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

Original poster

Is it worth going to Florida for a week?

55 replies

Callingyounique · 03/02/2020 10:46

We have been looking at Florida but I honestly don’t think I could cope with the heat and humidity in August. We couldn’t go in May for the next few years due to alternating gcse and a levels.

Would going for a week in October be okay? Obviously we wouldn’t try and do everything in that time as not possible but the weather looks more manageable. We have 4 children 9-16 so cost an issue too.

OP posts:
takemetomars · 03/02/2020 11:06

If it is the first time you have been - no.
If you have been before and know the parks well and what you like to do, then yes, def worth it.

We iften go for just a week but we go every year, sometimes twice and know exactly what we want to do when we get there so we never feel we have missed out

zafferana · 03/02/2020 11:09

We often go to the US for a week (DH is American so MIL is there). It's perfectly doable IME and a week doing theme parks (which I'm assuming is your reason for going to FL) is more than enough for many people (myself included). Just try and give your DC one good night's sleep before they go back to school, if you can.

MarthasGinYard · 03/02/2020 11:09

Not if with the intention of parks as it's always 2 weeks for the price of 1 for tickets and such a waste if you can't Take advantage.

zafferana · 03/02/2020 11:10

Also - October half-term is the best time of year to visit FL. We've been twice the weather is perfect, neither too hot nor too cold, and the parks are relatively quiet, because all US schools are in session in Oct.

lovelyupnorth · 03/02/2020 11:12

Did five days in SF in 2018 was fine.

But if going in October for the cost I’d stretch it to at least 10 days or two weeks and just take the kids out of school.

VanillaSugarr · 03/02/2020 11:16

We went to Florida in October half term and it was great. We stayed on UK time as much as possible which meant that we were up, washed, breakfasted and at the park Gates for 8am. We did Universal, Epcot and Cape Canaveral (sp?) and we stayed at one of the Universal hotels so life was pretty easy. A full week is plenty of time if you are selective about what you want to see.

Musicalstatues · 03/02/2020 11:18

Not if it’s your first time I wouldn’t. It’s a long way, you need to acclimatise to the time difference and the heat.
We go every year too, usually for 3 weeks. Last year dh and I went for a week on our own without the kids. This was actually a great holiday for us but then we know the parks like the back of our hands. They are huge, nothing like theme parks here.
I would wait until you are able to go for a longer time. As a pp said october is a great time of year to go plus you get to see all the Halloween decorations.
Unless you’re planning on going several times I would definitely wait until you can do it properly.

zafferana · 03/02/2020 11:22

You don't need to acclimatise to the heat in Oct - it's warm, but not hot.

And yes, the UK time difference is actually to your advantage. We've never tried too hard to get into US time, because it's great being up at 5am, have breakfast, get all your shit together and be at the gates for opening time. You get at least an hour when the parks are really quiet, so you can hit a load of rides before it gets busy.

Original poster
Callingyounique · 03/02/2020 11:29

Mmm mixed opinions here !
For those of you that go regularly would you really prefer 2 weeks in August when busy and humid than one in October ?
I hate the heat and am now menopausal and sweating in England! My kids don’t love the heat. I’m worried we would go in August but be too hot to do anything .

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 03/02/2020 11:30

I prefer October

I'd not bother for a week though unless no parks

TerribleCustomerCervix · 03/02/2020 11:36

I wouldn’t if it was your first time tbh.

If you’re a Florida veteran and you know which bits you can happily skip, what you want to prioritise and happy using the various (potentially quite complicated) planning apps for Disney etc then yeah, a week is plenty.

For first timers with kids, I think a week would be pushing it. Spending a full day at a theme park is exhausting, and it’s hard going to do consecutive days without a pool or shopping day in between to break things up a bit.

I’ve been in October a few times and it’s perfect- the parks have their Halloween decorations up, it’s quiet but still a lovely atmosphere and still hot.

Could you stretch to 10 days at all?

Lightsabre · 03/02/2020 11:38

October is the best time! As others have said - try to stretch it to ten days at least as it won't be a cheap holiday with kids.

Original poster
Callingyounique · 03/02/2020 12:15

It would be our first time. I’m not sure about taking all 4 out of school they are very strict where we are.

