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Original poster

Florida - am I being realistic?

83 replies

Lavendersquare · 19/05/2023 09:55

We are planning a Florida trip with DC 17 &12 we've never been before and not sure that we will go again so need to fit as much in as possible.

We plan to stay for 17 nights and want to do the following:

Disneyland - all parks
Universal
Cape Canaveral
Air boat trip - Everglades or similar
Beach - Clearwater beach for 2/3 nights

Our plan is to rent a villa/condo on one of the Orlando resorts, have 2 nights in Hard Rock Universal hotel (for the express passes) and relocate to the beach for the last 3 days for a relaxing end to the holiday.

My worry is that the list of things we want to do is unrealistic and is going to be completely exhausting.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Namefortodayandtomorrow · 19/05/2023 12:24

I think your plan is easily do-able. We did very similar in 14 days about 5 years ago. We flew into Tampa (cheaper), hired a car, stayed in a villa in Kissimmee and did all of the Disney Parks. We also had 2 days, 1 night in a Universal hotel to get their fast passes. This was in the middle of our villa hire. During the first 10 days we also did a water park and 2 visits to Cape Canaveral (check out timings for rocket launches). We were lucky enough to catch a launch on one of our visits.

We stayed 3 nights on Sanibel Island at the end of the holiday before driving to the Everglades for a boat trip. We flew home that same day from Miami.

The only change I would recommend is to do one night at a Disney hotel at the start of the holiday so you get earlier access to book their fast passes.

fyn · 19/05/2023 12:28

I would definitely try and plan the trip around a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. Also 100% pay for tour of the site, it was by far the best bit of our entire trip. Sadly the SpaceX launch was called off last minute but we still got to go and see them moving the launch platform for Perseverance into place.

CurlewKate · 19/05/2023 12:30

Doable, I reckon-but a bit frantic! Don't forget to factor in the heat.

Personally, I'd replace the air boat trip with a kayak trail. The air boats are really noisy and not brilliant for the environment-unless they've changed in the last couple of years.

Blaggingit123 · 19/05/2023 12:38

It will be exhausting and you likely won’t get to do everything - but definitely realistic if you don’t mind this. I’d skip the beach though as you can do that any time. 2 days at universal is likely not enough at Easter even with express passes - the newest rides won’t have them and will be a 3/4 hour queue and then generally the express passes are massively over used so queue might be up to 1 hour even with them. They are also extremely expensive for what is a very average service at busy periods! If you want to properly experience Disney you’d need at least 2 days at most parks (animal kingdom maybe doable in 1).

Florida is brilliant but there’s too much to do - you have to prioritise and accept you’re going to miss a lot! The first time we took the kids we did only Disney every day for 2 weeks and still missed a fair bit and that was with the old fast pass system!

ggccsseeeee · 19/05/2023 12:44

Blaggingit123 · 19/05/2023 12:38

It will be exhausting and you likely won’t get to do everything - but definitely realistic if you don’t mind this. I’d skip the beach though as you can do that any time. 2 days at universal is likely not enough at Easter even with express passes - the newest rides won’t have them and will be a 3/4 hour queue and then generally the express passes are massively over used so queue might be up to 1 hour even with them. They are also extremely expensive for what is a very average service at busy periods! If you want to properly experience Disney you’d need at least 2 days at most parks (animal kingdom maybe doable in 1).

Florida is brilliant but there’s too much to do - you have to prioritise and accept you’re going to miss a lot! The first time we took the kids we did only Disney every day for 2 weeks and still missed a fair bit and that was with the old fast pass system!

With 2 nights at a hotel you'll get 3 days at the parks- I think thats fine. We had express passes at Easter and never had to queue for more than 15 minutes apart from the train between parks and Velocicoaster and Hagrids. I think Velocicoaster is now on the pass and I would happily queue for 3 hours on Hagrids! (Do it first thing or late in the evening!).
I would happily miss the beach and spend more time at the Parks but DH would never have agreed to go without beach time!

redspottedmug · 19/05/2023 15:45

As your DC are older, it won't be exhausting like it would be with little ones.

The parks open early and close late so you can easily break up the day by starting early, having a break or visiting a water park during the afternoon then going back to the parks for the evening. The parks are magical after dark, and there's nothing quite like being amongst the last wandering back down Main Street USA at midnight.

Stay on site at Disney if you can. Depending on packages available (Disney Dining is back in 2024) it can be good value.

