Advice needed on trip to Orlando

[f1gal]

Hi, I have a work trip coming up in December to the US and am thinking about flying my DH and DS's (7 and 5) out so we can have a week's holiday after my conference has finished. The conference is in Florida so was thinking of doing a week in Orlando (Disney, Universal etc). However, I have just found out I am expecting baby no 3 and will be about 18 weeks by the time of the trip. Has anyone done Disneyworld etc when pregnant? I am assuming that I woulnd't be able to go on most of the rides :-( The DC have never flown before so I am a bit worried about how they would get on on such a long flight! Also, wondering whether it would be better to wait until they are a bit older for a trip like this? On the plus side my fares are paid for and there are some really great deals in Dec, just trying to weigh up the pros and cons...am I mad to even consider this when pregnant??? any advice welcome :-)

The link below is a good website and may prove useful to you:-

www.buildabettermousetrip.com/pregnant-at-disney-world/

DC should be okay with the flight over because its a daytime flight; the flight back to the UK is overnight with arrival into the UK early to mid morning the next day. If finances also allow, flying direct into Orlando is preferable to going indirect.

Your children may prefer Disney to Universal overall; Universal (particularly the Islands of Adventure park) tends to be aimed more at teens and young adults although there are attractions for younger guests

What you propose is not impossible but will require quite a lot of forward planning (accommodation etc). Travel insurance is essential.

Great advice and weblink from attilathemeerkat.
Your kids are a perfect age for Disney. My DD is 7 and she was also there when she was 5. She's not keen on the thrill rides so we haven't been on any of these and you know what....for an ex rollercoaster fanatic I am really loving enjoying all the different rides, shows and experiences with my DD and DH.
I would not bother with Universal until they are older and instead go to Legoland Florida which is perfect for their age. But to be honest if it is one week then the 4 Disney Parks will keep you occupied. Magic Kingdom needs more that one day to enjoy.
I'm not sure if the weather is warm enough for the water parks but if it is and you only have one day for that my vote is for Typhoon Lagoon.
You are not mad to consider it...Florida is gorgeous and Disney World is magical. You'll not be able to twirl upside down on Rock n Roller Coater but so what....wait til you see your sons' faces meeting all the characters and enjoying the magic.
I've only ever been during the summer but the parks are supposed to be incredible in the run up to Christmas.
All the best ????

Do the children like Harry potter. My grandchildren 9, 7 and 5 loved universal and Harry potter.
They each got a wand and the talk and the play they got out of them was incredible.
They have been quite a few times to Florida though.

If they like Harry potter please, please dont take them all that way and miss out on that experience.

I don't know if the carved ice statue show still runs at the gay,ord palms but that's a must see. Also the villa de flora has the most amazing Sunday lunch buffet.

Also take a drive through celebration and look at the houses all done up for Christmas. We went to the church in celebration one Christmas eve and it was beautiful. Most people wore some green or red. It was a wonderful sight to see. My friend used to live in celebration and was I envious. I used to go four times a year. I can't believe we haven't been for three years.
New oh isn't that keen on Florida!

Definitely take the chance to go. Loads to do, great shopping and you will benefit from all the Christmassy things.

Do you know where you would like to stay?

Wow, thanks for all the info and advice guys! Kids are just starting to get into harry potter, I am slightly obssesed though so that was one of the main attractions of universal! We have done eurodisney a few times and they have loved it but they are probably more into the characters at universal I think (jurassic park, spiderman, minions etc). That being said I think they would still enjoy Disney and I realise that most of the rides at universal are aimed at older kids. Not sure about where we would stay...some of the villas look amazing and if we were there for 2 weeks would defo go down that route but assuming then we would need a car so was thinking of maybe one of the hotels at Disney or Universal or somewhere with good transport (Intl Drive?). Kennedy space center is a must for me so we may need to hire a car for the day to go there. Did not even know there was a Legoland in Orlando, we are going to windsor in Oct as boys are obsessed with all things lego. It sounds like one week may not be enough :-)

If you stay in a hotel on/near idrive there is shuttle buses to and from the parks dh didnt want to drive, any of the hotels that are called suites give you room and living area we stayed at the hawthorn suites. HP world just opened last time we went its amazing we preferred universal but they loved disney when they were younger obviously

I did Disneyworld at about the same point in my pregnancy. Disneyworld is actually not too bad to do in pregnancy as a lot of the parks, especially like Magic Kingdom have a lot of rides aimed at young children so they are gentle and fine to do whilst pregnant. Obviously some rides are off limits though. I managed to do most things in Epcot too and Animal Kingdom (N.B - The animal 'safari' trip says not for pregnant women but honestly I did it and it's fine - literally the car just rocks a bit side to side when you go over one of the bridges). Plus Disney has amazing shops, shows, parades, fireworks displays etc. Universal was a different story though. It's more for adults / teenagers and a lot of the rides you won't be able to do (however for things like the 4D cinemas you can ask to sit in a non-moving seat so you can still go in with your kids - although you may not be sat with them). That being said the shows at Universal are really good and Harry Potter world is well worth seeing (but you won't be able to do the rollercoasters there). I would definitely do Disneyland though. At 7 and 5 they will be the perfect age for it. Do be prepared though for LOADS of walking. It's knackering at the best of times, but doubly so when pregnant.

