Hello
We are going to Florida for the first time in July, 108 days away. I am going to buy my tickets for the parks from this forum but was wondering whats the best tickets to get, we are staying for 14 nights and I know that there are other things we will want to do but am unsure how many days to buy? my children are 14, 10 and 8 but the 10 and 8 year old are the same height, 10 year old is small, I deff want to do the main Disney park (for me not the kids) any help would be great.
Shelley
Hi Shelley
i'm sure whatever you decide to do you will have a great time
i would suggest you draft up a very basic itinerary, planning in some days off and maybe some shopping days, i know it's tempting to hit the parks everyday on your first trip but it's exhausting as they are just so big
if you are staying in a villa there's nothing better than a lazy day by the pool [msnsmile]
it's extremely tempting to buy tickets that are only aimed at the british market, the ones that are 14 days all in, we bought these all singing/ all dancing tickets first time around only to find we never got the full value from them [msnsad] by doing a draft itinerary i realised pretty fast i could save approx £200 for a family of 4 by buying what i needed rather than something i would never get full value from
i would recommend the ticket link above for tickets but do a rough itinerary first so you have a idea of of many days you may need
as well as the 4 disney parks (the magic kingdom is a must do for all ages) i would say seaworld is also well worth a visit, it's a lovely park and seems slower paced than some of the others, remember to visit the anheuser busch hospitality area in the park for your free drink [party1]
there is also the waterparks to consider, disney have two, seaworld has one and then there's wet n wild so plenty to choose from
we've yet to try universal but i'm sure someone will come along and sing it's praises soon, for us it just hasn't appealed, my children don't do superheros, haven't a clue who dr suess or popeye is and never liked shrek, when they get the harry potter attraction up and running i'm sure will will finally make it through universals gates in the meantime us not doing universal is a great excuse for that next trip [msnwink]
any questions about a particular park just ask and someone will answer you, we're a nice friendly bunch on here [msnsmile2]
Shelley
I have just been helping our current guests do exactley this, and it took some time, so plan carefully, but also be open to having flexibility as well, as you may not be able to something the one day you planned, due to weather, sickness, whatever.
Look at the park ticket site and print it off, then make lists of what you absolutely want to do, what you would like to do, what you may do if you have time. This way it will give you an idea of how many days you want to do what.
Then look at the opening hours of the parks, as AK will not open very late into the evening you could manage another park for the fireworks etc, if you have the hopping facility etc.
also don't forget the waterpark option and more includes blizzard beach & typhoon Lagoon and Disney Quest, so factor in these days and nights as well.
Shopping is always a factor as well as those days you will have done a really late night and can't face an early next day.
To get the most out of the parks. it is advisable to arrive early preferably before the parks open in their busy peak periods to get round most if not all of what you want in the day.
also look at the florida guides, it will give you heaps of hints and tips of what else you can do besides the parks
One last piece of advice I can give, Chill out relax and take it easy with the family, you are there to enjoy yourselves, and if you don't manage to get it all done, no problems come back again.
CERI
Thank you all so much for this much needed advice, I will do what you all advice and write a list of what we want to do and what we would like to do, and yes I would like a shopping day or two, I'm just so excited I know I will burn myself out just thinking about the fun we will have. My children do not know we are going to Florida as I am keeing it a surprise at least until the airport as unfortuntly they can all read so unless I could bribe the ticket people not to tell them they will find out as the check in desk, they think we're going to Cyprus and cannot understand why I keep saing this will be our best holiday ever!! although I hope I don't get over excited and tell them.
Ceri and Marie your advice is invalueble to me thank you so much for taking the time to help me out, I know I am going to have a fab time no matter what we do.
Shelley
Also I want to add to my original questions, I have just been looking at the ticket dor Disney, the 4 park one and would also like to go to Sea World, is there a ticket that combines these together or do I have to buy them seperatly? one of my friends said when they went to Florida a few years ago when they went to some parks they were given tickets (by the park) to get into another park free? does this still happen?
Shelley
Do you mean Disney, 4 park ticket, all the tickets will access you to all 4 parks of Disney,what ever you buy. there is no 4 park ticket anymore for the Flex ticket of universal etc. as Aquatica is now in the picture. so they have renamed them 5 and 6 park tickets. You cannot get a combined disney and universal ticket.
You will need to choose how many days disney ticket you want and if you want to Busch Gardens as well as all the other Universal, IOA, Seaworld, Wet'n'Wild and Aquatica then its the 5 park ticket if you miss Busch Gardens then its the 5 park ticket.
CERI
yes you have to buy the seaworld one seperately to disney or you could buy the flex ticket that gives you access to universal, seaworld wet n wild and now includes aquatica, but like i said be wary of over buying tickets that you may not get the full use from
What a lovely surprise for your children!!
I would strongly recommend adding the park hopping facility to your Disney Ticket, you can get so much more out of your trip this way, especially if one park is particularly busy, you can go to another one and come back later, or you can have a day revisiting all your favourite rides or activities in the different parks..... there may be some things you want to do ? see more than once![msnsmile2]
We have been going to florida for more than 20 years now, but the first time is still the most magical[msnsmile2]
Have fun!!!
Liz
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