Help! I need more ammunition. [Archive] - Orlando Villas - Florida Discussion Forums and Guide

Angua

28-09-2003, 21:47

If you've read any of my other mails, you'll know that I'm in the process of trying to persuade some friends to join us in our trip to Orlando in March. The last stumbling block is simply the cost. How much would two adults and two kids have to spend to have a good time in Florida? The youngest will only be 14 months and the oldest is going to be 4.

Obviously the sky is the limit but what's the minimum that you would need, do you think?

We know the cost of the villa, flights and car-hire but having never travelled to Florida with kids, I've simply no idea as to spending money and I understand that it's an entirely different ball-game when there are children involved.

Thanks for your help.
Sarah.[8D]

Carla

28-09-2003, 22:07

Hi Sarah

First of all the baby will probably cost nothing at all. There are no entrance charges to any of the parks for under 3s.

For the 4 year old you will need to buy a child ticket to whichever parks you decide to go to. With little ones you are probably better off having a day at a park followed by a day relaxing by the pool and so on. So for a 14 day holiday you would only really be looking to visit parks for maybe 7 days. Decide where you want to go and then you can get prices for these parks. (This site lists ticket prices, so you can do your research there).

Eating out is minimal cost with little kids since they will either be offered a free meal by many places, or they can simply share what their parents have. The restaurants in America have no problem with you asking for an empty plate and sharing. The portions are generally so huge that it is unlikely that even an adult could eat it all.

If you prepare carefully and buy drinks etc. in a supermarket and take these with you to the Parks, then that will keep down the cost quite considerably. You have to give kids a drink quite frequently because they will dehydrate quickly. The first sign of this is a miserable, cranky child - give her a drink and she'll probably perk up.

If the parents have a double buggy then tell them to take that with them to Florida. There will be many occasions when all that walking will get too much for the 4 year old and she'll need to ride. You could hire one of the park buggies/strollers, but that will get expensive. Wal-Mart have strollers for around $15, so you could buy one and just use it for the holiday.

All in all, if you plan it right, then these children should end up costing very little. They get much more expensive the older they get!! :D:D

ctgirlscout

28-09-2003, 22:17

My biggest expense with my kids was the souvenirs. As soon as my youngest daughter walked through the gates at Disney (she was 6), she announced "I want some ears!", and I heard this throughout the day until I bought her a set of those Mickey ears. With four kids, we did spend a lot on souvenirs, and lunch and drinks in the middle of the day, but staying at a villa greatly cut down on the cost of eating dinner and breakfast out and, of course, on the hotel stay.

I don't know if you would be allowed to bring in your own drinks to the parks, but you can invest in the park's own water bottle and get it refilled at a discounted price whenever you need to.

steph_goodrum

28-09-2003, 22:38

To be perfectly honest Sarah, if you've got to keep finding ways to persuade your friends to go , I would say leave it and just you and your hubbie go and enjoy yourself. If they are not totally comitted to the holiday , you may well find they drop out at a later date and then if you've set your budget assuming they will be coming and share the cost of the villa etc. it will leave you with a dilemma if they drop out, we had an enquiry from someone in exactly that position the other day.

As far as the cost of the children goes as has been said there are ways to cut down on cost but it is still going to be a significant figure for 3 park tickets etc. and then there will be their share of the car hire, (if they do go tell them to take their own car seats for the children as under 6's must be in an appropriate seat and this way they can save on the cost (around $6 a day at least per child) and will know how to fit it and know it fits their child.

If they decide to go I'm sure they will have a wonderful time although they may well benefit from leaving it another year when the younger one will be 2 1/2 and will enjoy it more and give them more time to save.

sammibabe

29-09-2003, 03:13

I would have to agree with Steph that if you have to find ways to persuade them to go it probably isn't worth it. Holidaying with friends can be quite fraught anyway without the 'well we didn't really want to come anyway'. I bet if you ask there will be more people who have had problems holidaying with friends than not. All my mates who have done that have returned saying never again! If they do go buying a stroller in Walmart is a good idea but if they are tall check the height as we found the handle quite low. My husband picked up the car and went off and bought a car seat before returning to collect us. That worked well and we had a second car seat when we came home too which has been handy.

