Taking photos in Florida waterparks

[MrsSnape]

Is it possible to take photos inside places like Wet N Wild? Aquatica etc?

I know you'd ned a waterproof camera but is it really feasible to walk around these places with a camera in hand?

Yep sure is.

there are people that take photos for you at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach - you need a Disney Photopass (the photographers will hand you one) then you buy the photos online when you get home - you can also use them in the other Disney parks and get a great album of professional pictures - mine should be winging it's way to me any day now!!

Five weeks to go for me Kbear.

How exciting!!!

I still can't believe we had such an amazing time.

Have you planned with military precision or are you like me, flying by the seat of your pants?

Well we sort of plan. Have booked Discovery Cove/Busch Gardens/Aquatica. But all other stuff we have not booked as this is our third year running so have done a lot of the stuff already - although there is still lots to see and do.

Going to go to Kennedy Space Centre which we will pay on the door.

Probably will go back to Islands of Adventure and this year we will pay on the door. Last year we booked Universal/Islands online as they were doing buy one get one free on tickets, but not too fussed if we don't go.

Are you going for 2 weeks? Where are you staying?

I am (secretly and only in my head at the moment) planning another trip - probably in two years' time. I would definitely stay in a Disney hotel again, it was just so wonderful (I am used to wet windy camping holidays) so it was like being in paradise!!

We did Discovery Cove but will do Aquatica next time. We did more Disney stuff than anything else this time, which we loved (especially Animal Kingdom - much less "full on" there). Wasn't overly impressed with Universal (been to the LA on and preferred that). Also I think we were pretty exhausted by parks by the time we did Universal and Islands of Adventure so had gone off the boil a bit! I was ready for a sunlounger and a pina colada!

We stay at the Sheraton Vistana Villages on the really quiet end of International Drive - a couple of minutes from Seaworld and we are going for two weeks.

On our first year there we booked a package through Virgin with the same accommodation, but now we do it all separately - much cheaper.

The Vistana Villages are apartments and the boys have their own bedroom with a double bed each, tv, bathroom so they are fairly "self contained". There is a full kitchen, washer, drier, dining table, proper living room etc.

I obviously don't go on holiday to be washing and ironing all the time, but those american driers are just fab and nothing needs ironing. It is nice to come home with a suitcase full of clean clothes.

Sometimes we eat in the apartment (Publix supermarket just down the road) and buy salad, huge prawns and some nice bread which makes a change from all the fast food that they serve in Florida.

sounds wonderful bellavita - have a great time!

I think out of all the Disney Parks, Animal Kingdom was my favourite.

Bellavita - the Sheraton Vistana villages, are they suitable for wheelchairs would you say? Is it easy to get to the swimming pool? Becuase I've just googled it, and it looks fab! I think we are planning to go in a couple of years' time, when ds is 11yo (wheelchair user) and dd is 7yo. TIA

Yes, lots of wheelchair users there. The apartment blocks are about six high and with lifts.

We usually ask to stay in the apartments around the main pool - which yes it is very easy to get to and it also has zero entry.

There are other phases that have been built eg the Keys Section and all these have their own pool but I am pretty certain that these are not zero entry.

Hi bellavita. We stayed in the vistana resort in Lake Buena Vista it is fantastic. Have booked it again for this year. Have you done Cirque du soleil?

Hello mamablue. No we have not done Cirque du Soleil - do you recommend it?

Oh Yes!! I was not sure about it as not a big circus fan myself it is hard to describe but think lights, acrobatics, mimes, stunning visual effects. Fast and fun and not an animal in sight! Never seen anything like it before. Totally amazing experience DD's loved it!

When we were in Florida Cirque du Soleil went to London for two weeks!

Oh no! Did they close the whole show?

Thanks Bellavita. You've got me all excited about Florida now, shame we're not going for ages and ages.

yep! typical. All the while advertising that you could only see the show in Florida - er yes but it's gone to LONDON. Guess where I live too!

Will look into booking a show then

Is it best to book before we go or whilst we are there?

When do you go to Florida Mamablue?

kbear - not sure where I thought you lived, but did not think it was London!

yep, south east, in the 'burbs!

Hi Bella. Our last visit was 18 months ago and we are going again in November this year. I have been in July/August, April, October and November.
When do you go?

We go on the 25th July and come back on the 8th August - our school does not break up until the 22nd July.

I know it is going to be blardy hot and humid when we go but unfortunately DS1 is in Yr6 and we could not take him out of school to go slightly earlier on.

First year we went on July 10th and I found this hot. Last year we went May/June half term and it was just right. Have also been (pre kids) March/April and that was nice also.

Not looking forward to all the queues this time around as I know it is going to be very busy.

It is hot in August but the water parks will be fab then. Nothing like jumping into a tropical lazy river on a hot day! I think that Florida is one of those places it is impossible not to enjoy at any time. (Well maybe not in hurricane season when my friend went)!!!

Mmmm waterparks - I do go (but to lounge on the beds

Many years ago, my parents took my brother and me to a swimming pool with slides etc. My brother promised faithfully that he would catch me at the bottom of the slide as I hit the water (have a sort of fear of water - I tend to swim with my head back rather than down iykwim). Well, he did not catch me and I not only surfaced like a drowned rat, but minus my bikini top.