Can’t believe it but we‘ve booked Florida!

[ChoccyJules]

After years of reading threads (and goggling at the prices paid), DH decided we ought to take the kids further afield and spend a bit more than usual on a holiday. Usually we have a week in a seaside caravan or a cottage in an interesting bit of the country.

So we’re going at Easter and am so excited, even though it was him who wanted the theme parks, I can take them or leave them.

We are having 8 nights in a townhouse in Kissimmee (shared pool and clubhouse), 3 nights on the gulf coast in a villa with pool and 3 nights in Washington DC.

I have already started getting embroiled in tickets etc. Think we will do the 3 Universal parks as DD11 loves Harry Potter and we all enjoy water parks. Then 1 day at Magic Kingdom for DD7. Any advice, do say!

I have found that there’s an After Hours event at MK while we are there, so 6 hours in the park 7pm-1am with free snacks from 10pm and far less people. I really fancy it but realistically imagine the kids would fade after about 10.30pm. I hate the crowds etc. Tempting.

Does anyone recommend any of the other parks as ‚must-do‘s‘? We are going to go to the Space Centre and also have some down-time.

On the gulf coast we will enjoy the beaches and exploring (I once had a day in Clearwater and driving the coastline and loved it) and in DC we‘ll do the Mall and a couple of museums.

If there’s an obvious thing to keep in mind, can the experts let me know? Thanks!

I loved Universal and I really don’t like theme parks, I also enjoyed the animal kingdom, much less frantic and some great shows. Clearwater marine aquarium is lovely (have you seen the film ‘dolphin tale?’) you can get excursion tickets for boat rides from Clearwater to see wild dolphins too.
I also loved Epcot, the fireworks and lasers are fantastic.

Nothing to advice but I am jealous! Lucky soul

Might look into the dolphin trips, thanks. I know nothing about Epcot...will look.

@PixieDustt I thought you called me a lucky sod, and I am, but I see you were much more refined!

The Mall is very long. Plan your day and use the underground. The museum of American History is fantastic. Everything American you can think of! We also enjoyed the National Air and Space Museum. Just gazing at the White House is something you won’t forget and the Capitol is very interesting if Congress is in session.

I can also recommend Arlington cemetery and the various memorials which are larger than life and dwarf anything we have here.

I don’t know much about Florida but visiting lots of parks will add up! DC will be very different but worth it. Georgetown has some good restaurants and a bit of atmosphere.

I would do after hours at MK instead of a full day. Don’t underestimate how busy the park is. Easter is one of the two peak seasons in Orlando.

If you make sure you have a complete rest day beforehand, I am sure the kids will love it. Adrenalin will keep them going. Ok you might not manage until 1 am but it’s a much less frantic pace with much less people in the park and less hot.

We are doing after hours at animal kingdom when we go back.

Plus if you do a full day you will be restricted to the 30 day window for fast passes as you are staying off site.

This means you will likely struggle to get in any of the major rides so you’ll spend a good proportion of your day waiting in a line!

Completely agree with Edge about doing the after hours only bit for Magic Kingdom. We have been at Easter but it wasn't our first time so we knew what we wanted to do (plus we stayed on site for 2 weeks) the whole place is magical.

For the first time ever we just did Universal last year, we usually split between Universal and Disney as we have been several times. Volcano Bay water park is absolutely amazing. The Krakatau water coaster is the most incredible ride. Have a look on YouTube.

If you haven't already discovered The Dibb have a look there, it is a UK forum for Disney but also Universal. Incredibly friendly and even if your question has been asked a thousand times people are still very kind

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal is amazing. Both my children have wands from Olivanders, eaten chocolate frogs (even in 32 degree heat) drank butterbeer and generally just been blown away by the fire breathing dragon on top of Gringotts Bank.

There are water fountains everywhere and free iced water at food places so make sure you stay hydrated.

I have been on The Dibb, it’s quite confusing with all the acronyms etc but I agree they are a friendly bunch. I have been looking for a similar forum which covers more than Disnay but not found anything.

DH is still worried that kids won‘t cope with After Hours, especially as body clock wise it will be even later than midnight. Not decided on that one yet.

We have bought one of the 6 park tickets, so 3 Universal plus SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. We think we will do half a day at Busch to see the wildlife side. Definitely plan to use the other 5 and it means they can do Hogwarts express.

Friends have said to try and stay NorthWest in Washington. The hotel I had found is between the river and Arlington, so just into the SW, anyone know if that area is OK (we have been told some areas are quite dangerous, we don’t overreact but want to be sensible)?

You need to be near an underground station to access The Mall. Arlington is actually in Virginia and goes up to the Potomac River. It has delights of its own but it’s not very handy. It has bridges over the river but what’s the underground situation? Georgetown is much more convenient. The university there has its own underground stop.

