Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go to Orlando and not do Disney?

61 replies

DeathStarCanteenGal · 30/12/2023 10:46

Planning a trip to Orlando in 2024 - and I think October is the best time, as we have to work around school holidays, but also don't want the weather to be too hot/parks to be mega busy
Because of school holidays we can only do 10 days max
So currently planning four days at Universal Studio, as DD (who will be 13) and J are both Harry potter fans
Also planning a few days in either a villa or an apartment, to give us a bit more space, and a bit of a time that's more chilled
DH will probably want to go to Cape Kennedy, I'd like to go see some alligators.
But what would we be missing by not doing Disney?? This will probably be a one off trip, but I can't see anything about Disney that really makes me want to go
Do Disney fans,tell me what I'll be missing
And any recommendations for Orlando more generally also welcome!

OP posts:
mollyfolk · 30/12/2023 10:53

Do you kids want to go to Disney land? That’s the only reason I would go but I’m not a theme park person. Disney is magical and nostalgic for fans of the movies. It doesn’t have loads of big rides like universal.

GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick · 30/12/2023 10:54

Not at all, we have been to Orlando a couple of times and not been to Disney. Would much rather go to Universal as it is much more laid back.
From what I've heard from others who have been, Disney is crowded and completely monetized, everything is extra and severe planning is needed.

OceanicBoundlessness · 30/12/2023 11:00

We skipped Disney 2 1/2 days into our 5 day ticket.
We do universal.

Other suggestions - gatorland. As well as the gators they have a beautiful boardwalk with so many wild birds, turtles, snakes.

Lots of places to see gators in the wild too. Downtown Kissimmee is a good bet as it has a lovely lakefront, ice cream stands etc. We've also seen otters there, lots of wild birds including spoon bills.

Have a walk around Celebration. Again, you're pretty much guaranteed gators as you walk around the lakes. They have a few little boutiquey shops and some nice cafes.

Find some local state parks. It's not manatee season but one of them has some rescue manatees. Might be silver springs...just Google - there's loads to go at.

Kayaking - hire a kayak at the paddling centre off the 192

chipsandpeas · 30/12/2023 11:01

parks will be mega busy in october due to the halloween horror nights especially at universal

for alligators you can go to gatorland - ive not been but people rave about it

OceanicBoundlessness · 30/12/2023 11:01

You can also do bits of Disney on an evening if you visit the various hotel resorts. Watch the Epcot fireworks from Disney's boardwalk while having a hot chocolate. Get a breakfast reservation at animal Kingdom lodge's buffet.

Fidgety31 · 30/12/2023 11:02

If your kids want to go to Disneyworld then I think it’s harsh to take them to Orlando and not do Disney - as they will see adverts and memorabilia absolutely everywhere for Disneyworld !!

I have done Orlando without Disney - but that was on subsequent visits . Wouldn’t consider it for a first/once only visit

Oxonc3 · 30/12/2023 11:03

We did 3 days at Universal, which was enough, Volcano Bay waterpark, a shopping mall, NASA, then went west for beaches and onto everglades and keys. No disney, everyone very happy.

Tiswa · 30/12/2023 11:05

Have done Orlando many times and done just Disney and done what you have done and also both.

park tickets are v expensive there so your plan of Universal Kennedy Space makes sense.

how about splitting it though 4 nights at Universal then leaving Orlando for beach/keys time

Minfilia · 30/12/2023 11:06

We went every October for ten years. It’s a good time to go. Not stupidly busy and the weather is really nice. (Most of the time!)

If it’s a genuine once in a lifetime thing then I’d usually say to include Disney. The food and wine festival is brilliant. But we haven’t been in 4 years, partly due to Covid, but then due to the stupidly increased cost of everything (Disney is the worst for this). Pay more and get less. So now I would be tempted to do a week and probably skip Disney altogether.

Universal is brilliant but there’s less to do for a long trip. If you have older teens though Halloween horror nights are AMAZING! One or the best events I’ve ever been to - the fun, the atmosphere, everything! It’s an absolute must do if you like horror.

On balance though I’d include Disney. For first timers the parks really are good. It’s just whether the expense can be justified (it can’t for us anymore sadly!)

Excited101 · 30/12/2023 11:08

I like Disney, went to Orlando when I was 9 and have been to Paris 3 times as an adult. I’m not into the films particularly and I don’t do big rollercoasters but I love it. Would you not be tempted to do just 1 day at magic kingdom just so you’ve been? I can’t imagine taking kids all that way and then not even doing a day at the main park. What about the water parks?

sickbucket67 · 30/12/2023 11:10

I am not a Disney adult but I would honestly make a day to do Magic Kingdom at least

ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 30/12/2023 11:12

I wouldn't bother with Disney if going to Orlando - I'd rather see something of Florida in its natural state; wildlife and so on; or the space centre as your DH has mentioned. It's a long way to go to spend time wandering round an overpriced theme park with people in Micky Mouse costumes; assuming you are in the UK it would be much cheaper to go to the Disney park in Paris and do that.

OceanicBoundlessness · 30/12/2023 11:13

Other suggestions - airboat rides are absolutely exhilarating. There are several in the Kissimmee area We use the one at boggy creek fish camp.

Head to one of the beaches - about an hour and a half to two hrs drive in both directions. We prefer the west coast.
Clearwater is a busy resort with beautiful beaches. The sea screamer dolphin tour is always a big hit.
There are other, quieter places too if you prefer. It's doable there and back in the day even staying until sunset if you don't want to stay over - which can be pricey.

