Florida Theme/amusment/water parks

[Graham]

Well, I've just booked a couple of weeks in florida next may with the missus and sprog ( 7yo daughter) so now i need to suss out the theme parks ( and tickets)

there seems to be a bewildering number of them.. does anyone have the lowdown on what they all are, which ones are worth doing and how long at each one..


cheers

G

[Tvrtastic7]

Ask the experts, this is the pistonheads of florida

WWW.THEDIBB.CO.UK

[GregE240]

Discovery Cove.

1) You can swim with dolphins.
2) They only let about 1,000 people in at a time.
3) Loads of water related rides etc.
4) *Fairly* good VFM, your daughter will love it.

[AngryApples]

Tvrtastic7 said:

Ask the experts, this is the pistonheads of florida

WWW.THEDIBB.CO.UK

Second that

A mine of information, first time I went got all my info there

[Plotloss]

GregE240 said:

Discovery Cove.

1) You can swim with dolphins.
2) They only let about 1,000 people in at a time.
3) Loads of water related rides etc.
4) *Fairly* good VFM, your daughter will love it.

We're going back next year specifically for it, as its 6yo+ only and Plottot was 4 when we went in December.

I reckon you'll *just* be able to do Disney in full on a 7 day pass

Discovery Cove isnt on the passes, so you'll end up paying for it seperately.

Seaworld is available with Busch as I remember (as they are both owned by what is Stella now) then its Universal to make the 3.

[Cookie172]

Disney Parks

Magic Kingdom - Designed for kids, so ideal for a 7 year old. Also has half decent rides for grown ups such as Space Mountain

Hollywood Studios - Lots of kid stuff to do, but still plenty of adult stuff. This one has the Tower of Terror, which is ace (simulated lift dropping randomly from a few stories, to the full 13 ). Kid stuff includes a honey I shrunk the people giant playground, a car stunt show, and a Toy Story shoot the baddies ride.

Animal Kingdom - Lots of animals, some rides and a Finding Nemo 3D show.

Epcot - More adult park, the Space ride is very cool, simulates a shuttle launch but don't go in it if you're claustrophobic, it's very crapped. Also has a Test Track ride sponsored by GM, simulates brake tests, a slalom course and does about 60mph in one part. Also has lots of various themed restaurants and shops based on different countries of the world

Universal Parks

Universal Studios - Geared more towards older kids and adults, lots of movie themed rides including Twister (a mockup of a tornado, lots of wind, fire and water) Jaws (a boat ride through Amity) and the Mummy Returns (rollercoaster that goes back and forth)

Islands of Adventure - Lots and lots of rollercoasters, the Hulk one is awesome . Not really overly geared to small kids this one.

Sea World - Some decent coasters, and lots of pretty animals for kids to see. The Shamu show is a must.

Aquatica - Sea World theme park, some pretty massive water slides, inc one where you come down face first on your stomach

7 days was enough to do Disney with, and we also got a 2 week FlexTicket for the Universal parks (includes Wet and Wild)

Edited by Cookie172 on Monday 13th October 16:10

Edited by Cookie172 on Monday 13th October 16:11

[Scott328i]

Hulk FTW

I depart in 3 weeks 3 days

yay

[telecat]

It depends on the time of year but allow two days for Magic Kingdom, One each for Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Studios. Then One each for the Universal Parks and Seaworld. Take a day at a Water park and go to the Outlets on the "Rest" days. If there is no shuttle bus from your hotel You'll pay to use the car parks in the Parks so have about $10 a day for that. Stay or come back for the Parade in Magic Kingdom and The fireworks At EPCOT if they are on, (car park ticket will still be usuable that day). At Magic Kingdom You HAVE to take the Monorail or Ferry from the Car park. Monorail is quicker if the queues aren't big, if they are then see if the ferry is better.

[RemaL]

once you know what your doing get your ticket from
http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/

used them 3 times. beating just about every other place for prices. you get tickets not vouchers.

recommended

[Deva Link]

AngryApples said:

Tvrtastic7 said:

Ask the experts, this is the pistonheads of florida

WWW.THEDIBB.CO.UK

Second that

A mine of information, first time I went got all my info there

I think TheDibb is hilarious - the vast majority of people on it seem poor and thick, but there's also a few stupidly well off people who like to rub people's noses in it and will do things like travel from The North to Heathrow because Virgin Upper Class is better on flights from Heathrow than it from Manchester (apparently).

I love the arugments about taking the kids out of school in term time to go to Disney - I try not join in but I usually end up being banned for a few days.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 13th October 16:45

[Sicob]

Busch Gardens is unmissable. The best park for rides!