After a couple of nights you will be on America time so yes it’s a late night but their body clock won’t be an issue unless AH is your first or second day?

You’ll be tired after travelling. Get to sleep at a reasonable time on arrival day. You’ll wake early on day 1 in Orlando and then keep going as much as you can. Second night get a good nights sleep and that’s you on Orlando time. It’s just not the same coming back!!!!

Please don’t go to Seaworld, very cruel environment and wrong message to send to your DC
support.peta.org/page/1543/petition/1?locale=en-US

You don't need to use the underground in DC but stay central! The Washington court hotel is reasonable and very nice, 5 minutes walk from union station and looking towards the US Capitol. I think it's around £100 a night. We didn't use the underground once, no need to when there are easier options that are free.

There is a bus stop across from union station for the DC Circulator. A free bus you can hop on and off all day every 10 minutes. The red circulator will take you all around the mall and the monuments and you can just get on and off as you please. There is another line that will take you to Arlington if you wish.

The postal museum and air and space are both good. Research the smithsonian and decide. I wouldn't bother with Busch gardens considering you're already doing a 3 centre trip. Tampa is not that close to Orlando and you might as well do either Animal Kingdom or the Zoo in DC (free) if you want an animal experience

Food at universal not as good as Disney, but recommend Mythos in islands of adventure. You might want to look into buying universal express passes as Easter is busy. Also, if you can change your villa, kissimme is much closer to Disney and 20-30 mins from universal and seaworld - you might want to stay closer to international drive.

We’ve been to Orlando at Easter and got fast passes for Disney - you just have to be organised. Food wise for magic kingdom I would do be our guest for lunch and then liberty tree tavern for dinner (it’s “all You care to enjoy) so book when everyone will be hungry. Get there for opening and take something to eat for breakfast in the queues.

Oh just remembered. If you stay one night at a premium universal hotel you’ll get express passes included for 2 days.

Clearwater was beautiful, loved our day there. It was so windy though so we didn't get out on a boat but I would want to do that if we went again.

We also had a great day out at Wild Florida, an animal conservation park. We had an airboat ride. It was a lot of fun.

The DC Circulator isn’t free. Georgetown is beautiful - much nicer than central. It has an ambience all of its own. The underground isn’t expensive.

Hi mad florida lover here! Got married over there, 12 trips done over 25 years! and know it in side and out!

You will love your holiday but you really have underestimated the parks! they are HUGE!

They are full on and all day!! We hit the magic kingdom at 8am and leave at 11:30pm! And its still not enough!

After hour events are PACKED!! Sometimes more than the days! As most have special events or special parades or shows.

Busch gardens is one of our favourite parks very chilled and the all day food pass is worth it! And the refill drinks cup ( you can also use this is seaword or visa versa so take the cup back and pay a cheaper price for a 2nd day, seaworld also have all you can eat passes too)

Universal especially wizarding world is so well done but again hugely busy! Again refill cups are worth it

Disney, use the fast pass as your not staying on site fast passes are available 30 days before your visit get the big rides, space mountain, thunder mountain, splash mountain or the snow white mine cart.

Bubbles unless they've changed it back in the last 3 months the DC circulator is free. It used to be $1 but they removed that charge last summer

Definitely stay central in DC

We are going to Orlando this summer - first timers too!

I think you are a bit ambitious trying to fit all that into 8 days - maybe do a fair bit of research into what's in each park before you decide.

We are going for 14 nights and decided on Disney Parks/Universal only as trying to fit everything eg to include Busch Gardens/Seaworld/Kennedy etc would have been impossible in 2 weeks.

the Dibb is good and Trip Advisor also has an Orlando Forum for tips etc.

Busch is over the other side so we will do half a day there on our way to the second villa.

SeaWorld is tricky, I said straight away I wasn’t keen on that but DH wants the kids to see it. We‘ll see. We love water parks so having entry to Aquatica means we can pop there for a couple of hours if we want.

Disney sell 3,000 tickets max for After Hours so I think it will be fine.

I am meticulously planning our must-sees in each park. I don’t plan to wear the kids out, one of them has additional needs anyway. DH and I have done both Universal pre Potter so we will be able to ignore some rides.

Thanks for the advice about DC. Georgetown has always seemed nice. I need to see what counts as central!

Have a fab time, it’s a wonderful holiday.

Please don’t support Seaworld, echoing previous posters, if you watch Blackfish you will understand, I feel sick to think I took my DS’ there tbh. I would never, ever visit Seaworld again.

Watch blackfish and it won't be "tricky" any longer!

The web site says there is a charge. Maybe it’s seasonally free?