When and what to book?

[Herewegoagain]

Hi, I’m looking to book Florida for next October. When do you all suggest the best time to book?

We want to go with a tour operator package as it will be our first time going and fly direct. We plan on going for 2 weeks and just concentrating on the Disney parks and Universal and we won’t be driving.

Also would we be best staying onsite as not driving or is International Drive fine?

Thanks for any help.

[Th1nkT1nk]

Hi and welcome to the Dibb!
Lots for you to think about but you’re in the right place for advice lots of people much more knowledgeable that me but here are my thoughts...
personally for a first time visit I’d probably recommend staying onsite for Disney part, with maybe a few nights universal onsite or I drive OR you can just get Uber across to universal if you don’t intend spending long there. ( I’m doing first 3 nights universal then 11 nights Disney for example)
I have booked through Ocean Florida for the second time as we can’t get anyone to beat their price and we were happy with their service , ... people also speak highly of ‘my magic holiday’. The best deal is free dining but that ends for bookings in early October... (after 3rd of October I think from memory) I believe there is a 10% discount available for the rest of October instead. Enjoy planning it all... there’s so much to get your head around but it’s all exciting stuff

[Guest]

If you are not driving, then I think an onsite stay would be better. Onsite Disney has a free dining offer most years but you are not going to be eligible as it only goes up to early October - if you were able to bring your trip forward to get it, then you need to book whilst the free dining offer is on, which it is at the moment. Other than that I am not sure there is a best time to book, just whenever you are ready really.

The tickets for Disney and Universal parks are very expensive, some years we have opted to do one or the other for that reason, however this year we decided to do both. We stayed onsite in both locations, but if you think you are only going to want to do a day or two in either then you might just get a taxi over. There is a big advantage to staying onsite at three particular hotels at Universal, they have an express pass for the rides.

I know some people like to use a tour operator but it is also pretty easy to book yourself directly, I prefer this as it cuts out the middle man if I have a query or want to make a change and the tour operators can charge more or be less flexible with changes.

[WDWfangirl]

Another vote for booking it yourself. The first time we did a tour package with Virgin and definitely could have saved money if we booked direct. Do some research as to what you might be looking at for flights and then price it up with booking direct. For our next trip we've booked with Attractions Ticket Direct as Disney couldn't offer the room type that we wanted.

[cornishfrogboy]

Welcome to the DIBB.

I am with the others..
Plenty of research, on-site, off site, LBV or IDrive, room , condo, villa, car or no car, which tickets, Disney? Univeral? Discovery Cove ultimates?...followed by bookings of .
Flights
Possibly car
Accommodation
Tickets.

All by credit card in order to have S75 End user failure protection.

You will be treading the paths of hundreds of thousands before you .. whilst saving plenty for your next trip.