Orlando Insight Needed

lalahe · Mar 10, 2015

For those frequent Orlando travelers I would love some insight.
- If I started an on-going search today for Orlando resorts (Hilton's, Reserve or Houses at Summer Bay, or Bonnet Creek) for check in of Friday Nov 13th do you think there would be a good chance of a match? I am not sure if I already missed bulk deposits for those. I saw a Bonnet Creek for Sunday check in I have on hold but our flight gets in on Friday and that would be ideal. Any thoughts?

- Aside from Pirates Dinner Theater any other cool things you recommend that is kid friendly? I will have an 11 year old with me. We do Disney every year or every other year so want to make this just an Orlando trip without any theme parks. Any suggestions on fun things to do?

Thank you in advance!

bnoble · Mar 10, 2015

Bonnet has already deposited for November, and the HGVCs deposit a year in advance so they are probably long gone. There's some good stuff in there now for the Friday check-in though: Bluegreen Fountains, Sheraton Vistana, and Orange Lake River Island.

lalahe · Mar 10, 2015

Thank you so much! Great information to have! Definitely need to plan farther ahead for next time I want to go to one of those. I have never been to the Fountains. Will need to look that one up!

Thanks again!

silentg · Mar 10, 2015

If you are not going to the theme parks, will you have a car? If so you could consider going to Cape Canaveral Holiday Inn vacation club. It is close to Kennedy Space Center and the resort has a free beach shuttle. Lots of kid friendly things at the resort. Much quieter than Disney area and a fun place to stay! We stayed there a few months ago and had a very nice time!
TerryC

dwojo · Mar 10, 2015

Wonder Works on international drive is great for kids. There is also a separate dinnershow there that is good for kids.

lalahe · Mar 10, 2015

I will have a car! Kennedy Space Center sounds like fun. We have been to Wonder Works but it has been YEARS!

lalahe · Mar 10, 2015

Cape Canaveral Holiday Inn didn't have a room big enough for my party BUT out of nowhere just as I was about to book The Fountains or Silver Lake a Bonnet Creek popped up for a 2 bedroom for the Friday check in so I SNAGGED it! Sometimes, lady luck throws me a bone

JPD · Mar 11, 2015

Good luck with your no theme park vacation. We tried that a few times, but when your in the land of Disney, and the kids give you that puppy eyes look, your going to Disney. But anyway, we love going to Merritt Island near Cape Canaveral. It's a wildlife preserve where you can see Manatees, Dolphins, and very big Alligators.

lisa3635 · Mar 11, 2015

silentg said:
If you are not going to the theme parks, will you have a car? If so you could consider going to Cape Canaveral Holiday Inn vacation club. It is close to Kennedy Space Center and the resort has a free beach shuttle. Lots of kid friendly things at the resort. Much quieter than Disney area and a fun place to stay! We stayed there a few months ago and had a very nice time!
TerryC

This is an excellent idea! We stayed here the night before our cruise in October and loved it. Awesome resort, great pool, lazy river, pool bar, mini golf, beach close by. We definitely plan on staying there again. Its about a 40 min drive from MCO.

silentg · Mar 11, 2015

We live in central Florida and stayed 2 nights at Cape Canaveral. Really enjoyed the resort! I recommend this place as a change of pace from Disney...which is fun in its own way.
Lucky you to get Bonnet Creek, you will have a nice time. Take a day trip to the Space Center your 11 year old will enjoy it!
TerryC

silentg · Mar 11, 2015

Oh, another side note. The Orlando Eye is scheduled to open in May. It is on International drive. They are remodeling the area, we will be checking it out when it opens!
TerryC

Tammybelle · Mar 11, 2015

For future reference, we are Bluegreen members and usually stay at the Fountains when we go to Orlando. It is a great location and the rooms are nice. Our 5 year old calls it our other house.

lalahe · Mar 11, 2015

Love this group! Thank you all for the great ideas. I haven't even heard of Merritt Island or Orlando eye! How cool.

Inhislove · Mar 11, 2015

Fun Spot Orlando

Coaster, kiddie rides, go-karts. If you go before 10am prices are better

http://m.fun-spot.com/TicketPricing.aspx

brownhaired_girl · Mar 13, 2015

There is a 1 bedroom Bonnet Creek for Nov 13th in RCI now. It could be one that was on a hold and then released.

cdn_travellr · Mar 17, 2015

We just came back from an Orlando trip where we also tried to do some non-Disney things and it was a lot of fun! We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort which was really nice (although it was my second choice because Bonnet Creek wasn't available, so congrats on snagging BC!) I highly recommend visiting the Kennedy Space Centre, it was excellent and your son is the perfect age to really get a lot out of it. It's only 1 hour from central Orlando (maybe about 1hr15mins from BC) and worth the drive.

A few other things we did were Gatorland, Showcase of Citrus, attended a basketball game, and lots of swimming. On an earlier trip we also visited the South Florida History Museum which was very interesting as well!

Hope you have a great time!

brownhaired_girl · Mar 17, 2015

I definitely need to slow down and read better

BUT out of nowhere just as I was about to book The Fountains or Silver Lake a Bonnet Creek popped up for a 2 bedroom for the Friday check in so I SNAGGED it! Sometimes, lady luck throws me a bone

[/QUOTE]

Congratulations. Clearly I need to slow does and read better. I'm feeling more than a little foolish pointing out that there was a 1 bedroom available. We have stayed there 8 times and have enjoyed it every time. Have a great trip!

Orlando Insight Needed

lalahe

bnoble

lalahe

silentg

TUG Review Crew: Expert

dwojo

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

lalahe

lalahe

JPD

lisa3635

silentg

TUG Review Crew: Expert

silentg

TUG Review Crew: Expert

Tammybelle

lalahe

Inhislove

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

brownhaired_girl

cdn_travellr

brownhaired_girl