Hello all, sometime lurker here, and several years listener to The Dis Unplugged. Last trip was in 2012 with three friends and it went spectacularly - stayed off-site at a timeshare resort (Marriott Cypress Harbor - very nice) and drove down (36 hours straight!).
This time, I'm going with just one other person - my fiancee and soon-to-be wife (Sept 30th is the date!). We're both Disney fans, but I am a theme parks fanatic. She has never been, and we agreed it would be fantastic to have our Honeymoon in Orlando. To that end, I am planning a trip for April/May 2018. I'm pricing things out, and so far the best value has been to stay off-site of course, with some good prices available through Costco travel at Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort. I have also priced out on-property at both Disney and Universal, renting DVC points, and renting timeshare off-property. I want to go for around 10 days. We want to see Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, with Hollywood Studios being a maybe. We also want to see both Universal parks (with a cross-park ticket to ride Hogwarts Express - we're both also Harry Potter fans) and Sea World, and maybe have a day at Cocoa Beach and/or the Space Center. We'd like to have a car while we're there, regardless of whether we stay on or off property, as we'd like that freedom. Maybe another time we'll stay in the bubble. I'm pretty familiar with the general theme park tips. We're of the general opinion that the hotel room need not be luxurious, but the ability to make breakfast in our room before rushing off for rope drop is very attractive. Also, this is our honeymoon - I'd like to have at least some ability to make the trip just a little bit more special. We'll have to decide how much the (significant) extra cost is worth the theming and the perks of on- vs off-property. I do admit the perks are enticing, but dang, the price difference is painful for two Canadians who are just starting a life together, and the exchange rate is horrible right now. We're forgoing a major wedding registry and instead asking guests to contribute to the honeymoon if they want to give us a gift.
My requests for help comes down to:
where do Canadians go for good hotel deals?
Good flight deals?
Good rental car deals?
In what circumstances is it worth it to go through a travel agent? Meaning, if I'm not staying on-property, is there any point?
Has anyone stayed at the Sheraton Vistana? The reviews seem pretty great.
Thanks! Love the boards and the community!
Jesse
This time, I'm going with just one other person - my fiancee and soon-to-be wife (Sept 30th is the date!). We're both Disney fans, but I am a theme parks fanatic. She has never been, and we agreed it would be fantastic to have our Honeymoon in Orlando. To that end, I am planning a trip for April/May 2018. I'm pricing things out, and so far the best value has been to stay off-site of course, with some good prices available through Costco travel at Sheraton Vistana Villages Resort. I have also priced out on-property at both Disney and Universal, renting DVC points, and renting timeshare off-property. I want to go for around 10 days. We want to see Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, with Hollywood Studios being a maybe. We also want to see both Universal parks (with a cross-park ticket to ride Hogwarts Express - we're both also Harry Potter fans) and Sea World, and maybe have a day at Cocoa Beach and/or the Space Center. We'd like to have a car while we're there, regardless of whether we stay on or off property, as we'd like that freedom. Maybe another time we'll stay in the bubble. I'm pretty familiar with the general theme park tips. We're of the general opinion that the hotel room need not be luxurious, but the ability to make breakfast in our room before rushing off for rope drop is very attractive. Also, this is our honeymoon - I'd like to have at least some ability to make the trip just a little bit more special. We'll have to decide how much the (significant) extra cost is worth the theming and the perks of on- vs off-property. I do admit the perks are enticing, but dang, the price difference is painful for two Canadians who are just starting a life together, and the exchange rate is horrible right now. We're forgoing a major wedding registry and instead asking guests to contribute to the honeymoon if they want to give us a gift.
My requests for help comes down to:
where do Canadians go for good hotel deals?
Good flight deals?
Good rental car deals?
In what circumstances is it worth it to go through a travel agent? Meaning, if I'm not staying on-property, is there any point?
Has anyone stayed at the Sheraton Vistana? The reviews seem pretty great.
Thanks! Love the boards and the community!
Jesse