Angua

29-09-2003, 12:02

Thanks Gals, you're right of course.:(

The last time we stayed in a Villa it was with friends AND family. That was an experience, I can tell you!!! Hubbie and I disappeared down to Key West for the third week. Phew![B)]

It was probably unrealistic to organise in such a short space of time but we all thought it seemed like such a good idea. (ever the optimist, me!) They're a bit deflated but hopeful that we can organise it in the future.

Anyhow, we're still coming and it's worked out even better as we've decided to just spend a frantic week of fun in Orlando and then go and see our friends in North Carolina for a week of relaxation. WOO HOO!:D

While we're in Orlando, I'd really like to stay in a Villa. Having tried hotels and villas, I know which I prefer!!;) On researching the Villas, there didn't seem to be much price difference between a 3 bed or a some of the really plush 4 beds we've found. Is it worth my searching again?

Thanks
Sarah.

Angua

29-09-2003, 12:09

Oh yeah! and how do you get those extremely cool Avatar thingies?[8D]

huckleberry house

29-09-2003, 12:17

Hi Sarah

Your right there isnt a lot of difference in price between sizes.I have two bookings in my 5 bed villa that are each for two people.I expect by now you have had a good look at what is available villa wise but you dont need an excuse to have another drool! and as you can tell by my unique and exclusive avatar I dont know the answer to your last question,but hopefully if I watch this space I will soon:D:D

Cheers,Lesley

steph_goodrum

29-09-2003, 12:55

Hi Sarah
That sounds like it will work out great for you and hubbie at least. I hope you don't think we were being too negative but after all it's your holiday too and you want to get the most from it. At least deferring it means your friends can really enjoy it rather than feel they were coerced into it, make sure you get lots of photos and they'll be begging you to take them next time .:D:D:D

As you say there is not a lot of difference price wise between many of the different sizes - but I'm sure you'll agree they are all great value, it's jsut so difficult trying to choose one, but that's part of the fun of the holiday, the planning isn't it?
Hope you'll have a wonderful time whenever you go.

Angua

29-09-2003, 13:58

Hi.

I don't think you were being negative at all.... just realists and the advice was very helpful. I am a bit of a dreamer and need to be brought back down to earth occasionally (only occasionally, mind;))

[xx(] I've now got to go through all those Villas that we shortlisted and look at them again with an entirely different set of values. No more kid-friendly, lots more adult - friendly!!

Oh it's so hard, trudging through all those lovely pictures and imagining us lounging in those pools. Ho Hum! :D

By the way, "BUMP".......

Can anyone help "Huckleberry House" and I with those marvellous Avatar whatsits?

Thanks
Sarah.

steph_goodrum

29-09-2003, 14:10

Hi again Sarah
Not being much of a techie I had to get the site owners to post my avatar for me, I found a picture and they sized it etc. I'm sure someone will get out of bed soon and tell you how to do it (you know what these computer geeks are like....stay up till 3 in the morning and then surface at noon :D:D

It might be worth putting through another enquiry as some people (like myself) may not have replied to your first because you needed 2 masters etc, you can put any definite requirements in the comments to narrow down your replies, but as your requirements have changed you may find other properties would suit you better, and obviously as you now will only be going for 1 week there may be others who were unavailable for 2 weeks who would now be happy to accommodate you.

Debs

29-09-2003, 15:35

Hi Sarah,

Steph is right if you put out a revised enquiry you can see exactly what is available - I am sure you will find a lovely home that meets all your needs and have a great holiday.

Angua

29-09-2003, 16:19

Aaaaaaghhh![:0]

Hubbie has been talking to his American cohort in North Carolina. They've come up with the idea of our buddies travelling down and joining us in Florida.

That's it![}:)] I'm not doing anything else until the boys sort out their plans.

