Florida advice please

[Nobbyy]

Hi all


Have a holiday in Florida looming and would like to seek some advice please.

We have six days to do Disney, Universal etc - what is the cheapest/best way to purchase tickets?

For accommodation we have 6 nights in International drive already booked- any recommendations as where to eat?

Finally we fly back from Tampa so were planning on 4 nights on the coast, again any recommendation on resorts, accommodation, eating places etc?


Many thanks!

[lewie]

If you've not been before 6 days for everything is impossible
The problem is the shortness of you trip - most of the multi tickets (better value ) are geared up for 14 days +, park day tickets become expensive.
Disney tickets are the most expensive
It really depends what parks you want to do
We have been over a dozen times (girls are now in their 20's) we skip Disney and just do universal as its more up our street - we usually buy a 14 day flex ticket giving us unlimited access
Check companies like attractions direct etc
A good sourse of info is http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/, I think it's even got a ticket comparison excel spreadsheet - any question you have will most certainly have been answered there
As for eating on International drive there are 100's of good places
We were regulars at Miller ale house - good food and drinks and extremely reasonable - 4 of us were eating within drinks for about £50
We really enjoyed https://www.chuys.com/- Mexican, again very reasonable
http://www.bahamabreeze.com/location...rlando_ct:text
Is really good too
Maybe a little more info on your party

[Nobbyy]

Hi Lewie - many thanks for the super fast and helpful response!

Agreed that it would be impossible to do in the 6 days we have, but would like to maximise what we can do and try and target it to our grumpy 14 year old - who like most teenagers thinks he has seen and done everything!

Ideally we would like 2 days at Disney, 2 at universal, Kennedy and a water park and maybe even Busch gardens on the way across - I had a quick look at the spreadsheet you suggested - you are correct it is geared up for much longer stays.

I know that there are lots of people punting unused days from other peoples tickets but am very wary as I believe that disney uses biometrics, so short of being supplied with a severed finger to go with the tickets I cant see how that can work.

Love the sound of Millers and the Mexican - one of my favorite foods!

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[lewie]

I've never bought used tickets - just don't trust it - most use fingerprint I'd so not sure how they get around that
The trick is with 2 days in Disney you'll want a 'hopper pass so you can see all the best bits unless you've identified 2 parks you want to go to
Kennedys the easy one - just buy that on its own
Many of the U.K. Based ticket seller will price match each other so shop around

[thieuster]

Disney or Universal is an age-related thing. Older kids will prefer the thrills and rides of Universal, younger Disney, I think. 6 days is too short to visit both parks. Universal alone will take up to three days to enjoy it fully.

Buy the cheapest tickets you can find. As for Universal, you can buy upgrades inside the park: speedtickets etc. Speedtickets are recommended. Most rides have a 'single person' line. Much faster than the family queue. My boys always used the single person line, always taking care that one or two people were between them. At the end of the line, near the ride, they always managed to team up and sit next to each other .

Universal Studios has an app for your phone. You can check the length of the queue before you decide to get in line. However... using the app on your phone with a sim card from your provider is very very expensive. Get yourself a local sim card!

International Drive is the #1 street with lots of other nice spots like Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. Close to International Drive, you'll find Universal Drive. Halfway, you'll find a nice mall: Publix supermarket, Walgreens, a few restaurants (pizza, Chinese).

For something really 'over the top': Midieval Times in Kissimmee. For us Europeans with a history of knights and kings, it's fun to watch the US interpretation of that era!

Menno

[GS70]

Universal Studios has an app for your phone. You can check the length of the queue before you decide to get in line. However... using the app on your phone with a sim card from your provider is very very expensive. Get yourself a local sim card!


Menno

Disney has a similar app. We were in Orlando last summer and fairly sure free wifi was provided in all the Disney and Universal parks so no need to use data at all or use a local sim.

