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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Orlando - disney is 13 days long enough

20 replies

georgeclooneyfan · 11/04/2010 21:28

We are hoping to go in October this year from 6 - 20 oct we loose a day nearly travelling each way so only have prob 13 full days. We have not been before so wasnt sure if that was long enough or just right it seems alot of money as we left it late to book.Any advice would be great also I would be grateful if anyone could recommend what are the best parks to go to my kids will be 10 and 8 thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Kneazle · 12/04/2010 12:43

We have been for that length of time. You could go for four weeks and still not do everything, but you can do a lot in two weeks. You will have a great time ! Your kids are the ideal age. The best thing we did was swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove. It was the best holiday we have ever had.

AngryWasp · 12/04/2010 12:47

I don't know how the tickets are organised these days but you'll probably want to do one day on one day off wrt the parks.

Kbear · 12/04/2010 12:51

Plenty long enough - your kids are the perfect age (mine are 11 and 8 and we're going in May and went two years ago).

Plan your itinerary (loosely, not set in stone as you won't know how tired you're going to be) but I would cram in as much as you can.

On the day after you arrive have a lazy morning then hit one of the parks mid afternoon (they're open til late).

After that you will be full steam ahead to see as much as you can (different story if you have toddlers but your kids will be up and ready and out the door!).

I would say a day for each park and that will still leave you time to go back and re-do the things you loved. Don't miss the water parks - Typhoon Lagoon is GREAT, a full day of fun!

what else do you want to know??

Kbear · 12/04/2010 12:52

if you go in the summer and stay at certain Disney hotels you get free Dining Plan - check out that before you book anything

This will give you free transportation to the Disney parks and extra Magic Hours at Disney parks

Can work out similar price as villa off Disney property that you have to drive to and from the parks, pay tolls, pay for parking etc

Kneazle · 12/04/2010 12:58

Are you celebrating anything ? If any of you have a birthday or it is a anniversary let them know. My dd had a birthday while we were there. They gave us a birthday badge at reception and she was given a winnie the pooh and countless free mickey ice creams and cupcakes. I have never seen her so happy.

you can also get first trip badges DH got a free cookie becasue it was his first trip.

They really do go out of their way to make sure you have a good time.

I am desperate to go back

Kbear · 12/04/2010 12:59
Hulababy · 12/04/2010 13:03

We always go for a fortnight and tend to do parks pretty much every day. Can't see the point of the whole one day on, one day off. There is, IMO, not much else in the area other than parks worth doing. We do the Disney parks, the water parks, the Universal parks and then either Seaworld or Kennedy Space Centre.

DD has been at 2y, 4y and last year at 7y, and has always just wanted to be in there having fun!

DH and I were given anniversary badges, was worth the embarrassment of wearing it as we got free Fastpass tickets on many rides throughout the holiday.

Kneazle · 12/04/2010 13:08

The kids also enjoyed meeting Guitar Dan in Animal kingdom he makes songs up about your children on the fly if you give him a list of their favorite things. It was hilarious.

AngryWasp · 12/04/2010 13:28

Hula Weren't you exhausted? I was thinking of things like potter around the hotel and pool or go to the beach type things.

SuSylvester · 12/04/2010 13:29

god yes cant imagine anything worse
mind oyu wiht two adults adn one kid is easier

Kneazle · 12/04/2010 13:31

We didn't take a break either, unless you count water parks. We were far too excited !

ShadeofViolet · 12/04/2010 13:51

We went for 11 nights in 2003 and 14 nights in 2005 and that was long enough (though we could have stayed longer) Seaworld and Universal Studios were great, but IMO the space centre was awful!

Original poster
georgeclooneyfan · 12/04/2010 22:06

Thanks everyone for all your tips and suggestions I am getting excited already it all sounds like good fun!!(apart from the flights, as a kid we travelled back and forwards to Australia and I was a pretty sick flier,so hoping to try and think more positive as I think alot of the feeling sick is in my head!!Going to do the parks mainly and hopefully have look in a few shops/malls.I;m sure it will be fine .thanks again

OP posts:
teddymummy · 12/04/2010 22:11

We have just returned from 10 nights and we loved it- did all the parks on our disney ticket and typhoon lagoon twice for our 'rest days'. Very exhausting but wonderful holiday.
We got our park tickets online 14 days for the price of 7. There are lots of deals if you shop around. Next time we will stay in a resort hotel - we stayed on international drive which was good but shuttle buses were at set times and always packed- the disney transport is far more flexible and you dont waste time waiting for shuttles.

Hulababy · 12/04/2010 22:13

AngryWasp - not really no, especially this last time when it was jsut the three of us. We didn't rush round the parks, we meandered. We also had breaks during the day as we went and ate, ended up with a number of character meals as DH and DD like the buffets.

I dont like swimming and cant just sit in the sun - we go int he summer and it is very hot. So just lazing round a pool doesn't do it or me. Besides I could do that on any holiday, cant see point of lying all that way, spending all that money and then not doing it all. No a big shopper either so the, although we do visit maybe once, we dont do malls much - and what witht he exchange rates it isn't any cheaper anyway.

Even when DD was 2y and we went with my parents, my brother and my sister, we still did parks or space centre every day.

A water park for a morning is my equivalent of a break. DH and DD love it. As said before - I dont really do swimming. But for a couple of hours I can manage it.

Hulababy · 12/04/2010 22:14

ShadeofViolet - we really like the space centre for a quieter day.

Kneazle · 13/04/2010 09:25

There is lots of info on the Dibb forum if you need more help. I take peppermint oil tabets for sickness on planes. Have you tried those ? My kids also get sick on planes so i have to be prepared with a change of clothing and plastic bags. Do the children fly well ?

Kneazle · 13/04/2010 10:41

Oh one more really important thing. If you want to have sit down character meals in the parks it is a good idea to book before you go. They are well worth it, queuing to see characters can take hours.

FoJo · 06/05/2010 22:06

just back from our first trip. Children are 8 & 11. It was FAB, we stayed at pop century resort (cheapest disney hotel) and it was FAB (did I already say that?). We went to parksd every day, used the water parks as our 'rest days'. I could give you hundreds of tips but the best one is to get to parks early as first 2 - 3 hours are te best, we did every ride and never waited more than 30 mins. most times less. We usually left by about 3pm, having done the shows in the afternoon. We sometimes went back in the evening but usually didnt, had earlyish nights in preparation for the next early start!
Also go to www.disboards.com for brilliant tips

brimfull · 06/05/2010 22:09

do people actually go to the parks more than once ?

god my idea of hell

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