Anyone got a Disney/Florida Holiday Planned Part 2

[Groovee]

Old Thread

Right here's what I've got so far, going is Me, DH, PIL, DC's 1, 3, 12 and 16.

9th - Walmart, Pool, Hollywood Studios
10th - Magic Kingdom, dinner, pool
11th - Pool, lunch, Magic Kingdom
12th - Green Meadows petting farm, shopping.
13th -
14th - Orlando eye, Madam T, sea life center.
15th - Animal Kingdom
16th - Typhoon Lagoon, Epcot
17th - Beach
18th -
19th - Blizzard beach, Epcot
20th -
21st - Hollywood Studios
22nd - depart

I'd like to take a drive to somewhere away from all the busyness too one day.

The first thing that strikes me though is no Universal - is there a reason for that? Universal & Island of Adventure are incredible and I couldn't possibly miss them - there's something there for everyone, contrary to what you often read. So I'd personally find it odd to visit the smaller attractions like the petting farm and the ones you have planned for the 14th (you can do all of those things in the UK) and miss out on some of the best parks. But that's just me :)

I would also find it quite tiring to do half a day at Typhoon & Blizzard followed by Epcot. Plus you wouldn't get as much time doing it like that, bearing in mind the time spent drying & getting changed after water park, then driving to Epcot and getting into the park. I think it would be better to do one whole day at Epcot and one whole day at each water park, rather than splitting them into half-days. The water parks are more restful days (not much walking) and they close at 5pm so it's not a full-on day like a Disney park. If you do definitely want to stick to the 'half a day at Epcot twice' plan then do World Showcase one day and Future World the other day - don't try to go between the two in half a day!

For your first day, you are probably planning this anyway but I'd advise letting the kids play in the pool whilst soem of the adults go to Walmart. You may also want to reverse pool & Hollywood Studios on that day as you will be up very early & be very tired by the end of the day - so it nmay be better to do the Studios whilst you've got some energy and then collapse around the pool later!

Here is mine, in case anyone is interested :)

Day 1 - pool time for kids/shopping, few hours at Animal Kingdom (there's only a handful of things we like at AK)
Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 - Magic Kingdom then Epcot World Showcase
Day 4 - Magic Kingdom & Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
Day 5 - Rest day (airboat ride or shopping and pool)
Day 6 - Discovery Cove
Day 7 - DCs to a water park with Mum & Dad, me and DH to H'wood Studios by ourselves :)
Day 8 - Aquatica
Day 9 - Universal Studios
Day 10 - Islands of Adventure
Day 11 - Universal/Islands (we are staying onsite for 2 nights)
Day 12 - Rest day (airboat ride or shopping & pool)
Day 13 - some of us to Busch Gdns, some to Aquatica
Day 14 - Magic Kingdom
Day 15 - Blizzard Beach
Day 16 - Epcot
Day 17 - Seaworld
Day 18 - cancel flight home and live in Florida forever :)

I have also planned where we are eating for lots of days and even what I'm eating for one or two but I shan't bore you with that :)

Hmm I see your point about the 1st day, you're right we should head to HS then leave chilling by the pool until last. changes planner

We're not doing Universal as we did that last year along with BG, sea world, Aquatica and Lego land. I didn't want to do both the Universal Parks and Disney, if they did The Walking the Dead theme all year then DH and the older DC's would've.

I love love love the petting farm, its like a family tradition now that we go. There's no where we I stay that lets you chase
chickens, milk the cows etc lol

Orlando Eye was only meant to be just that. ...20 mins then off to do something else but the 3 of the attractions where on offer so I got sucked into buying the 3 attractions for the price of two

We won't spend long at the water parks so thought to split they days with Epcot.....I'll do more research on show times etc and might change that too. The last time we did the Disney parks was 2008 so its a bit vague.

Thanks for the advice, I'll look at your plan tomorrow and may copy a few of your days

October for us!! Going with my parents for whom it will be their 30th visit, my 24th, DS is going in sept with his dad for the 12th time and oct with us for the 13th(!) and it will be my DP's 1st time (we kinda like it there!) x

Ah, gotcha re. Universal :) If you don't spend long at the water parks then I take it back and Epcot is prob a good one to do 2 half-days then, as you can do World Showcase one half day and then FutureWorld the next. Your plan sounds good then!

PaulaJane, we're going in Oct too! Wow, you have been SO many times I thought I was lucky enough with having been 4 times! :)

I'm jealous of you all! We went in October for the 3rd time and it was amazing

I'm looking to book again... When's the quietest time to go? I thought it was October but one of our weeks turned out to be an American holiday!! (Oops!)

Paula wow so many times!! Have you ever eaten at T-Rex restaurant at Down town disney? I'm tempted to book there but I'm not sure it might be abit loud....I like quiet to eat

Curious I always go in June and that is hectic but this year I am planning on doing my fastpasses before I leave the UK, my friend goes in December and says its really quiet.

Lucas Water parks aren't my thing, I'm not keen on walking around bare feet with a swimsuit lol so the less time we spend at them the better.

Do you feel its better to spend morning until night in the parks or half and half? I've always done full days but this year I'm trying to split it...I don't know if that is a better plan tho.

