In the process of booking a holiday to Florida with my 20 year old daughter but am getting so confused! Any experienced travellers to Disney out there who can give me some tips?

I've been going to Disney Florida for the last 15 years or so.  What would you like to know?

Really would like some info on the Disney resorts. Have you stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside which is what I have been looking at. Also who do you think is the best economy airline to go with? Im a bit of a novice!

We are mad Disney vacation members so have stayed in many of their vacation complexes, and had a good look around many of the others. Sorry not been in the one you are looking at though. What I can say is that all the Disney Hotels are absolutely fabulous, very clean, top notch service and the people are wonderful and really make you feel at home, you can't go wrong staying on the complex. You have free transport on your doorstep to all the various parks etc.

Wherever you decide to stay you can't go wrong.

Depending on your budget the food can end up being quite expensive buying 3 meals a day, ( my only bug bare about Disney) which is why we enjoy hiring a car and driving out to International Drive a few times a week to eat. Make sure you have plenty of tip money, you need to tip for everything. (Very important.)

As to flights I will only fly Virgin (not the cheapest I know) but we have tried other airlines and the flight can feel very,very long without a good service, we went on one once and only had 2 drinks all the way there and no leg room, it was a nightmare. Have a look at Virgin (I don't work for them Dennis!!) and see if you can get a couple of good special offer seats it's worth trying.

Yourself and your daughter should love Disney, it is everything you dream of and more. (Completely addicted here wish I was going with you, I am having withdrawal syptoms.)

P.S. If you are not hiring a car, which you don't need at all, if you are staying on the complex, (coach transport is free there and can take you anywhere) make sure you pay for a return shuttle or cab from the airport it works out much cheaper, you can always pay for a cab from your hotel, if you wish to go to Sea World or Universal Studios it's not that expensive.

Thanks for that! I have been looking to book the whole package through Virgin. I dont want to drive so have been checking out the coach transfers as you suggest. Just got to find the money now!!!!

You won't go wrong with Virgin, Florida is worth every penny that you save. We never want to come home. :-)

Just remembered another wonderful thing that Virgin do, on your return you can drop your cases off at their shop in Downtown Disney for $10 and they will transfer them to the airport and check them in for you, saves you lugging them around on your last day whilst waiting for your flight. (Which never conincides with your hotel check out!) you are then free for the rest of the day with just your hand luggage.

Just remembered another wonderful thing that Virgin do, on your return you can drop your cases off at their shop in Downtown Disney for $10 and they will transfer them to the airport and check them in for you, saves you lugging them around on your last day whilst waiting for your flight. (Which never conincides with your hotel check out!) you are then free for the rest of the day with just your hand luggage.

Ditto Lyssa , This is what Travel City do.. Virgin never used to but they must have added it also. Glad to see they are all upgrading their service as I thought this was a great service.  We went to Disney for the last day right up to 2hrs 15 mins before our return flight.

As to flights I will only fly Virgin (not the cheapest I know) but we have tried other airlines and the flight can feel very,very long without a good service,
Interesting  as I have had the opposite experience with Virgin.. we went with them a couple of years ago and the plane arrived that late it wasn't even cleaned !!! honestly we were put straight on it.     One toliet was out of use the whole flight.  They wont get my business again. They put a big winnie the Pooh that someone had bought in the loo that was closed and it got errr covered.

Out flight in October last year with Travelcity was at least 30 mins quicker going and 45 mins quicker on the return flight AND were were £800 cheaper for 3 adults. They only use Jumbos also and they have a quick check in on the return because you take all you cases etc to their office in the morning and check them in and then you go enjoy your last day with only a 2 hour check in.

Airtours and Thomsons for me were also just mediocre.   I accidently left £120 of new makeup on the plane and I had only just got off when I noticed so asked them to get it for me. They said they would get it and bring it to the Airtours desk. Within 15 mins it had disappeared even though their air steward supervisor said she saw it in the cabin crews area.  I know I left it but boy was that bad.

Funny though how each can build a picture based on their own experience.

Whatever the poster does she will love it.  I get all bubbly eyes at fireworks night :-)

What are you confused about?

One tip I would give is, if you do not want to drive check your hotel is walking distance to downtown Disney for evening meals and entertainment. These hotels should also do a courtesy bus to the theme parks.

