I agree, we always advise guests to start with Seaworld. Its a great one to get you into the swing of it.
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I agree, we always advise guests to start with Seaworld. Its a great one to get you into the swing of it.
Hi Kev,
Your plans sound pretty good for a first timer, you have allowed chill out time at the villa and a couple of days of shopping. Most first timers plan to visit a theme park most days and forget the chilling out time which you certainly need, so you are at least planning realistically. I dont think a lot of people realise quite how big and spralling the theme parks really are until they see them. I agree with Ceri that it is a good idea to do some shopping on the first night, you wont need to shop for the full holiday but it is wise to buy enough of the essentials for at least 3 or 4 days and at least it will make you stay awake a little longer to adjust to the time difference.
Animal Kingdom is a good choice for the first of the Disney Parks as it is probably the least busy, so good for getting photos and autographs of the characters.
Personally, I think you have allowed plenty of time for shopping considering the ages of your children, they would probably rather be doing something more exciting or staying at the villa and using the pool.
Gatorland is good for a half day but agree with Carol that your children would not fully appreciate Disney Quest. You may be better doing Gatorland and then just strolling around Downtown Disney instead as there is quite a lot to see without the rush of the theme parks.
Cocoa beach is a good choice for your beach day, I am sure the whole family will enjoy it.
On your last day you will most probably have to vacate the villa by 10am so you wont have much of a restful last day swimming in the villa pool but you will have a little time to do some last minute shopping.
As others have said, as long as you dont try to stick rigidly to your plan and swap and change as needed you cant go far wrong. And its a cert that you will want to return once you have been to do a little more that Orlando has to offer. However much you go to Orlando there will never be enough time to do everything that there is to offer.
I am 100% sure that you will have a fantastic time though, enjoy[msnsmile2]
Karen
Looks quite a good itinerary to me and pleased to see you have spaced it out well.
Florida Mall is a lovely mall that will suit your family as there is something for everyone. I would say visit this one rather than Mall of Millenia. Mall of Millenia is certainly worth a visit - a very classy mall with expensive designer shops, but not a lot for young children, apart from maybe a visit to a lovely restaurant called "The Cheesecake Factory"!
Premium Outlet is a good shopping outlet too which again would suit your family as it never seems to get too packed and is reasonable small that you walk round it in a square so can't lose each other easily and in the centre of the square is a small food court.
I think your family would love Crazy Golf and there are quite a few of them around and a few really good Disney ones. If you do a "search" on crazy golf you will find more information. May be nice to do this on your rest days as it is quite relaxing and you only need a couple of hours.
Also I would choose Clearwater/St. Petersburg for my day at the coast, but that is just personal preference!
I think it is good advice to get some provisions on your first night. I would speak to the owner of the villa that you are renting as they should be able to tell which shop en route from the airport would be best to visit. That way you shouldn't need to go out of your way.
I think it's a great idea to visit Animal Kingdom first as you will be up early in the first few days, Animal Kingdom shuts earlier than the other Disney parks so we always try and get there for opening time!
Have a wonderful holiday[msnsmile]
Dawn
Thank you all so much for your comments,
they are very much appreciated.
We will take on board everything that's been said,& hopefully have a great Holiday.
Thanks once again,
Kev
Hi Kev
On Saturday 10th, when you are shopping in the day time, it might be an idea to stick in a trip to Old Town in the evening. Saturday night is 'classic car night' and the atmosphere is fantastic, with live bands, plenty of shops that are unique to Old Town and, of course, Skycoaster, Slingshot and G-force to boot.
Have you also got any ideas about places you want to eat at when you are there? We looked around this site for other peoples faves and made sure they were on a list rather than just trying pot luck when we got there.
The only other point I would make is that your restful last day by the pool might not be an option, especially if you are planning on using Downtown Disney Check-in.
Other than that every thing else looks great and you are giving your kids every chance to rest and catch up. When we look back on our videos from our trips it always hits us that the kids seem happiest when they are splashing about and having a laugh in the villa pool. Just think of all the money I could have saved in park tickets if I had known that in advance [msntongue]
Kenny
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by kevinclynes
Hi everyone,
We are all really looking forward to our first family trip to Orlando.!
