Help with Orlando

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

Please can someone explain the parks in Orlando to me in very simple terms. I get that there's Disney and also Universal but find the whole thing baffling. How many parks are there, what are they called, which are worth visiting and how do I buy tickets?

@loveisagirlnameddaisy you want the touring
LANs website.
There is a WDW site and a universal site. All your questions are answered on there.

Right now you have to book your days at WDW- you can't just rock up.

If you don't plan your it early you will waste time queuing, miss the best bits and not get your monies worth. The parks over there are not like parks here.

We go in May to June for 18 days. 4 days staying in universal to get the fast pass, then move to a villa in kissimee. Even got a cabana booked at volcano Bay. Got our 2 weeks disney universal passes with genie on attraction tickets cost about £3,300. Need to book a car to our villa but planning on ubering to parks if only 4 of us going, when the wider family come with us then it will be cheaper to driver and park.

Still to book: parks, restaurants, shows urrrrgh, plus work out genie!!!!

@Vanillaradio We have never hired a car, but we do stay on site at both Disney and Universal. However, when we have gone anywhere or transferred between hotels we just ordered an Uber. Super easy. I haven't stayed at Pop but the whole Disney bubble is amazing.

The whole Harry Potter theming is incredible, the fire breathing dragon, snow covered Hogsmead and Diagon Alley are just magical. Both my sons got wands from Ollivanders, I had to sign my credit card receipt with a quill! We have video of my children disappearing through the wall at platform 9 3/4. We just let them go ahead whilst we stayed back as they have to be a bit ahead of you to get the angle right. Don't be afraid of letting people past you so you can see where to stand to get it right. Loads of videos on YouTube.

Are you wanting to ride the rides? I still think Forbidden Journey is better than Escape from Gringotts although both are spectacular. Hagrid's motorbike ride was down a lot when we were there so we have never been on it. Both rides can be a little scary so watch the videos on YouTube to see if your 8 year old will be okay. Forbidden Journey combines screens then moves onto real areas which include Aragog and the dragon plus a dementor scene, we could see Dh's face being sucked in by the dementor, it is brief but could upset a child. My son turned 8 when we were first out there and he was fine.

We always stayed on Disney property, when we needed a taxi we just walked outside the main entrance and there was a concierge booth, we asked about taxis, he came out of his booth and waved one down who was parked up in the car park. Or you can order an Uber. Whichever you want to do. Disney will fall over themselves to be helpful.

Ditch one day at the parks and go on an airboat.

Thanks all. @JodyAteApples that sounds amazing- ds will love getting a video like that - he freaked out just at posing at King's Cross! Looks like I have lots of research to do. I think he will be fine with dementors etc but will have a look at the videos.

We have been twice. The first time we only did Disney, the kids loved it as they were only 6,9 and 11. We stayed at Lake Buena Vista in a 3 bed appt with a big communal pool but it was a bit remote and we had to drive to everything. The kids loved the parks but loved the water parks the most.

The 2nd time we went to Discovery Cove the first day and stayed at Universal Hotel for 4 nights then had 10 days in a villa in Windsor Hills. Discovery Cove also gave us tickets to Seaworld and Busch Gardens. The older kids loved Universal but my youngest DD 7 was not a fan as the rides were too big for her. We actually spent more time at seaworld as the kids loved the roller coasters there, and they loved aquatica seawords water park.

Personally although you get the advantage of early entry to the parks, the rooms at Universal and Disney are tiny and always involve kids sharing bed. I would always go for the villa, they usually have games rooms, jacuzzis and pools and my favourite thing the washing machine!

Windsor Hills is a fab area there is an enormous Walmart close by and loads of restaurants on the main road.

You have to plan Disney - the DIBB is a good source. I thought I'd work it out when I got there the first time - my main memory is one massive queue.
Universal is more relaxed - get the queue skip if you can afford it. Better for older kids too and the city walk area is great and not theme park prices.
Food in the parks is ridiculously expensive - again plan ahead and check prices - and take water/drinks with you!
Don't forget to factor in parking and the long trip back to the car park at Disney!

Wow, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post.

We will definitely be getting the fast passes, always do this in the UK and despite cost it makes such a difference.

Have been looking at villas in kissimee, is Windsor Hills around the same area?

No, they're about 15 miles apart. Windsor Hills is located to the south west of Lake Buena Vista.

I've just booked a great deal on Universal tickets. For five of us, for 14 days is £1400. We only wanted three days but having 14 was the same amount bizarrely!?

That's for all three parks at Universal.

Struggling to find two day tickets for Disney, we only want a short spell there but most sites are geared towards 7 or 14 days.

Website for the universal tickets was Florida Tix.

@SunnyNights

I've just booked a great deal on Universal tickets. For five of us, for 14 days is £1400. We only wanted three days but having 14 was the same amount bizarrely!?

That's for all three parks at Universal.

Struggling to find two day tickets for Disney, we only want a short spell there but most sites are geared towards 7 or 14 days.

Would you mind sharing where you booked your tickets?

@bigyellowTpot

no idea as never been but be aware florida is absolutely massive and I believe Disney and universal are no where near each other probably would be many hours of travelling between them.

That's incorrect. Thankfully, most of the themed parks are in a relatively small area, so those who want that type of holiday or experience can access them fairly easily from any accommodation in the Orlando area.

I wouldn't, however, recommend that people try to go to all of the parks in one holiday. It can be a pretty exhausting experience!
When we went to such places (many years ago now) we got there when they opened and stayed until they closed and still hadn't seen everything. Most of our time was spent queuing to get into each experience or onto each ride, but that may now have changed.

@loveisagirlnameddaisy
Booked via here, also 5% off everything today, although it might be like DFS and there is always a sale on

www.floridatix.com/park-tickets/universal-orlando

Just be prepared to be in the car a lot. I would personally suggest booking more than one hotel/villa. Disney have some self catering if you prefer which you can package with tickets, there's shuttle buses and it's easy to get a bus from the airport saving on a rental car for that portion

When we went we just did Disney for 3 nights packaged with a 4 night Disney cruise to chill out on (amazing childcare programme!)

@loveisagirlnameddaisy I've been to Orlando a number of times - most notably, last week!

I bought a four day ticket on Orlandoattractions.com
We chose park hopper and upgraded to Genie+.

You can travel between Epcot and Magic Kingdom by monorail. It's fairly straightforward however, parking up at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and walking. Give yourself 10-15 minutes though! Magic Kingdom is a bit of an arse ache to get to, but it is my favourite. If you're on Facebook I'd suggest joining 'It's Orlando Time'.

[quote Chanel05]@loveisagirlnameddaisy I've been to Orlando a number of times - most notably, last week!

I bought a four day ticket on Orlandoattractions.com
We chose park hopper and upgraded to Genie+.

You can travel between Epcot and Magic Kingdom by monorail. It's fairly straightforward however, parking up at Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and walking. Give yourself 10-15 minutes though! Magic Kingdom is a bit of an arse ache to get to, but it is my favourite. If you're on Facebook I'd suggest joining 'It's Orlando Time'.
[/quote]
Thanks! Will take a look at that website.

I would say all of them are worthwhile apart from Epcot. Was a park full of absolutely nothing, definitely felt like a "filler" park!

Epcot is best saved for an afternoon/ evening visit as the fireworks display on the lake is spectacular

Epcot is our family’s favourite park. Some people love it, some people think it’s “meh”.

When we went to EPCOT, they had a food and drink festival so I was literally able to drink my way around the world. Such fun.

Champagne in France, Saki in Japan, Beer in England...

Marking for later!!! As also going and have no idea.