Kennedy Space Centre was one I wanted to do, but couldn't convince my wife and daughter. We are planning on going back in December again and I will take it in on my own if needs be.
A lot of people don't speak too highly of Busch Gardens but I thought it was great. Well worth the extended coach journey.
If you want to do everything then you really need to plan it properly, there is no point deciding the night before that - how about Magic Kingdom and getting there at 11. You'll likely be in for a big shock. Get to the parks for before opening time. Parking the car and actually entering The Magic Kingdom can take over an hour in peak times, so good luck with that idea.
Buy The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 and read it, it really has some great tips. Crowd calenders are very useful for planning
I'm planning on booking the universal tickets with virgin (due to getting in potter world early). The disney tickets with American attractions.co.uk.
Not sure where to get the space station tickets though.
I'm now putting together a list of places to eat.
Red Lobster Rain Forest cafe Cheesecake Factory TGI Fridays
The list so far. Would like somewhere that has some jazz/blues kind of thing with decent food. The disney restaurants so far are not coming out that great when I've looked into them...
Not sure you have read anyone's tips on this thread, I think maybe 3 people have recommended to you Bahama Breeze.....
Forget Rainforest Cafe unless you enjoy queueing so much, very similar is T-Rex in Downtown Disney. Tony Romas is great for ribs, there is one left on I-Drive. Boma in the Animal Kingdom Hotel does a very good buffet for a decent price. TGI's, really?
14 day unlimited ticket gets you additional benefit of going to the water parks for £274, we didn't bother with the water parks the last few times as after 11am they were unbearable. We got the standard no frills 7 day pass which is $329 atm - about £200 from U.S. site.
Not sure you have read anyone's tips on this thread, I think maybe 3 people have recommended to you Bahama Breeze.....
Forget Rainforest Cafe unless you enjoy queueing so much, very similar is T-Rex in Downtown Disney. Tony Romas is great for ribs, there is one left on I-Drive. Boma in the Animal Kingdom Hotel does a very good buffet for a decent price. TGI's, really?
14 day unlimited ticket gets you additional benefit of going to the water parks for £274, we didn't bother with the water parks the last few times as after 11am they were unbearable. We got the standard no frills 7 day pass which is $329 atm - about £200 from U.S. site.
It's not a case of me not reading the tips as I appreciate at read every single one. It's just the decision process so far. I heard from friends that TGI and rain forest were good?
Bahama breeze is something I will take a closer look at again as you seem adamant it's good.
I thought the 14 day ticket would be better in case we wanted to go back to any of the parks... I mean if I got a 7 day ticket it would open up the option of going Sea world or Bush Gardens..?
Seeing as I am here in the States I am unaware of UK-based websites that offer discounted tickets to the Kennedy Space Center, but this is their website link: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tickets.aspx
Seeing as I am here in the States I am unaware of UK-based websites that offer discounted tickets to the Kennedy Space Center, but this is their website link: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tickets.aspx
Last time we went - a few years ago now - we just strolled up to the ticket office window bought tickets and wandered in. Is it really that much more popular these days?
if you really want any advice or help with planning your holiday use the attached site, it is excellant, the wife has used it twice when we went. http://www.thedibb.co.uk/ they tell what days particular parks are less busy than others, we actually booked our accomodation from one of the people that owned a villa out there as they had nobody booked in we got it for £750 for 2 weeks. It was in the windsor hills complex and was the nuts.
Just back, best trip to Orlando and the parks ever. Maybe the kids being a little older and appreciating it more helped, but simply fantastic.
If taking kids and wanting to do certain experiences, here's a few musts:
Magic Kingdom - Belle's Storytime (Fantasyland) get a fast pass- it is far more than what it suggests.
Hollywood Studios - if your kid(s) want to do Jedi Training, you need to be in between 9-915 and registered at the booth/room opposite Star Tours/Indiana Jones show and next to Pop Idol experience. If two adults are with the kids, one should queue there with kids and wait, the other get Fast Passes for Toy Story mania at the very least in a fast pass queue you will pass en route to the Jedi Academy registration area. Also, Star Tours now is 3D and has 53/54 different missions, so is a must do once, twice or three times. Second time on Hoth/Naboo was mind blowing...
Animal Kingdom - if you get there at park opening and visit Rafiki for an autograph as you go in you may be one of 4 families selected to be part of the parade in the afternoon. We were very lucky to have been on Mickey's float and the kids will never forget that experience. Maybe we were simply very very lucky on that day? Also, do the jungle safari back of the park first thing, as virtually all of the animals are out and about.
Epcot - if your kids wish to meet Elsa and Anna from Frozen, head straight there (Norway country area) at park opening and leave one parent in the queue whilst others visit other countries. It's 90 mins to 2 hours wait, minimum, up to 4, yes 4 hours if you stroll up at say 11am. They were the most popular attraction in Disney and Disney have sold out of pretty much all Frozen related merchandise at the moment.
