Orlando - is this too much for 10 days?

[roses2]

We will be visiting Orlando May half term for 10 days and I was hoping to get some feedback on if this itinerary looks ok or if we are trying to cram too much in.

I have two boys 8 and 11. They love rides & animals. No interest in character dinners etc. We are staying offsite. No plans for fancy dinners, probably mostly take outs and as little food as possible in the parks. We plan to buy Genie but not Universal express pass.

No clue how long people typically spend in parks before dying of exhaustion!

See photo attached.

Avoid typhoon lagoon on a Saturday as loads of locals go there. And as others have said ditch seaworld it's cruel.

I wouldn't do half days in the parks. Each park takes a full day if you get the right genie times. It costs a fortune to park too and it's miles from car park to furthest ride. Kill a park a day and rest every other day. Some waterparks good on rest days. Is blizzard beach open? Typhoon lagoon is great for a bit of chill time. Volcano bay is knackering and full on.

I'd drop seaworld, Discovery cove and Kennedy space centre. You're going to have disney universal combined tickets and in 10 days you're not going to have time to do all that really. Epcot needs 2 days and if blizzard beach open there's nearly as many parks as there are days. Don't miss magic kingdom fireworks. Its the best thing in Orlando.

22nd May - arrive
23rd May - universal (get express pass)
24th May - volcano bay
25th May - rest day
26th May - DAK
27th May - typhoon lagoon
28th May - DHS
29th May - rest or universal water ride day if not knackered
30 May - Epcot including fireworks
31 May - rest and DMK fireworks eve
1 June - could do a universal wrap up day if not already been twice. Could go to DMK if you're bothered but it's not great, or another epcot day because it's more of a 2 day park

Don't whatever you do go on the more intense mission space at epcot!

Universal is not worth it without the express pass so maybe cut it entirely but it is great and seaworld or DC not a good substitute. The rides are not as fun if you have to queue 2 hours for them. Hagrid is often 3 hours!

On a short 10 day first time holiday I'd skip Kennedy as its a long drive.

We only had a little bit of time in Orlando so stayed on site and did full days, morning-fireworks in the parks.

Land/check in PM
Day 1: magic kingdom
Day 2: animal kingdom
Day 3: magic kingdom AM/Epcot
Day 4: Epcot
Day 5: Hollywood Studios
Check out AM

Animal Kingdom is fairly small. Epcot has some amazing but few rides - we were there for the Food & Wine festival. Hollywood Studios has an incredible "firework"/light display.

Wish we'd had time for Typhoon Lagoon!

Not sure how helpful that is!

Are you getting day tickets for Disney/universal or passes? Just because if you’re getting passes it’s a huge waste of money not to properly experience them and buy more tickets to lower rate attractions. Bearing in mind however that the Disney parks cost around $150 per day each if you’re buying day passes.

I don’t think it’s too busy, it’s just that you’re paying a hell of a lot not to really experience any of it. It’s not possible to do everything in Orlando so you need to be focussed and not try to! First time we went we just did Disney, every day for 2 weeks for 3-4 hours (when they had the fast pass system and we had 2 young kids). Second time we did Disney and Universal, 12 park days, had to miss quite a lot as it was busy. Next time we might do Universal and Space Centre as we felt the 4 days we spent at Universal were too rushed and too busy this time (I think only one ride we rode twice). We had DAS passes as well.

We don’t do pool days and the extra travel time/parking cost is just one of those things - I’m not one for 15 hours in a theme park, it’s not really enjoyable. If you think you’ll enjoy doing that then carry on!

In 14 days we did:
1 day space center
2 days each IOA & US
1 day Epcot
1 day MK
1 day HS
2 days AK
1 day Typhoon Lagoon
1 day Blizzard Beach

Had hire car and spent full day from open until closing in parks. Got breakfast in hotel and made packed lunches from supermarket to eat in parks.

It was very full on but DCs loved it. (They have to be ok with being on their feet for 10 hours!)

I would also check height requirements for the theme park attraction rides in advance to avoid any disappointment. If the child is not tall enough they will not be allowed onto the ride.

At DAK the animals are not always visible and hide during the heat of the day.

Re KSC, I would see if there is an astronaut visiting that particular day.

Wow.

Honestly, you're going to be absolute shattered after all of that but the Space Centre, Aquatica and Discovery Cove will basically work as rest days. Discovery Cove Is well worth it considering how much is included, that was our favourite the last time we went and we're usually die-hard theme park fans. I'm jealous, it sounds like your boys are going to have an amazing time!

Please don’t go to sea world and discovery cove. Don’t teach your children that it’s ok to treat animals like that

Please reconsider SeaWorld.
My parents took us to SeaWorld San Diego in the early 90s - I remember watching the orca show etc. and as I got older I felt really embarrassed and guilty for having been. My parents now say they regret it taking us, too. It isn't a happy childhood memory at all (Disney totally is, though!)

Completely agree re Seaworld and DC. Maybe if enough people mention how absolutely abhorrent those places are the OP will reconsider.
It's not a debate, there are no 2 ways about it they are beyond cruel and I would have thought most people would realise this by now and if practically everyone is saying it, actually look into and don't go!

