disney when you stay in the world. I personally like it a lot.

2. But staying at non-WDW hotel also has its advantages, especially if you have a car. Food outside WDW is much cheaper too. With a car, you have the freedom of going different places for your meals. You are not dependent on the buses.

I felt the same as you about saving hotel cost when we went in 2007. But as I wanted to have a taste of staying in Disney, I split my stay between, Disney, offsite and Universal. If you can, do try to stay 1 night at universal to enjoy the express privileges. I can't recommend it enough.

Which airline do you plan to fly with? You can check out Emirates, ANA, Delta, United. Quite a number of options.

Have fun planning!
I can't wait for our trip!

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Thanks, G Tan.


As for the shopping, not too hopeful, DH and DS are not shopping crazed...usually, it is 2 votes against 1 vote. :mad:

Very easy to solve this. Get your DH to drop you at The premium outlet at Vineland ave. Then your DH and DS can go DisneyQuest or mini golf on their own, then pick you up later? :evil:

We have booked DD on the Wonderland Tea party with Alice and Madhatter on our shopping day. This gives DH an excuse to get out of the shopping outlet for a few hours.... :rotflmao: My DSs are older, so we may let them decide if they want to spend time at hotel pool or DisneyQuest. :imcool:

[Miracle Child]

Thanks very much for the detailed analysis between WDW and non-WDW hotels and the parking, Dnls_mum.


Good tip on the shopping as well :evil:

Planning to take Emirates as the rates are cheaper.

Enjoy your trip and holidays too!

[Miracle Child]

Hi Dnls_mum,


Read your earlier posts that Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are within walking distance (about 5 mins) from Hardrock Hotel. Does it mean that actually there is no need for a car (if we do not plan to go anywhere else other than US and IOA)? If so, how can we travel from WDW hotel to Hardrock Hotel? By taxi? Thanks.

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Hi Dnls_mum,


Read your earlier posts that Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are within walking distance (about 5 mins) from Hardrock Hotel. Does it mean that actually there is no need for a car (if we do not plan to go anywhere else other than US and IOA)? If so, how can we travel from WDW hotel to Hardrock Hotel? By taxi? Thanks.

Pls bear with my yet another long winded response. :yikes:

The simple answer to your question is yes. All 3 Universal hotels are within walking distance to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. HRH is nearest to the parks with 5 mins walk to US and 10 mins walk to IOA. Portfofino Bay is the furthest. While Royal Pacific is nearer IOA. Notwithstanding, there are free water taxis that you can take from the hotels to the parks.

Nonetheless, the next question you need to ask yourself is how many days you plan to stay at Universal Resort? You need 2, max 3 days to enjoy the parks. The 3rd day If you have the luxury of time is mainly to do the stuff you missed or want to do again. So if you plan to stay one day, max 2 at the Universal Resorts, then yes, technically you don't need a car. If you plan to stay longer, then you will need one if you plan to go elsewhere. Unlike Disney, Universal now charges USD17 per day for overnight parking at the hotels. 5 years ago it was free like Disney.

Then if you say that you are only staying 1 day, then no car needed. True, but do you plan to rent a car before and after your Universal stint? Car rental rates are cheaper on a weekly basis then daily basis. We managed to get a 7 seater MPV from Budget for only USD225 per week before tax etc, with a discount coupon. It cost about USD600 with add ons like GPS, booster seat and Collison Damage Waiver. DH very ks and prefer to get CDW which is ex. If your travel insurance has that already, then no need. If there are only 3 of you, you'll only need a sedan which should be much cheaper. It normally does not make sense to rent a car for a few days, return for 2 and rent again. Each time you pickup and return, it waste time. You need to pump petro,l wash car etc each time you return the car and that cost money too.

If you do not have a car, There are several ways of moving from WDW to Universal. You can either take a taxi or arrange for town car service. It cost between USD50-60 for a one way town car trip. Taxi in Orlando is very very expensive. :moneyflies: Check out Mears or Tiffany Town Car. I have attached links below. These are 2 popular town car services in Orlando. For airport pickup, Tiffany even provide a grocery stop along the way to your hotel for you to pick up groceries

http://www.mearstransportation.com/global/orlando/
http://www.tiffanytowncar.com/

I think that it make sense only to return your car while you are at Universal if it is your last stop or first, and if cost of the airport transfers etc is cheaper then the car rental. Renting returning and renting again may not be worth it. Another possibility If you make Universal your last stop, you can drive yourself to Universal and return car there, then just book transport to airport when you are ready to go. You will need to use a car rental company with counter at Universal or nearby in that case.

What are your plans? How many days are you planning for Disney and how many days Universal? Just remember that you'll need a car to go Legoland, Kennedy, shopping etc. :).

For me, personally we prefer the flexibility of a rental car for at least the non disney part of our trip, and we want to go dinner shows during a few nights while at Universal. Food options at Universal are more limited then Disney.

[Miracle Child]

Thanks, Dlns_mum. Really appreciate your detailed advice; very helpful.


Planning to start with WDW for about 6-7 days, followed by Universal Studios 2 days and then another 3-4 days to do others like Legoland, Kennedy Space Center, shopping etc.

[Dnls_mum]

Miracle Child:

Thanks, Dlns_mum. Really appreciate your detailed advice; very helpful.


Planning to start with WDW for about 6-7 days, followed by Universal Studios 2 days and then another 3-4 days to do others like Legoland, Kennedy Space Center, shopping etc.

You are most welcome. Happy to be of assistance.

If you plan to stay at Disney Hotel and not have a car, then I suppose you can move on to Universal using a Town car and only rent at Universal when you move to another hotel and use the car to the airport. But remember to check the car rate for 4 days compared to one week. It may end up cheaper or similar for a week, so you might as well have the car at Universal too.

But if you plan to stay outside Disney, then make Universal you first or last stop and rent car for the rest only.

The time you have planned for the different stuff should be sufficient to ensure a relaxing time at the theme parks with some time to rest. Don't underestimate the amount of walking that you'll be doing. The place is huge! :yikes:

[Miracle Child]

Thanks, Dnls_mum.


Yah...cannot underestimate the walking...used to be able to walk theme parks for entire day without feeling tired....now, age catching up :sad: ...last year, went to Ocean Park in HK and by afternoon, felt really tired. Sigh, that's why cannot be too ambitious when planning.