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Holidays

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

Anyone got a Disney World/Florida holiday planned? Part 3

999 replies

McKayz · 31/05/2015 12:06

I thought I'd start a new thread as number 2 is nearly full.

Links to old threads:

thread 1

thread 2

We haven't got ours booked yet. But we are planning on going August 2016. DH and I both turn 30 in the next 11 months so it's like a big birthday holiday.

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BloodyDogHairs · 03/06/2015 09:59

strawberry You need to book Discovery cove in advance as they limit the numbers (incase you haven't booked yet)

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 03/06/2015 10:00

McKays, Discovery Cove is incredible - one of the best days of the holiday for us. But it's owned and run by SeaWorld so you may not want to go if you have ethical issues with SeaWorld.

Mozzchops. kids are very often underwhelmed when the big announcement is made - it happened to us and to lots of other people I know! I'm amazed that you hated Universal! What was it that you didn't like about it? I don't do big coasters but USF and IoA are still my favourite parks after MK.

Peaz, you mentioned getting a 2 or 3 day ticket - you can get these from Undercover Tourist but you may well find that the 14 day tickets are cheaper. Certainly a 14 day Universal ticket is cheaper than buying 2 single gate-price tickets.

Pigley, re. what Disney parks are covered, that depends on the individual ticket - if you're buying a multi-day ticket from the UK then it will include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The 2 water parks are nearly always included too but I have seen ones where they aren't, so just check before you buy - the vast majority will cover every park. As for whether a week is enough, it depends if you want to see everything - if you do then you'd have to go at it fairly hard to get everything done in a week. To see everything you really need 2-3 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 at Epcot, 1 at Hollywood Studios, 1 at Animal Kingdom and 1 at each of the water parks - so that's 7-8 days and it would be very tiring. The parks are BIG and there is a looooot of walking (10 miles a day or more!) I usually end up having to take paracetamol because my legs hurt from all the walking :)

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 03/06/2015 10:02

Strawberry, we had a Chicken Pox panic one year but it was ok. I then looked into getting the vaccination but before I'd had a chance to properly research it they both caught it anyway. It was DREADFUL for DD and, in hindsight, I wish so much that I'd got the vaccine for her :(

shatteredstudentmum · 03/06/2015 10:54

Just seen this thread, we're booked to go for the 1st time 2nd April 2016. Boys will be 10 and 6, we haven't told them yet .

Flights are booked, villa and car hire but no tickets yet. Will have a good read through here later.

StrawberrytallCake · 03/06/2015 20:24

I'm seriously considering it Lucas I'm worried though that the side effects of some pox coming out (which can happen within 26 days) will coincide with going on holiday too!! I'm going to interrogate nursery tomorrow about recent cases and restrict contact with any other small people for the next month!

I've just called to book discovery cove and they have my date available but I have decided to go for the cabana and apparently you can only book one of those within 21 days of your visit or else it's $200 more!? I think I'll wait and hope! I wouldn't consider a cabana with older children I don't think but with the little one she likes to have a bit of peace when she naps and I want to stay there as long as possible so having the possibility of a nap would be great.

KinkyDorito · 04/06/2015 06:31

Strawberry I had a cabana - you get a cabana boy too Grin! We got one on the day. DD had just finished treatment for cancer, so needed lots of down time. It was lovely. We were right next to the entry point to the river too. I would book one beforehand.

Lucas This is my own debate over DC at the moment. I've been twice, I love it - it is always the best day, but I'm not sure how I feel about Seaworld at the moment. We're staying at Beach Club, so might plan a day there at the hotel pool instead.

I love the peace at DC.

Another option for us might be a day trip to the beach. I've never been to the coast there and I've seen we could book an excursion to Clearwater. Has anyone done this? Is it worth it?

McKayz · 04/06/2015 08:18

I'm very hypocritcal I suppose as I love going to the zoo. But I really struggle with whales and dolphins being in captivity. You can't really replicate the Atlantic Ocean.

We've got 14 months to decide I suppose.

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HRHsherlockssextoy · 04/06/2015 12:47

I've been to both sides kinky

The gulf side is lovely. Last time we were there there was a hurricane so I can't say we saw the best of it but the beach and sea were lovely.

The Atlantic side is lovely, but the sea is colder, I did some body surfing there.

They are having a few incidents with sharks. And one surfer drowned this week.

BloodyDogHairs · 04/06/2015 14:16

kinky I haven't booked an excursion but we are driving to Clearwater and doing a dolphin tour next week eeekkkk

I did think about booking a tour then transport, lunch and tour would all be organised for us (so a day off from me making ALL the decisions) but I didn't know how much beach time you got and I don't want to spend too long on the beach as I have a 1 & 3 yr old.

