Travel Tales: A Magical Kingdom

If you thought taking that once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Florida was just a fairy tale – think again! Though Florida isn’t generally seen as a bargain hotspot there are some fantastic deals out there for this summer and First Choice has some wonderful family holidays to suit all needs. So, if you’re looking to swim with dolphins, dine with pirates and spot vivid pink flamingos, then the Sunshine State could be just what you’re looking for…

This taste of the Caribbean is set in the centre of Walt Disney World, near the Epcot Centre. Consisting of six brightly coloured villages (each named after a Caribbean island), each hotel has its own heated pool and sandy beach. The resort’s main swimming pool has waterfalls and waterslides to splash about in, plus a children’s pool and three playgrounds. As for food, there’s the Caribbean-inspired Shutters at the Old Port Royale Restaurant, while a food court offers a range of quick self-service choices.

All Disney resorts, facilities for disabled people are excellent. Services have been designed with disabled people in mind. Free valet parking makes drop-off at Downtown Disney easy and rentable wheelchairs and power chairs are also available. As you might expect, the paths are all level and easy to traverse with wheelchairs.

Even ‘assistance animals’ get to benefit from ‘animal break areas’ where a welcome pause for panting and a bowl of water is always at hand.

First Choice offers fourteen night family holidays to Florida, staying at the 3 Sun Plus Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on a room only basis from £1,230 per adult and from £390 for the first child and £540 for a second child price (based on two adults and two children sharing),flying from Glasgow Airport on 20 August 2009.

Price includes return flights, accommodation, taxes/ charges and fuel supplement, plus unlimited entry to all Disney Parks and the free Disney Dining offer. For further info or to book, visit www.firstchoice.co.uk/florida or call 0871 664 9020.

If you fancy a bit of Mediterranean flavour while in Florida, then the Omni Orlando Resort is for you. With two pools (one with waterslides and a lazy river) plenty of shopping facilities, 10,000 foot spa and 36 holes of championship Orlando golf, this is a fantastic location for all the family.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when selecting where to eat; there’s a great variety of restaurants to choose from, including American and Asian cuisine, a Mediterranean-themed buffet and two different a la carte restaurants.

There’s also a café, deli and a sports bar. Just 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport and 20 minutes from Universal Studios and SeaWorld, complimentary scheduled shuttle transportation is provided to all four Walt Disney World theme parks.

Access: Disney’s resorts are famed for their inclusion policy. Wide avenues with flat surfaces provide an easy highway for those in wheelchairs of all kind. Indeed with a choice of rentable wheelchairs to choose from, it’s clear Disney give this quite some thought.

First Choice offers fourteen night family holidays to Florida, staying at the 5 Sun Omni Orlando on a room only basis from £1,390 per adult and from £440 for the first child and £590 for a second child. Price based on two adults and two children sharing, flying from London Gatwick on 21 August 2009.

Price includes return flights, accommodation, taxes/ charges and fuel supplement, plus unlimited entry to all Disney Parks and the free Disney Dining offer. For further info or to book, visit www.firstchoice.co.uk/florida or call 0871 664 9020.

Quiet and laid-back, Lake Buena Vista is set at the gates to Walt Disney World Resort. The Resort Village includes a state-of-the-art fitness centre, convenience store and gift shop, Irish pub and grille and a spectacular zero-entry pool featuring a pirate ship, complete with shooting water cannons and water slide! If you’re in need of some retail therapy, then Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores is nearby, offering a choice of more than 50 outlets. This new holiday resort offers a choice of accommodation to suit any family, with well-furnished and fully equipped rooms. It features two outdoor swimming pools, one with a poolside restaurant and bar and four Whirlpools. The complex also offers free transport to the theme parks.

Access:

All of the usual facilities are available here too. Valet parking at Downtown Disney, a choice of rentable wheelchairs and “animal break areas” are part of Disney’s policy of access for all. All of the facilities and accommodation are accessible for guests with disabilities.

First Choice offers 14 night family holidays to Florida, staying at the 4 Sun Lake Buena Vista Resort Village on a self catering basis from £964 per adult and from £440 for the first child and £454 for a second child. Price based on two adults and two children sharing, flying from Manchester Airport on 22nd August 2009. Price includes return flights, accommodation, taxes/ charges and fuel supplement, plus unlimited entry to all Disney Parks and the free Disney Dining offer. For further info or to book, visit www.firstchoice.co.uk/florida or call 0871 664 9020.

The pet-friendly, motel-style Quality Inn Plaza offers great value for money; with its large pools and fantastic location on International Drive, it’s perfect for families and couples looking for the full-on Orlando experience. All the main theme parks and Premium Outlet Mall are just a bus ride away. Plus, being on International Drive, you’ll find more than 150 restaurants, fantastic family entertainments, themed bars and unending attractions just a walk away in this self-contained Floridian holiday haven.

Access: Access is good in and around the hotel; wheelchair accessible rooms are available with either a roll-in shower or bath/shower, and king-size bed/two queen-size beds. Commode shower chairs, hoists, scooters and other mobility equipment are available for hire, but this must be arranged at the time of booking your holiday.

First Choice offers fourteen night holidays in Florida, including car hire, staying room only at the Quality Inn Plaza from £964 per adult based (from £460 for the first child and £610 for the second – prices based on two adults and two children sharing, departing from London Gatwick on 19 August 2009. Price includes return flights, accommodation, taxes/ charges and fuel supplement, plus unlimited entry to all Disney Parks and the free Disney Dining offer. For further info or to book, visit www.firstchoice.co.uk/florida or call 0871 664 9020.

Away from the hotels you can bond with the kids while dropping 13 stories on The Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror, or – if you’re really brave — while dancing and singing along to High School Musical 2: School’s Out live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Alternatively, you can be transported back 65 million years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or blast into space on the legendary rollercoaster of Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom. Really – the possibilities are endless in this magical kingdom.

There’s never been a better time to visit; when you stay in selected Disney Hotels (including the Caribbean Beach Resort) you and your family will be able to enjoy meals while out and about in Disney, safe in the knowledge they’re paid for in advance!

Other benefits of staying in a Disney property include complimentary transportation to all of the Disney Parks, plus extended opening hours especially for Disney guests.

First Choice’s airline, operated by Thomson Airways, brings everyone more personal space, delicious meals and great in-flight entertainment all included in the price. For customers that want the real VIP treatment, more entertainment and free drinks, then upgrades are available to Thomson’s Premium Class from just £159 per person, return.

Thomson Airways long haul standard class includes:

• 33” seat pitch as standard – that’s more legroom in long haul economy than BA, Virgin Atlantic, bmi and Monarch (source: BATA website – Sept’08)

• Entertainment – 7” widescreen seatback TV, Up to 10 movies – 5 each way, Up to 7 TV channels and at least 10 audio channels, 6 interactive games, Dedicated kids’ TV channels, cartoons and movies, Free headphones

• A tasty three-course hot meal and a snack before landing, inspired by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli in summer 2009, Free fun kids’ meals

For an additional fee, Thomson Airways long haul premium class includes:

• At least 36” seat pitch as standard

• Entertainment – 9” widescreen seatback TV, Entertainment on demand with ‘play, pause and rewind’ function, Up to 16 movies – 8 each way, Up to 7 TV channels and 10 audio channels, Up to 10 interactive games, Complimentary noise-reduction headsets

• Service – Dedicated cabin crew, Priority check-in and boarding, Free drinks – not including Champagne – including a drink before take-off, Choice of four-course meal and a snack before landing, inspired by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli in summer 2009, Free fun