if you were going to FLORIDA for your 40th with your kids.... not necc DISNEY ( shudder)

[DrewPWiener]

what would your best top tip be?
Are already thinking Easter next year, villa rather than hotel, not totally park tastic

Depends what you like doing.

THe disney parks can win over even people who don't like theme parks, but I couldn't spend a whole holiday there. If you liek beaches, the gulf coast is great, and I know lots of people who do a week at disney then a week at the beach.

We personally did three parks in the fortnight. I liek to see new places on holiday, we drove down to Miami and Key West. I loved Key West. If it was up to me I'd have done the everglades too.

Get a private villa, somwhere like Kissimee, away from the parks a bit, cheap - can get own pool for a reasonable price. Rent a car.

Thanks for that. Which parks DID you like. What beachy areas did you see?

We stayed on Anna Maria island over 4 years ago which we loved. Children were 10 months and 2 years 4 months. And it was December so possibly a different atmosphere then to Easter.

Lovely sandy beaches, quiet, a few good restaurants, ice cream shops, a free shuttle bus up and down the spit.

It all depends what you're looking for.

Agree with Chops ref private villa. At the moment you can get a really nice private villa with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, games room, private pool within 4 miles of Disney from £400 per week. Works out much cheaper than two rooms in some of the budget hotels.

If you want something a bit different, think about Discovery Cove where you can swim with dolphins. It is quite expensive but within the package you get a 7/14 day ticket for Seaworld or Bush Gardens so it makes it a bit more affordable and it really is a special day.

Also think about maybe a week in Orlando and a week on the gulf coast, either St Petes or Tampa or if a bit more adventurous you could drive down to Miami/Florida keys which is what we did last summer (must add that we did it in an RV with 3 kids which is an experience NEVER to be repeated) couldn't wait to get back to the villa in Kissimmee!

I second Anna Maria, Also beaches around Tampa (Honeymoon Island just gorgeous) and cheap villa rental from British owners. Not much poin t in renting near Disney though if you don't want to do the parks as not much else around there. We love Miami, area around Naples, Sarasota too. Wildlife far more interesting than parks (IMHO!!) - alligators along alligator alley between Miami and Naples, Dolphins all along the coast, various reserves/everglades for manatee spotting etc.

I used to go to Daytona Beach for my spring break holidays as a uni student...so if your going outside of spring break (too many girls gone wild otherwise ) then daytona is a great beach to visit. For the Disney parks, I too was not enamoured to begin with, but I went to MGM and actually really enjoyed it, also went to universal studios, not disney, and definately a different feel to it, but had a great time there too!

I think you would be mad to go all that way to Florida with young kids and not take them to Disney-too cruel! The parks are not to everyone's taste but I think if you just embrace what it is you will have a fab time.
I was a complete cynic until I went I now I go every year. Sad perhaps but with the age range of my 4 kids it just works for the time being. 2 centre is the ideal as the gulf coast is lovely. only been to Anna Maria and St Petes as not wanted to travel too far with babies. Both were fab but plenty of other places if you want to travel further.

we are going in 4 weeks. We are doing the housey thing for a week and doing all the parks with our 3 DCs and then going to St Lucia for 10 days to lie down .

Nothing really to add but just wanted to tell

How old are your dcs? If you have not been to Disney, go! Unless your children are babies or teenagers.

Magic Kingdom, Mgm Studios and Animal Kingdom are my dcs favourites.

My parents have place in Sarasota and the beaches are good around that part of the coast - Longboat key, Siesta Key. And Clearwater is good for big beaches.