Anybody Been To Orlando???

[Mr Pumpy]

Hotel recommendations much appreciated.

[7thsinger]

Been there several times, where do you want to wish to be close to? There are some very nice hotels down that way.

[forntida]

I've been to Orlando but it was many moons ago. I stayed at the Holiday Inn. Very handy for both Disney World and Cape Canaveral.

[Dreamer]

If your gonna do all the parks then Idrive is the place or kissimee.

DO NOT stay in the days inn lakeside unless you have a car.

Most of the hotels on Idrive are fab. we stayed in the best western accross from the wet and wild theme park.

Most of the hotels do free busses to the parks and you can get the i-ride (I have a funny story about that for another time ) bus ticket which gets you bus travel on the Idrive all week think you can get a 5 or 10 day ticket... i think. May have changed now.
Orlando: Bus services on International Drive - TripAdvisor

shop around for your theme park tickets. lots of travel agents offer special deals. lots of internet sites do deals too but be careful.


ps that's where we got married n honeymooned

[xant14]

Thanks for that dreamer. I would like to hear your funny story too.
Also, I would like to hear other tips about the disney florida stuff. Especially tickets and stuff. I did price up a few months ago, seem to think it was gonna cost me about ?300 for a 3 day ticket for me and my little un. I would be VERY interested to hear anyones opinion of getting cheap tickets.
Also intersted in anyones reviews of Idrive hotels.

[Dreamer]

I'm not very good at funny stories but this is what happened.. Hope it makes sense

You can buy an I-ride ticket at various places on I-drive. Some diners and some tourist booths.

I went into a diner leaving my new hubby and my pals outside.
Me to waiter....... I-rides.... do you do em????
Waiter.. .. what??
Me.....I-rides I'm looking for I-rides?? (think this sounds like "a rides" to Americans
Waiter (whist looking frantically around)..............What??????????!!!!
Me I-ride, I-ride I-ride...do you do I-rides??? ( think about this sounding like "a rides")
Waiter..............Mam I think you have the wrong place.
Me..Do you know where can I get an i-ride ticket then?

waiter...Oh you mean a bus ticket mam?? Yes the booth across the road.
Me... red faced and then p8ing myself when I realised what happened.... thanks

[qqqqriverbeast]

i stayed in the mgm opposite wet n wild, first time as i didnt know what i was doing, second time because i realised the only time i stayed in the hotel was when i slept. 5 minute walk from the universal parks and a bus ride from the outlet mall and disney world, i didnt use a car and me, the boss and our two kids loved it...

[xant14]

Lol dreamer, I ride!

[smoggy]

been to Orlando about 15 - 20 times, made friends over there so go back as often as posible.
mainly stayed at the quality Inn plaza on international drive also stayed at the Best Western a few times mainly because the Mercado was close on hand and a good place to have a boozy night out, but sadly it has all closed down now.
I've done all the disney parks etc, now when I go I always get a four park hopper that last the fourteen days so we can go and see our friends and visit the parks when as often we want.
In my opinion you have to have a car to get around the place is so big and so much to see
If you are going to go to the parks then I suggest you buy or get from the library the Book The unofficial guide to Disney (I did on my first visit and it was worth every penny I paid ?14.99)
if there's anything in particular you want to know then just ask

Edit : it also depends if you are taking children or going as a couple, as my saying is kids spoil it the adults enjoy it better

[Dreamer]

Lol dreamer, I ride!

yup you can call me a-ride from now on

[zaphodbb]

yup you can call me a-ride from now on

hey when i go to florida i ride all the time mmmmm ! so good !

[alker ranger]

Been to orlando a couple of times, the last time was may 02 and we stayed at the travel lodge nr sea world, great value and included breakfast and 1st drink at the poolbar each day. I bought the 5 park flexi ticket for busch gdns, wet/wild, both universals and sea world, these parks have the best rides imo for teenagers. I got a day pass for disneyworld this best suited my daughter who was 6 at the time. Fantastic place florida would go every year if i could afford it.

Only down side when we was there is that i have always wanted to watch the space shuttle take off,so we went to kennedy space centre to watch it, waited all day only for it to be cancelled 15 minutes before blast off due to a storm moving in, what a bummer absolutley gutted, oh well maybe another time.

[Mr Pumpy]

Thanks for the replies so far peeps.

Weve decided to price up for Orlando because its gonna cost us a fortune for the greek islands, because me daughter has to pay full price etc etc, so weve thought fek it, if we r going to have to fork out lets go to the U.S.

Smoggy..... whats the Quality Inn Plaza like then????? been lookin at that one in the brochure.


A couple of questions for anybody who can be arsed

Do you think its better booking it on yer own or with an agent???
And whats the best park ticket combo to get....kids will be 12 and 14.


Thanks peeps.

[smoggy]

quality inn plaza suited us and we always try to get in there before any other.(been there about ten times) also don't get it mixed up with the quality inn international which is at the other end of I Drive.
basic room with 2 double beds, fridge, microwave,bath, free safe, good air conditioning and rooms were cleaned every day
some facts about it here Hotel Fact Sheet | Orlando Vacation Hotel |International Drive Hotel | Hotel Near Universal Studios | Hotel Near Sea World | Hotel Near Walt Disney World
Why we liked that location was it was convenient for all the parks and on a night we used to walk down to the Mercado where there was entertainment,bars,cafes etc but sadly it has all shut down although there is other places but the Mercado was our favourite.

did all the Disney parks first few times there so now we only buy the flexi hopper ticket for Universal/sea world etc which are all within 5 - 10 mins of I Drive, this ticket is valid for the fourteen days so it gives us the opportunity to go and visit our friends on odd days.
Your preferences will obviously be different to mine as only me and the wife go, we took all the family the first time we went and now we go back on our own.
I generally buy tickets off the net and have never had any problems
the parks you pick depends on what type of entertainment you want I personally love Universal studios/Islands of adventure

if I can give you one piece of advice it would be to get the book the unofficial guide to disney [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=unoffiial+guide+to+disney&x=0&y=0]Amazon.co.uk: unoffiial guide to disney[/ame]
your local library may have it also
also on line here Disney World guide - Walt Disney World vacations, resorts, tickets, DisneyWorld Orlando

[Mr Pumpy]

Thanks for that Smoggy.

A mate of mine has been to the Quality Inn Plaza and he says its spot on, not too expensive by the looks of it too.
Universal will deffo be on the list of places to visit. Thanks for the book advice too.
We are popping to the travel agents in the morning to get a price.