Help a Newbie!!

[pta-mom]

OK...have been to DW four times in four years but have NEVER done ANYTHING else in Orlando!! Have done no research as of yet so not even sure of all Orlando and area has to offer.

This year, we are thinking of taking our two boys (14 & 12) to Orlando and renting a condo for a week in late August. Now, if this was your family, based on your experiences already, what would your itenary look like? What places would you go to? I assume Universal....for one day? Two? More? Seaworld? What else? I'ld like to plan this holiday but just don't know what I should be looking at!

One thing, no Disney this time....I'm all about ALL Disney, or NO Disney!!

Thoughts?

 

[Metro West]

I would definitely spend two full days at Universal and with Harry Potter opening soon, you will definitely have plenty to do. Also...since you're coming down in summer, you might want to consider a day at Sea World and Aquatica. That's four days right there. Maybe take a drive over to Kennedy Space Center for the day.

How does that sound?

 

[KOBUK]

This our third trip in the last four years and I have two 13 year old girls. 4 years ago we did a split disney/universal with a week at each. Then last year we did a week at Universal. This year 10 days at Universal with the Flex ticket. We are going to seaworld, aquatica, busch gardens and maybe drive over to the beach for a day. The only disney thing my girls want to go back to is one of the water parks (blizzard or typhoon) have a great trip. universal is great fun for the family

 

[pta-mom]

I would definitely spend two full days at Universal and with Harry Potter opening soon, you will definitely have plenty to do. Also...since you're coming down in summer, you might want to consider a day at Sea World and Aquatica. That's four days right there. Maybe take a drive over to Kennedy Space Center for the day.

How does that sound?

OK, so Universal is a two day park...on the same size as one of DW parks than I guess? Sea World...would that be a full day outing? And I googled Aquatica because I had not even heard of it before!! How is Aquatica? We really enjoyed the waterparks in DW...would this be comparable? How far away is Kennedy Space Center and what do you do there? Thanks for the info!

This our third trip in the last four years and I have two 13 year old girls. 4 years ago we did a split disney/universal with a week at each. Then last year we did a week at Universal. This year 10 days at Universal with the Flex ticket. We are going to seaworld, aquatica, busch gardens and maybe drive over to the beach for a day. The only disney thing my girls want to go back to is one of the water parks (blizzard or typhoon) have a great trip. universal is great fun for the family

Kobuk, I'm honored for your FIRST post, you would choose to answer me!! So, when you say a week at Universal, do you mean you spent seven days hanging out at Universal? Or you did other things in Orlando too? Love Disney's waterparks!! Thanks for you input!

 

[Poohbeck]

Back in 2006 we did a quick non-Disney trip too!

We spent 2.5 days at SeaWorld, 1 day at BuschGardens, a day at Kennedy and then a day at the pool. We all had a blast at Kennedy, the boys were 7 and 9 at the time. We spent the whole day there.

We are doing another non-Disney trip this year with our boys ages 11 and 13. This time we are spending 1 day at Discovery Cover , 1 day at SeaWorld, 2 or 3 days at Universal and we really want to try Aquatica. I've heard great things about Aquatica! The other days will be spent heading to the beach or at the pool.

Have fun!

 

[torinsmom]

DS15 and I spent 6 days at Universal/IOA and had a blast. We didn't get bored and I don't think we could have done everything and redone our favorites in less than 3 days.

You could go to SeaWorld and Aquatica, or maybe somewhere like Gatorland?

 

[donaldduck352]

Here is A idea.Note all prices in Florida theme parks have raised(thank you DW and Harry potter).But the Flex tik is the best deal out there.It includes US,SW,BG Tampa,Aquatica and Wet & Wild for 2weeks with unlimmited entrance between all parks and free shcuttle to Tampa.Here is the link,scroll to the bottom of the page:

http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/Purchase/Visitors.aspx

 

[Planogirl]

We normally split our time evenly between WDW and Universal but once we only spent one day at WDW. I think that Universal's two parks are doable in two days but we prefer at least 3. But then we don't stay from opening to closing at any parks most of the time.

Otherwise, Sea World is great and Discovery Cove and Aquatica are apparently just as nice. We like to check out some of Orlando's smaller attractions such as Wonderworks, Gatorland, the outlets and the many mini-golf places. You might want to pull up an Orlando tourism site and check out the list of attractions.

Further away, Kennedy Space Center and Busch Gardens are good attractions. You can go to various beaches and such things too. We love the old city of St Augustine but it's more of a drive than some of these places.