Sunday Dilemma

[Nostromo]

Hi! I wish someone would advise me please? I am planning a 3 -week visit to Orlando with my family in April-May 2004, starting 22nd April, 10 days AFTER Easter. I have carefully drawn an itinerary to see as much as possible on the best (ie least crowded) days and everything has fallen into place except we are not sure where to go on Sunday, 9th May. I am told everything is crowded on a Sunday, but we have to visit someting that day and have narrowed it down to 4 possibilities: Disney-MGM studios, Blizzard Beach, Sea World or our Shopping special day. It has to be one of these on that Sunday and so can some kind soul help me out? There are kids and seniors in our group.

[mm69340]

Hi,

I am over here in the States and May 9th may be less crowded than you think- It is possible it is Mother's day over here- So DO NOT TRY ANY RESTAURANTS!!;)

I would do the Shopping Special Day.

[Amirah]

Hi,

We did Magic Kingdom on May 8, 2003(Sunday) and it was not crowded to the point where we were uncomfortable (it was moderate). If you get their early enough you'll be able to take advantage of everything that park has to offer. We had a good time and we're going back again in May 2004 too.

[florida]

Blizzard Beach without a doubt, the best way to spend a Sunday!:D

The shops aren't opened long enough on Sundays for serious shoppers[:p]

[sunseeker]

I wouldn't do MGM, as the disney artists do not work on Sundays.
It is nice to see the next animations being created.

Jayne

[Nostromo]

Thanks people. If Shops are not open long enough, my wife will kill me for putting 'her' big day on a Sunday; My movie buff father-in-law will most certainly be interested in the MGM backstage tour and that is out if the artists do not work on a Sunday. So it seems to be a toss-up between Sea World & Blizzard Beach and I am veering towards the water park and keep the Sea World for the following day.

[Carla]

Have you built in any "relaxing" days for yourselves? It can be extremely exhausting going to one park after another and not having enough rest days, where you can just lounge around by the pool, talk a walk, make dinner a special occasion at a lovely restaurant etc. Your seniors will appreciate this, and so will the kids!!!:D:D

[Nostromo]

Oh, yes Carla. Every fourth day is designated as a "rest day" where we do nothing but attend to the laundry and similar bits, watch TV, swim in the pool and generally laze around. We have hired a nice villa and so relaxing is not a problem. Thanks all the same, for the advice.

[Biggus]

Nostromo,
Firstly, excellent idea planning the holiday itinery - you need to to maximise what you get in, just one word of caution.........
I would have more frequent rest days than every 4 - May will nice and warm/hot (depends on personal feelings) and 1 in 4 is not much - especially with kids etc - despite the mountains of energy that kids seem to have. We went in March/Aprill this year and even without kids (we had my mum and day in their late 50's) EVERYONE was glad of the rest days every 3rd/ever other day. Depends how your itinery is planned and where you are going as days like at waterparks etc are generally quite relaxing, but big days at big parks like Busch and Sea World will take a lot out of everyone............
Just thought I'd highlight it as:-
a: there will be a lot to take in (especially if this is your first visit) and I'd hate for any of you to miss out on anything because someone was not up for it......
b: you might need another break when you return because everything has been so 'full-on'
Whatever you have a wicked time - I am sure you will!!!!

[Matt]

Another tip for you if you want to do something on a Sunday. Rather than take in one of the big parks, whether a theme or water park, why not try some of the smaller 1/4 or 1/5 day attractions down I-Drive. Like Ripleys museum or wonderworks, skull kingdom, gatorland zoo (though thats not down I-Drive). We usually do a couple of these as you can easily fit them in to one day. Go for something to eat, and then finish the day of at one of the excellent crazy golf courses.

Like Biggus said, you really don't want to over do it, and the itinery I've mentioned above isn't hectic like a full on park day.

Matt

[Amirah]

I agree with Biggus. We rested every two days. You guys must have very good feet [8D]

[MTP]

Another thing that we found for three week holidays is that it may be worthwhile looking at annual passes, rather than passess with a set number of days. We did this for Disney at our last holiday and will be renewing them for our next and are considering adding in Seaworld. As our kids are young, Universal doesn't yet justify the cost and we have found that a two park entry ticket will allow us in one day to feature on the attractions suited to them. The two Universal parks are also not to big to wander around both on a single day.

The cost of the annual passes are not that much more than the ten day passes for Disney. At the time that we bought them we were members of the Disney Club and were able to get the tickets at a slightly discounted rate, this also allows for a discounted rate for ticket renewal. Unfortunately the Disney Club is coming to an end and are no longer accepting new applications. This is really annoying as we got some good discounts on accommodation with them.

Anyway, the main advantage of the annual pass is that when you go into the parks you do not feel that you have to get the full days worth out of each day. This suits us well as I am not really into overly planning our holiday itinery, we could quit the parks if the kids wanted (actually I don't recall this ever happening!), we could decide after a morning shopping to go to the parks, even if just to go for a particular feature or for the fireworks. It was also great pulling up to the parking toll gates and being waved through (that must cut the cost difference between 10 day passes and AP's by $70).

It also means that if you are going back the following year you can try to tie your holiday in to the tail end of the passes, effectively getting free entry for the second holiday.

That just may something to consider.

Best wishes,

Euan

[chrizzy100]

Whats a rest day......?? :D

I've yet to have one of those in Orlando...even with my mother who was 65 with a bad heart....we plan to have them.....but somehow they go poof......[?]