.....and they say women change their minds!!;)

"Bumpty Bump" Someone must know how to get one of those Avatar thingemyjigs!![8D]

huckleberry house

29-09-2003, 16:28

Hi Sarah

Okay found this http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1966. You first:D:D

Lesley

steph_goodrum

29-09-2003, 16:40

Sarah
Can we expect to see a new avatar of you junping up and down and tearing your hair out them?:D:D

I'm sure as soon as you get to Florida you'll forget all about the aggravation and have a wonderful time.

Angua

29-09-2003, 16:52

Firstly, thanks to Lesley. The Avatar instructions are very easy to follow. You just need a website to get your image from or to upload your image to. Where do you guys get the animated Avatars from? or are you all techie bods?

Secondly, you're quite right Steph. The jumping up and down Avatar is a very good idea.... I'll look into that!!:D

As you can see, I've gone with the cool Dragon at the moment. Kind of the "Don't muck me about" look. Hubbies take heed! [}:)]

Ssssshhhhh! Don't tell the boys but it's quite a good idea that our friends travel down. Means Hubbie and I get less travelling time and more pool time. Hee, hee.

dan

29-09-2003, 16:54

I had a look at this link and it didn't help. Where do you find the Avatars in the first place. I want one too!!!
quote:Originally posted by huckleberry house

Hi Sarah

Okay found this http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1966. You first:D:D

Lesley

huckleberry house

29-09-2003, 16:56

Hi Sarah

Yep,nice and easy try this site for animated gifs,save it to your desktop first then copy and paste url,do a preview first to make sure it loads.

http://www.animationfactory.com/

Lesley

blott

29-09-2003, 16:59

Try http://www.animationlibrary.com and while away a few hours as they have hundreds (or it could even be thousands...).

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 17:06

Hey Steph...less of the 'geeks' if you don't mind :D;):D;)

quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum

(you know what these computer geeks are like....stay up till 3 in the morning and then surface at noon :D:D

mikewj

29-09-2003, 17:18

Geek and proud.....just dont call us nerds !

Mike

steph_goodrum

29-09-2003, 17:18

John and Mike , no offence intended ....notice you didn't reply till 13.06 though:D:D

OK I know it's probably lunchtime and the boss isn't looking.:)

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

29-09-2003, 17:29

:D I'm in the fortunate position of being the boss in my day job too so do dip in and out of the forums a bit more than maybe I should sometimes ;).

mikewj

29-09-2003, 19:24

I was on a break....honest ![B)]

Angua

29-09-2003, 19:30

Many thanks to Huckleberry House and Blott for the links.

I think my new Avatar sums up my current mood quite nicely. Don't worry, it'll change to something cute and cuddly as soon as my Hubbie decides where we going to be for our second week.

Decisions, decisions..... Florida or North Carolina...... hmmmmmmmm..... Both have Victoria's Fillet..... Both have Tepanyaki cuisine...... but only one has "The Hulk"!![8D]

steph_goodrum

29-09-2003, 20:06

"but only one has "The Hulk"!!"

Sarah
Who told you my husband was there that week.?:D:D

chrizzy100

29-09-2003, 20:13

quote:Originally posted by Sarah Seaman

If you've read any of my other mails, you'll know that I'm in the process of trying to persuade some friends to join us in our trip to Orlando in March. The last stumbling block is simply the cost. How much would two adults and two kids have to spend to have a good time in Florida? The youngest will only be 14 months and the oldest is going to be 4.

Obviously the sky is the limit but what's the minimum that you would need, do you think?

We know the cost of the villa, flights and car-hire but having never travelled to Florida with kids, I've simply no idea as to spending money and I understand that it's an entirely different ball-game when there are children involved.

