2 weeks disney/1 week coast or 3 weeks ???

[Ruth]

Hi Andrew, yes I have seen this thread

Our children are age 9, 6 and 4, and we ALL (especially me[:I]) love the theme parks. However last Easter we went to Florida for 3 weeks, and our villa was only available for the first two. I therefore booked a week in a villa in Rotunda, although we had never been to the Gulf before. Well I have to confess that we fell in love with the area. It is so much more relaxing than a "rest day" in Orlando. We now always try to do a split holiday staying for a week either in Rotunda or Cape Haze which is nearby. We go to the beach, relax by the pool, go on boat trips (brilliant as we see loads of wild dlphins usually), and hit the shops (which are much more convenient and nicer than the ones in Orlando in my opinion). The restaurants we also find are better at the Gulf, more individual independent ones, just as cheap and child friendly as Orlando. I would choose s split holiday every time, especially if you are lucky enough to be there for 3 weeks

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by andrewmckay5
Hopefully Ruth will see this thread as i know she has 3 children and visits Orlando and the Gulf.
andrew
[/quote]

[Michele L]

Definitely 3 weeks in Orlando. I have been quite a few times, with girlfriends, partner and also with family and 3 boys 7, 9 and 11 (none of them mine!!!)[)][)]. They absolutely loved the parks, sometimes 2 in one day which was Islands of Adventure then wet and Wild.
They loved the private pool at the villa.
We took them to cocoa beach but it was so windy and horrible they hated that - saying that I absolutely love the West coast - miles beter. We are going again and we intend to take the boys (again)to Sarasota and Siesta Key. You could always go to busch Gardens, book into a cheap motel then go to the beach the following day, if they enjoy it, have another day, if they don't come back to the villa.

trust me 2 weeks is not enough for Orlando for the first time for kids.

Michele

[alison166]

Thanks everyone for such a good response.

One of the main reasons I mentioned a beach type break at the end of the holiday is that my hubbie is self employed and works VERY long hours, most days. Our usual type of holiday is relaxing on a lovely beach as not only does it give hubbie a long deserved rest but the kids love it on the beaches.

Thought I might be able to combine the two !!

Ruth as we never have holidayed on the coast in USA before can you tell me anything about Cape Haze or Rotunda, or recommendations for places to stay here, web sites etc. Any comments would be great. I can then take a look and weigh up.[msnsmile2]

Thanks again

Ali

[Ruth]

Hi Ali,

I would always recommend staying in a private villa. Have a look at the Gulf Coast villas on www.orlandovillas.com and see if any of them suit your group. You may want a particular number of bedrooms, a water view, or Gulf access, or a games room etc. Then send out an enquiry to check about availability and rates. At this time also ask the owner what there is to do in their particular location and take it from there

[sunseeker]

Have done the two weeks in Orlando and a week at Clearwaterbeach holiday, we saved Busch Gardens for week three as it is closer to Clearwater and spent the rest of the time around the beach. It was the rest time we needed after hittig the Orlando parks for two weeks .

Dave

[benfilo]

did the same as sunseeker but stayed at St Petes and would reccomend it . If you got a 4 park flexi pass you could spend 2 or 3 days in Busch Gardens, which is close. I'd also be tempted to stay at the beach for the first week.
Whatever you do have a fantasic time[msnsmile2]
benfilo

[heathercobbett]

If you book a villa in the right place in the right place it is only just over an hour to the beach.This allows you to sprinkle a few seaside visits throughout your stay and also not 14 days of solid themeparking.
We found our children got bored with a 3rd week at the coast,so when we purchased,we were mindful of that.Also saves the re-packing and losing a day on the changeover.

Do remember,that there are also wonderful State Parks that you can visit from central Florida.Each is different and cost at the most a few dollars.

You can visit both coasts easily from the Disney area and the Atlantic Coast has a lot to offer including the oldest seaside resort in America.

We have a 3 week guest going out next year whi is planning her trip like a military operation(I seem to spend most of my time on the phone to her) However,even with 3 weeks she is having to leave some things out.There are 40 days worth of things to do in central Florida alone.

When they return I am going to ask her for a copy of her itinery (with comments) and include it in our renters pack

Finally my option would almost definitely save you money!

[huckleberry house]

I think a lot also depends on whether you have already done the theme parks already. Two weeks certainly isnt enough for first time visitors whereas three weeks would allow more to be done and without rushing around so much whereas regular visitors who have been several times would probably fit the parks in the two weeks.


Lesley

[Ruth]

I am sorry but I have to disagree with this statement. Villas at the Gulf offer exceptional value for money (as do villas in Orlando of course). If you want waterfront with Gulf access this will cost you more (as the villas cost a fortune to buy) but we booked a villa in Rotunda in July for far less than any villa in Orlando that we were offered for the same dates.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by heathercobbett
Finally my option would almost definitely save you money!
[/quote]

[Ruth]

I have to say when I stay near the beach I want to go somewhere much more private and secluded than the normal tourist beaches within driving distance of Orlando. Also I don't find doing a day trip to the beach at all relaxing. I want just want a 10/15 minute drive to the beach so if I only want to stay a couple of hours then go shopping or swim in the pool then that is no problem. That is why I like to do a split holiday.