to think that Orlando is the new Benidorm?

[newfavouritething]

I've been trawling around the internet researching an upcoming trip to Florida and have come to the conclusion that it is. There's an awful lot of families travelling with their parents/grandparents scared to leave the confines of the Disney bubble. There's much talk of what to take with you - teabags, Weetabix, chocolate, peanut butter (yes really, apparently the US version is 'oily') and wanting to keep up with 'the soaps' while they are there. AIBU to think that they really shouldn't bother visiting a new country unless they're going to experience new things?

I hought for a minute the Ocado classes had started calling their children "benidorm".

We ventured into Benidorm last year, I was pleasantly surprised. And the Spaniards flock there in the same way we the British flock to Cornwall. Don't knock it til you've tried it!

We got back from Florida this weekend after a 3 week stay! It's wonderful!
We travelled all over the place (and did include some days at the theme parks in Orlando) but there are so many other lovely places. Particularly nice was Mount Dora (charming and quaint), St Augustine (lovely old architecture, museums etc) and Jupiter for the perfect break by the seaside. We met no Brits at all until we ended up in Orlando. Everyone we met was consistently kind, helpful and just lovely.We thought the Universal Studios theme parks were much nicer than the Disney ones but there's plenty of choice. I've never visited Florida before and would go again anytime.

I think YABU.

The people who want to eat their own shit food in Orlando will find that there is a lot of shit food in the Orlando area and it's even shittier than what they eat in England. And most of it is being consumed by Americans.

Benidorm is quite similar in grimness the centre of Orlando, but whereas the grimness of Benidorm is for the benefit of British people, that of central Orlando is for Americans.

And whereas a few miles from Benidorm, there is charming Spanish culture, Orlando is basically surrounded by strip malls and theme parks.

However America is massive, and while Florida is definitely full of loons, you can go and visit the Everglades, go to the Keys, do your shopping in Whole Foods and eat in decent restaurants if you want - you don't have to go there and eat Weetabix you've carried in your suitcase. I think in that respect it's better than Benidorm, because people tend to be freer (car rental, etc. is more necessary due to the size) compared to sitting on the beach surrounded by English cafes in Benidorm, where you could potentially just be in sunnier Blackpool.

I've been to both and totally different holidays but both great!

The Orlando area is touristy bonkers but you just have to abandon yourself to the excess of it. Then you get outside the tourist bubble and it's just gorgeous . Tarpon Springs, Venice Beach and St. Pete's Clearwater are lovely. You can go and look at manatees on the wild. Or horse riding out in the wilds . We went to a rodeo one year, it was just is and loads of Florida locals, I loved it.

I have been to Orlando. We only ever do theme parks there. We go there purely for the parks tbh.

We never take any food from home - we eat out or we buy from the local supermarkets. We dont watch UK TV; infact like any other holiday abroad, we don't really watch very much TV at all.

I am not scared to leave the confines of the Disney/Universal parks at all. We have driven around there a bit but tbh there isn't much culture or other stuff we are that interested in there. If we want that kind of holiday we go elsewhere.

Orlando, for us, is purely about theme parks and rller coasters.

And you know what - we enjoy it.

I personally hate the idea of a laying on the beach for a week or trapped in an all inclusive complex for a fortnight, even if in sme glorious Carribean island, the Maldives or Seychelles or similar - but many people do like that. Each to their own.

I was going to mention St Petes... If that is what Benidorm looks like then if be going to Benidorm.

And taking the kids to Orlando is not chavvy. It's a trip. Same as taking your kids to legoland or whatever, only better.

And as for food- we stayed in Disney and you don't need to eat crap.

I think holidaying there every year is very strange though.

We always hire a car btw, and stay in a villa.
Love the space centre. Have visited some beaches for the day too. But mainly we do theme parks.

I've not been to Florida, but I have been to benidorm.

I hated the 'new' bit, and loved the 'old' bit.

The beach is beautiful.

We did 2 weeks in Orlando last year, myself, my brother, his wife. We saw nothing but Disney and a few malls. It was a deliberate choice due to me and my brother not being brought up together and only finding each other 3 years ago - we quite simply had the childhood holiday we missed out on as children. It was my first trip to the states but him and his wife have had the same holiday for about 5 years now and it has nothing to do with being scared. They're not chavvy, they just like fantasy of it all, its sheer escapism. In truth I thought I'd have to grit my teeth and soldier on through it all so I could be with my brother but the opposite was in fact true - I loved it and came home feeling as if I'd been reborn.

We took nothing with us by way of T-bags etc, and neither we were afraid to venture out of the apartment.

