i cant be arsed to readthreads on FLORIDA - so come and advise me come hither

[AlaskaNebraska]

are going for FILS 70s birthday
either xmas ( not so keen)
or easter
three boys = 12, 10 and 7.5

1. do we go to hotel or villa 2.when do we go

1. how long for?
2. what parks - not bothered with disnet idont think
3. any other florida experiences theyd like - are sporty and one is boffiny

We went last year with DSs (15, 13) and DD (11). Get a villa - quite inexpensive, and most have loads of space and pools which are good to entertain the kids when the adults want to chill.

Hire a car.

If you can afford it get multi visit multi park tickets (by far the most expensive part of the stay).

We liked Universal Studios, MGM, Sea World and Busch Gardens (which has the most roller coasters). We tended to get to the theme parks as early as possible, do the main roller coasters first (we bought a guide book) and leave at about lunch time for one of the water parks to cool off.

Always carry a bottle of water - all the parks have drinking fountains where you can fill them up. And unless you are made of money, take snacks for lunch. You're not supposed to, but nobody challenged us.

The only other thing we did in a two week stay was a trip to the Gulf Coast. I can't imagine you'll want to do that this year!

I'm just back from 2 weeks in Florida. Went with friends so had 5 kids (10, 9, 9, 8 and 5 yrs)

I would say go for a villa, it is unbelievably cheap (ours was £700 for 2 weeks had 5 bedrooms, own pool, big garage, fully equipped) and is nice to have your own space at the end of a usually busy day.

We went first 2 weeks in July, it was crazily hot and quite rainy. Have heard easter is very busy.

I would say in 2 weeks we still had lots we could do, so no less than that.

We had 14 days unlimited to all disney parks and universal parks. I think Disney is a must as as well as the usual stuff there are water parks and the animal kingdom is good if animals are of interest...Universal was also a big hit (new harry potter world if your boys like that?)

If your boys like lego there is a big lego place in downtown disney, with computer games and building areas and stuff.

I have to say that i thought all the water tasted like detol, so i could not drink from any of the water fountains, but buying free refil cups were a good buy

Malls are good, lots of bargains to be had

Agree with getting a guide book and try to plan things the night before

A car is a must, we got a 15 seater van/bus/car thing cost £690 for 2 weeks and we used it every single day and the full tank of petrol never ran out.

Oh thank you both sommuch. Don't wAnt to cook if we villa though. Are the meals out all " and chips" ?
interested you still think Disney is worthwhile n
What book ?

Ah see I shared a friend with a crazy loves to cook friend, she got up every morning and made everyone breakfast and made rolls and a huge fruit salad for us to take out each day, before anyone else even woke up! So she done our evening meals the nights we stayed in.

We ate at downtown disney a couple of times just because it was close to us and had a good mix of places. A lot of the meals are "and chips" but most places have decent stuff. Here's what is on offer We ate at T Rex one night which was fun for the kids, all dinosaur themed and once every half an hour there is a meteor shower and the lights dim and meteors fly across the sky and the dinosaurs all come to life and roar. Then after dinner there is an archeologist pit for them to dig for bones in. The flatbread was amazing!!

We bought a rough guide to Orlando in the airport on the way there, although it was a bit out of date, but any book that gives you an idea of what rides are the best in each park would do.

Both the universal parks are better than disney for rides I would say, but prepared to get wet on almost every single ride/show/3d thing you go on! (which was interesting with a water phobic 5 year old!!)

But, I do think Disney is worth doing, the waterparks were good days out, and were fairly relaxing after long days at the park. Each had a pre-teen zone (as well as a childrens zone), that we left our oldest 3 playing in while we relaxed in the beach area!

1. do we go to hotel or villa villa you can get a 4 bed villa with private pool and a gamesroom within 4 miles of Disney from 400 GBP per week. Look at www.loyaltyusa.com

2.when do we go easter would be my preferred time as slightly warmer and perhaps less busy. Have been easter several times but never done Christmas.

1. how long for? 2 weeks minimum

1. what parks - not bothered with disnet idont think Seaworld, Universal and water parks out of Disney ones the older kids might like Epcot or Hollywood studios.

1. any other florida experiences theyd like - are sporty and one is boffiny epcot for Boffin watersking gokarts for sporty one several places to water ski nearby and downtown disney has drag racing and go karts nearby (off the 192 lovely place to go for afternoon/evening)

Disney is GREAT - the water parks are GREAT - Typhoon Lagoon is my favourite over Blizzard Beach. Aquatica is next to Sea World and quite new and has really good flumes etc. We had such fun there, didn't want to leave. Great kids adventure area.

