[Travel] Orlando advice

[and smith must score]

I am going to Florida with my wife and 3 kids ages 11, 14 and 16 for the first time in mid October. As it is their first time, we will mostly be doing the parks; Disney 14 day ticket and then Sea World, Busch Gardens and Aquatica.

Any advice appreciated, particularly on Genie + and a beach recommendation (a break from the parks), also anywhere reasonably priced to eat (exchange rate!!!) taking into account that the others are all veggies.

If I have missed a recent post on this apologies, but couldn't find anything even from the expert BOZZA who has probably been 3 times this year already

 

[Guinness Boy]

Lucky you're not going today. Ian might have had other ideas.

Obviously [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] is the expert, but having been to the States last week I can tell you that the dreadful exchange rate makes everything feel very expensive (it was nearly as bad at our stop off in Houston as Vegas) with a minimum 18% tip on everything.

 

[kentgully]

Clearwater Beach...

 

[and smith must score]

Whose Ian??

I know re the prices, just got to try and ignore that but not go too crazy. At least tickets are all paid for

 

[Brighthelmstone]

Whose Ian??

I know re the prices, just got to try and ignore that but not go too crazy. At least tickets are all paid for

Hurricane Ian.....

 

[and smith must score]

Sorry

 

[and smith must score]

It is a wonderful beach but not sure whether it was worth double the travel compared to those on the east coast which I have never been to

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I'm also heading out mid-October but we have been many times.

To help answer the questions, where are you staying - onsite in Disney, Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, International Drive, etc? Also, assuming you have a car to get around.

 

[and smith must score]

I'm also heading out mid-October but we have been many times.

To help answer the questions, where are you staying - onsite in Disney, Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, International Drive, etc? Also, assuming you have a car to get around.

We’re staying in Celebration, near Kissimmee. We do have a car.

Trying to get my head round whether we should get the Genie +

 

[Butch Willykins]

Was there in August. Whatever you’ve budgeted to spend, double it!

Didn’t bother with Genie+, but my kids are much younger than yours, so generally not into the more popular rides.

It’s expensive and the airport is horrendous, but you’ll have an amazing time. Enjoy!

 

[dazzer6666]

Another vote for Clearwater but if you want East Coast then perhaps Cocoa Beach (lots of facilities etc) or if quieter preferred try Seagull Park or Hightower (all near Canaveral)

 

[PTC Gull]

NASA Space center is a great day out and only a 1.5/2h drive from Orlando. Info here:https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com
If you are lucky there might be a rocket launch from Cape Kennedy. check this website out. https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/category/kennedy-space-center/
If Artemis is delayed till you are there, you would see it from Orlando. The immediate area around Cape Kennedy gets crowed very early and Cocoa Beach (and the town) get closed down.
I will be there the week of the 17th at a big aviation event at the Convention center so its going to be busy.
Enjoy.

 

[Weststander]

Universal Studios is incredible, including all things Harry Potter. Pay for the not-cheap Fast Passes, well worth it, jumping slow queues.

Disney - the Fast Pass+ I think is the equivalent, allowing you to queue jump just twice. The ride Soarin’ at Epcot is incredible. The Animal Kingdom safari ride is great, you see all the big beasts given acres of humane space

Visit the Kennedy Space Centre, it’s unforgettable.

[Don’t do too much reading up and googling stuff, we didn’t out of laziness, but it led to lots of unexpected magical sights … even for the adults!]

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

With 14 day Disney tickets, I wouldn't bother with Genie+ (we haven't bought this). If you do find there is one of the big rides that you can't get on because it is too busy then you might want to just get it for a day.

Eating in the theme parks is very expensive (same as in this country) and obviously the exchange rate it not helping at the moment. From where you are in Celebration, loads of choice along 192 for family dining of all cuisines.

If you want loads of useful information, go onto https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/index.php which you will find really helpful and is a place where [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] can also be found when he is looking for respite from NSC.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Lucky you're not going today. Ian might have had other ideas.

Obviously [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] is the expert, but having been to the States last week I can tell you that the dreadful exchange rate makes everything feel very expensive (it was nearly as bad at our stop off in Houston as Vegas) with a minimum 18% tip on everything.

Spent the day moving people to “safe” areas looks like it could be a bad one

 

[West Upper Seagull]

I am going to Florida with my wife and 3 kids ages 11, 14 and 16 for the first time in mid October. As it is their first time, we will mostly be doing the parks; Disney 14 day ticket and then Sea World, Busch Gardens and Aquatica.

Any advice appreciated, particularly on Genie + and a beach recommendation (a break from the parks), also anywhere reasonably priced to eat (exchange rate!!!) taking into account that the others are all veggies.

If I have missed a recent post on this apologies, but couldn't find anything even from the expert BOZZA who has probably been 3 times this year already

I’m jealous, I absolutely love Orlando - have been fortunate to have been many times. It’s definitely good to mix up your schedule with days at the water parks to chill out a bit to break up doing all the theme parks. Aquatica is good but so too is Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon. I don’t know if the rest of your family like football but the last time I went I took my son to watch Orlando City play DC United - it was a really enjoyable and unique football experience watching a ‘soccer’ game and a new ground I can say we’ve been to ! Have a fantastic time !