ZenNudist · 19/05/2023 22:33

I would drop Kennedy space centre clearwater beach and everglades from your itinerary. I stayed 4 nights at universal and it was a shame not to be there longer. Volcano bay was fab and impossible to do everything in the one dayDefinitely stay in a hotel with express passes. There are some rides you just have to queue. Epcot is a 2 day parkMagic kingdom is missable i suppose, seems a shame not to go. The DMK fireworks which you have to see plus new tron ride if its open by then. Make sure you see epcot fireworks too.Animal kingdom is great especially Pandora and Asia. It was a surprise how good it was. Hollywood studios is amazing and you might want to go back if you dont get on everything in one day.it will be shame not to get to see all of the parks. Tickets are so expensive you need to make the most of it. I don't find waterpark days restful. You have to get there early to reserve a space. After doing 8am to 10 or 11pm in epcot and magic kingdom we needed days to relax by the pool.We did 19 days just disney and universal. We did have much needed rest days. The only parks we went to twice were epcot and typhoon lagoon as well as universal If money is no object get a VIP tour of universal then you get on all the rides without queuing and go on good rides multiple times.

fumpster · 19/05/2023 22:36

Is it BA premium economy ? You get more leg room but for us we decided it wasn't worth the extra money, and we're tall

fumpster · 19/05/2023 22:37

I would leave premium economy and use the money for discovery cove instead. Totally amazing

Sunnycornwallanddevon · 19/05/2023 22:42

Oh please please don't go to SeaWorld 😩. Rest sounds wonderful, but not beautiful creatures in captivity performing tricks for humans year after year after year. I can't believe people even consider going there in hopefully more enlightened times

Original poster
Lavendersquare · 20/05/2023 00:34

Sunnycornwallanddevon · 19/05/2023 22:42

Oh please please don't go to SeaWorld 😩. Rest sounds wonderful, but not beautiful creatures in captivity performing tricks for humans year after year after year. I can't believe people even consider going there in hopefully more enlightened times

@Sunnycornwallanddevon I hate the thought of Seaworld and definitely won't be going.

OP posts:
VeggieSalsa · 20/05/2023 00:40

You can do an airboat tour much closer to Orlando and see gators instead of trekking to the Everglades. We did one and it took maybe half a day.

I think it’s doable, we did a day per park (but some evening hopping) including one water park, one day between the two Universal parks, an airboat trip and a day at Celebration and outlet malls all in a week. 10 days would’ve been better, so 17 to include Cape Canaveral and Clearwater is doable.

We went late March though, pre spring break and not in ideal weather so it may have been less busy than your trip.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 20/05/2023 00:41

It's do-able as long as you prioritise and focus on what you really want to do, knowing you can't do everything.

I'd consider doing your 'rest' few days between Disney and universal. We did it at Easter, and yes, it is busy, but put the effort into the planning and you can do it. The DIBB is brilliant for planning the Disney parks (be prepared to lose hours of your life to it, but it paid dividends). We stayed onsite at Disney - it meant we could easily do parks in the morning, take a breather back at the hotel for a few hours on the afternoon and head back out in the evening. Staying onsite for the express passes at Universal is definitely worth it. Build in some flexible free time on your Disney days in case you want to revisit a park or have some chill out time somewhere.

It was one of our best ever holidays, you'll have an amazing time.

IsItUs · 20/05/2023 00:59

Do'able yes. Orlando is tiring - we did - all 4 Disney parks & the 2 water parks,

  • universal and volcano bay
  • Busch gardens
  • sea world
  • discovery cove
  • Kennedy space centre
And other bits - we expected it to be tiring but it was fabulous. Some parks we did more than once and could easily have swapped for other days out.
Original poster
Lavendersquare · 20/05/2023 11:32

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions I do really appreciate it.

I'm thinking of splitting the 2 nights at Hard Rock hotel because I think you get the complimentary express passes on your check in day and the day after. Is this correct? If it is I think splitting the days would give us 4 days of express passes whereas 2 nights would only give us 3 days of express passes.

Also wondering how the above works if you can't check in until the afternoon??

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 20/05/2023 11:55

I have literally just booked this trip for this summer with DD14 and DSS18.

Gulf side was my biggest hand wringing moment. So after Orlando, Kennedy, Everglades then Gulf...the gulf bit I was not sure about and I got a lot of great tips and decided on Siesta Key in the end rather than Clearwater. I have a thread on it here too.

