"Layover" time in Orlando - What to do??

[Fishbone†]

Suncountry just called and has moved our flight time (AGAIN!!) to 8:30 Saturday night after our cruise. This leaves us with approximately 8 hours in Orlando with nothing to do, and that's after taking in consideration our disembarkment time, travel to the airport and two hour early arrival to catch our flight. We have three adults and 4 kids (well, two are over the child's ticket price of 9, but kids none-the-less). I really don't think 10 hours in the Orlando airport is going to work, so, I'm looking for suggestions as to what to do.

Is this enough time to visit a park - if so which?? I hate to throw another several hundred dollars around, so I'd like to prevent that. Does anyone have a good suggestion of what we can do?? Keep in mind, we're just back from a cruise, so they've been sufficiently entertained and fed. )

I would love to hit a park, but I just don't know if that's enough time.

What would you do??

 

[kdibattista]

I would definitely go to Downtown Disney... there is plenty to do for a few hours. There are tons of shops, restaurants and DisneyQuest.

 

[mickeyboat]

Suncountry just called and has moved our flight time (AGAIN!!) to 8:30 Saturday night after our cruise. This leaves us with approximately 8 hours in Orlando with nothing to do, and that's after taking in consideration our disembarkment time, travel to the airport and two hour early arrival to catch our flight. We have three adults and 4 kids (well, two are over the child's ticket price of 9, but kids none-the-less). I really don't think 10 hours in the Orlando airport is going to work, so, I'm looking for suggestions as to what to do.

Is this enough time to visit a park - if so which?? I hate to throw another several hundred dollars around, so I'd like to prevent that. Does anyone have a good suggestion of what we can do?? Keep in mind, we're just back from a cruise, so they've been sufficiently entertained and fed. )

I would love to hit a park, but I just don't know if that's enough time.

What would you do??

Ask your question on the cruise board. Lots of people have been in the same position, and they can tell you what they did.

Denae

 

[mrsmom]

I would do downtown disney or a water park.
Kim

 

[Towncrier]

My wife and I had 4 hours between the time that our cruise arrived at Port Canaveral and the time that our airplane left Orlando Airport. We were the first people through customs and the first ones on the DCL bus to the airport. We got to the airport, checked our bags, and then hoofed it to the car rental desk where we picked up our PT Cruiser and headed for WDW. Specifically, the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. We only had 3.5 hours of park time, but that was enough to get a "taste" of F&W and was a much better use of our time than sitting around the airport. Besides, our APs were burning a hole in our pockets.

We got back to the airport in plenty of time for our flight. In fact, way too early as our flight was delayed due to bad weather, but who knew? Come to think of it, that was the flight that couldn't land in Akron due to tornados, so we ended up in Pittsburgh for the evening and didn't get home until the following afternoon. Still, we were glad that we got a chance to visit WDW for the afternoon.

 

[ChristmasElf]

You would definately have plenty of time for Downtown Disney as well as any of the other parks. EXCEPT I wouldn't try to do the Magic Kingdom as by the time you have to deal with the TTC and the monrail or the fery boat you lose too much time just getting in the gate at that park.
You could do quite a few things though at MGM as the parking there is the closest to the actual place you walk in.
Maybe a quick trip on a limo, a drop from the tower, a cruise through the great movie ride would easily chew up a couple if not few hours.
If you do decide to hit WDW, just make sure you leave property at least 2 hours before your flight. Allow 20 min drive time, time to return a rental car and time to check in luggage and then the security line will chew up time as well.
If you decide not to hit WDW, there is always the Outlet Malls.

 

[Kae]

DTD & Mini Golf. Eat at one of the Monorail Resorts & ride the monorail.

Kae

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

People seem to suggest Downtown Disney in this scenario a lot, but I disagree. Sure, it saves the price of tickets to a park, but it's primarily a shopping venue and I think the kids will get bored quick. Unless I'm actually spending money, I get bored there after a couple of hours.

I think you have enough time for either Animal Kingdom or MGM, or go to a waterpark.

I am editing to agree with the above poster on adding mini-golf and eating a monorail hotel in combo with DTD as an alternative to the parks, but that could end up costing as much as eating cheap and getting park tickets anyway.

 

[disykat]

DH and I had several extra hours after our cruise on our honeymoon. We had a rental car so we went to Cocoa Beach and went swimming.

 

[NCRedding]

I know that some people on the cruise boards have gotten a day rate at the Hyatt, and just relaxed by the pool, rested, and hung out til flight time. You may also want to consider renting a car and going to Kennedy Space Center for the day.

 

[disneymom3]

Or you could rent a car and explore the rest of Orlando. DH and I went on a cruise several years ago and had almost the whole day between disembarcation and our flight in Fort Lauderdale. We rented a car and picked up some of the tourist mags and just checked things out. For both of us, this was the favority land experience of our entire cruise.

 

[ford family]

If funds allow, why not book a day at Discovery Cove, it could be as busy or as relaxing as you choose.

ford family

 

[mainewmn]

I would rent a car go have a nice dinner at one of the many restaurants in Orlando and pick one fun thing to do, like DTD or Wonderworks, or mini golf or similar. This way you can relax And enjoy your time without trying to rush and see it all.

 

[figment52]

The Kennedy Space Center is right up the road from the port. I think it is more relaxing than WDW parks and I hate to kill that calm of the cruise ship vacation by heading to the park and all it represents. If I plan to do the parks I do it on the front end of the trip, not the back.

I spend lots of time on the cruise boards and they will have lots of ideas for you. For the size of your group the day rate for the minivan should be cheaper than Dsney transport from the ship to Orlando.