Universal Studios - Spiderman on Islands of Adventure is a must, as is Despicable Me in the Studios park. I was disappointed by Harry Potter on the whole and think the UK attraction is better all round for fans of that series.
If you want best deals on clothes etc, Premium Outlets near Mall of Millenia offer better deals than Premium Outlets near Downtown Disney. Despite the fact the latter is outlet store based, the stores there know they have a captive Disney spending clientele, so charge more than the one at the top of the I-drive.
Just back, best trip to Orlando and the parks ever. Maybe the kids being a little older and appreciating it more helped, but simply fantastic.
If taking kids and wanting to do certain experiences, here's a few musts:
Magic Kingdom - Belle's Storytime (Fantasyland) get a fast pass- it is far more than what it suggests.
Hollywood Studios - if your kid(s) want to do Jedi Training, you need to be in between 9-915 and registered at the booth/room opposite Star Tours/Indiana Jones show and next to Pop Idol experience. If two adults are with the kids, one should queue there with kids and wait, the other get Fast Passes for Toy Story mania at the very least in a fast pass queue you will pass en route to the Jedi Academy registration area. Also, Star Tours now is 3D and has 53/54 different missions, so is a must do once, twice or three times. Second time on Hoth/Naboo was mind blowing...
Animal Kingdom - if you get there at park opening and visit Rafiki for an autograph as you go in you may be one of 4 families selected to be part of the parade in the afternoon. We were very lucky to have been on Mickey's float and the kids will never forget that experience. Maybe we were simply very very lucky on that day? Also, do the jungle safari back of the park first thing, as virtually all of the animals are out and about.
Epcot - if your kids wish to meet Elsa and Anna from Frozen, head straight there (Norway country area) at park opening and leave one parent in the queue whilst others visit other countries. It's 90 mins to 2 hours wait, minimum, up to 4, yes 4 hours if you stroll up at say 11am. They were the most popular attraction in Disney and Disney have sold out of pretty much all Frozen related merchandise at the moment.
Universal Studios - Spiderman on Islands of Adventure is a must, as is Despicable Me in the Studios park. I was disappointed by Harry Potter on the whole and think the UK attraction is better all round for fans of that series.
If you want best deals on clothes etc, Premium Outlets near Mall of Millenia offer better deals than Premium Outlets near Downtown Disney. Despite the fact the latter is outlet store based, the stores there know they have a captive Disney spending clientele, so charge more than the one at the top of the I-drive.
Cheers
Glad to hear you had a great time. You come back at a turning point (we hope) in the season.
Did you end up having to pay for parking at the parks?
Any places you went to eat which you thought were amazing?
I'm planning on booking the universal tickets with virgin (due to getting in potter world early). The disney tickets with American attractions.co.uk.
Not sure where to get the space station tickets though.
I'm now putting together a list of places to eat.
Red Lobster Rain Forest cafe Cheesecake Factory TGI Fridays
The list so far. Would like somewhere that has some jazz/blues kind of thing with decent food. The disney restaurants so far are not coming out that great when I've looked into them...
Would say red lobster is a bit cheap and nasty, boston lobster is similar but better.
While rainforest and TGI are better than their equivalent uk relations they're still pretty much the bottom end. I'd not see the point of going that far and then spending time in places that we have here...
Cray, did bus transfers to parks throughout the trip. They run about 90 mins before park opening and 90 after, til 230am on both Saturdays we were there. Otherwise was $15 a day I believe. Cheesecake Factory, Bahama Breeze and Ruby Tuesday (Florida Mall) were all good, as was the Coral Reef (Epcot) and Grill in the Shark area of Seaworld. Agree that Rainforest and TRex (we did latter) is same as Uk, but more generous portions and stronger drinks (latter very nice). RotW, I bought the 9 for 7 and 14 day tickets came through, which we didn't need, but worth noting. Enjoy fellas!
It's been a few years since I was there but prior to that did the better part of 10 years on the spin.
Absolutely love the place and can confirm that most of the advice on here is sound. As regards tickets I always found that they were cheaper if purchased in the UK from Disney and Universal shops. the outlets at Bluewater were the best value with staff who knew what you were talking about. May have changed by now but maybe worth checking out.
Restaurants, can only echo most comments above. Ruby Tuesday is a chain and very good. Perkins diners can't be beaten if you like desserts or Denny's for breakfast or the blue plate specials it's a nationwide chain of old school diners and the locals wherever I've been in the States tend to eat there. In Florida there is a wonderful plastic Irish chain the name of which escapes me at the moment (possibly Deneheys) that will serve you a wonderful Guiness and very good food with some of the best looking Waitresses you'll find (they tend to be Disney wannabees).
Prices for park tickets don't go down, get them early as they have a long validity. I'm pretty sure we used the same website that Clem says. If you going in peak times get fast passes, it'll really enhance your enjoyment.
