Advice for Florida 1st Timers!

[Bison]

I am travelling to Florida for a holiday with my family on the 4th November and just wanted some advice on what order to do things in, Obviously there is so much to do there but I'm one of these people who just won't know where to start, any advice from any budding holiday planners out there?

Also we would like to know where the best place is to buy theme park tickets (Cheap) and what sort of tickets are the best, (there are so many, 5-day passes, flexi etc).

your info and feedback is appreciated

Thanks Andrew

[LiesaAnna]

hi, we got 1 day tickets at the gate, we are not fanatical over theme parks we like them but dont like spending silly amounts of money. At Busch gardens we could buy 1day ticket get the 2nd day free, but we are talking about december, so that is 1 answer to that question, you dont have to buy 4,5 7 days but all to our own!!!!!!

[SunLover]

Hi Andrew

I would certainly recommend the ticket link at the top of this page for your theme park and attraction tickets.

As to "order", there is no hard and fast rule. The thing to remember is that the parks are HUGE. So whichever you visit, do not expect to see and do everything in one go. It is impossible, but a good excuse also to return to Florida at a later date [msnwink]

I think the best advice is to build some rest days into your itinerary, when you can chill and relax.

As to ticket recommendations, we always suggest guests opt for the Orlando Flex ticket (either 4 or 5 park) as it's brilliant value for money, and then after that it's usually a case of adding your Disney Hopper or Hopper Plus passes, depending on how many days you feel you want to spend visiting the Mouse [msnsmile2].

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll have a brilliant vacation.

Have fun !!! [8D]

[rosie]

Hi Andrew

welcome to the forum, you've come the right place for advice. It might help if you give the ages of any children.

Might be an idea to make a list of everything you would like to do, regardless of order, and from that you will get an idea of what tickets to buy.

When you decide what tickets to get, there is a link at the top of the page and the prices from here are great

Have a great holiday

[Bison]

Well to be honest there is no children, it's me i'm 23, my Girlfriend (19) and strangely my mum's coming and she's a very young 45. We all want to go to Universal & IOA, Busch Gardens, Seaworld and Disney but not sure which bits of Disney as friends have told me Magic Kingdom isn't that impressive. Also we want to go to medieval nights or some other evening entertainment, and while my mum might want to relax or go to a casino (If they have them) Me and the Girlfriend my fancy a Nightclub, (Any reccomendations, we like RnB, Dance,Etc)

My mum wants to go to Miami as well, Can this be done as a day trip, we will prb hire a car a drive so may stay overnight.

[Ray&Sarah]

Thats three big kids then Andrew! Don't worry we are all big kids when in Florida. Its hard to recommend a particular park as we all have our own preferences, depends if you are into thrill rides or more low key stuff. If you are driving to Miami then an over night stop would be a real plus point. FOr evening entertainment there are alot of dinner dhows, we are planning to take in Sleuths this year, we are told that you don't go for the food though as its noting spectacular. For dancing Disneys Pleasure Island is a good place to start, make sure you have ID though as they are really particular about serving under 21's with drink anywhere in Florida. Have fun.[msnsmile2]

[jolliffee]

Hi Andrew.
Universal & IOA are great with some great rides, and Universal City Walk (at Night will certainly keep you going till the early hours.[msncool]

[sully62]

Andrew sounds like the 'Orlando 5 Park Flex' is the one for you it lasts 14 days from when you activate it at your first park it gives you ulimited acess to US, IOA, SW, BG, W&W and City Walk at Universal which is full Nightclubs, bars etc.. all with varying themes, the flex ticket means you can flit from park to park as we do morning at Islands of Adventure afternoon at Seaworld.
As for Disney look at 4 day hopper plus this gives you any 4 days at the Disney parks (you can hop from park to park on each day using Disney's transportation system and one of the water parks, if you like thrills Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Coaster at Disney's MGM studios is a must as is Blizzard Beach
Hope this Helps

[Madabouttigger]

Hi Bison and Welcome to the site. My partner and I also go to Orlando on our own ( Both over 21 ) and still do the theme parks and have a really good time. Here is a rough Itinerary of how I would plan our trip

Day 1 - Arrive
Day 2 - Sea World - Easy day not much driving
Day 3 - Magic Kingdom - Average Day
Day 4 - Kennedy Space Centre - About 1 hours drive, can do Dayton Beach at same time.
Day 5 - Water Park - Down town Disney at night for dinner and night club
Day 6 - Universal Studios - Average Day
Day 7 - Epcot- Long Day, evening show in Park
Day 8 - Animal Kingdom - Great day, love it!
Day 9 - Water Park - And possibly some shopping, Universal City Walk PM
Day 10 - Busch Gardens - Long day, drive over to Tampa
Day 11 - Universal Studios - Average Day
Day 12 - Shopping Daytona/Coco Beach
Day 13 - M.G.M Studios - Longer day, MUST see Fantasmic evening show
Day 14 - Shopping, packing. - Meal in special restaurant ready for home
Day 15 - Home

I do suggest you have some sort of Itinerary or before you know it the holiday is over and you have only see half the things you want to see - so you have to go back again next year!
I use the link at the top of the page for park passes and get a really good deal, I usually use the Orlando flexi ticket and the Disney Hopper pass. 1st plan what you want to do then you can decide what tickets you need.
And sont forget to have loads of fun!
Diane.

[CERICROWLEY]

If you want to do the disney parks I would receommend the 10 day world ticket, THIS IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE UK as this also give you the disney character breakfast unlimited access to the water parks and disney quest as well.

There are two 10 day tickets available the time limit one,must be used in 21 consecutive days or the undated one. if you plan to go again. use the undated one, as this can be used from year to year
I think a 4 or 5 day pass will not be enough as Epcot will take more than one day to go around and depending on how long you want to stay in the parks as the evening can go on late if you are up to doing a full day.

If you like very big scary rides then get the orlando 5 flex ticket for Busch Gardens as well this will be approx 90mins drive to Tampa get there early. If you don't want to travel that far then get the 4 park flex ticket.

We thoroughly enjoyed Kennedy Space Centre, but we went when the LAST shuttle was on the launch pad and had the up close tour, Brillant. That was an experience having the very last photos of the shuttle before it launched. Not sure what its like now as no shuttle take off and with Security and that.