Agree that a teenager will likely prefer Universal but the Disney parks do offer some decent rides for that age range. I think that Hollywood Studios is undergoing some refurbishment so several rides may be closed.

Either of the two Disney waterparks are hard to beat - Typhoon Lagoon may just edge it.

Prepared to be knackered after fitting as much as possible in 6 days - it can be hard work !

[dl_griff]

If you are going to Universal have a look at staying a night in one of their Hotels, we usually stay at the Loews Pacific. You still have to buy a park entry ticket but your room key cards can be used as an unlimited fast pass, allowing you to walk on to all the rides and avoid queuing altogether, you can also enter the park an hour before everyone else. The are valid on the day you arrive and the day you leave.

As for Tampa, we have stayed in the Marriott Suites in Clearwater Beach a few times and enjoyed it, it is just a short drive across the causeway from tampa

[kultschar]

Im currently planning also as booked the other day.

This will be my 3rd time however ticket savings dont appear to be that huge anymore like they used to be, guess Disney cracked down.

As others have advised you really need to plan it around your kids age and interests if you only have a few days. E.g we end up at the Magic Kingdom twice for the character thing, castle and younger rides as I have two little girls. The crazy thrills ride are of course Universal. If i remember rightly Epcot is the most chilled out place and quietest with people chilling out with food and beer and observing things.

My only advice is that with a tight schedule prepared to be knackered (mentally and physically) and take advantage of fastpass etc. As per my previous trips ive booked a dirt cheap carribean cruise from Port Canaveral just to wind down and recover afterwards. I also make a deal with my lot that we do a park one day followed by a chill out day etc (Pool, shops, roam etc) so its less crazy then doubg successive park days

Worth it for the kids (my youngest is 5 so will be over the moon as she was too young last time)

Anyhow enjoy!!!

[Devonian]

Yes Millers and bahama breeze are great. 5 guys for a great burger. Cheesecake Factory is amazing - bang bang chicken and shrimp my favourite. In a way there's too many places to name. One I would definitely try is:

http://www.hashhouseagogo.com

Portions are incredible (don't bother getting a starter). Their signature dish is chicken and waffles. We shared between two and couldn't finish.

One big tip: we also have a week at the Hard Rock Hotel as it give early access and the fast passes for Universal and Islands. It's expensive but you'd be amazed at the extra rides you can get in. What some people do is book 1 night. It's probably $300 which seems a lot but you can turn up at 7am and check in and get your express passes and head on in an hour early. You can then do the same again the next day (as well as staying in a great hotel for a night). Express passes for 4 people for two days would be much more expensive depending on the time of year. I'd wager that would be the best spent money on your trip.

Hard Rock at Tampa is great and Busch Gardens a must. Clearwater is a stunning seaside resort - the beach and sand is wonderful :-)

[kultschar]

Lol. Next time I go to the cheesecake factory I think wont bother with a main meal and go straight to the cheesecakes!

Oreo Cheesecake :)

[thieuster]

My only advice is that with a tight schedule prepared to be knackered (mentally and physically) and take advantage of fastpass etc.

^^^ this^^^

On a 6 day trip, I would consider a day off after two days: just stay at the pool with the kids or go to Ripley's.

The evening program at Universal is worth visiting as well. The Blue Man Group is worth a visit. So funny! Kids need to be a little older (say >8/9 y/o) to enjoy it fully. The Fear Factor Show (daily) is also worth a visit and you can find a place in the shade as well! Check the show times.
The opening hours of the park itself depend on the number of visitors. We noticed that on a crowded day, the gates open up to 30 mins earlier than expected!

A more general advise: we live near a small amusement park here in Holland. We always bought a year ticket and when the boys were small, we used to do a quick one hour tour after school or on Sunday morning. We found out that after opening the gates, the best thing to do is going straight to the back of the park, for the features as far away from the entrance as possible. It's quiet overthere. Somehow 90% of the visitors tend to stay near the entrance of the park after getting inside and work their way to the back after a while. As said turn it around: Go to the back at first and work your way back to the entrance features. Point is, that around 2 or 3 PM, these entrance features are not so crowded anymore!

