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fallguys12000
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19-05-2008 12:54 PM
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Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 3
| Hi,
I have just booked to go to Florida at Easter 2009 with my 13yr old son (lad+dad). We have never been before although had numerous holidays in the med. We are flying from Manchester and stopping at the Best Western Plaza on International Drive (now called Econolodge Inn). Its a very daunting experience all this ticket stuff. Obviously being a lad and dad we want to do what all big kids do on holiday but there is so much to do over there and I am getting so confused.
Advice very much appreciated.
Do we need a car? I normally always get one on holiday but will we use it?
We naturally want to go to all the main parks but I am also concious of only being there for 13/14 days. I've seen the Disney unlimited 14 day tickets and flex card plus and this will get us into; all the disney parks (5 0r 6) Universal studios x 2, the new aquatica water park, Bush gardens, Wet 'n' wild, Sea world etc etc. I was also thinking about Kennedy space centre and an airboat ride or gatorland? This seems to be a hell of alot to cramb in in 2 weeks. Is it realistic to do? Will a 13yr old lad and dad enjoy the disney parks?
What sort of time do the parks open? Do we go out for a good breakfast first?
Is it better to go on the free buses to the parks or drive?
I don't really want to buy the tickets for the parks if we don't use them as its alot of money to waste?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks alot
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jackieblack
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21-05-2008 10:25 AM
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 118
My Profile
| Hi
If you ask 100 people this question, you would get 100 different answers.
There are SO many things to do and see and you're NOT going to be able to do and see it all in a fortnight.
My advice would be to get a good guidebook ( I like A Brits Guide to Orlando, it's updated every year and covers all the main attractions with great tips for first-timers, you can get it on amazon/play.com etc, (links at the end of my post) and read up, discuss and agree your priorities. Accept that you may have to forego some attractions in order to properly do the ones you really want to .
Also, don't get carried away and buy more tickets than you need/can use in 14 days. Its easily done.
If you can give us some more info on the type of things you and your son enjoy eg do you like animals/wildlife, roller coasters etc, it would be easier to make a few suggestions.
Kennedy Space Centre is a great day out (if you like aspace and are interested in the space program). We've always avoided Gatorland (better to see them in their natural environment) but I know other people enjoy it.
We've always hired a car as we didn't want to waste time hanging around for buses, (remember just half an hour wasted a day = 7 hours over a fortnight, nearly a whole day wasted!)
We've alway got up early enough to eat breakfast and arrive at the parks just before opening. You can go through the security/bag check and be on the most popular rides before the queues start to build up. We've found you can get more rides under your belt in the first 2-3 hours than in the whole rest of the day after that.
Something else you might enjoy is Daytona International Speedway (official home of Nascar, where they run the Daytona 500) which is a great day out, not too expensive and you can drive out to Daytona Beach and have a drive along the beach (if you have a car) afterwards.
Hope some of this helps
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brit-Guide-Orlando-Simon-Veness/dp/0572033818/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211360884&sr=8-1
http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/3392012/Brit-Guide-to-Orlando/Product.html
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Honey Bunny
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21-05-2008 10:48 AM
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Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 808
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| I havent been yet and am looking into it too at the moment , there is a lot of info about florida on site such as "The dibb" and also "doing florida" if that helps.
Ive been asking a few questions similar to you in the last few weeks too.
Take a look at attraction tickets.co.uk they have all the tickets and i have heard they are good.
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tenpin
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21-05-2008 10:53 AM
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Joined: 19 Nov 2004
Posts: 1528
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Hi fallguys,
Just to confirm Jackieblacks suggestion, a car is a must, some of the parks you mentioned are some way off, plus it is so much easier. It is almost impossible to 'do Orlando' on a budget. driving is easy there.
Bushe Gardens was recently upgraded and is great, however this is a 2 hour plus car ride from Orlando but so worth a visit.
As Jackie said do get the guide and read about the parks, and choose those the suit your style of holiday.
I would also suggest that you allow at least one day in the middle to relax and do nothing, lay by the pool and soak up some rays.
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fallguys12000
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21-05-2008 11:26 AM
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Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 3
| Thankyou to all!!!
JackieBlack: As for car, I see your point about the half hour a day X 14. Never thought of it like that. Thankyou. Its a deff then.
As for the parks, we want to do what most big lads want to do. The more exciting the better. The more time wasting the worse. I really do like the look of Bush Gardens though with the Safari type thing and the rides. Is it worth the drive?
What times (roughly) do the parks open as I take your point about getting in early so less time wasted in ques.
I was thinking about getting a 14 day Disney ticket and Flex+ but there seems to be alot of parks in this lot for only a 14 day stop. I also take on board about a rest day in between and was thinking about a day on the beach, but when? Very confusing on this?
Parks I want to take him to are;
Universal Studios x 2
Bush Gardens
Aquatica (or should I give this a miss and stick to the two disney ones)
SeaWorld
Airboat ride (only half hour)
Kennedy Space Centre (not really into space but I think it is one of those places you must visit)
Disney X 6 (again I don't know if it is for big kids or just one of those places you must visit)
Looking at all that lot I think it might be a good idea to miss out Aquatica and go to the two Disney water parks instead (Wet 'N' Wild + Typhoon Lagoon). This might give us a day or two to relax a little by the pool or on a nice beach or Datona.
What do you think everyone as I'm still very confused.
Thanks alot!!
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fallguys12000
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21-05-2008 12:43 PM
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Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 3
| Hi JackieBlack (again),
I notice on the Orlando forum, where I should have submitted this really (Doh!) that you get some tickets direct or individually. What is best and where is best? I have just contacted Discovery Cove direct to get some price info but not sure yet about Discovery Cove as being our first time there is so much to do and see.
Your advice is very much appreciated.
Thanks JB
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jackieblack
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21-05-2008 01:11 PM
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Joined: 22 Apr 2007
Posts: 118
My Profile
| Busch Gardens, if you like rollercoasters this is great, my 12 year old (daughter) went on all the big ones twice each and loved it. There are also animals there but we live near a great zoo so didn't bother with these. Go mid-week as it is quieter, shorter queues. Avoid weekends.
It took us about an hour and a half to drive there.
Park opening varies, but is listed on all the parks websites (basically the busier the time of year the longer they're open), allow enough time for parking and transferring to the entrance - the car parks are vast, you won't appreciate the scale of the place, particularly at Disney, until you get there.
If you are thinking of Discovery Cove, we used this as our 'rest' day. It is very chilled out, snorkelling, beach etc.
We've never done Universal, we wanted the extra time at Disney and Seaworld (and we're going to LA next year and will do Universal Studios there).
The two Disney waterparks are Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. We did TL last time but this time we decided to do Aquatica instead (as this was included in our DC package). Because it had not long been open it was VERY busy (was closed by 10am as had reached maximum capacity and queues for slides up to 2 hours!).
We booked our Disney tickets through the Virgin Holidays rep in Orlando before we went, paid in $, picked up tickets at the airport. We got our Seaworld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica tickets with our DC package, booked through their website, also paid in $, saved quite a bit this way.
Whatever you decide to do you'll have a great time!
Feel free to keep asking if theres anything else you want to know.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/calendarHome?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&bhcp=1
http://www.universalorlando.com/hours-information/theme-park-hours.html?calendar=uo_park_hours&template=uo_park_hours.html
http://www.seaworld.com/ParkHours.aspx?locID=1
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