We nearly made a mistake by booking a hotel away from anywhere, the tele girl at Virgin pointed it out to me and suggested a different hotel.

Have done Disney many times, both Disney accommodation and off site.
Our best holiday was staying at Port Orleans where you can get the River Boat to Laser Quest and downtown Disney. I find the holiday far more enjoyable if you stay at Disney property because you don't feel pressurised to do everything in a day but can pick at it and becaause you know in advance the cost involved, so don't skinp when you get there. Make sure though tha you have a hire car so you don't have to eat at the resort every night - that can get tiresome. We have happily spent a full fortnight embracing the Disney experience after all you're only young once !!!

Yip need to know what you want.

Off the top of my head.  I think you 100% need a car. Pay for everything to do with the car at time of booking to avoid being conned.

If you can afford to a Villa is great. The star rating I think is pants so whatever you are used to go up one ;-)

Buy your Disney passes in the UK as you can generally get a better deal.

Travelcitydirect are the best people so far for us for Florida bookings. Jumbo jet flights all the time. They are the biggest UK chain in Florida. Customer service is excellent and even if you are in Florida you can get a rep in 2 mins.  I was there when the last  hurricane was coming and they were very very good.

I agree about travel city, we upgraded the flights which brought it to a price closer to others virgin etc.. but paid dividends with leg room on long flights.
There is a disney oriented forum ' Dibbs ' (sorry cant do links)  but constant supply of folk going to and coming back from disney, so very useful.

yip we always pay the extra leg room seats think it was £69 each this year but this puts you at the door with all the space.

I have to agree Travel city offer excellent advice and are very helpful....We are huge disney fans..
Although i have stayed on International drive for the past two years..
Any of the disney hotels offer good standards of accommodation and getting around is no problem
Get you holiday booked and enjoy everything Florida has to offer..im sure you will want to return year after year

Hi,

we went to Florida in November last year. We booked through Thomas cook i think and they had a deal on disney hotels. We stayed at Disneys Port Orleans French Quater. It was FANTASTIC!!!! The rooms were spotless, staff very friendly and helpful. The hotal was lovely and we had the most amazing holiday. There is a free boat from the port orleans to downtown disney - this is fantastic for the evenings as tthere are lots of shops and food places and downtown disney and it is a very safe environment. There is free transport all around disney so you dont really need ot hire a car but it is hard to get out of disney! we had to keep getting taxis to get to other places like universal and seaworld. i would 100% reccomend a disney hotel. We have stayed at normal hotels before in orlando but for the future we are always going to stay in disney. Animal kingdom theme park is amazing! (make sure you go there! it is great!)

Have a fabulous holiday - if you want any advice or info then please just pm me. :)

Meant to say - it was virgin that we went with - ie flights etc but we just booked through a travel agents. I was 20 when we went and it was just me and my mum. We had a brilliant time and im sure you will love it :)

If you book through most travel agents and pay by cc they will charge you for doing it.  Last time I asked it was 2%.  However if you book direct with the company you don't pay this charge.  Just something to bear in mind, I never book through a travel agent now.

if you book with virgin on the net you get 10% of the brouchure price. If getting a car the boot size is smaller than you would expect in the same size car in the uk. Disney hotels are fab and the bus service means you can go back to your hotel for a nap/swim etc and then go back and do fireworks and dinner etc later. you have to pay extra for a fridge at some disney hotels. Tickets can be cheeper if you buy them here but it does depend on the exchange rate. Try www.wdisneyw.co.uk ( cant do links ) for some really great advise

Thanks everyone for your help! I have taken the plunge and booked it! We are off in May with Virgin! My daughter has not flown before so she is being thrown in at the deep end! I may have to PM you experts if I need anymore help!

My kids first flight was to florida and they loved every minute of it (they were 3 + 5 at the time) you will have a fantastic time everyone does!!

If you are going to Florida for the first time PLEASE dont spend all of your time in Dinsey! It is such a great place, if possible get out to see some of the other attractions. Seaworld is great especially if you prearange some of the behind the scenes visits (IMHO far better than disney). There are some great horse riding trails in Kissimme. If you cna get to a rodeo or state fair they are great fun. A bit of a drive but St Petes is great, much more laid back and fab seafood... to name but a few.  

Discovery cove is great aswell go and swim with the dolphins and SHOPPING!!!