At Universal, the Man in Black attraction is at the back of the park. And very, very quiet at the beginning.

Menno

[squashy1]

As your flying back from Tampa I would highly recommend Treasure Island its only 35 mins from tampa on the i4 loads of accommodation right on the beach loads of eating places i.e. `Bubba Gumps at Johns Pass and loads of other eateries and bars and very laid back I shouldn't be telling you this its our favourite place (we spent 3 months there last year)
Enjoy your trip
Squashy1

[Cynar]

Given the length of stay, make sure you pay extra for the fast pass at Disney and Universal to jump the queues or you'll spend most of the day standing in line. You'll need to choose which parts of Disney you want to see most as you'll never do it all in the time you have. Universal is a minimum of two days. A good idea is to get there at opening time and head straight for the rides with the biggest queues like Harry Potter and get them out of the way first. Busch Gardens is my favourite and I think it has the best rides. Usually much quieter and less queueing too, you can do it in a day. Kennedy is amazing and takes a full day to see it all.
Maggianos Italian on I Drive is great but usually busy so make sure you book.

[thieuster]

Busch Gardens! Good call!

Busch Gardens is a lot more quiet, indeed. We went the day before Xmas, the Monday day of the Xmas holidays and there were no queues at all. The Zoo part of the Gardens is nice, but I have no recollection of specific zoo related highlights.

Must say that Busch Gardens is owned by Sea World and there's a lot of opposition about the way SW treats killer whales (orcas). If that's important to you, investigate first. Lots of info on the 'net (buzz word Tilikum)

Menno

[kultschar]

Ive noticed Seaworld getting hammered - wonder if its days are numbered.

Not a park I would personally bother with again regardless.

[Jdh1]

I enjoyed SeaWorld...less busy than others. In terms of restaurants, there's a lot of rubbish. Best place we found in that area was Roy's.

[Nobbyy]

Thank you everyone that has taken the time to respond - from the sounds of it, I think that we will need another holiday when we return!

I like the sound of Treasure Island and Clearwater - wonder if it would be worth having a night in each?

Re the park tickets - given our short stay, is buying on the gate advisable or is there a better value way?

[jaytip]

Im currently planning also as booked the other day.

This will be my 3rd time however ticket savings dont appear to be that huge anymore like they used to be, guess Disney cracked down.

As others have advised you really need to plan it around your kids age and interests if you only have a few days. E.g we end up at the Magic Kingdom twice for the character thing, castle and younger rides as I have two little girls. The crazy thrills ride are of course Universal. If i remember rightly Epcot is the most chilled out place and quietest with people chilling out with food and beer and observing things.

My only advice is that with a tight schedule prepared to be knackered (mentally and physically) and take advantage of fastpass etc. As per my previous trips ive booked a dirt cheap carribean cruise from Port Canaveral just to wind down and recover afterwards. I also make a deal with my lot that we do a park one day followed by a chill out day etc (Pool, shops, roam etc) so its less crazy then doubg successive park days

Worth it for the kids (my youngest is 5 so will be over the moon as she was too young last time)

Anyhow enjoy!!!

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of money are we talking about when booking a cruise while out there? When my kids are a bit older (my boy is still only 4) I plan to do two weeks in the parks and then a cruise on the end to recover.
Cheers.

[kultschar]

It was 2000 USD for a 7 day cruise for myself / mrs / 2 kids however if on a budget there are cheaper cabins.

Now it was only Carnival (a little cheesy) but we chose that line each time as the kids love it (they sign up to the kiddie camp and do there own thing and you get a ship cellphone if they or the staff need to get in touch) they do their own thing and some nights they want to even eat with the rest of the kiddie camp etc while me and the Mrs chill in restaurants or many bars (or casino)

Its cheap for a relaxing week with as much food as you can eat (booze seperate) and you get to see some nice places if you wish (sometimes we stay onboard and enjoy a nice empty ship)

Last time my kids were 3 and 8 years and loved it, younger one more so with The Cat In The Hat characters onboard.