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Definitely recommend Clearwater or St Petes - or a little further south and not so busy is Pass-a-Grille beach. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...ille_Beach_Florida-St_Pete_Beach_Florida.html

If you end up at Clearwater its worth a trip to the Marine Aquarium too. https://www.cmaquarium.org/ From there you can go out on boat tours and see some wildlife. Last time we did it the marine biologist / guide on board managed to scoop out a baby black tip reef shark for the kids to see (before putting it back again!) and you get to stop off at shell island...a tiny spit of land purely made up of seashells, plus see some of the stars homes along the way.

Just up the road from St Petes beach is Johns Pass Village & Boardwalk at Madeira Beach https://johnspass.com/ Its a great place to go, & they have some super seafood restaurants (as well as a Hooters), a small strip mall, & you can also go out on Dolphin cruises too. My kids got to drive the boat once when they were younger, which they loved.

If you fancy a trip further north from Orlando, Silver Springs State Park, near Ocala, is a really nice day out. https://silversprings.com/ Its where they filmed the original Johnny Weismuller Tarzan films and you can take glass bottom boat rides to see the gators etc. The kodiak bears there were used by Disney's Brother Bear animators as "models" for the film as well. It has a lovely old time feel to it...would definitely recommend.

Gatorland https://www.gatorland.com/ is always a top day out as well - loads of gators to see, but they also have a really good water park for the kids now, plus a zip-wire & nature walk through the swampland.

As for veggie food, we found the Olive Garden https://www.olivegarden.com/home a good place to go. My youngest is very fussy about food, but loves salad stuff, and they had a decent range of pasta dishes / house salads etc available

 

[lost in london]

We did two days in Disneyland California, wanted to get on as many rides as possible so used Genie+. It isn't perfect, and not all rides are on it, but it was great for us, meant we could tick off a lot more rides than we otherwise would have. Getting free photos with it was a nice perk.

I can't quite imagine doing 14 days at Disney, two was enough for me, but if you don't have the time pressure then Genie+ probably not worth bothering with; at $20 per person per day that would tick up pretty quickly. The real big ticket rides at Disneyland (Rise of the Resistance, Cars, Spiderman) weren't on Genie+, you had to pay c.$20 just to jump the queue for that one ride.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Clearwater beach is excellent albeit ruined by the Hotel Skyline. Trust American's to build on an AONB. I really enjoy the "True Lies" style bridge you have to drive over to get there. If a decent American breakfast is your thing, the Clear Sky Cafe Nr Clearwater beach is excellent.

If I was to offer some disney advice to minimise your queing. Either

- Get there before opening and get in the queue for "Rope drop" and then get in the queue for the big ticket rides. (Ride of the resistance, Flights of passage and the Dwarf mine train amongst others) OR get in the queue about 1/2 hour before advertised closing. You only need to be in the queue before closing and they let you on. Anything around the 11-3 mark it gets busy albeit you are going at a quietish time.
- Re Genie plus. Best bet is to "Stack" rides. If you aren't staying on site, book your first one at 7 in the morning and then I believe you can book the next one 2 hours after the park opens (or when you check into your first ride whichever is sooner). There is nothing to stop you booking 3 in the late afternoon but having to book them at 3 separate times. It reads more confusing than it is. Waking up at 7 is a bind though but no way round it.
- Also, you can park hop on the UK bought tickets. You have to pre book your first park (and have entered it) but post 14.00 you can go to another park. If you are driving, keep your receipt as that is valid to park in any of the others. If you are using Genie +, you therefore can book something in Hollywood Studios post 14.00 even if you are booked into another park.
- Hollywood Studios is generally where the better rides are now. Given how old your kids are, you won't want to do too much Magic Kingdom.
- I highly recommend doing the "World of Stereotypes" at Epcot in the evening. The English pub is almost as shit as a spoons and the chippie is shite. It's just like being at home.
- It's a shame Blizzard beach is closed as that means Disney only has the one water park which is therefore busier.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

We did two days in Disneyland California, wanted to get on as many rides as possible so used Genie+. It isn't perfect, and not all rides are on it, but it was great for us, meant we could tick off a lot more rides than we otherwise would have. Getting free photos with it was a nice perk.

I can't quite imagine doing 14 days at Disney, two was enough for me, but if you don't have the time pressure then Genie+ probably not worth bothering with; at $20 per person per day that would tick up pretty quickly. The real big ticket rides at Disneyland (Rise of the Resistance, Cars, Spiderman) weren't on Genie+, you had to pay c.$20 just to jump the queue for that one ride.

We were in Disneyland California back in June, & I actually preferred it to Florida tbh. Loved the California Adventure Park, but even with a 16yr old and a 19yr old, they still loved things like the Cars ride, & everything in Magic Kingdom lol. As huge Star Wars fans we paid the extra to do the rides as the queues for it were so big, and I reckon it was worth it. Absolutely amazing what they've done. As you say though - 2 days is enough...we did pretty much everything we needed to in that time (but we are seasoned Disney travellers, so know what to do and where to go etc).