EPCOT is a must see I think, so much to do, probably at least two days there. Good rides like Test Track and Soaring - do not miss!!!!

We went in May - perfect time of year, not too much rain, hot but not killer heat although factor 50 on the kids every day - buy the clear continuous spray at Walmart $7.99 - didn't burn once, even at water parks. Better than anything you buy in UK.

Food in Disney gets a bit samey - we found Uno Grill which is a short drive from Downtown Disney had great food and great prices.

We stayed at Caribean Beach Disney hotel so made use of the buses and didn't hire a car so can't advise on that. Used yellow cabs for other trips but check you are using official yellow cabs run by Mears not other randoms who may not be insured.

We loved every single minute of our holiday and I would sell my granny to go back again.

Xmas and Easter - both high season, both times of year it will be busy. It'll be hotter at Easter, variable weather at Xmas (have been and it's been in the high twenties, at other times freezing)

Get an apartment or villa. Better value, the apartments are generally huge and most are on complexes with pools etc.

Go for at least a week - 10 days would be better.

Disney is good fun. You must go! Just do a day there, if anything. The evening parade and fireworks are magical. Universal has better rides for big kids - there are two Universal parks that you get into with one ticket. I think the ore 'grown up rides' are in islands of Adventure.

Orlando isn't a highbrow place, so your boffiny child might not be revelling in geekdom . There is a weird place on International Drive called Wonderworks that has all sorts of interactive stuff and curisoities that he/she might like.

The waterparks are good fun. Disney has a few different ones, and there is Wet N Wild and various others.

Food is generally really cheap, too, so don't get an all inclusive/half board hotel. You can eat out in the buffet places and diners for peanuts.

I think Disney is well worth the visits, Animal Kingdom was much better than Bush Gardens. We got the Universal tickets but wish I'd done Disney instead. They're just so good at what they do.

Oh, and we stayed at suites, we had a living room and kitchette separate to the bedroom. For some reason if you stay in suites you always get your breakfast included.

Sea World is a must.

Agree with the parade and fireworks at Disney, they are fantastic. We went to universal for the 4th of July fireworks display, and we were really disappointed, the normal end of the night magic kingdom ones were a million times better.

Epcot does a good end of night fountain/water display too.

We had an apartment in a resort. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living area, dining area and full kitchen - the quiet end of I Drive - literally 2 mins drive from Seaworld.

My boys did not favour disney. Loved animal kingdom and Islands of Adventure (this is next door to Universal). Aquatica Waterpark is great - opposite Seaworld, need to get in there though really really early as is Typhoon Lagoon is a lovely waterpark. Swimming with the dolphins at Discovery Cove - mine loved this - tis a full day and you can swim with stingrays and other tropical fish.

Japanese Kobe Steak House on I Drive - fabulous - you share a huge table with others and have a personal chef - the bit in the middle of the table is where he does all the cooking. Texas de Brazil - another great restaurant (must book though).

Yes, to a car too.

I always do the driving and DH navigates - easy peasy.

Alaska - whatever else you do in your hire car - GO TO NASA!!!!! Esp if you have a boffin in the family. We found it pretty mind blowing.

Epcot was our least favourite - pretty dull. Busch Gardens and Animal Disney ones are good. Universal - Simpsons ride is truly fantastic...
Aquatica we went to twice (but this was in August).

Cheese on everything - even the cheese - be prepared for that!!!

I forgot to mention how great NASA was i think.....

I LOVE the Kobe restaurant although we go to the one on the 192. It is DC1s favourite restaurant.

Sizzler and Ponderosa are cheap and cheerful and perfect for (fussy)kids with the eat all you can buffet from around $10 (around $4 for breakfast)

did you mean Kennedy Space Center ?

Yes - KSC and the Astronauts Hall of Fame - you can get them on the same ticket. They are both NASA....

Or were you being unnecessarily sarcastic??

Oh no, the KSC was awful - what a waste of a day!

DS1 loved Gatorland, I wasnt so fussed!

Did you miss something at KSC? you did get the coaches around and did n't just stay at the initial visitor centre. I can't believe someone could regard the space center as a a waste of a day. I'm no science buff but I thought it was fascinating.

Magic kingdom is awful if you have older kids but epcot, AK and Hollywood studios very good.

I came at Easter and weather was better then but parks packed as US kids on spring break. I am in Orlando at the moment and it is daily thunderstorms, 100f and very humid.