Comments
A lot of people don't speak too highly of Busch Gardens but I thought it was great. Well worth the extended coach journey.
Tough call!!!
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/harry-potter-expansion/
Buy The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 and read it, it really has some great tips. Crowd calenders are very useful for planning
undercovertourist.com/planning/when-to-visit.html
touringplans.com/
You really should do Sea World and Busch Gardens if you have time, Kennedy Space Center is ok but get's very busy like other parks.
Just wherever you are going, get there very early
Disney ticket 14 day unlimited
Universal 2 park bonus ticket
Kennedy space center
I'm planning on booking the universal tickets with virgin (due to getting in potter world early). The disney tickets with American attractions.co.uk.
Not sure where to get the space station tickets though.
I'm now putting together a list of places to eat.
Red Lobster
Rain Forest cafe
Cheesecake Factory
TGI Fridays
The list so far. Would like somewhere that has some jazz/blues kind of thing with decent food. The disney restaurants so far are not coming out that great when I've looked into them...
Forget Rainforest Cafe unless you enjoy queueing so much, very similar is T-Rex in Downtown Disney. Tony Romas is great for ribs, there is one left on I-Drive. Boma in the Animal Kingdom Hotel does a very good buffet for a decent price. TGI's, really?
14 day unlimited ticket gets you additional benefit of going to the water parks for £274, we didn't bother with the water parks the last few times as after 11am they were unbearable. We got the standard no frills 7 day pass which is $329 atm - about £200 from U.S. site.
Bahama breeze is something I will take a closer look at again as you seem adamant it's good.
I thought the 14 day ticket would be better in case we wanted to go back to any of the parks... I mean if I got a 7 day ticket it would open up the option of going Sea world or Bush Gardens..?
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tickets.aspx
If taking kids and wanting to do certain experiences, here's a few musts:
Magic Kingdom - Belle's Storytime (Fantasyland) get a fast pass- it is far more than what it suggests.
Hollywood Studios - if your kid(s) want to do Jedi Training, you need to be in between 9-915 and registered at the booth/room opposite Star Tours/Indiana Jones show and next to Pop Idol experience. If two adults are with the kids, one should queue there with kids and wait, the other get Fast Passes for Toy Story mania at the very least in a fast pass queue you will pass en route to the Jedi Academy registration area. Also, Star Tours now is 3D and has 53/54 different missions, so is a must do once, twice or three times. Second time on Hoth/Naboo was mind blowing...
Animal Kingdom - if you get there at park opening and visit Rafiki for an autograph as you go in you may be one of 4 families selected to be part of the parade in the afternoon. We were very lucky to have been on Mickey's float and the kids will never forget that experience. Maybe we were simply very very lucky on that day? Also, do the jungle safari back of the park first thing, as virtually all of the animals are out and about.
Epcot - if your kids wish to meet Elsa and Anna from Frozen, head straight there (Norway country area) at park opening and leave one parent in the queue whilst others visit other countries. It's 90 mins to 2 hours wait, minimum, up to 4, yes 4 hours if you stroll up at say 11am. They were the most popular attraction in Disney and Disney have sold out of pretty much all Frozen related merchandise at the moment.
Universal Studios - Spiderman on Islands of Adventure is a must, as is Despicable Me in the Studios park. I was disappointed by Harry Potter on the whole and think the UK attraction is better all round for fans of that series.
If you want best deals on clothes etc, Premium Outlets near Mall of Millenia offer better deals than Premium Outlets near Downtown Disney. Despite the fact the latter is outlet store based, the stores there know they have a captive Disney spending clientele, so charge more than the one at the top of the I-drive.
Cheers
Did you end up having to pay for parking at the parks?
Any places you went to eat which you thought were amazing?
Welcome back. Thanks for your post!
While rainforest and TGI are better than their equivalent uk relations they're still pretty much the bottom end. I'd not see the point of going that far and then spending time in places that we have here...
RotW, I bought the 9 for 7 and 14 day tickets came through, which we didn't need, but worth noting. Enjoy fellas!
Absolutely love the place and can confirm that most of the advice on here is sound. As regards tickets I always found that they were cheaper if purchased in the UK from Disney and Universal shops. the outlets at Bluewater were the best value with staff who knew what you were talking about. May have changed by now but maybe worth checking out.
Restaurants, can only echo most comments above. Ruby Tuesday is a chain and very good. Perkins diners can't be beaten if you like desserts or Denny's for breakfast or the blue plate specials it's a nationwide chain of old school diners and the locals wherever I've been in the States tend to eat there. In Florida there is a wonderful plastic Irish chain the name of which escapes me at the moment (possibly Deneheys) that will serve you a wonderful Guiness and very good food with some of the best looking Waitresses you'll find (they tend to be Disney wannabees).
If you're going this year enjoy.