another just booked! somewhat overwhelmed!!

[IHaveAFatCat]

I'm not sure we would have ever gone to Disney but dh racked up so many miles and points traveling for work, we got the flights and a hotel FREE and an amazing deal on a rental car.

The hotel is not ideal as it is next to Universal Studios not WDW, but, hey, it's FREE!! And we've stayed at them before and the rooms are large and nice and also free breakfast.

we're going Mid-October for 8 nights, 7 full days.

Now I am in total research mode for what to do and how to get the most out of the parks and such.

We figure we'll get 4 day park tickets, but might only go 3 days because of other stuff we think we'd like to see. Might as well see Universal one day since it's right there. Want to see Blue Man Group since it's right there. Figure we'll check out Gatorland. Want to drive to Kennedy Space Center. Would be interested in seeing a beach if we drive out that far, but not sure it can be fit in?

Any thoughts on Discovery Cove? Tickets are pricey, and I'd be so bummed if I pay all that $ and then my kids decide they are afraid of dolphins! Kids' ages are 7, 7 and 9.

Also, is Cirque de Soleil worth the money? Any other show recommendations?

thanks in advance!

 

[IHaveAFatCat]

oh, i forgot to mention -- we aren't telling the kids AT ALL.

mostly since they'll be missing school (hanging head in shame) and figure the teachers will be furious if they talk about nothing but Disney from the first day of school until we leave!

So, we're picking them up after school on Fri, Oct 14, and telling them en route to the airport!! hehe!!

 

[Hallowishes]

Wow, you sound overwhelmed! Well, first off, cirque du soliel is AMAZING!!! but, pretty pricey. Well worth it if you ask me.

 

[wakica]

You have a lot to fit into 7 days. Your going to really have to decide where your priorities are. I personally think for first trip you could probably do with a full 5 days just in the Disney parks, then if you consider your first day an arrival day and last day a departure day where you'll have to use that time for packing and taking off then those days don't really give you much time for parks either.

I think your going to need to learn about what's in each park and decide which ones are your priority. You could ask here but ppl tend to differ in which parks they like the best - I guess it all depends on what you want to do in the parks ie; shows? thrill rides? tame rides? meals?

As for a one day at the Universal parks I would reccomend Islands of Adventure . The studios is great too of course and we usually devote one full day to each park but the most exciting stuff in my opinion (as well as Harry Potter) is at IOA.

Discovery Cove is an INCREDIBLE way to spend a day but your right - it's costly. You do feel almost like royalty once in the park though. My daughter found it SO cool that she could just walk up to a counter and help herself to a bag of chips and have unlimited drinks and cold treats. It's also nice to be able to feed the birds all you want - at Busche they charge alot for the birds food and if you spill it tough luck. At Discovery you can feed them as much as you want. Some people might be afraid of the birds landing on them but they can just watch until they feel comfortable enough to join in - or just watch. The birds at Discovery are more mild than the ones at Busche b/c they always have access to lots of food DD and I did the dolphin swim and dh took pics when we went to the park so that cut back on cost of him doing the swim and of getting photos of it. He is a professional photog though and has a great camera with a great zoom and a knowledge of how to photograph in bad lighting and bright sun.
Discovery Cove is a full day - you'll be worn out once you leave and you won't want to leave until you have to b/c of the price you paid to get in. lol.

Good Luck with your planning. I just couldn't do it all in a short trip b/c I like a rest day here and there as well. Our next trip is going to be 16 days and we'll fit in all Disney parks, SeaWorld, both Universal parks, Aquatica Water park, Typhoon Lagoon waterpark and a few days at Madeira Beach and Busche Gardens. We won't go for less than 10 days.

OH for beaches I reccomend Cocoa Beach - it's about an hour to get there and by the time you factor in drive both ways, finding parking, visiting the beach and a visit to Ron John Surf shop (which is VERY cool) you have a full day if you do that too.