Cheapest way to stay in Florida!

[Noontan]

Hi,

My name is Hayley and I live in the UK. My husband and I will both be 40 next year (groan!) and would love to go to Florida with our two children by way of a celebration. Unfortunately, we will also be moving house in the same year, so funds are tight. We quite like the idea of renting a villa in the Kissimmee area. Does this seem the best idea, and when is the cheapest time to visit? Any other money saving ideas would be most welcome!! This site is so useful as we have never been to Florida before. Many thanks!

Hayley

[Milly]

Hi Hayley

I think most villa owners will give you advice on flights, car hire and places to eat and things to do.
I go and see people who rent my villa locally and give them as much advice as possilble, especially if they
have not been before. I would recommend a villa and then you don't have to eat out all the time and the
children can stay a play by the pool when you are not in the parks.

Hope you have a great holiday!!!

Dianne

[Paula D-S]

The park tickets and car hire advertised on this site can save you quite a bit.
I would always recommend staying in a villa. You can save money on flights and villa hire by going in the low seasons, the parks will also be a bit quieter at these times of year too.

[Fourdents]

Welcome Hayley to OV Forum

I find that flying mid week can be a little cheaper.

[CERICROWLEY]

Hayley

Depending on the ages of your children and if you are willing to take them out of school, the cheapest option would be to go in a low season, this is normally Mid January to end of February.

This is also the low season pricing for many flights, check out all the scheduled flights and chartered flights, another way of MAYBE saving a bit more is going scheduled indirect flights, using the flydrive option with Virgin or My Travel, BUT not taking the car with the flight, as we have found it more expensive paying for the additionals you have to do, ie insurance and fuel, than booking the car FULLY inclusive with UScarhire on here.

Parks you will not find a more competitive price again than on here. Please don't use the ticket booths in the US, they have sold used tickets, and all gates are now fingerprint id'ed and you could get refused entry, and end up paying again at the gate for entry.

Most of the homes on here, have tips and tricks to get the best deals on restaurants and shopping etc.

One final tip if you do decide to go in the low season, you will find the parks and the Orlando area, less busy than the usual school holiday season.

[Noontan]

Hi,

Thanks very much for your tips. This site is so useful, I'm sure I will be on it quite a bit between now and my holiday. Thanks again!

Hayley

[pbensur]

Hayley, Low season would also include November and early December but during these time periods, you will need to order pool heating. You may want to take a look at May and September and consider these months as options as well because crowds are quite manageable, and even though you're typically looking at mid-season rates, the weather is hot enough that you can do without pool heating.

[mfairhurst]

HI HAYLEY .
America can be cheaper eating out and children eat free in someplaces also there are books in WALMART amd other shopping outlets that have them and there are discount coupons in them with 10 % of meals and other things .
We have lots on info we give our guests to go to not only disney and other theme parks .
Hope you enjoy your holiday if and when you go .
Good luck with your house moveing .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Jill]

Hi Hayley

Going to Florida will be a lovely way to celebrate your special birthdays next year.

A villa is definitely a much better option than a hotel as you will have lots more space.

You mention that you will be on a limited budget but that is not a problem as there are lots of things to do and see in Florida that are either free or very inexpensive so a visit to the parks every day is not necessary. Just ask and ideas will, no doubt, come flooding in (any excuse for an owner to talk about Florida). In the past we have had families stay and the children do NOT want to visit the parks as having their own pool they can jump in and out all day is much more fun (and much better on Mum and Dad's pockets) add to that a meal outside on the patio and it is a great way to spend some quality family time together. Many villa communities also have playgrounds or sports courts that the children can use which again will not cost anything.

[SDJ]

There are many things that you don't have to spend a fortune on, and a villa is one of the best ways to enjoy a family holiday with your children. There is usually a private pool for the children to enjoy - I know my grandchildren just loved to stay by the pool - it was us who was dragging them to Disney etc.

As previously mentioned, eating out with children can be really good value if you eat at the many places that offer meal deals for children, lots of them offer free meals for kids!! If you want to eat in, most villas are fully equipped with a full kitchen so no problems there.

Enjoy your planning if you decide to go for it. There will be plenty of people on this forum able and willing to give you sound advice.

Sandra