Orlando Vacation
 

Hi Everyone

This seems as good a place as any to post my question, given that lots of people living in Canada go to Florida to vacation.
We are planning a trip to Orlando in September with our son and daughter in law and our grandsons who are 3 and 1 years old.
I am looking at resorts and an getting very confused. If any of you have visited down there you might be able to help me out.

My must have requirements are:
Young kid friendly play areas and pools.
The areas I like are Kissimmee and anywhere within a sensible distance of Magic Kingdom since that is the only park we will visit I think.

Restaurants and shops in close proximity to the resort.

That's it really.
I find the resort websites don't always show what I want to see.
That is they might mention 5 pools and kids play area etc but they don't necessarily show you what they are like.
So if anyone has any recommendations I am all ears.

Thanks

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Don't go to Orlando with such young children. The hotels there are stupid expensive and not that great, and even the three year old won't remember much of the Disney park a year later.

Go to a nice resort hotel on the coast somewhere - you'll get some combination of a better hotel and cheaper rates.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Coco Key water resort was good fun (International Dr), there is a splash park for the younger kids. You can walk to shops and restaurants too. Reunion Resort is beautiful and again fun but you will need to drive to other areas. Friends have stayed in the Disney resorts and had no complaints too.
Other than that we have booked Villas in various areas and driven out to shops and restaurants. :)

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I tend to agree. At 1 and 3 there isn't a whole lot of rides the kids can ride, and neither will remember the experience.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I'd be interested in this too, though not necessarily Orlando, and from the point of not driving. Everything on foot or a short bus ride.

I prefer a hotel pool to the beach, although a beach is nice to go to as well.

Somewhere to go for a wander and sit in the shade of a palm tree. Somewhere to just gaze over the sea.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Why Florida?

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

1 and 3 year old won't remember a thing. I would look at a villa rather than hotels. I'd personally stay beach and just visit Disney for the day if it's absolutely necessary.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Last time we went to Florida was for a roller hockey tournament. We chose a villa through Vacation Rentals by Owner the rest of the team were in a hotel. We got two bedrooms, living room, full kitchen and private garden plus bbq and private parking, in the hotel they got a one room suite ie a bedroom and living room which doubled as sleeping facilities for the kids. The villa and hotel were within 15 mins walk of each other. We paid 2/3 the price of the hotel room.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

wyndham bonnet creek resort.
stayed last chrismas in a 2 bed apartment. You get the best of both worlds. within reach of disney, but not owned by them so much cheaper.
the kids pools are fantastic, in fact my sister went for Easter with her 2 grandchildren and loved it.
ask for a firework view. If you want to know more just pm me.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Hi, when we visit we stay at the Bahama Bay resort in Davenport, where the condos are self catering but it also has a nice restaurant on site that will deliver too. Its a short drive to the Magic Kingdom from there.
Its a quiet resort with nice pools and a serene ambience. We enjoy it for its peace after a day at the parks.
Nearby (short car drive) is a Super Target, KMart, Bahama Breeze restaurant, an Olive Garden, Longhorn steakhouse, sweet Tomatoes etc. Theres obviously more as Orlando is busting with these places but these are in the area close by.
Disney is great for babies as they have good facilities and my 3 year old when we took her really thought she had met the real life Ariel which made me grab my camera in a teary rush. Its a sweet memory for us parents and she kind of recalls it.
Orlando in September is still very hot and sticky. If you havent booked the flights yet you may prefer to wait until October.
This is a great resource for Orlando trips with children
www.mousesavers.com There is a mass of info there on getting the best from your trip and your money.


Have fun booking it all.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I would recommend this as well (and have done this myself). You can then cater for yourself (if you want) and have your own pool.


I went over Christmas and the New Year one year, the weather was warm enough for T-shirts and the outdoor pool (which was heated) - and a bargain at that time of year! Stayed with my buddy and his wife who drove down from Ottawa (he does stuff like that!).

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Did that once. Never again. It took 2 1/2 days of driving on mind numbing interstates interspersed with Denny's/Bob Evans/Cracker Barrel/Ruby Tuesday's etc at alternate interstate exits.

To add to the chorus, I think Disney is wasted on those under about 4 as they won't remember it. A beach holiday and maybe a day at Disney would be better.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

If you do get to the Magic Kingdom be ready for waiting and waiting and waiting up to one or even two hours for popular rides/events.

I agree with others that ages 3 and 1 are too small for it to be memorable for them.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I did it once too. Just me and my son who was probably 11 at the time. We had a great time.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I drove with my daughter, the summer of the year when she ended high school, to Disneyland in Anaheim. It was a wonderful trip.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

We took our daughter to Disney a week after her 4th birthday...the same 12 months later. She doesn't remember either trip. The next time was when she was about 10.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I've got photos of myself as at 4 and 5 when we went to Disneyland, but I have no memory of either of those trips, first trip I have a memory of was when we went in 1988 when I was 9.

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I'm with you on this. I live in Tampa Bay. Last year (exactly a year ago in fact), family came over for 2 weeks and we rented a 4 bed villa on VRBO for about $1000 a week. Me, Dad, Sis, her hubby & 2 boys 8 & 10. Own pool, well equipped, Brit owners in UK . 20-30 mins from Disney by car. All the necessary retailers within 15 mins. Nothing in walking distance though.

Very enjoyable. Pay (in advance) for fast pass if you are going to the parks or spend all day queuing!

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

Thank you all so much for the input.
For some reason I didn't get any notifications so I didn't realize I had any replies.

We are going there primarily because we either drive to Ontario from NB and spend LOT of time on the road. When we get there our son and daughter in law will be working and we will only see the grand kids for a very short while in the evenings.Or we meet somewhere else for a vacation.
So we thought we would all fly down to Orlando for a week and actually spend some time together.
A friend has offered a time share for Friends and family rate. Ridiculously cheap and Orlando is where our son wants to go.
We realize the little ones won't remember it later but the sights will be nice for them. With the condo rental so cheap one day in Magic Kingdom wont break the bank.
That's why we want a nice resort so we can enjoy the pools etc as well as going elsewhere during the week.
We looked at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek it was at the top of the list but couldn't get the week we wanted. And we looked at the Bahama Bay too.
In the end we booked Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Sea World. Looks really nice.
Thank you again for all the information.
BE never let's you down!

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I wouldn't go to Orlando if you paid me and I certainly would subject my kids to it. When I lived in Tennessee we used to laugh at all the trashy Canadians going south on the interstate for the their hackneyed vacations. It's the worst kind of strip-mall, Katie Price consumer hell. I'd of thought there should be a bit more thought going into a children's holiday than this sort of Benefit Street string-vested type getaway. :confused:

Don't forget the two for five free lobotomies at the all-you-can-eat Sizzler buffet or the endless shrimp botulism at the Red Lobster. " . . . and bleedin' Watney's Red Barrel . . . Torremolinos"

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I thought you were younger than that. :rofl:

Re: Orlando Vacation
 

I've been to Disneyworld, Disneyland, Hershey's Chocolate Factory, Knotts Berry Farm and SeaWorld numerous times. Never with children but because they're the locations American firms choose for corporate events. It may be that trashy Canadians like Benefit Street string-vested type locations but so does corporate America.

If you wonder, btw, how people get through day after day of being friendly to children while dressed in ridiculous costumes in an environment where booze is forbidden or tightly limited I can assure you that the answer is huge and frequent spliffs.