First time visit!!

[Zeebs]

I know that to go to Florida and want to visit parts other than Disney is hard for some to believe but I am glad you want to see other parts of the world and don't feel sad for you at all. You will have a lovely time in Miami chilling out. You will always be missing out on something when travelling and at least you are giving it some thought and are trying out the most you can on your time frame and your interests.

We are pretty much doing a similar trip to you. Week 1 in Orlando, and Week 2 a couple of hours south just relaxing and checking out some of what else Florida has to offer.

The difference is that we are travelling with 2 small children, and my inlaws. We decided that because we are likely to return in the future (when we can try out some of the other theme parks) and the kids are so little we would focus our first week only on Disney, my inlaws will do Disney and 1 day Discovery Cove and 1 day Seaworld - this is likey to be their only trip to Florida..

We are also doing a Halloween Party at Disney just to give us some extra time and because we don't really celebrate it over in the UK and we thought it would be a bit of extra fun.

I hope you have a fabulous trip.

Kirsten

 

[wayneg]

I know that to go to Florida and want to visit parts other than Disney is hard for some to believe but I am glad you want to see other parts of the world and don't feel sad for you at all.

There is more to Florida than just the theme park area but a 1st visit, 2 week trip in my opinion doesn't need a 5+hour, 400 mile journey. Maybe 2nd or 3rd visit then explore other things Florida has to offer. Unfortunately checking out driving down, eating, checking in and unpacking is going to use a valuable day of holiday.
Maybe OP has made the right decision for them, Time will tell, its just not something an experienced traveller to Florida would recommend.

 

[Zeebs]

There is more to Florida than just the theme park area but a 1st visit, 2 week trip in my opinion doesn't need a 5+hour, 400 mile journey. Maybe 2nd or 3rd visit then explore other things Florida has to offer. Unfortunately checking out driving down, eating, checking in and unpacking is going to use a valuable day of holiday.
Maybe OP has made the right decision for them, Time will tell, its just not something an experienced traveller to Florida would recommend.

I totally agree if you are going to go again and again you may as well spend a decent amount of time to see each thing, but she mentioned that she didn't know if they would get back to Florida. So I think that as she wanted to see Miami that she is doing the best she can to fit everything in. She won't see everything but if it is her only chance then she will get a taste of what she wanted to see. Plus on the long drive down I am sure there are plenty of things to stop off and see, a bit of an American Road Trip.

Kirsten

 

[littlemiss1983]

Hi again,

Thank you everyone for all your tips and opinions, they have been really helpful! I think the worse thing about going somewhere new is the not knowing, for me anyway!

Like I said earlier we split it into 2 parts for various reasons, and splitting Orlando & Miami seems a popular choice… plus we both love road trips, its something we do here a lot… we would easily drive 500 miles just for a 2-3 day trip so that really doesn’t bother us, we intend on planning our route and hopefully be able to do a scenic route!

I think we will see how time goes and if we want to stay a little longer at the park then we will stay for the Halloween event… besides we may only get to do it the once! We had a look on the internet and the website, the parks and the rides and we kind of came to a decision that AK will be the one we miss, however we also found 3 day tickets with an extra 2 or 3 days (cant remember exactly) so if time is on our side then we will go to AK!!

 

[wayneg]

but she mentioned that she didn't know if they would get back to Florida.

15 years ago I never wanted to visit Florida, hated theme parks, dreaded the thought of cruising. My ideal holiday was long nights in Benidorm or Magaluf.
Now spent 50 weeks in Florida(another 9 weeks booked), done 5 cruises(another 3 booked) we still visit other places in US and other countries but fallen in love with Florida.
So I tend to take with a pinch of salt anyone that says its a once only trip.

 

[littlemiss1983]

So I tend to take with a pinch of salt anyone that says its a once only trip.

Hi, I completely get where you are coming from, and I would probably love to go back.... but due to my other half and medical reasons there is a chance that we may not be able to ever fly that far again... but there is a chance we will, but we have to take it as this may be our only chance just in case

x

 

[Hbabe78]

hiya ive never been myself, but like you are going for the first time in september into october for 2 weeks.

what ever way your doing it, i hope you have a great holiday

 

[littlemiss1983]

Thanks... Hope you have a fab time too!

x

 

[Belle68]

Hi and Welcome to the DIS

If you wanted to do one of the Halloween Party's they will need an extra ticket.

I know , Ive got mine!!

But if you go on a non special event night (check the calander) your admission ticket covers everything!
Sorry if I made it sound as if you didnt need an extra ticket for these special nights but I think littlemiss1983 was aware of that in her post, I ment all the non event nights - now Im waffling

 

[littlemiss1983]

Belle68 - How did you get your ticket already?

x

 

[wayneg]

Buy tickets on Disneys website, some have them delivered, delivery costs vary to which agent you get between $3-10. We prefer to collect on arrival at Guest services we use the one at Downtown Disney on our 1st night.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...tSoScaryHalloweenPartySpecialEventPage&bhcp=1

 

[Lizzybear]

Me and my bf are a similar age and went together for the first time last year (i'd previously been twice but it was my bf's first trip) and the parks we'll probably miss out next time are Universal, IOA and Seaworld. We enjoyed the WDW parks much more, as well as Kennedy Space Center and Busch Gardens For a first visit, though, i'd probably do Universal/IOA and as many WDW parks as you can fit in.