Hi there - Wanting to go to Florida, where do I start?

[Libbysmum]

Hi there,

Im lookiing to book a holiday for next year to Florida. Picked up some brochures today and Im all ready gobsmacked lol.
There will be me and partner going and our daughter who will be 3, nearly 4 when we go. Wanting to go September/October 09 time, need time to save.
Where is the best place to stay do u think? Im not looking top of the tree but no very bottom either. Would want the park tickets aswell so dont have to think about them and also the dining tickets thing so dont have to worry about paying for food except snacks etc. I want to do as much as I can while im here so can relax and enjoy the holiday.
Any advice given would be great, thanks xx

[paulac]

Hi, welcome to the dibb :wave:

First of all I guess you want to stay onsite at Disney? as you say you want to do the dining plan. Is that right? Or would you want to stay offsite, on international drive, lake buena vista area or kissimmee?

Paula

[Libbysmum]

I really dont know - I just read about the dining thing and thought it looked easy but then thinking about it now, it would just be as easy (and cheaper) to stay out of the disney hotels and eat out. Suppose I was being lazy in thinking staying onsite would be easy but Im guessing everything is pretty much on top of everything anyway x

[MichelleS]

hi and welcome i would suggest staying at the all stars great for everyone and good for transport , our kids loved it there

[The-JAXX]

hi and welcome

[disneyholic07]

:wave: HI AND WELCOME TO THE DIBB :wave:

[Super Ali]

:wave: :wave: Hi and a warm welcome to the dibb :wave: :wave:

[hayleyandhilda]

Hi welcome to the Dibb

a stay onsite in the disney hotels is good for your first time over there

did you only want to do disney ?
or do you want to include sea world
busch gardens and universal ?

[happy bunny]

Hi and welcome. You are best getting as much info as possible, sitting down with hubby, discuss the options, decide what would suit you best as accomodation and whether you just want to do disney or the other parks as well.
Once you decide where to stay, and what tickets you want, you can slot the other things into place.
A great book to buy is The Brits Guide To Orlando, there is loads of good sensible info in there. :d:

[disney dave]

hello :wave: welcome to the dibb.

[OrlandoLover]

We found good deals booking online using expedia just after christmas time when the January sales start so it might be worth leaving booking it til then if you can wait. I like I Drive but it depends on where you think you will be spending most of your time. You could even do what some people do is have a week in the Disney area and a week on I Drive. Think I might do that next time. I have read on here the cost of dining in Disney is quite expensive so you'll need to do your sums before you decide.

[Borderbairn]

Hi and welcome. You are best getting as much info as possible, sitting down with hubby, discuss the options, decide what would suit you best as accomodation and whether you just want to do disney or the other parks as well.
Once you decide where to stay, and what tickets you want, you can slot the other things into place.
A great book to buy is The Brits Guide To Orlando, there is loads of good sensible info in there. :d:

Hi and welcome to the Dibb :wavey: We also found the Brits Guide to Orlando invaluable :wave:

[wazzimama]

hi and welcome to the dibb!

well the dibb is the place to come but be warned we could do all the price hunting for you and leave nothing for you to think of....do you have some dates in mind....and a budget too?

[Nikki'Andrew]

You probaly need to decide a few things that will make it easier to decide, budget, are you going to drive, do you want to stay on site, are you going to to go to Universal, IOA and seaworld. I would suggest that you then go onto a few of sites ie TCD ,Virgin and Expedia and play around with a few options.You can put in cars or not and you can choose some hotel options ,this will give you an idea of cost.

[jcholidays]

Hi,

The fun begins now :) and you are in the best place to get all the advise you need.

Don't forget the villa option. Some people love them and some prefer a hotel. A villa search section has just been created on this site, so have a browse and see if it is for you.

Have fun.

JC.

