Thursday 14 May 2015

Orlando Holiday Planning & Mickey Mouse Giveaway!


To tie in with my Orlando themed holiday posts, I have a lovely Mickey Mouse plush for one lucky reader. Read on for more info and how to enter...

If you read my previous Orlando blog post you'll know that we are off to the Sunshine state later on in the year and I can't wait! Florida is such a great holiday destination and it's suitable for the whole family. We've been as a couple, with a group of friends and now this time with a little man in tow!

I love to plan and organise things and this kind of holiday does take a bit of planning if you are going to be visiting the parks. First things first you need to shop around to find the holiday you want and there are SO many different options. We've decided to book a private villa - it didn't actually work out any cheaper by not going through a holiday company but I liked the fact that I could choose the villa itself. Some of the big tour operators like Virgin will just allocate the villas on arrival...and that's not good for someone who likes to plan!! We know exactly where our villa is and have been emailing back and forth with the owner so we know exactly what to expect. It's going to be lovely having our own personal pool for the fortnight!

Aside from your flights and accommodation, one of the biggest costs is going to be park tickets and again, this takes a bit of planning. There are so many companies online who claim to have the cheapest tickets and it can be a bit bewildering when you first start looking!

My top tip is to sit down and work out exactly where you would like to visit, if you plan on park hopping, if you plan on returning to the same park multiple times and even if you plan on venturing out of Orlando! It's easy to think that Florida is just Disney and Universal Studios but there so many other attractions including Legoland, Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Kennedy Space Centre, a multitude of water parks and much more.

I looked into buying tickets separately for all attractions but the best value option for us was a combined ticket. I would like the flexibility of being able to return to the parks on a different day. As we are going with a toddler, we aren't able to plan our day too much because it depends how tired he is etc. But if we can return in the evenings after a nap then this is perfect!

A few friends recommended Florida Tix and they were the best value by far. We want to visit lots of the parks, including Busch Gardens in Tampa so we are going to be buying a Magic Combo ticket. This gets us 14 days unlimited admission to all the WDW parks plus both water parks, 14 days unlimited admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (Hogwarts here I come!) and 14 days unlimited admission to Seaworld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica. On top of this is includes Disney Fastpass+ (will blog about this another time), free transport to Busch Gardens and much much more. The Magic Combo ticket costs £499 per person (told you it was a bit of an expense!) but this is great value for money when you look at the breakdown and how much you'll be able to see. As a bonus, kids under 3 are free so we won't need to pay for Elliot!

Competition Time

Florida Tix have kindly given us a plush Mickey Mouse to give away to our readers and you won't want to miss out on this! Elliot is also the proud owner of one and he loves it, he's been taking it to bed with him and talking all about when we go to "Dinsey" (Disney!)



Entry via Rafflecopter, UK only please

Ends 1st June 2015


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Let's Talk Mommy
Brilliant blog posts on HonestMum.com

101 comments:

  1. yes - there are so many - l liked splash mountain!

    Ashleigh

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never been to Florida xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. No but I would love to go, maybe one day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ie neer been but have always wanted to go

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't, will one day though hopefully :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lucky enough to have been twice, favourite place was Universal Studios

    ReplyDelete
  7. One of my favourite places, been going for many years. Got engaged in front of Cinderella's castle in 2012. My favourite attraction is Space Mountain :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Never been but would love to go

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have never been, but would love to take my Gran-Daughter.

    ReplyDelete
  10. No we've not been

    Kay panayi

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes I have been literally hundreds of times :) I first went to Disney World when I was 4 years old (a loooonnnnggg time ago) and have been back pretty much every year since. Plus I was lucky enough to work out there for a year in EPCOT.

    We are back again this year :) Got a mammoth trip booked for September - 3 days in Niagara Falls / Toronto, 4 days in Las Vegas, 7 days staying on site at Disney at Carribean Beach Resort and then 9 days on International Drive

    ReplyDelete
  12. We absolutely loved Florida. Now my health stopped me from going (the heat doesn't do my feet any good so can't walk for long). But we loved Disneyland and our favourite ride was Haunted Mansion. :) Also we went to Medieval Times and that was amazing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Haven't been but would love to go

    ReplyDelete
  14. I went years ago, I'd like to go again x

    ReplyDelete
  15. No i've never been but have always wanted to go

    ReplyDelete
  16. never been unfortunately, but would love to take my boys one day

    ReplyDelete
  17. Paula Readings15 May 2015 at 12:02

    I liked Animal Kingdom (Disney)

    ReplyDelete
  18. No ive never been would like to take my boys there though one day x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yes, but over 10 years ago & I loved Epcot.

    ReplyDelete
  20. never been but hopefully in 2017 we will! x

    ReplyDelete
  21. no, we've never been fortunate enough to be able to go to Florida x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm a Florida native. My favorite attraction is Disney of course! I also love Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, and the Central Florida Zoo. Jungle Adventures deserves a shout out too :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have never been but would love to take my son when he is a little older :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've never been but my ten year old son would love to go.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have you ever been to Florida? What was your favourite attraction? No, never been - my uncle lives there though, so maybe one day...........

    ReplyDelete
  26. Disney fan girl - checking in hehe.

    Sounds like you got a great deal on tickets, we do get some pretty fab deals in the UK!

    We're lucky in that we bought into DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so that we can stay onsite and that also very handily gives us a discount on Disney Annual Passes so what we always try and do is visit just within a year so we can double dip on them (i.e. go October first year, then visit the following September).

