Page 2 | Florida Orlando help please

SassyCrab · 2025-05-19T20:01:34+00:00

I’m looking to take my 2 year old to Florida next year on my own am I being impulsive? I’ve been wanting to go since I was little but never had the opportunity but now I can afford it I want to take my little boy. Is there a lot to do there for toddlers and if so what would you recommend and where would be the safest area to stay and best for restaurants/ shops nearby? Before people say “wait until he’s older” I don’t know how my finances will be and I don’t want to take the risk and whilst he’s free to get into the parks I want to make the most of it. He’s also been to Thailand and was fine on the flight so the flight doesn’t bother me as much, it’s more just when we are there, I don’t want to feel unsafe & overwhelmed. If anyone else has done it being single etc please let me know and give tips. Thank you!

SnakesAndArrows · 20/05/2025 19:15

Whereabouts is the hotel and what time of year? Will you drive or use hotel shuttles to the parks? Which parks do you want to go to?

I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all, but WDW is massive, public transport is patchy, it’s stupidly hot and humid in the summer and there’s a good chance of hurricane disruption in September, so you’ll need to do some planning.

BellaNutella88 · 21/05/2025 07:01

I never understand why people say a kid is too young for Disney. Disney is for all ages. Yes you’ll be limited on going on the big rides with just the two of you but there’s still tonnes to do. And if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do and not just for your little one then absolutely do it !!

We love going to Disney and will be taking a 2 and 7yo next year.

personally while it’s possible to do safely offsite (I’ve never felt unsafe there) I think it’ll be easier for you to stay on site. All star hotels cheapest but Pop is my fav as it has the skyliner. Then you could do parks in the morning and pool and hotel in the afternoon. Transport all across Disney and to the Disney springs shopping and dining complex and there’s a water park.

offers come out end of April for the following year on the Disney dining offer but they do have other offers on throughout the year. Check out Its Orlando time or Disney and Orlando for brits on fb- tonnes of info which is super helpful.

if you want to go and you want to take your little one then ignore anyone saying they are too young. We have taken a 2yo to Paris and a 3yo to Florida. Yes it’s harder at that age - nappies, tantrums whatever. But I’d still take it any day over not going !

jklpouaglds · 21/05/2025 07:52

BellaNutella88 · 21/05/2025 07:01

I never understand why people say a kid is too young for Disney. Disney is for all ages. Yes you’ll be limited on going on the big rides with just the two of you but there’s still tonnes to do. And if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do and not just for your little one then absolutely do it !!

We love going to Disney and will be taking a 2 and 7yo next year.

personally while it’s possible to do safely offsite (I’ve never felt unsafe there) I think it’ll be easier for you to stay on site. All star hotels cheapest but Pop is my fav as it has the skyliner. Then you could do parks in the morning and pool and hotel in the afternoon. Transport all across Disney and to the Disney springs shopping and dining complex and there’s a water park.

offers come out end of April for the following year on the Disney dining offer but they do have other offers on throughout the year. Check out Its Orlando time or Disney and Orlando for brits on fb- tonnes of info which is super helpful.

if you want to go and you want to take your little one then ignore anyone saying they are too young. We have taken a 2yo to Paris and a 3yo to Florida. Yes it’s harder at that age - nappies, tantrums whatever. But I’d still take it any day over not going !

As has been said most of the time people are talking about ages in a Florida context because for most people it’s a trip they only do 1-2 times, if you’re going multiple times then it really doesn’t matter, if you want to punish yourself taking a 2 year old half way across the world have at it 😂 (light hearted!!)

jklpouaglds · 21/05/2025 07:54

I would also recommend on site and am only going off site next time as ours will be teens and we won’t be focussing on Disney, nothing beats the Disney bubble (especially with younger ones so you can take a break during the day), but you don’t get that for £600 pp flights and accommodation.

BellaNutella88 · 21/05/2025 07:57

jklpouaglds · 21/05/2025 07:52

As has been said most of the time people are talking about ages in a Florida context because for most people it’s a trip they only do 1-2 times, if you’re going multiple times then it really doesn’t matter, if you want to punish yourself taking a 2 year old half way across the world have at it 😂 (light hearted!!)

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@jklpouaglds yes but she’s said if they like it she will go again for two weeks so not a one and done thing ?

jklpouaglds · 21/05/2025 08:09

She also mentioned not knowing if she’d afford it again in future so I assume she’s not going to be a DIBB annual pass holder.