Actually that reminds me, I wouldn't recommend planning to do a theme park every day. Your feet will hate you for it! We interspersed theme park days with other things (if you have a hire car for example you can do airboat rides over the swamps and go and see alligators). Also they have great 'smaller' day out ideas out there like really good crazy golf courses, and you will need some days that are less energetic.

I loved doing the airboat we went to a gator farm it was brilliant aye a park every day is lunacy dont do it pick and choose what you want to do first year we went we did IT ALL i was knackered

To get the most out of your trip I would advise a car.

Orlandovillas is the site to use. All of them are owned by individual owners and John and roger make sure everyone is verified every 6 months.
They have an excellent forum where you ask away to yourhearts content.
My own place was on lindfields which I love and you can use the back road to Disney. If you prefer not to have a pool you can get a condo with a communal pool. My daughter used a lovely place last year and when I remember the name of it I'll post it lol!

I wouldn't advise staying on Disney. You have more choice and more freedom staying off site but that's just my personal preference. I nearly stayed on Disney for 1 night while I waited for my villa to be ready and when I saw the cramped noisy room we chose to go to a hotel off site at about a third of the price which was nice and quiet. Something you need when you arrive jet lagged.

And...legoland isn't in Orlando it's about 40 miles away down the 27. It used to be Cypress Gardens a lovely old botanical area so you would need a car especially if you want to do some shopping at lake buena vista outlets, prime outlets, florida mall , premium outlets or mall at millennia or the loop!

The place my daughter stayed which is just lovely is called Caribe Cove it's just off the 192 after Lindfields. You are nice and handy for Panera Bread or Sweet tomatoes

Aaaargh! I need another visit.

My daughter went at the end of last October and weather was a bit cool so wouldn't have made good use of a private pool if that's any help although most owners have a separate charge for pool heat. If you do get a private villa look for one with a hot tub if you're not bothered about a pool. Heating for the tub is often cheaper and may even be free!

I think my head would explode at a Disney hotel would be too much fun id probably lamp micky if he came near me at breakfast time

You do really look about for best prices last time we were there a woman told me what she had paid for her hotel (they got an exclusive package doodah) I said oh we paid x she was raging i wish id kept my mouthshut

We did Disney 2 years ago - DD was 7. And loved it.

DH and I were both slightly on the "take care" list with back issues - DH is also not a huge fan of big rollercoaster (travel/motion sickness). So I took DD on lots but we said no to a few. And there were plenty that were very gentle. Check the websites in advance - there are LOADS of Disney planning ones.

As we were there for 10 days, we got a 7 day pass (entry into all parks any 7 days in the 10). It meant we could move from one to another if we wanted (so water parks 2 mornings and back into Magic Kingdom or Epcot those evenings to eat and see fireworks, for example). We went into the 4 main parks, but only returned to MK and Epcot, safari one was only ok (but the rangers book, that DCs can get on arrival and get stamped as they go around, was good there).

December is supposed to be the 2nd most busy time - after summer especially around 4th July. Of course, we were there 4th July. But while we couldn't get into MK that evening (mobbed!!), we DID get back into Epcot for the special fireworks night. And got the MK night parade another night. Just be aware it WILL be busy, remember to take plenty of rest stops (including for water) and be happy to leave if it gets too much. Definitely plan on long stops if in all day, but better to have half days (so go in for a few rides and fun in the morning, come out and do something else for a while, and go back in the evenings, or only go mid-afternoon having done something else in the morning). DO remember that you will all need some down time, even adults.

We didn't do other parks (Universal etc) as DD was short so couldn't do most of those. We'll be back again at some stage (DD might be an adult, but we will!!).

But we did go out on a canoeing trip one day down a creek (seeing lots of wildlife, local guide, very relaxed day). And we went to Cape Canaveral to the NASA Kennedy Space Centre - which was REALLY interesting too, for another day.

DD had already flown to Boston via NYC 2 years before, so long haul was fine. Tell the DCs about it in advance, have plenty of distractions ready for the flights etc, but most modern planes (especially if European rather than US carriers - BA and Air France are great) have good in-flight entertainment (individual tv screens in each seat - many US planes still only have over-aisle ones for shared viewing!) and look after DCs well. And you still get fed properly on trans-Atlantic.

It could be lots of fun, and while not summer weather it would still be quite warm in December. But 18 weeks PG means you may be slower, and not fancy charging after the 2 DCs. And it will change the dynamic of the conference as well for you - so bear that in mind, if you are coming back to the family in the hotel every night and not as free to meet with others or to have a drink after a session and having dinner later than planned etc.

We did universal with an 17 and 12 year old they could go on all of the rides i hate rides i struggle even on those simulated one but I love the atmosphere and seeing everything dh hates it and swore he would never go back