Disney novice - advise needed!

[stupidphone]

My in-laws have very kindly booked for the family (10 in total) to go to Orlando. They have paid for the flights and hotels (one week near Disney and one week near Clearwater) and car hire. We have to get the tickets. Little did I realise how much these cost!!! We normally go camping to France with total cost of about £1200, so we are going to do some serious saving! I have looked a little and think we like Universal. We would like to go to the space centre also. My question is.... where is the best place to buy tickets? And will it really cost £1200+ for a family of 4?! For each park? Also do we NEED to do magic kingdom? Kids are 10 and 8. Not at all into princess or character stuff. DD is anxious with loud noises and probably won't go near a ride!!! Not keen on sea world. Like the sounds of Harry Potter etc and a water park. Probably will need to eat off site as will be skint! Any advise great received!!!

That's one of the reasons we quite like a week - I know it costs nearly same and all that. But it means we don't bother trying to readjust for jet lag. We just get up early, stay out as long as we can and often head to bed a bit earlier.

In for a fortnight we tend to do parks most days, even when Dd was small she loved it.

But it depends on your stamina and that of your children.

For us Orlando is not a relaxing break, it's full on. But it's one we really enjoy.

Bacon glad to hear you enjoyed Discovery Cove, I don't think I could return to Florida without going to it now, I wouldn't book the dolphin experience though anymore. And while it is expensive it does come with additional tickets to SeaWorld and Aquatica and for a small price increase you can also include Busch Gardens.

Regarding the jet lag I agree, it is your friend, we were at the parks nice and early doing all the non fast pass rides, then the three fast pass while it was really busy, out of the parks during the afternoon when it was unbearable (August) eating and by the pool, back at 5pm till the fireworks show.

We've opted for Busch Gardens as part of the DC package, hope we like it!

I think we must be Disney Doppelgangers fleur ! We also only start using our Fastpasses at 11ish, works a dream!

I'm getting very excited now..... As soon as 2017 hits I can use the Busy Day guide on the Dibb and some serious planning