[sharonT]

Hi and welcome to the Dibb :wavey:

You're in the best place to find out everything about Florida and Disney. :mickeybou

[vinamtaylor]

Hi welcome to the dibb. Don't forget its nice to plan somethings from here for your first visit, but its also nice to explore when you are there aswell, so I wouldn't be booking everything if I was you. There are plenty of places to eat not in Disney and other shops/malls etc to go see. We have a DS and love taking him to the parks, but we all need some time away from then aswell. :d:

[solo]

HI :wavey: & welcome to the DIBB!!! x.x Well you've started in the right place, I wish I'd known about this site before my first visit back in 2001, it's the answers to all your questions about Orlando!! firstly you need to decide on a budget, then where you'd like to stay, personally I prefer the freedom and privacy that a villa offers, then which parks you'd like to visit, September is a really good month to visit as it's very quiet, so q's are short. there's many options to explore, but you've got plenty of time before you have to book and loads of dibbers waiting to answer your questions, so take your time and decide what best for your family, everyone has different expetations from a Florida holiday!! Good luck with your search and let us know what you've decided to go for, all the best!:wavey:

[DebbieJRoss]

hi and welcome to the dibb, you have come to the right place for advice and tips and everyone is so helpful and fun too. Firstly think about what kind of accommodation you want, hotel versus villa, I personally prefer a villa, but then there are six of us and the space and privacy are great. Then if you get a villa you need a car, if staying on Disney site you probably wont need one as much. If you want to do the disney parks only then staying on site is probably a good option. Think about what you want to do, read the trip reports, bear in mind your budget and then ask here all the questions you have, someone will surely be able to help, but most of all have fun planning, Debbie :thumbs-up

[Libbysmum]

hi there,
Well just wanted to say thanks for all your replies. I think (but need to confirm with hubby) that Im going to rent a villa and a car then do as much as we can while we are there. That way if we dont want to go out one day we dont have to we can relax at the villa or do whatever we wish. As someone else said, there is enough places to eat so not like we are going to starve or anything and Im sure our daughter will have a fab time whatever we do.

I have been looking at the villas from the replies and they are out of this world so Im going to contact the owners and see if the dates I wish to travel are free then just need to sort out flights and park tickets - sounds easy just hope it is ha ha ha.
Really, Thanks again to you all xxx

[hayleyandhilda]

if you put up in requsts what you want from a villa and what dates you have in mind i belive the villa owners will get back to you with there avaliblity and a quote !!!!

[*source*]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the DIBB :)

You will love your first Florida vacation, and become as addicted as the rest of us I am sure!! x

[sunsetlakes]

Hello and welcome to the Dibb.

[summerlily2002]

Hello and welcome :wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

Happy planning !!! :spin:

[sylvy]

:wavey: Hello and welcome to the Dibb you will get all the info you will need on here so keep on Dibbing. :wave:

[chlobo29]

Hi and welcome to the DIBB :wavey:

[Armanaleg]

Hello & welcome to the Dibb :wavey:

[Funkymum]

Hi & welcome to the Dibb :wavey:

[lilacfairystar]

hello and welcome, planning for your trip is just as fun as going enjoy the wole process and a good tip is to read ,read and read some more of the wonderful advice and tips on the dibb - happy planning

[zdickens]

Hi and welcome

[garry&ann]

Hi and welcome to the dibb have alook through some of the postings on here they can be invalubale.
Sure you will get lots of help and advise.
Don't be shy we are a friendly lot.
When are you going?
Garry & Ann

[saraj]

Hi

Welcome to the dibb..

Sara :wave: :wave:

[pluto rules]

Hi and welcome to the dibb :wavey:

[Summit Plummet]

Hi & welcome to the Dibb :wave: :wave:

[Scarlett95]

Welcome! :wave:

[alibali]

hello and welcome. our first time too. looked at the dinning plan but were told that it was a bit expensive. staying onsite at disney allstars for all the extras.

[FloridaAnn & Co]

Hello and Welcome to the Dibb :)


Have fun planning!!!!!!!!!!!!!


:mickeybou :goofy_bou :tiggerbou :donald_bo :mickeywal

[budgie6741]

hi welcome to the Dibb