Hi all

We are planning on going to Florida for our hol's next year and I'm on the search for suitable villas. We're gonna do a week to ten days in Orlando - around Kissimmee and then ten days to two weeks on the Gulf Coast, Sanibel Island, Marco Island, Naples type thing. If anyone has anything they can recommend - I'd be very grateful. Also any tips on getting the best price flights;)

Two families going together - 7 of us - 3 kids so a four bedroomed place is necessary. Guess who copped for doing all the organising:(

Pam n the boys

Hi Pam,
A friend of mine has just moved from RAF Lakenheath area to right outside of Orlando. She's a serious Disneyphile and is in hog heaven. Once she gets online, if you like, I'll contact her to see what's around her. She owes me a favour or two anyway :D :D :D :D
Sara

Cheers Sara - I'd appreciate that

Pam

Hi Pam

We love Florida and would go every year if we could. Last time we went we stayed in a lovely house booked through a company called Bon Vogage I will try and find their phone number they were very helpful. We have used them for years and they have a nice range of houses.

The house we stayed in was five bedrooms and had its own pool and was very new they had only just finished building them. It was situated just off the 192 which takes you down to Disney & the other parks and there are plenty of places to eat along there.

As for flights only BA and Virgin fly direct from the UK to Orlando. They are expensive:( but if you don't mind doing a lay over normally about 1hr somewhere on the way you can reduce the cost by about £100 per person! The wait isn't too bad as you clear customs while you are waiting so when you get to Orlando you just pick up the car and go. :D

If you need any more info just ask

Tracy (who is desperate to go to Florida again but can't afford it due to new house:( )

Edited to add: I can't find the phone number but have done a search and this is what I have found: Bon Vogage 023 8024 8248

Cheers Tracey - I'll give them a call. :D

I've just been speaking to a chap from Prestige Homes and he'll do a full package for us if we want or just rent us the houses. It's so hard trying to work out the best plan. I was wanting to go and stay on either Sanibel Island or Marco - but this guy suggested doing Naples instead as it has more to offer with Marco being on ly a 20 min drive away. He's going to send me details and I'll have a look. It looks like 10 days in Kissimmee might be better than the original plan of 7 days tho - os we'll be wasting loads of money on those Disney tickets. My head hurts:(

Pam n the boys

If you're going to spend lots of time at the Disney parks I suggest staying there on site. We did that in 2001 and it was great. There are many benefits to doing it, like getting into the parks earlier than the general public, and being able to use all the free transit from park to park. And are you going to by the passes that let you hop from park to park? Also staying there on site keeps the magic of Disney going strong. Sometimes they offer excellent deals. My friend is going with her family in mid-August. They got on site hotel rooms for $38 dollars a night ( 5 person occupancy). You can't beat that! Disney will send you out a whole package planning kit too.
Good luck with your plans. I'm excited for you---it's such fun.
Oh yeah, if your into shell collecting you can find no better place to do that than Sanibel Island. Of course you have to get up really early to beat everyone else.

Carissa

Pam, I would suggest at least 10 days in Orlando especially if it is your first visit! There is so much to do. I would also suggest buying your Park Tickets before you it helps with the finances as they aren't cheap!

I would allow a day per park at least and try not to do too much on the first day - Sea World is normally a good first day activity

Also the West Coast From St Petes along to Clearwater is lovely and you have got Busche Gardens in Tampa.

Don't forget to go to some of the shopping malls :D :D

Tracy

Hi Pam

One thing I would say is that you need a good 10 days in Orlando. There are so many Theme Parks to go around and so much to see. Swimming with Dolphins at Dolphine Cove in Sea World is a must but you have to book it in advance. It hadn't opened when we were last there but when we go back I will definately be booking it.

Friends of mine have a Villa Letting Agency if you do a search under EVilla Rentals it should come up.

I have always booked my flights directly with the Virgin as we love flying with them. They give the kids nice little back packs full of alsorts of things to keep them amused. You also have the tvs in the head rests of the seat in front of you which is really good and you have a great choice of programmes to watch. We always fly Virgin. There are some online Ticket Agencies we have one in Guernsey which is called Just the Flight.com.

If you need any further info just e-mail me I've been more times than I care to remember, but it is a fantastic place :D

Dessie

Yeah in Florida i reccomend spending the most time in Orlando....Ive been there twice and still i havent seen everything....i cant remember seeing any holiday villas in the "International Drive" drive area where most of the entertainment is at, but i know for a fact Kissimee has loads most of them with private pool, luxary bungalos...Naples is lovely i went there only for a few hours when i was on a trip to the Everglades....Are you going on a "fly drive" holiday? because you seem to be doing alot of travelling

Jacqui
x

Hi

Yes we are going fly-drive. We're going for three weeks - so looking for about 10 days in orlando and another 10.11 on the gulf coast. We don't intend trying to see everything in Orlando - just Disney for 2 days, Seaworld, Universal and Kennedy Space Centre. :D

Pam n the boys

Pam,

If you can I would try to spent at least four days at Disney (one day for each park) as it is just wonderful :D

You can see most of Animal Kingdom in one and the same with MGM Studios. EPCOT and Magic Kingdom take a bit more but you can do the best bits in a day I have to say that Magic Kingdom has a atmosphere like no where else on earth! :D :D

Anyway whatever you decide to do enjoy! (Oh and have a Mickey Mouse Ears Ice Cream for me!!!!)

Tracy

Yes i have to agree The Magic Kingdom is really special...the one at Euro Disney hasnt got a patch on the Orlando one ....Universal studios new theme park- island of adventures is really good, alot of white knuckle rides there...i have to say i loved the Dr Seuss land there i spent $100 just in the gift shop!!
Perhaps a 2 day hopper pass would be a good idea for Disney as that allows you to hop in and out of all the Disney parks for 2 whole days

Oh and a word of warning PILE on the mosquetoe guard when you go to Kennedy Space Center as one of the places where the tour bus takes you is swarming with them but some Citronella guard keeps them well away

Hope you have a great time

Jacqui
x

you have mail Pam

Cheers Julie - got it:D

Pam