As for going abroad and experiencing something new? I think you'd have to go further than the States for a 'going abroad and experiencing something new kind of trip'. Personally my experience of going to live in the Middle East as the wife of a local when aged 18, almost 40 years ago, is what I'd call a 'going abroad and experiencing something new kind of trip'.

This year we're off again, we're doing a two week cruise round the Caribbean then a drive from Miami to Orlando for a week with Disney via Anna Marie island.

We'll probably do something similar next year as well because we've vowed that as long as we are fit enough to get to the States we're going. You're never too old to have the life scared out of you by your brother on a scary ride, or for him to anchor you to your seat on another with his leg because he's worried about his big sister and wants her to feel safe.

On top of that we met loads and loads of lovely people.

I cant wait to go again and again and again and........

Orlando is basically surrounded by strip malls and theme parks.

Depends on what you mean by surrounded. Mt. Dora is near Orlando.

I am so glad to hear that many of you have seen some of the rest of Florida. Y'all need to check out the Zellwood Corn Festival, Plant City (near Tampa), and Cedar Key on a future visit.

Yes and no.

Some of it is but there are really lovely parts too.

Have been to Orlando 3 times - and do you know what

.... WE HAD FUN .... every day .... every time .... it was a holiday

Been to Florida but not Orlando. Pensacola Beach is beautiful and quite wild (i.e. pelicans, not spring breakers!) at the right time of year, St Augustine v romantic, the bit of Gulf Coast with Seaside (where the Truman Show was shot) is gorgeous - sandy beaches and blue skies, and Tate's Hell State Forest feels really remote. Didn't like Tallahassee much and haven't been to Miami either, but liked all these places (went there as part of a honeymoon roadtrip around the Deep South).

The parks don't sound like our cup of tea, so we won't go, but equally I don't think many people would consider our perfect holiday (driving 3000 miles in 3 weeks interspersed with a lot of hiking and occasional trip to bars to listen to live music) all that relaxing. Each to their own.

Unless you're only interested in theme parks Orlando is a hell hole, but there are soooo many other places to see. Among others, the gulf coast is beautiful and the Florida Keys are stunning

Well....I do know what the op means...

I have been to Orlando 3 times and going again soon. It's a great family holiday, in a fun, slightly tacky way. But the gulf coast is beautiful.

Orlando isn't cultural centre of the World, and isn't for everyone. But there's room for ALL types of holiday.

Btw never take British food with us! Although did enjoy fish and chips in Epcot whilst listening to a band playing British hits.....

I've been to Florida a few times and loved it. I agree, there is more than just theme park stuff - loved it and would go back like a shot. The Keys were wonderful

I love Disney.
I love theme parks.
Ergo - I love Orlando!

Friendly people, sunny weather and fantastic thunderstorms. I might take teabags but everything else is pure 100% American because I love me some American food! Even junk is better in the USA... KFC sells chicken pot pie, mashed potato and rice for example...
I love IHOP, I love Dennys, I love dinner buffets.

I don't go to Orlando for culture - I go for fun.

I go to other places for culture. I loved Chicago museums for example. I took a two hour tour of the British Library a couple of years ago which was wonderful.
I have eclectic tastes!

And whereas a few miles from Benidorm, there is charming Spanish culture, Orlando is basically surrounded by strip malls and theme parks.

You didn't get as far as Winter Park (in Orlando) then?

Almost thought I was in Baby Names then... actually Benidorm might be quite a good name!

The theme parks of Orlando and the industry around them are far slicker than anything Benedorm has, TBH. And as an ex-Floridian (Miami), I despair of the number of people who think Florida IS Orlando. The beaches of the Gulf Coast are some of the most beautiful in the world, Miami is one of the largest cities in the US and is incredibly Multi-cultural and cosmopolitan. The Keys, and in particular Key West are unique, Dt Augustine (as stated above) is the oldest city in the US. Florida's a pretty big place.

Really, some people need to broaden their minds a little.

we are theme park junkies, we love florida, we love orlando, we love the usa! we are honorary americans who happen to have been born in the uk. we love just going to walmart or just people watching in general , what a place! ds works for disney at the moment but he doesnt live in the disney bubble he says orlando(downtown where tourists never seem to venture) is an amazing city!

Yes, there is still lovely "old Orlando" that tourists never see. And Winter Park is delightful.

I second the Gulf beaches and surrounding area. DH and I had our first date in Dunedin (named for Edinburgh, BTW),were married in St. Petersburg, and honeymooned in Clearwater Beach and then up to Cedar Key. We are planning a replay (of the first date and honeymoon, not the wedding) for our 30th anniversary later this year.