[Deva Link]

Cookie172 said:

Disney Parks

Magic Kingdom - Designed for kids, so ideal for a 7 year old. Also has half decent rides for grown ups such as Space Mountain

Hollywood Studios - Lots of kid stuff to do, but still plenty of adult stuff. This one has the Tower of Terror, which is ace (simulated lift dropping randomly from a few stories, to the full 13 ). Kid stuff includes a honey I shrunk the people giant playground, a car stunt show, and a Toy Story shoot the baddies ride.

Animal Kingdom - Lots of animals, some rides and a Finding Nemo 3D show.

Epcot - More adult park, the Space ride is very cool, simulates a shuttle launch but don't go in it if you're claustrophobic, it's very crapped. Also has a Test Track ride sponsored by GM, simulates brake tests, a slalom course and does about 60mph in one part. Also has lots of various themed restaurants and shops based on different countries of the world

Universal Parks

Universal Studios - Geared more towards older kids and adults, lots of movie themed rides including Twister (a mockup of a tornado, lots of wind, fire and water) Jaws (a boat ride through Amity) and the Mummy Returns (rollercoaster that goes back and forth)

Islands of Adventure - Lots and lots of rollercoasters, the Hulk one is awesome . Not really overly geared to small kids this one.

Sea World - Some decent coasters, and lots of pretty animals for kids to see. The Shamu show is a must.

Aquatica - Sea World theme park, some pretty massive water slides, inc one where you come down face first on your stomach

7 days was enough to do Disney with, and we also got a 2 week FlexTicket for the Universal parks (includes Wet and Wild)

That's a pretty good summary. Would also add that Disney has 2 water parks of its own - Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach - and admission is included in the Disney 7 or 14 day hopper ticket.

Right now WDW UK is doing the 14day ticket for the same price as the 7 day. Their website also has Disney hotels at pretty good prices as the Dollar strengthing has made the US website prices look dearer.

We generally book flights only with Virgin, and book the car through http://www.usrentacar.co.uk . Everyone has their favourite but they've always worked fine for us.

Opinions vary on how best to "do" Orlando. I've been about 15 times and the last few times have stayed onsite at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter.
Watch for offsite hotel that charge a resort fee, parking, $10/nt for fridge in the room etc - you don't get any of those extra charges with Disney. POFQ has an advantage that it's a nice boat ride to DownTownDisney which is a good place to wander in the evening.

I always get a car (some people say it's not worth it, but I wouldn't dream of not having one there) and we usually get the longest tickets - 14 day Disney hoppers and 14 day Orlando Flex tickets.

It's not that you'll be going on all those days, but the 14 day tickets give you the maximum flexibility. Especially with the Disney parks, the best thing to do (IMHO) is hit them early (at "rope drop", or use Early Entry which is available on certain days to onsite guests) do all the main rides and then leave and have lunch, go shopping, swim etc, then go back to the park (or a different park) in the evening. Also if you've got 14 day tickets, then you don't feel compelled to go every day - it's not a big loss if you miss a day to do something else.

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 13th October 17:15

[Neil_H]

Been many years since I last went but I'd put Busch Gardens and Seaworld on the must do list.

[Deva Link]

Neil_H said:

Been many years since I last went but I'd put Busch Gardens and Seaworld on the must do list.

Worth going if never been before but both a bit tired now, and obvious cost cutting (fewer staff about etc) compared to Disney.

[Neil_H]

Deva Link said:

Neil_H said:

Been many years since I last went but I'd put Busch Gardens and Seaworld on the must do list.

Worth going if never been before but both a bit tired now, and obvious cost cutting (fewer staff about etc) compared to Disney.

IIRC it was around 1991 that I was last in Florida so I can understand that. I did enjoy Epcot Centre but I found the Magic Kingdom to be a bit 'young' for the teenager I was at the time.

Oh, and Kennedy Space Centre is worth a visit, if you like that sort of thing, I loved it.

[Jimbo.]

The water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and/or Blizzard Beach) are fun. Just beware if you're prone to high blood pressure and/or raging boners at the merest hint of tanned, taught, slender, scantilly-clad...I'll stop now...women, as those places are downright dangerous. It's been eight years since I last went, and to this day I've still not quite recovered...

Edited by Jimbo. on Monday 13th October 17:36

[Kaelic]

Wet and wild still open in florida?

Loved the day out there we had, despite having to rescue some knobber who nearly drowned in the wave pool hehe

[ChristianZS]

Scott328i said:

Hulk FTW

I depart in 3 weeks 3 days

yay

Ohh yes!

It bloody hurt me though

[Deva Link]

Kaelic said:

Wet and wild still open in florida?

Yep.

Another one, WaterMania, closed a few years ago.

[Deva Link]

Graham said:

( 7yo daughter)

If she's into the big rides then watch for height restrictions. Probably not an issue at WDW unless she's small for her age, but here are the Universal ones:

http://www.universalorlando.com/hours-information/...