Our party consists of my wife & myself & our 2 x daughters (10 & 7yrs) & our son (3yrs).
We are flying with Virgin & staying in a villa at Emerald Island Resort.
Our dates are November 6 to 20th 2007.
I've made out an Itinerary for our 2 week stay,& would love to get some feedback/comments on what you all think.
Here goes:-
Nov Tues 6th - Arrive at villa approx 6pm (chill/eat/sleep)
Wed 7th - Animal Kingdom
Thu 8th - Rest day by pool/villa/get supplies at Walmart
Fri 9th - Magic Kingdom
Sat 10th - Shopping (Florida Mall or Mall at Millenia..?)
Sun 11th - MGM
Mon 12th - Typhoon Lagoon
Tue 13th - Epcot
Wed 14th - Trip to the Beach (maybe Cocoa Beach..?)
Thu 15th - Seaworld
Fri 16th - Rest day by pool&villa/downtown Disney evening
Sat 17th - Universal Studios
Sun 18th - Gatorland/DisneyQuest
Mon 19th - Return trip to favourite Theme Park
Tue 20th - Restfull last day at pool/villa & last minute shopping
(Return flight leaves Orlando 6pm)
Thanks in advance,
Kev
[/quote]
Tues 6th -arrive at Villa [6pm seems late, but don't know your time of flight] Drop your bags off, and nip to Winn Dixie [nearest to you- about 0.5 miles away] or PUblix -my fave, again, not that far away]
take a shopping list with you, as you will be dazed with the variety when you get there.
Weds7th AK - great choice - get there about half an hour or so before official opening - go on Safari ride first, whilst Animals are awake and out of the shade.
Thurs 8th -Florida Mall, and Premium Outlets
Friday 9th [Fridays are busy in MK, I have found]Typhoon LAgoon
Saturday 10th Epcot [Shops ar busier at weekends with locals]
Sunday 11th -Rest day, followed by afternoon evening at Disney quest [loads to do for those ages, I disagree -my son has been going for years]and downtown Disney -maybe fish 'n Chips at Raglan Road, whilst there
Monday 12th Magic Kingdom
Tuesday 13th Beach -Cocoa is nearer than Clearwater, but gulf side has warmer water - either are good
Weds 14th -MGM and maybe minigolf at Winter summerland later
and the rest is as your plan apart from Sunday, which I would have as a theme park day, and do Gatorland on your last day, because you will have to be out of the Villa by 10am.
Sounds a great trip, and your first time is always very special.
All sounds good and lots of fun in the planning
Perhaps check that your planned vists do not coincide with what are considered busy days for those particular parks
Perhaps consider adding a character meal (breakfast or Dinner) somwhere in the plan, does not have to be in a park, maybe one of the hotels (Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary) is excellent
Also check that you will have full access to your villa on the day you leave, and not have to vacate by say 10am
And perhaps also consider introducing Cypress Gardens, I have not previously been here but have heard so many good things about it, and also that it offers a great and perhaps less exhausting introduction to the parks
Perhaps make this your first day park trip to get you into the swing of things gently which is what we are going to do
Most of all , have fun
Great suggestions Kenny & Susan J
In fact great comments from all of you.
It's so good to "Ask the experts"..!!!
I may tinker slightly with the original Itinerary,(as per your suggestions) to get the best possible holiday experience.
Cheers,
Kev
My first thought was "where's IoA?" but then I thought -What the heck-Go and have a flexible plan and enjoy every second with your wife and kids!! What do I know?
I'm sure that you'll get the bug and so there'll be other years--You cannot possibly do everything in one trip-the size of the place is awesome so it will take you a while to acclimatise anyway.
Watch those kiddies in the sun! I went to Wet n Wild once on an overcast day and being a Florida virgin didn't bother with Sunblock-It was overcast!!--Anyway suffice to say that I ended up looking like a raspberry ripple-a very painful one though.