And yes we are going PE, partner and son are both 6"4 and I'll be honest even at my 5"3 height I mainly travel premium with work too, it's so much nicer.

Vanillalime · 20/05/2023 11:59

Hi, I think your plans are perfectly realistic. Florida is the most amazing destination. You will all have a wonderful time.

I second Wild Florida for the airboat trip & the chance to see some animals. Kennedy space is wonderful, very interactive with lots to see and do. Make sure you get there early so you have the whole day. And bonus is you are able to see a rocket launch & gear a sonic boom!!

The kids will probably enjoy the rides at Universal more (Velociraptor is awesome!!) but nothing compares to Disney & the magic kingdom. It is truly the happiest place on earth.

ggccsseeeee · 20/05/2023 12:13

Lavendersquare · 20/05/2023 11:32

Thanks again for all the comments and suggestions I do really appreciate it.

I'm thinking of splitting the 2 nights at Hard Rock hotel because I think you get the complimentary express passes on your check in day and the day after. Is this correct? If it is I think splitting the days would give us 4 days of express passes whereas 2 nights would only give us 3 days of express passes.

Also wondering how the above works if you can't check in until the afternoon??

You can get to the hotel super early and check in and get your passes. You just can't get into your room.

Original poster
Lavendersquare · 20/05/2023 12:26

@ggccsseeeee thanks, that now makes sense.

OP posts:
ukhgf · 20/05/2023 12:28

We are here right now, we are doing 11 Disney, 3 universal (HRH too). We are also renting a car for 2 days and (hopefully) seeing a launch from cocoa beach and going to Daytona Beach. That's in the middle of our Disney days.

So yes I suppose I would say what you're doing is do-able if tight, however, we have DAS which is really helping us blitz through the rides, also, it's actually relatively "quiet" here right now (will change memorial weekend when we are in universal, hopefully express passes will help!)

Original poster
Lavendersquare · 20/05/2023 12:31

@ukhgf what's DAS? I'm new to all these acronyms.

OP posts:
ididntknowthat11 · 20/05/2023 12:35

I'd love to do this.

Could anybody give me a very rough ballpark figure of cost?

Realistically, we would only have 2 weeks and wouldn't do everything on the OP's list, and probably not even all the parks.

I had in my head a figure of £10k but I now just don't think that would be anywhere near enough.

Does any body have a rough idea of cost?

thecathasbeenfed · 20/05/2023 12:51

That is totally doable!

We went last August for 16 nights with three DC (23, 11, 13) and visited:

  • All the Universal parks
  • Disney magic kingdom
  • Disney Hollywood studios
  • Kennedy space centre

We stayed in Kissimmee for 11 nights and did all of the above easily with some rest/pool days. We loved going to Universal in the evening too as it had a good vibe, and was less hot and busy.

After the 11 days we travelled to Fort Lauderdale and stayed there for two nights before flying home. That was amazing, such a different experience to the Orlando bubble and a really nice way to end the trip.

thecathasbeenfed · 20/05/2023 12:53

ididntknowthat11 · 20/05/2023 12:35

I'd love to do this.

Could anybody give me a very rough ballpark figure of cost?

Realistically, we would only have 2 weeks and wouldn't do everything on the OP's list, and probably not even all the parks.

I had in my head a figure of £10k but I now just don't think that would be anywhere near enough.

Does any body have a rough idea of cost?

Our total was £16k. That included everything, all accommodation (and we stayed somewhere fancy in Fort Lauderdale), park tickets, flights and spending money.

It was the trip of a lifetime for us and it was worth every penny.

underneaththeash · 20/05/2023 12:56

Yes, you're fine with that, you could do something like this - (actual days depending on when each park is the quietest). We always fly PE.

Thursday: Fly to Orlando. Epcot for dinner
Friday: AK
Saturday MK +fireworks
Sunday: Water park
Monday: Universal.
Tuesday: Rest and mini golf
Wednesday: HS
Thursday: I of A
Friday: Epcot
Saturday: Cape Canaveral
Sunday: Drive to Everglades
Monday: Everglades
Tuesday: Drive to Clearwater
Wednesday: Clearwater
Thursday: Clearwater
Friday: Fly home from Tampa

However, is your DS currently in lower sixth? Won't he have A levels when he gets back.