Disneyland Orlando tickets

[Floridatrip]

I posted reg a trip to Florida next Easter, 2 adults and 2 children 13 and 16. I am trying to price the holiday and looking at park tickets. My question is: Can we buy them at the gate, daily passes? What is the most cost effective way to do this. ? We are not planning to spend 2 full weeks doing parks; 4 or 5 days of parks at the most. And do we need to book the parks in advance?

It seems like a complicated holiday to plan.

It's a 61/2 hour drive from Orlando to key west.

They are separate holidays.

Just the Orlando area is a full on 2 weeks.

If you want Miami/keys do it as a separate holiday.

Also don't forget the space centre (hour drive) and Busch gardens. The only actual rollercoaster park.

Thank you. Hoping we can still do keys and parks. One week in Orlando, then 2 nights Miami and then 5 nights in the Keys. Flying to Orlando and back from Miami.

It does seem like there are lots to see and 2 separate holidays would be ideal but we are both from overseas so already travel long haul to see family in 2 different continents so don’t think we can do another trip to Florida. Maybe can get them out of school for 2 days but they are both in secondary school and oldest one will be in year 12 so not ideal.

With your itinerary I would fly into Miami and spend 2 or 3 nights there. Then do the Keys for 4 or 5 nights (although I was very underwhelmed by Key Largo I have to say).

Then drive up to Orlando for the last week. That gives you 6 days in Orlando to maybe spend 4 days in the parks. Maybe 2 Disney parks, and then 2 days at Universal as an on-site guest. That gets you early entry and front of line passes (check the deal carefully - there are different ones). You then have 2 days for chilling/wildlife. Or more days in the parks if your research leads you in that direction.

I’m recommending Orlando last because it might be difficult to tear your teens away to go on a road trip.

Also, where I live the Easter holidays start with Good Friday, so you get a “free” day attached to the 2 week holiday. Might it be the same for you?

Thank you; yes planning to fly on Wednesday the 27 and back on the 12th of April. Good idea reg doing Keys and Miami first and parks last. I heard key west is nice.

Bear in mind the parks busiest times of the year are Christmas and Easter. I’d look at dropping Disney and doing Universal at one of the main hotels which will give you express pass. The tickets will cost a huge amount of money for such a short space of time.

This is true. The later in the holiday OP leaves it to go to the parks the better - Easter weekend being the first weekend there should mean the crowds have died down a bit by her second week.

Thank you. I have been reading a bit and I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time; so much information. I think a express pass will be great as I can’t imagine myself queuing for hours. We want to see other parts of Florida too.

I also think buying the tickets for the 2 resorts is only worth it if spending the 2 weeks in Orlando. I have been reading about Naples and it seems it may be better than the Keys in term of beaches. Want to go to the everglades at least for a day.

I have never spent so much time planning a single holiday.

Naples is absolutely stunning! Kayaking in the groves is fab, would definitely recommend one of the boat tours around Naples. Everglades are a must in general too, they're so huge and interesting. The sunsets in Naples are absolutely amazing, there's the botanical gardens too which are worth a visit.

When you say two parks, do you mean you're thinking of doing universal and just one park, or just doing either universal or Disney?

If you're doing universal - the multi park tickets for the two weeks work out better priced from memory, if you're staying on property in a premier hotel to get the fast passes you'll be able to do both universal parks in a week (probably half a day or a day in volcano bay too!).

Thank you. I am getting so excited, I think Naples will suit us better; we all love nice beaches and scenery and it is also closer than the Keys.

When I refer to the 2 resorts I meant Disney-world and Universal. As we only want to spend a week in Orlando I think the Universal parks will be enough. If we were to spend the 2 weeks in Orlando then we will be able to do the 2 resorts:Disney and Universal. Wish we have 3 weeks.

Also, want to do it next year as DC1 will be busy with A levels in 2025.

You must do a 10,000 islands boat trip from Everglades City. Absolute highlight of my holiday.

The only problem with dropping Disney is if you have a Star Wars nut in your family. However, if your teens like Transformers, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park they’ll be satisfied with Universal.

Both DC are girls and not mad about star wars. They do like Harry Potter and Jurasic Park.

We went to Disneyland Paris twice,I know is not the same but maybe that compensate for not doing DisneyWorld.

Ah well, Universal it is then! There are Minions, Simpsons, Men in Black, to name a few more. There are some big coasters, but plenty of tamer rides, non-coaster thrill rides and wet rides. Make sure you get the Park to Park tickets so you can take the Hogwart’s Express between Universal Studios and Islands.

Are your DD swimmers OP?
Whilst both Disney water parks have lazy rivers Blizzard Beach has high slides, whilst Typhoon lagoon has an incredible wave pool.
Our two DS were good swimmers and preferred TL.

I wouldn't go to Legoland again, even with free tickets - our kids were smaller than yours when we went and they weren't that taken with it. I think your plans of Universal for a few days, then travelling on is perfect. Get the park bit done on UK time and make the most of the early mornings, then leave Orlando and get to the good bits of Florida - there's loads to see and do, and most UK visitors just stay in the Disney bubble and miss it all. Seems a waste to travel so far and see so little.

You're right about beaches, The Keys are surrounded by water, not sand, and so not many beaches. Recommend the Bahia Honda State park where you can swim in the Atlantic in the morning and then the Gulf of Mexico in the afternoon just by crossing the car park! I think it's just over the Seven Mile Bridge, and I'm hoping that Robbie's at Islamoroda has reopened - feed tarpon and pelican - it's amazing.

Get the park bit done on UK time and make the most of the early mornings,

This will be Easter weekend for OP - the parks will be rammed. Best to wait a week or so.

If you join “ it’s Orlando time” Facebook page, the admin person for the page usually has discount codes for DW tickets - you have to message them directly but I think last time it was a 7% discount.
you will also be able to get advice from thousands of Orlando enthusiasts.

I’ve also noticed you will be in Orlando during the US spring break- we did it last year and it was crazy busy in the parks. You won’t do much in Universal without express passes - you can either buy them separately or the better option is to stay at one of the three premium Universal hotels- that way you can enter the parks early before other people and have the express passes included in your stay. It is also walkable/ take a boat from the hotels to the parks - we stayed at Loews last year and loved it.

Thanks. When is the US spring break?

we prefer the independence and space of self catering; will look at buying the express tickets separately; but will check out the hotels anyway.

this is the idea for the moment: 3 days Miami (2 nights) in South Beach, 6 full days in Naples, 6 full days in Orlando. Discounting travelling days and taking the kids out of school 2 days. Week in Orlando will be the week commencing the 5th of April.

are you flying from UK OP?

Basically students from all over the US coming to Florida to party during their equivalent of half terms. Plus families coming for Easter break holidays.
“Spring Break in Florida is associated with the weeks colleges and universities take their spring semester break, and every school is different. The staggered schedule means Florida's Spring Break begins in late February and runs through mid-April, peaking in mid-March”

Yes, flying from London

We also wanted our own independent accommodation and had a villa last April but still booked the hotel room as it was cheaper for one night than just buying express passes for all of us for two days (staying in the hotel you get the express pass for both days - check in and check out plus the early entry in both days= so your total cost is 1 night room price) . For us it was cheaper. You can then use the room as an afternoon break from the heat , jump in the pool or similar. Or not use it at all :)

It is tricky when you can only do school holidays; hopefully second week of April won’t be too bad. October half term may be an option? But is warm enough for the beach? Hurricane season still?

It's around 29/30 degrees in October. We're going this year and very excited/

That’s a good idea. Thank you