    It works quite well for us but we don't do any other parks except for occasionally Universal so obviously we're not visiting as many places on our trips!

    Looking forward to hearing all about your trip later in the year :)

    #brilliantblogposts

    ReplyDelete
  27. never been yet

    ReplyDelete
  28. I liked going on a boat trip through the everglades

    ReplyDelete
  29. yes last october :) Sheika was fab and was many of the roller coasters but my favourite part of hols was spending time with my daughters

    ReplyDelete
  30. no we have never been! hopefully one day x

    ReplyDelete
  31. We are taking our two to disneyland next year I can't wait. Sounds like you are well planned and organized. Have a blast. Always heard amazing things about taking your children. Only have memories as a child myself and it was truly magical. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have been to Florida and love all things Disney. Splash Mountain is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have been once and am going again in the Summer. We loved Disney World, all of it!

    ReplyDelete
  34. We've never been, my kiddies are a bit young yet x

    ReplyDelete
  35. Never been! one day maybe

    ReplyDelete
  36. we haven't been yet but we are saving for it x

    ReplyDelete
  37. I've never been but would love to

    ReplyDelete
  38. Haven't been to Florida, but I've been to Disneyland Paris a few times and I love it!
    Emily / http://www.emilyunderworld.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  39. I have never been but I am sure the kids would love it if they were fortunate to go

    ReplyDelete
  40. Not yet but I'm going in February and can't wait to go to Disney World and see Harry Potter world!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I've never been but I would absolutely Love to!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love disney sooooo much! My favorite is the pirates of the Caribbean ride

    ReplyDelete
  43. Only as a little girl so I don't remember it. I'd love to go again!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Unfortunately I have never been to Florida

    ReplyDelete
  45. I've never been to Florida

    ReplyDelete
  46. I went 23 years ago and loved Epcot, so cant wait to show my little boy round on our holiday in 7 sleeps.

    ReplyDelete
  47. No, we've never been, but maybe one day!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I've never been , but I would LOVE TO. It's on the list of things to do in the next 5 years. Haha. Ray xx

    ReplyDelete
  49. Elizabeth Hinds29 May 2015 at 22:38

    I've never been but I would love to go!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. yes many years ago, I liked Seaworld best

    ReplyDelete
  51. Unfortunately we have never been but we would love to go!

    kirstyjfox AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Orlando is my favourite place. I have been 5 times and I'm planning my 2017 trip now. Love Magic Kingdom and Wishes fireworks a tearjerker

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have been to Orlando and more recently, to Miami. I loved Epcot when I was at Disney.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Yes- favourite place was Universal Studios - leanne w

    ReplyDelete
  55. I went about 10 years ago - Epcot and Universal Studios were the best

    ReplyDelete
  56. Never been but planning to in the next 4/5 years with the grandchildren x

    ReplyDelete
  57. Sadly I've never been but would love to go some day

    ReplyDelete
  58. Disney world was my favourite i loved seeing the disney castle <3

    ReplyDelete
  59. Yes I have been to Florida once and loved seeing Mickey in the Magic Kingdom

    ReplyDelete
  60. Have not been but would love to go!

    ReplyDelete
  61. I've not been but I'd love to go. Some of my family have been and they really enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I've never been to Florida but I watch TV programmes about it. Add me to the list of those who'd love to go.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Yes and I loved every single part of it! I wanted to stay there and work there!!!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Yes we have, space mountain all the way!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Not been yet, would love to! It is on my bucket list!

    ReplyDelete
  66. I went years ago, before I had kids, I'd love to go again so I could go to Harry Potter World

    ReplyDelete
  67. We have never been. Would like to when our youngest is old enough for the rides.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Never been but I would love to for Harry Potter World

    ReplyDelete
  69. I have been to Disney World and it was fab

    ReplyDelete
  70. never been. closet I've got is Disneyland - Paris.

    It's on my to do list though - maybe this year.

    ReplyDelete
  71. No I've never been, would love to one day though!

    ReplyDelete
  72. zoe somerfield31 May 2015 at 09:31

    I have never been, but would love to.

    ReplyDelete
  73. We've been but not to Disneyland - we went to Miami and then drove route 1 to Key West which I would highly recommend as we loved every minute!

    ReplyDelete
  74. I went as a child - it's the most magical place, I hope and pray I get to take my son one day :) x

    ReplyDelete
  75. I have never been to florida but I hope to one day

    ReplyDelete
  76. Went on a 'once in a lifetime' Florida holiday in 2009 and am currently planning my 5th trip! My favourite ride is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, especially when it's dark! Nothing beats being in Magic Kingdom after dark, especially for evening extra magic hours!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Haven't been there yet, hopefully one day

    ReplyDelete
  78. Went years ago and loved Epcot centre the most

    ReplyDelete
  79. No I have never been but I would love to take my family one day

    ReplyDelete
  80. I've never been fortunate enough to travel to Florida. But I would love to take my family one day!

    ReplyDelete
  81. I haven't been to Florida, although I would love to take my 3 children there would be a trip of a lifetime. Disney world would be a must!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Would love to visit Florida one day

    ReplyDelete
  83. ive been countless times ( i have lost count) i have taken my little boy once...we are heading there later this year too

    ReplyDelete
  84. i have been 4 times universal studions and islands of adventure are the best mix of rides and shows x

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...