2 weeks in Florida....

[Groovee]

Do you do only disney things or what are your must do's while in Orlando?

We have to do seaworld and universal and hope to do a dinner show this time round. We also HAVE to go shopping as I love shopping over there for kids clothes.

 

[MorningGlory]

Do you do only disney things or what are your must do's while in Orlando?

We have to do seaworld and universal and hope to do a dinner show this time round. We also HAVE to go shopping as I love shopping over there for kids clothes.

This will be our first time, but we're definitely planning on doing things other than Disney.

As well as Universal amd SeaWorld, were also looking to take in a game of American football, a baseball game in Tampa plus a drive through to Kennedy SC at least. Not to mention lots of shopping in the Premium Outlets store

 

[UKDEB]

I can't imagine a trip to Orlando without visiting Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. I think Sea World is a lovely park too, but we don't visit it every time.

I also love shopping - the Mall at Millenia is my favourite, although we always visit the Florida Mall as well and I'm looking forward to seeing Pointe Orlando once all the refurbishments are finished. Oh, and we ususally stop by Festival Bay to see how that's coming along. I'm not a lover of the outlet malls - even Premium Outlets has lost its appeal.

Visiting nice restaurants, bars and upscale hotels is a favourite pastime - I love seeking out new ones. Golf has become an important part of our holidays in the last couple of years since dh took it up. I enjoy driving the buggy and I've now started having lessons so that I can join in.

 

[Haworthfamily]

Disney is always our main focus.
We love universal and islands of adventure - from a break from Disney.
We usually do Sea World every other year, our DD5 loves it and I did as a kid, but now it's a bit boring for us now.

Good luck planning.

 

[Andy B]

Having traveled 3500 miles we will go to other places and do other things than just Disney.

Sea World is one of our favourite parks. KSC 3 times Busch Gardens once, Universal every time, some shopping, Gatorland, Vans skatepark for DS mini golf offsite. I am planning an airboat time this year and Discovery Cove.

 

[jns]

we tend to stick with Disney
We love there water parks

do a bit of shopping too

 

[Soprano]

We have never stayed onsite so its easier to choose other place to go rather than Disney. If we stayed onsite, it's likely we would spend a lot more time in WDW.

 

[Kirsteen]

We did Universal, Islands of Adventure, Gatorland, Wonderworks, lots of shopping and eating out on Internation Drive as well as Disney.

This year we would like to go to Seaworld too. Kx

 

[wifey]

If you are there at a quiet time of year plan before you go and have a look at A Brit's Guide to Orlando (published by foulsham) by Simon Veness he has some fantastic ideas of thing to do outside the theme parks (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld, Busch Gardens),Kennedy Space Centre is great and a must do is the tour on the bus out to the viewing area for the lauch pad etc well worth it, the Astronaut Hall of Fame is great too and it's right next door.
Lots of hotels or reps can set you up with a" Shop 'til you Drop" day out where you can get to lots of malls and outlets. Dolly's Dixie Stampede is a bit different if you want dinner and a show, but remember to take some time out of touring to just relax after all you are on holiday.

 

[castanea1985]

Groovee,
You should try a day by the beach? /there are some fabulous beaches on the gulf coast, or a day out to St.Augustine, on the east coast.
Definitely fit a trip to the Kennedy Space centre.
How about the Crystal river area?
Now, shopping where do I start? Florida mall is fabulous! Our DD loves Abercrombie and Fitch, Dillards etc..
For a bargain, try the Premium Outlets opposite LBV. My DS and DH both got some fabulous Timberland shoes on our last visit. Don't forget to go online and join their VIP club for extra vouchers!
Tracy

 

[Ware Bears]

Our first time we went for 14 days and did Disney, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Arabian Nights dinner show and went horseriding.

This time we are going for 21 days and apart from doing Disney, Sea World and Busch again we are going to both Universal parks and spending 3 nights at St Pete beach.

 

[Goofysmate]

As well as doing all the Disney parks we do other things also.
On our last trip (2006) we did the Dolly Parton Dinner show which we thought was Fantastic.
Next time we thought of going to the pirates dinner show.
Have you thought of bush gardens thats a good park and gator land

 

[Altymark]

I would also recommend a day at the beach. During our last trip we spent the best part of two weeks frantically touring the parks. Towards the end of our trip we travelled to Clearwater for the day. What a great change of pace! My favourate photo from that holiday is of my DW looking more chilled out and relaxed than I've ever seen her with sun setting in the background. This year we're staying on-site in Disney for 7 days (Poly), 3 days at the HRH, Universal, then moving south for 10 days in Naples to chill out on the beaches and explore southern Florida - perfect!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We have never just done Disney, there is so much more to Florida.
To be honest anyone who just does WDW I think is missing out on so much.

Many of our favourite rides are at Universal and Sea World is also a great park too.

Our holidays have never been just about the theme parks, we have loved travelling around to the likes of Miami, Naples, Fort Lauderdale etc

Shopping is good in Orlando, with the Florida Mall, Mall At Millenia and Festival Bay all excellent.
However, some of the shopping experiences outside Orlando are a shopper's paradise, the likes of the 'Gardens Mall' at Palm Beach, 'Coconut Grove' , 'Bal Harbour', 'Aventura Mall' all at Miami and the incredible 'Sawgrass Mills' near Fort Lauderdale.

In Naples you have trendy little waterfront shopping boutiques with restaurants etc and you just don't find these in Orlando.

The beaches particularly on the west coast are fantastic, and well worth a trip. Have great memeries of driving down to the Keys, driving down the A1A coastal road on the east coast, and just basically travelling around.

We find it harder to get outside Orlando these days as it's probably not fair on Joshua, however we are definitely returning to the east coast on our next holiday - to do just WDW for us is unthinkable.