KinkyDorito · 04/06/2015 19:02

Sharks.

Maybe not then.

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 05/06/2015 08:18

I saw a map of lots of shark bites on the East Coast but nothing on the Gulf Coast. (LOL at you being juicy, Kinky!) I had no idea there were sharks there!! I went to Cocoa Beach about 20 years ago but didn't know abnnout sharks then :) Btw, Dog, my parents did a dolphin tour at Clearwater a few years ago and they loved it. It's on my list but we don't have time this October and I'm worried it will bw too hot in August when we will have time.

StrawberrytallCake · 05/06/2015 08:41

I just got Anna and Elsa Fastpass for 5th July!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucas pleased to hear the cabana was useful for you and your v brave dd. The start of the river sounds like a good place as I plan to be on that river for a while!!

Sharks Shock

StrawberrytallCake · 05/06/2015 08:44

And I got mine train too, wow I'm thinking 5th July will be a quiet day at the parks - we're avoiding the 4th on purpose but going out somewhere lovely for dinner to experience normal festivities.

BloodyDogHairs · 05/06/2015 09:07

Wow well on on the Anna & Elsa passes! did you log in at 5am?

StrawberrytallCake · 05/06/2015 10:07

No! 8.30! I completely forgot this morning!! Grin

McKayz · 07/06/2015 08:01

Dog is it tomorrow you go? Have a wonderful time and come back and tell us all about it!!

Well done on the passes Strawberry!!!

I've just read on DIBB that there will be a new frozen ride in 2016. Hope it will be open when we are there.

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BloodyDogHairs · 07/06/2015 10:27

Yip tomorrow Grin I've just got to drop the dogs at the kennels today, grab some snacks for the plane, have a quick tidy up and pack some last minute stuff and we are all set!!

Ohanarama · 07/06/2015 22:11

Looking to book Florida for 2017 so can start saving a bit of money each month. I know it sounds daft but I can't help starting to plan now, I'm so looking forward to it!
Have only been once before and did the Disney World 14 night offer with free dining which was fab but next time we want to see more of Florida. I'm having difficulty in finding good offers though - a few disney day tickets works out nearby as expensive as a 14 day ticket!
Would ideally love to do 5-7 days at Disney staying onsite, then about 5 days on the gulf coast at a resort - not sure where and then a couple of days at Universal. All on the tightest possible budget!

LollipopViolet · 07/06/2015 22:45

OK, so I'm pretty much decided I'm going to do a couple of extra days after my guided tour ends, to do the other parks, but where would you head on the two days I definitely have? I'm thinking Magic Kingdom and Epcot?

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 07/06/2015 23:24

OMG Dog, tomorrow!?! That's come round so quickly! Have an absolute BLAST and report back asap :)

Violet, I'd probably do 2 days in Magic Kingdom, tbh. Epcot or Hollywood Studios would be my 2nd choice if I somehow managed to get everything done at MK on the first day.

Hi, Ohanarama! We went to a WDW restaurant called Ohana last year - is that anything to do with your username?! I'd consider doign WDWE and Universal first and then the Gulf Coast - it's a bit of a drive over to that coast and you'd be going there and then back again if you did it in the middle. But then maybe it'd be nice to have a rest in between Disney & Universal. I'd love to see mroe of Florida too, but not at the expense of the parks - I really need to win the lottery so I can have a month out there :)

StrawberrytallCake · 08/06/2015 06:38

Have a wonderful time Dog, looking forward to hearing all about it!!

Lollipop I would also definitely pick MK and then Hollywood Studios and the fantasmic fireworks there if I had 2 days.

3 weeks today for us, end of year tiredness is truly setting in for the whole family.

McKayz · 08/06/2015 06:45

Have fun Dog!!!

I've got 14 months and 1 week.

Strawberry will this be your first time?

I'm wondering if it's possible to have any spontaneous days or if we need to have it all planned?

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StrawberrytallCake · 08/06/2015 06:50

No this is my 4th time, first when I was 12 ('94) then 2012 & 2013. I think a lot has changed even since 2013!! The planning is definitely more intensive with FP+

We've got maybe 3 unplanned days and a few more evenings to go back and see anything we missed or want to see again, I definitely think it keeps the element of holiday in there.

McKayz · 08/06/2015 07:37

I keep reading the forums on the Dibb. Loads of people are posting their dining plans and they have every meal planned for the whole 2 weeks.

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StrawberrytallCake · 08/06/2015 08:15

Ah, see we don't have a dining plan so that might be the difference there!

Where are you staying McKayz?

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