SnakesAndArrows · 21/05/2025 08:15

People are being weirdly hostile on your thread OP.

A pp mentioned the DIBB. It’s a forum (mainly) for Brits visiting Orlando. They are friendly and helpful and I suggest you go there for more research as well as coming back to this thread.

My advice is do it, but with your eyes open. On site would be best and easiest of course, but one of the Lake Buena Vista hotels - which can be cheap - would be OK and within reasonable Uber distance of the parks.

Original poster

SassyCrab · 21/05/2025 10:48

SnakesAndArrows · 21/05/2025 08:15

People are being weirdly hostile on your thread OP.

A pp mentioned the DIBB. It’s a forum (mainly) for Brits visiting Orlando. They are friendly and helpful and I suggest you go there for more research as well as coming back to this thread.

My advice is do it, but with your eyes open. On site would be best and easiest of course, but one of the Lake Buena Vista hotels - which can be cheap - would be OK and within reasonable Uber distance of the parks.

I know I don’t get it, I always attract the same people on my posts. I find mumsnet is just full of negative people! But I decided if I do go I will probably stay at dockside in universal, as it’s more in my price range than staying at Disney & I’d probably only go Disney once in my stay as I will probably find it overwhelming & im not a massive fan. I would also go May 2026. I’m more going for myself as it’s always been a dream to go Florida (not Disney).

I also want to clarify, if prices of Florida keep increasing and I have to pay full price for my DS I might not want to justify paying 10k for a holiday to Florida, so I’d rather get an insight now where I found an affordable deal and then if I love it I can then maybe justify paying a lot of money in future. Also no one knows what’s round the corner so I don’t want to go my whole life not experiencing at least once!

OP posts:

Original poster

SassyCrab · 21/05/2025 10:51

Also the big rides don’t bother me, as I don’t really fancy queuing in 31 degrees heat. Yes it would’ve been nice to do it but it’s not the end of the world for me!

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BellaNutella88 · 21/05/2025 11:02

@SassyCrab that sounds like a great plan and you’ll have a great time. I hardly ever post on mumsnet and now I know why!

Im looking at endless summer too for the universal part of my next trip, looks great !

MerryChristmasCup · 21/05/2025 11:22

I don't think people are being rude or negative. You have expressly asked in your OP whether you are being impulsive in taking a 2 year old to Florida and people who have been are just answering that question honestly. I posted that I think Disneyland Paris would be better at the moment, that is because having been to Florida many times in the past when I was childfree, I have just returned from Paris with my 3.5 year old and that is my honest opinion on it. I will be waiting until she's about 6 to go to Florida. However there is no right or wrong, if you want to go then you should definitely go

SnakesAndArrows · 21/05/2025 12:35

So… Universal only sounds like a good plan. There are areas within both where your toddler can enjoy rides, the scenery and water play areas. If your offer is for flights and accommodation for Endless Summer Dockside then I’d say probably go for it!

EggnogNoggin · 21/05/2025 13:04

Loads to do. Universal has a lovely Seuss-land and Volcano Bay watermark is great for toddlers.

I took mine to Disney at that age and in all honesty it was disappointing because DC napped a lot of the day and the queues even for kids stuff out of season was awful. Universal was much quieter.

EggnogNoggin · 21/05/2025 13:08

SassyCrab · 21/05/2025 10:48

I know I don’t get it, I always attract the same people on my posts. I find mumsnet is just full of negative people! But I decided if I do go I will probably stay at dockside in universal, as it’s more in my price range than staying at Disney & I’d probably only go Disney once in my stay as I will probably find it overwhelming & im not a massive fan. I would also go May 2026. I’m more going for myself as it’s always been a dream to go Florida (not Disney).

I also want to clarify, if prices of Florida keep increasing and I have to pay full price for my DS I might not want to justify paying 10k for a holiday to Florida, so I’d rather get an insight now where I found an affordable deal and then if I love it I can then maybe justify paying a lot of money in future. Also no one knows what’s round the corner so I don’t want to go my whole life not experiencing at least once!

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I would suggest an alternative hotel, only because all onsite guests apart from that one can use the other hotel pools (Inc Hard Rock, which is super close and no shuttle needed), which might be really helpful for you for taking DC out of the park for a few hours in the heat of the day.

Endless Summer is literally the only hotel excluded from that I think.

I believe you can walk from Cabana to Volcano Bay.