Thanks for your help.
Sarah.[8D]

Its not always a good thing to talk friends into a trip....our Christina did that last year with her best friend of many years...and she would never go with someone again who had young kids......the forever remembering to close the doors to the pool....was the biggest thing they had fights about....our Chris and her boyfriend have no kids....they go away to a villa in FL every year on their own...then to have other peoples kids to watch out for was a nightmare....having to come home early sharing a car.....being quiet when the kids were in bed...tons of things lead to a bad time all round....I can understand why the mother was worried about the pool....and to top it all off in the first week the little boy next door slipped and cut his head in the pool area and then fell into the pool...so after that they had the little one staying with them crying to use the pool and mum not letting the kids out there anymore....couples without kids and couples with young kids don't always work very well...not even with the best of friends......

Angua

29-09-2003, 22:19

quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum

"but only one has "The Hulk"!!"

Sarah
Who told you my husband was there that week.?:D:D

LOL:D

We getting closer to organising our trip now. Phew! Hubbie is booking the flights on Friday (with any luck). We are going to have a week in Orlando and then a week in NC. Our American friends have got kids too and the US and UK female contingent got together and decided it would be too much of a journey for the little 'uns.

However, I'm not doing anything until I have those e-tickets in my grubby little paws. Just in case!!;)

Ho Hum, I'll just have to have a week of shopping and lounging on their deck instead. [^] I have to say that I'm a bigger fan of East Coast USA than West Coast. Tried Vegas and San Diego last year and although Vegas was a giggle, most of the San Diegans (?) that we came across seemed to have delusions of grandeur. Just bad luck on our part, I suppose.

sarahjk

29-09-2003, 22:54

Hiya

Sorry just wanted to see if your advice on the avatar thingy works

He he he

sarahjk

29-09-2003, 22:58

Sorry guys had to get the advice from someone who knows how to talk to real computer dummies

My very beloved hubbie

Sarah

Tashmina

30-09-2003, 01:31

Nope...jus no good...I can't get an avatar to work!

Please help [:I]

PS: I'm a hopeless technophobe!!

Angua

30-09-2003, 02:42

Hi, Tashmina.

I only got mine to work by copying the image I found to a website I have and then I typed the URL into the appropriate box in my profile.

"Calling all Gurus, calling all Gurus"........

Is that the only way, guys?

Thanks
Sarah.:D

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

30-09-2003, 02:44

Sarah

Email the image to info@orlandovillas.com and we can sort it out for you.

Angua

30-09-2003, 02:50

Mein Host! You are too kind.
(you do realise you're going to be inundated with images now);)

Can I take it that you do need a website to save the image on to or did I just go the long way about it?

Thanks muchly
Sarah.

floridadreamvilla.co.uk

30-09-2003, 02:54

Sarah

You do need to host it on a website but if you just email the image to us we'll host it on ours so you do not need to worry about the technicalities :).

Alternatively email us a link to the site that the image is on at the moment and as long as we are not breaching copyright we'll gladly get the image from there.

sarahjk

30-09-2003, 03:02

as my hubbie explained to me you copy the avatar to your desktop and then open it up
when you paste it to the link on this site make sure you delete the http at the start of the box first or it does not copy the correct url

i should have gone to him first but you never think of asking the computer engineer you have handy until you try everything else first [:I]

Sarah

Angua

30-09-2003, 03:04

Thanks for that. I think I've got it sussed now.... well, I thought I had..... You can all see it, can't you? Green Medusa thingy? Won't I feel the fool if only I can see my Avatar [:I] I may be taking you up on that offer of hosting yet!

Angua

30-09-2003, 03:13

Heavens Above. I just read my last post. I REALLY need to get some sleep. I think I've caught my Hubbie's Gadget Disease.

(slopes off muttering, "Must have Avatar, Must have Avatar")[:p]

Funshine

30-09-2003, 16:44

Well Sarah your postings have kept me amused!!

I totally agree with other owners who say look again - things have moved on since your first enquiry and many villas will have taken bookings.

Happy villa hunting [8D]

Angua

30-09-2003, 18:19

Glad to have been of service! :D

Re the villas....Don't remind me!:( I'm sure all those villas that I shortlisted will have been snapped up and I'll have to start all over again. However, NOT until I have those plane tickets. ;)

Please! Put me out of my misery, can you or can you not see the green medusa?

(wanders off to take her medication!)