I'm with you on the water parks, DogHairs! My kids LOVE them and we always have to spend a whole day in them but I'd happily not go at all. I love the lazy rivers but don't like anything else. As for half days compared to full days, it's hard to advise as everyone's touring styles are different. I would find it too much hassle (not to mention too expensive in parking) to do 2 parks in one day and I'd panic about not getting everything done. But then we do go fairly full-tilt at it and if you are just sauntering around then and aren't bothered about doing everything then a half day would prob be fine. I am a bit OCD about it all though and have to do EVERYTHING :) I think the ideal is to get to a park for rope-drop and then stay until 4ish then come back for rest & pool. But we go with my parents and rope-drop is anathema to them

Georgie, we've been at end of Feb/beginning of March and that's a great time. I think the busiest time is Christmas and Easter (specifically the US Spring break). I can't remember offhand but I know there is a list of crowd levels somewhere that will tell you the quietest time, week by week.

225 sleeps to go :)

Oh yes lazy rivers are my kinda thing! Last year at Aquatica I took my 2year old to the kids section while DH and DC's went on the slides. I've never been so glad to see a thunderstorm approach, there was only so many times I could get water tipped on my head from the kids section.

Parking is free isn't it if you pay at one Disney Park then move to another at night?

I'm not sure about the parking - I know you can leave a park and return on the same day without paying but not sure about different parks. You are probably right though, that sounds right. Parking is free at water parks too. I love the kiddie bit at Aquatica! (apart from the big 'climbing frame' bit that tips water all voer you!) It always makes me sad that my DCs are too tall to go in that but too scared to go in the rest :( I hate the water rides - last time my parents made me go on a raft ride and I was so scared that I actually cried

Can I join you lot please..?
We are going for the third time in August. Went last year and then back in 2009. I'm trying to work out the most economical cheapest place for tickets.
Definitely want to do Universal but not sure what else. Not too bothered about MK but like AK and HS. Any thoughts ....?

Hi Novice! Funny how everyone is so different - I couldn't miss MK but don't give a stuff about AK! I can help with tickets - do you know exactly what tickets you want and just want to know the cheapest place to get them, or do you need advice on what tickets to get as well?

I always book thru Orlando tickets direct, I don't think you'll find anywhere that does single days to Disney well I couldn't. Last year I paid at the gate for Hollywood Studios and it was $99 plus tax each

Hi bloody dog hairs! Yes I've eaten at the T-Rex, it is quite noisy and every few mins the Dino's start making noises. It's almost exactly the same as the rainforest cafe, and the food is the same too. We tend to eat at the longhorn (the strawberry pecan salad,my dad is already dreaming about it!) for those going to legoland, my DS was 9 when we went and he felt he was too old, the only thing he really enjoyed was all of us going on the boats, it was incredibly quiet though so no queues, but we were only there for a couple of hours as he found it aimed at kids a lot younger. X have fun every one! Wonder if we should get MN t shirts made so we can wave at each other!!

Shopping tip!!! Register with Orlando premium outlets shopping now and when you get there go to the foodhall (at whatever one your at Vineland/I drive, and then pick up the discount coupons,most are 15-20% off x

Thanks Paula, I might just book after all and grin and bare it for my DC's sake. T-Rex for dinner and some shopping at downtown disney....another thing for the planner lol

I did legoland last year, it was a disaster from start to finish

Anyone wanting single Disney tickets can buy from Undercover Tourist - but single Disney tickets are a VEEEEEEEEERY expensive way to do it so if you're visiting for more than one day then you're far better off getting a different sort of ticket than individual one days.

Thanks Lucas,
Looks like it's too expensive to buy single tickets for a Disney...
What do you think the most economical way is...?
Def want Universal ones and looks like Disney too. I like Seaworld as well...
Me, DH and 3 x teen DC

With teens I'd drop the day at Disney and replace with Busch Gardens.

and I'd go for the 6 park flex ticket.

Are you liekly to be going to Discovery Cove? If so, you only need to buy Disney & Universal tickets, because DC includes SeaWorld entry (also Aquatica and, for a few dollars more, Busch Gardens). If you are doing DC then Flex tickets (& most other combo tickets) would be a waste of money as you'll be paying for parks you already have for free. If not going to DC then Flex tickets can be good value.

What I didn't understand at first is that the combination ticket packages aren't one ticket that covers all parks - they are the individual park tickets that you can buy separately but they give you a little bit of money off if you buy them as a set. For example, the company I use sells a 14 day Disney & Universal package for £419 but if you buy a 14 day Disney and then separately buy a 14 day Universal it would cost £424, so you're saving a fiver by getting the package, even though the physical tickets you receive would be exactly the same. Think of it like the meal deal in Boots - you can buy a drink and a sandwich and some crisps separately but if you buy them as a meal deal then it's cheaper, even though they are exactly the same items :)

At the moment Attraction Tickets Direct (and probaly other places) have a great value 14 day Ultimate Disney (any Disney park) for the price of a 7 day. I'd definitely recommend Attraction Tickets Direct (and the one DogHairs mentioned, think they're the same company) - they both price match and both have a great reputation.

Weeeelll, I've done all my ADRs, itinerary so. Ow need to think about doing ESTAs - how is this done?

And how much money to take?

I was thinking £2000???

Now,counting the days until I can book my fast passes

yip sorry I meant Attraction ticket direct is where I buy from.....I'm paying my tickets in installments, only another £1000 to go till I get my tickets sent.

Hello - can I hop in and ask a question? We're off to WDW in 3 weeks and am feeling so excited about our trip. What shoes should I wear? I'm not really a trainer person as normally wear skirts, but wondering if this is the best thing for lots of pavement pounding. What about the waterparks - should I get us all water shoes (like the ones kids wear in the sea). What should I wear?? Shorts and swimming costume? Really appreciate any advice.

Thanks Lucas and BDG will hop over to that website now and have a look.

Ruffles, I know a lot of people don't like them, but I live in Crocs when in Florida. I've got several different styles! But I know they're not for everyone