Forida May 2015! Any tips and advice welcomed. :-)

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, we have decided to go back to Florida. 5 years after we won a holiday there with mumsnet. This time, it's not free...

Our daughter will be 10 when we go. She is an only child and has a learning disability. We are searching ticket deals on Discovery cove, Seaworld, Aquatica, Universal, Busch Gardens and a 1 day pass to Disney's magic Kingdom.

I've heard someone mention fast track tickets. Do you know how that works? My daughter isn't fantastic with waiting.

So any advice would be brilliant. Thank you.

Fly direct into Orlando if you can.

What time of year are you thinking of visiting?. August can be hot, wet (sharp showers usually occur in the afternoon) and humid.

Bear in mind that a two day pass could be more cost effective for you than a one day pass for WDW. At 10 years of age she will pay the same as you ie adult price to enter the park. The same will apply to the other parks listed as well.

IIRC Discovery cove, Seaworld, Aquatica, Universal, Busch Gardens are all part of the same overall group (they're all owned by the same company).

This link may well help you with regards to WDW:-
disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/

Thank you, that's great! We will be going in May.

fast track - It's free- you put your Disney ticket into the fast track machine at the ride you want to go on and it prints a time so you can return to the ride then and get on really quick.
We also went to Universal and IOA.
We went in May 2012 and it wasn't that busy maximum we queued was 1/2 hour. and the weather was great, apart from one afternoon - down pour from 4ish until night time.

That sounds fantastic. Thank you! We don't want it too hot as we are all very fair and have to plaster ourselves in factor 50.

It will be hot. We went May half term a few years ago and it was very hot.

O.k, factor 50 it is then! I'm not too bad as I'm dark and pale but my DH and DD are red heads.

We've booked our flights and hotel now! Really excited! We just need to look into park tickets and food.

I'm a bit late to come to this, but for Universal Studios, if you stay in one of their hotels onsite, you have to buy park passes, however your room key gets you fast track onto the rides.
This was fantastic!
(Highly unfair on all those queuing, but...!)
We went with Virgin, stayed at Loews something...

Who are you flying with?

I don't actually know! It didn't say in the info. I don't mind which airline anyway. I guess we'll find out soon.

Have you done a package holiday then.
I'm just being nosey!
I love Florida and would love to go back.

Yes it is a package holiday. It's Delta on the was there and Virgin on the way back. Bit strange buy hey ho...

We went and my son is disabled at customer services you get a card for the queue, if the queue is short they let you through at universal if over 25 mins (if memory serves) they write a time to comeback the same time as the queue wait time. Disney now do this as well because of mis use of the old system. In the US they cannot ask for proof of disability they have to accept the persons word. If your DD would use a wheelchair it is great for the heat. My DS has a major which you are allowed to take through the queues and was great for keeping him calm. Discovery cove where really good with my DS and used the calmest of the dolphins with him. It's a shame disney had to change their policy but they are very helpful.

MLL,

Is the Delta flight a direct one from the UK?. If it is not I would seriously consider changing your UK departure to a direct flight into Orlando. Same day internal transfers within many US airports can be a right old hassle to do and the clock for that second flight will start ticking as soon as the plane from the UK lands.

Fastpass where you could put your park ticket in at a machine to receive a time for the attraction later on has been scrapped. Its now been replaced by Fastpass Plus which is very different.

OP please visit www.thedibb.co.uk there you will find pages of advice including a whole section for those with special needs.

That's great, thank you. She does have a major buggy, but she's nearly grown out of it as she's 5 foot. By next year, she'll be too big for it. I might hire her a wheel chair if it gets too much for her.