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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Florida Afficienados, Help me Plan!

29 replies

BaconAndAvocado · 13/05/2014 21:52

We are going on our Big Fat Disney Holiday next year and I'm already going into hardcore planning mode!

We are going for 2 weeks. Soooooo, a few questions:

  1. How many days each would you allocate to these parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, universal Studios, Island of Adventures, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Sea World, Kennedy Space Centre.
DCs will be 17, 8 and 7 (whilst we're there)
  1. Do the hire cars come with a Sat Nav as standard?
  1. Is is best to get the parks when they open or go later in the afternoon?
  1. We are staying in a villa in Kissimmee. Where are the best restaurants?

Tia

OP posts:
BaconAndAvocado · 09/06/2014 23:19

Thanks Lucas lots of great top tips here Smile

OP posts:
Barmcake · 10/06/2014 12:44

We are going August 2015 too Grin can't wait

it's me, dh and ds (14) and it's our first time

I am so confused over park tickets though, don't want to do discovery cove or the space centre. Do want to do Disney and Universal, thinking of booking a Universal hotel for 1 night for front of line passes but staying in an off site hotel otherwise. DH also wants to go to Busch Gardens!

Have been on the dibb and it is so overwhelming with too much information and I'm boring dh to tears with all of my planning ideas already!

oneofthegiantsisme · 10/06/2014 13:06

We went at Easter, too, and had a fabulous fortnight - but I had planned it like a military operation! It didn't all go to plan, but definitely helped. DC are 14 & 12, so plenty of stamina!

The guide book I used was the Brit Guide to Orlando - which I bought in paper, then forgot to pack (oops!) so bought again for my Kindle when we got there! Lots of really useful information. I also used the park hours page on DIBB, which was good for planning to go to the different parks on the quieter days.

With regard to how many days, we had a couple each at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, one was plenty for Animal Kingdom, and we ended up going back to Hollywood Studios 3 times, which was a bit much but we needed to see Fantasmic and it was full the night we intended to go so we had to go back for it! We treated the water parks as "down" days.

Universal and Islands of Adventure both needed two days, but might not if you're staying in a Universal hotel and don't have to spend 2 hours queuing for Despicable Me 2! Our kids are big Harry Potter fans so that took a long time, too (really envy you getting to see Diagon Alley). Check out the Mardi Gras if you're there at Easter - free gig on Saturday nights (we missed Lynyrd Skynyrd but saw Kool & the Gang) and a fab parade.

Kennedy Space Centre needs a day, but one is enough - and it was DH's favourite day - highly recommended. We also went to LEGOLAND - one day was enough for that, too, but it was worth the trip.

Biggest tip is to get organised with the Disney Fast Pass Plus system - you can book 3 Fast Passes per day up to 30 days in advance, so you can make sure you get on the must-do rides without undue queuing. You need your ticket numbers to set up the account, but once that's done it's pretty straightforward. You can also book restaurant tables.

Have a fantastic time!

Heels99 · 10/06/2014 13:17

Please Anyone help me with costtings for poss trip next May? 9 nights Orlando, 5 nights gulf coast.
2 adults, 2 children. Costs are from virgin mainly.
£5120 9 nights animal kingdom, free disney dining. Dh will not stay in a hotel that is not good, are there any other options to consider?
£1200 park tickets
Car hire included
650 for 5 nights gulf coast
I get 10% of with virgin so that totals 6970 so with 10% off 6273

So, I need help with this bit please Florida gurus:
Food and drink when on gulf coast £ 150 per day?
Kennedy space centre trip £200?
Spending money per day £50? Will that cover disney eg a show, a character meal and misc spends drinks in hotel etc
Will that cover things to do on gulf coast
Petrol???

Total =7923 plus petrol

It seems a lot!!! Where can I cut down but still give dh a nice hotel, decent food ( he won't self cater we will be eating out?)

All advice welcome

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