That aside, your schedule is too full.

Sadly many people continue to go to Sea World and similar places, it's hideous!

Agree @mooncloud1 it’s not a debate. It’s disgusting and there is no justification

I would probably skip Kennedy if you plan to cut anything out.

I am a Disney and Universal annual Pass holder so pretty used to the parks! Your schedule is perfectly doable but I would plan to start early and be willing to sack it off when you’re tired and head back to the villa early-ish. If you’re planning to max out every day from rope drop to fireworks you will be exhausted!

DC is a very relaxing day and Seaworld does have some great coasters (the new stand-up one is really good!)

Honestly, Seaworld isn't worth the money!

I firmly believe you will leave upset at something. The Polar Bear enclosure remains in my mind now after 20 years. The poor bears looked demented :(

You only have 10 days - use them wisely!

My friend got universal sea world pass and she was really underwhelmed by seaworld and its water park. So even if you're not interested in animal cruelty arguments just don't waste precious time.

It's hard to know what you will and won't love. I thought DAK would be rubbish but it was fabulous. The Pandora / avatar world is one of the best themed areas I've ever seen. At DHS I am not a star wars fan and yet I loved Batuu /galaxy's Edge. Incidentally both pandora and star wars areas are worth seeing by night as well as by day as the lighting changes and they look cool at night.

Yes. What’s even worse than going to these places, is taking young children and making them think it’s ok.

I have seen people proudly posting photos of themselves kissing dolphins. I seriously deplore morons that do this.

Yes absolutely.

I haven't read the whole thread - apologies.

I went to Orlando in 2022 for 14 days with 2 children under 10.

We mostly did the 4 Disney parks and the Disney water park. We walked 15-20k steps per day. Due to how fast rides get booked up we were up at 6.45 and on the Disney app at 7am to book the lightening lane. We had cereal in bed, got dressed and on a bus to the park by 8am ish.

This meant we got to enjoy the parks before they got too busy and it got too hot. By2/3pm each day we'd had enough and went back to the hotel to chill / nap.

We did do the fireworks at Magic Kingdom and Epcot which were well worth it. We also had some days off and did a Mall, Disney Springs.

It is exhausting. Do not underestimate how shattered you will be. I took a metal water bottle each to fill up whilst there, lots and lots and lots of packets of snacks to carry around each day too and really really comfy shoes.

Hi, travel agent here and I book a LOT of Orlando. I have some questions: 1. I assume if you only have 2 Disney days then you are looking at gate tickets? Its REALLY expensive....2. Is Kennedy a must? Its good but in a 10 day trip I would scrap it.
Having been many times, they way you are working it is making it incredibly expensive and you wont see everything/will feel rushed. If you want to do Discovery Cove then usually the tickets give you at least Seaworld and Aquatica. Thats 3 days minimum. Another 3 for Universal and Islands. Another day for Volcano Bay. Day you get there is written off. thats 7 of the 10 days gone. In reality you could do Volcano Bay twice and 4 days over the 2 Universal Parks, especially if you dont have express passes.
I would EITHER: Just do Disney - thats 5 parks and you need 2 for Magic and 2 for Animal Kingdom IMO.
OR
Discovery/Seaworld/Auqatica and then the 3 Universal Parks.

It will be less stressfull and better value for money.
FYI Disney is around $168pppd for 1 day non park hop plus tax

I don't think you have any right to ignore this.
It's immoral and cruel. Surely not what you want to teach your children. They might be disgusted they were taken there when they get a bit older.

You are getting good advice here. Skip sea world because it isn’t actually a good park (even if you aren’t worried about animals). Discovery Cove has an amazing reputation for being enjoyable but is expensive, so you could decide to skip. Skip Kennedy on a first trip - it’s a fun thing to do if you go back but not a priority this time. Add more Disney - personally wi to kids that age I would want a day in Hollywood Studios, a day in Animal Kingdom (they will love Pandora) and a day or two in Magic Kingdom (there are tonnes of rides so it takes longer). Contrary to previous poster, I could live without Epcot - our kids always thought it was a bit dull by comparison. (Though Guardians is a great great ride).

add at least one full rest day to just hang at your hotel. It will help you.

But you say your kids like animals. Do they know how the animals are treated in these kinds of parks?

We are also not lay by the pool people but I would drop Discovery Cove and seaworld and add in Epcot as frankly it’s the best of the Disney Parks

With boys your age I would consider a swap to include Hollywood Studios. The Star Wars area is amazing and probably has the best ride at Disney (Rise of the Resistance) which js an immersive experience unlike any theme park you'll have been to in the UK. As others have said their show Fantasmic is fabulous!

I'd also second looking into the cost of 7/14 day tickets you can get from the uk via sites like attractionticketsdirect as they aren't much different to 2 days of pay at gate prices. The us market don't get access to these so you can't buy them out there. They also include water parks.

I'd also sack off seaworld. Whatever you think of the animals it pales in comparison to the Disney/universal stuff

NASA is great having been with kids of similar ages

Have a great trip