I think the only way to get 2 weeks would be in August hence my dilemma . Perhaps we could go and just do universal. Harry Potter is the main draw tbh.

OP posts:
Sunnydaysrock · 03/02/2020 13:05

Is Easter not an option? August is very hot and the parks can be draining. We go in July/August but love the heat and split the holiday between Orlando and Clearwater beach. We have been in the Easter holidays too and the heat is far more manageable and less rain too.

MrsH497 · 03/02/2020 13:12

We've done Florida twice both times for 2 weeks. Honestly wouldn't go for less time. Last time we went was may and it was hot, even if you have been before you can still factor rest days in. If you're thinking of just universal that's 3 parks (2 plus water park) so yes you may need less time but I'd still plan for 10 days to allow for jet lag, rest days/shopping. Disney has 6 parks (4 plus 2 water parks) and disney springs is brilliant as well

zafferana · 03/02/2020 14:08

I wouldn't go in August. We used to live in the US so I know exactly how hot and humid it is and no way would I want to be traipsing around theme parks in that all day.

OP I suggest you have a hard think about what you want to do when you get to FL. We went twice for one week each time (Disney first trip, Universal second). If Universal is your priority then you could definitely go for one week and feel like you've 'done' the three Universal parks properly. If you're not that fussed by Disney you could always go to the one in Paris instead. I've been to both and while FL is bigger and has more parks, Paris is great unless you're one of the mad-keen Disney people who get attracted to threads like this who will tell you that you have to go for two weeks straight and hit parks every day (my idea of hell!).

The problem with Easter is that the whole world is off so the parks are really busy. I'd rather go for less time, but have quieter parks, but that's just me!

Quartz2208 · 03/02/2020 14:20

We do a week but we only do Universal (annual pass holders) because its the perfect mix of theme parks and relaxing by the hotel (we stay on site with Universal).

If you are planning to do Universal only a week makes sense. But just focus in that

Original poster
Callingyounique · 03/02/2020 14:36

Thanks all. I think firstly I’m going to price up 2 weeks In Summer vs 8 nights in October and see how things vary. That might make the decision easier.
We have been to Disney in Paris but many years ago before DC4.

OP posts:
FAQs · 03/02/2020 15:00

If you’re doing the parks and Universal you’d be better going to LA. I’ve done both and LA I’d do it in a week but not Florida, too many parks to fit in and the weather should still be nice in California.

strawberry2017 · 03/02/2020 15:03

August will be awful busy and unbearable heat! I agree with others if you can go at a different time of year for a bit longer I would.

Original poster
Callingyounique · 03/02/2020 15:27

Can’t get Easter or Christmas off work so August only possibility for 2 weeks. California a long way for a week !!

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 03/02/2020 15:58

end of August is far far less busy then Easter and Christmas (two busiest times of the year). We go most Christmas and I would not recommend it for a first timer at all. It works well for us because we know what we do and dont like.

We are going August for the first time in a long time and the weather is a slight concern but so much is air conditioned it just moving from place to place

Are you thinking Villa or hotel?

WendyMoiraAngelaDarling · 03/02/2020 16:12

For those of you that go regularly would you really prefer 2 weeks in August when busy and humid than one in October ?

We have been a few times. Never been in August. Never will. Couldn't stand it. We went at Easter once and that was bad enough. October half term and I'd take my children out of school for five days to make it a fortnight. We've never been jet lagged as we fly back on a late flight and don't sleep on the plane, stay up on arrival and then go to bed at our usual time back in the UK. We fly back on a Saturday night, arriving back on Sunday at around midday. My children were back at school on the Monday with no problems at all.

dressingfortv · 03/02/2020 16:17

August no way!

I've had lots of extended stays there for work. I'd say a week is enough if that's all you have.

I've mostly stayed in lovely Airbnb's.

Quartz2208 · 03/02/2020 16:28

We are going in August because it was the cheapest two weeks we could find but we are Universal annual pass holders and I got a great club room deal at the universal Portofino so it will be early morning/late evening parks and the rest in the hotel by the pool.
But we see it as primarily a relaxing pool holiday with a few rides thrown in not an attack the parks. But that is also how a week works for us.
It’s a difficult one because a week for Disney and Universal is just too much for tickets and not value for money but August to do both would be taxing in that heat.