Dixiechickonhols · 30/12/2023 11:15

No lots do Universal not Disney. Theres 2 universal parks and their water park volcano bay included in your tickets.
If you wanted a bit of Disney you can get tickets to Mickeys not so scary Halloween party at magic kingdom 4pm - midnight.
Disney springs is free to enter (big Disney shopping and restaurants area)
Can I recommend the dibb a uk Florida trip planning forum. It’s friendly and great advice.

Original poster
DeathStarCanteenGal · 30/12/2023 11:15

For those saying do Disney, what is there at the Magic Kingdom, apart from the view of the castle, and lots of shops selling Mickey Mouse stuff?
just one child, DD, who will be 13 when we go so is well past the Disney princess stage, thankfully (recalls queuing with her for 2.5 hours at Disneyland Paris to meet Rapunzel)
she is however a massive Harry Potter fan...

OP posts:
Kingoftheroad · 30/12/2023 11:16

I’ve been approximately 10 times only been to Disney once

Aprilx · 30/12/2023 11:16

I have been going to Disney twice a year in recent years (ex pandemic), but if you don’t fancy Disenyworld then don’t go.

The first time we went to Orlando, we didn’t even think about Disney, as Harry Potter fans, we just did Universal and KSC. It was only a few years later we decided to try Disney and then I got a bit hooked.

Ohmylovejune · 30/12/2023 11:16

We did Disney only when the kids were under 10 and said we would go back for Universal when they were teens. We couldn't afford to go again so never did Universal. It's a pity but I don't think we are any worse off for it. We enjoyed every day of what we did.

If you do Disney take a whole day there from rope drop to fireworks.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 30/12/2023 11:18

I did Disney "for the kids".
Bloody loved it and I'm the biggest sceptic going!

Dixiechickonhols · 30/12/2023 11:18

October is a lovely time to visit. Weather is lovely. I personally wouldn’t do Halloween horror nights with a young teen unless really into horror.
Epcot food and wine festival is nice but more adult oriented, there are live bands.

Aprilx · 30/12/2023 11:18

DeathStarCanteenGal · 30/12/2023 11:15

For those saying do Disney, what is there at the Magic Kingdom, apart from the view of the castle, and lots of shops selling Mickey Mouse stuff?
just one child, DD, who will be 13 when we go so is well past the Disney princess stage, thankfully (recalls queuing with her for 2.5 hours at Disneyland Paris to meet Rapunzel)
she is however a massive Harry Potter fan...

It is a theme park, so there are rides. If you have been to DLP, well the Disneyland side of it is a bit like Magic Kingdom.

scrunchmum · 30/12/2023 11:23

We did Orlando as adults a couple of years ago in late October (pre covid) and it was great! We only did universal. Weather was perfect and there were no queues anywhere, definitely a great time to go. We did do a Disney water park one day, although I think there's a universal one now so may be on your ticket already.
The Harry Potter lands at the 2 universal parks are so good.
We did Florida keys as well but there had been a hurricane so it wasn't great. We also did nasa and gatorland which were both great. Also have a nice beach day, there are so many great beaches there.
We stayed in a villa, the pool was a little bit too cold to enjoy so make sure it's heated if you do get one.

Dixiechickonhols · 30/12/2023 11:23

Disney world is 6 parks (4 parks and 2 water parks)
Magic kingdom park is rides, shows and parade.
If you are mainly doing Universal I’d definitely recommend doing the Disney Halloween party for a bit of Disney it’s really fun and suited to an older child there’s a Halloween parade, special fireworks and a show. Plus access to all the rides.

Rainbowhairanddontcare · 30/12/2023 11:25

Imo with a 10 night trip you won't have time to do Disney properly so I would either choose 1 Disney Park and go there (there are 4 and 2 waterparks) but Universal is enough. 2 of your days will be travelling days. You could upgrade your stay and do 4 nights at a premium Universal hotel and get express passes included for faster access on rides then do 3 nights at the Coast. Even with a 14 night holiday doing both Disney and Universal is exhausting. Yes I've done it lots of times but the tickets are so expensive now it's not good value as you typically only get to go to some parks once and they are all so good you need more. I suggest watching some YouTube on all the parks and make an informed decision and if there's any way of increasing the length of holiday do it!! And also your budget because it is not a cheap holiday, it's worth it though and it will never be a once in a lifetime trip....you'll be back 😂

Yipedydodah · 30/12/2023 12:15

If you had asked this question before 2020, I would have said to buy a two day ticket and do a couple of the Disney parks.

However, things at WDW have changed - free fast passes are a thing of the past pushing bigger standby queues. It also seems so much busier generally. And although no relevant for you, on site perks have decreased (but that does have a knock on effect to all guests).

That said there are some brilliant rides and theming at Disney.

Universal offers a lot (maybe look at staying at a mid level Universal hotel to get the free front of line passes which would be very useful in the Halloween crowds). The Universal after hours Halloween Horror Nights can be good fun.

There is Seaworld too and its sister parks but clearly there are good reasons for many not to patronise those parks.

I don’t like Orlando if not in the parks.

Perhaps consider a two site holiday - 5/6 days in Orlando (and do a day trip to the Space Centre). And then a couple of days in either Miami (include the Everglades) or just have a couple of days on the West Coast (St Pete’s or Clearwater are popular). Tampa airport on that west coast is a great airport too.