The Disney Cruises are supposed to be real good but pricey and more Disney is not for me lol.

When the kids are grown up / gone I look forward to going on a posh one lol

After Disney parks its a nice way to chill. Think last time one of the Ports was Nassau so we had a day pass for Atlantis in the waterpark. Also been to some cool paradise style beaches for the day in various locations. Remember last time lounging on a beach drinking out of a coconut recovering from the mouse

[jaytip]

It was 2000 USD for a 7 day cruise for myself / mrs / 2 kids however if on a budget there are cheaper cabins.

Now it was only Carnival (a little cheesy) but we chose that line each time as the kids love it (they sign up to the kiddie camp and do there own thing and you get a ship cellphone if they or the staff need to get in touch) they do their own thing and some nights they want to even eat with the rest of the kiddie camp etc while me and the Mrs chill in restaurants or many bars (or casino)

Its cheap for a relaxing week with as much food as you can eat (booze seperate) and you get to see some nice places if you wish (sometimes we stay onboard and enjoy a nice empty ship)

Last time my kids were 3 and 8 years and loved it, younger one more so with The Cat In The Hat characters onboard.

The Disney Cruises are supposed to be real good but pricey and more Disney is not for me lol.

When the kids are grown up / gone I look forward to going on a posh one lol

After Disney parks its a nice way to chill. Think last time one of the Ports was Nassau so we had a day pass for Atlantis in the waterpark. Also been to some cool paradise style beaches for the day in various locations. Remember last time lounging on a beach drinking out of a coconut recovering from the mouse

Thanks for that.

[Beanie]

From memory, Busch Gardens and the kennedy space centre, whilst both are worth doing, are a couple of hours drive from Orlando (in opposite directions) and will take up a full day each. Don't forget some quarters for the tolls. Get some at the airport if your route to International Drive goes through tolls.
As has been suggested, you wont be able to do it all in 6 days, especially if you are hoping to throw in a bit of shopping.
Do some research, decide what you want to do, then plan an itinerary (God, I sound like the wife!)
Enjoy.

[guinea]

Bern's in Tampa for dinner if you are staying over.

[Nobbyy]

Thank you all!

[r1ch]

First day back today after a couple of weeks in Fl.
I've got family there which eases the trip somewhat.
Treasure Island/Johns Pass has been mentioned; we had 3 nights here:
http://www.treasureislandbeachresort.com/
An Ocean view room is the way forward.
I <ahem> believe there is a Hooters restaurant in Johns Pass as well.

Agree that it's not worth getting too ambitious with Theme Park tickets - you'll be pushed to get value from a big spend if you are only there for a week and has been pointed out, it can be pretty knackering.
Fast Pass is the only way to "do" Disney. It reduces the 60/80/90 minute waits to 10 and so much more can be achieved in the day. The smartfone App is useful and can be used with the free in Park wi-fi to book and shuffle ride slots through the day. For a slightly more "refined" shopping experience, (than the Outlet Malls), with some decent eating opportunities, give Millenia Mall a try, (off Blue 4/Turnpike junction). While the lady folk browse clothes shops, there are Rolex/Omega/Hublot boutiques to investigate. For a quick sub/sandwich, Jersey Mikes is worth a look - the Philly Cheese sub is great.

Rich.

[Neil.C]

For something really 'over the top': Midieval Times in Kissimmee. For us Europeans with a history of knights and kings, it's fun to watch the US interpretation of that era!

Menno

Agreed, a very good laugh and of course featured in the Jim Carrey film Cable Guy.

I'll be popping out to Fla in the new year as my middle son is in the process of buying a house at Indian Harbour Beach - free lodgings!