Need Advice on Orlando Hotels & Other Parks

[hmhs]

Hello!
I'm late in planning my vacation to Orlando this summer and I need help! We would like to visit the area the 2nd week of July and need advice on what to do other than Disney.... we've been to Disney for the last two years and of course LOVE it, but what to do other attractions this year instead.

Me, my husband & our 5yr old would love to get a package deal for our hotel and attractions. We'd like to stay about 4 nights in Orlando and then go to a beach close by.... need help with that too- Daytona?? I have no idea!

I know I'm asking real general questions, but any advice would be so appreciated. The people on this board were so wonderful when I was planning our Disney vacations in years past.

In Orlando we's like to go to:
-Sea World
-Universal Studios
-Busch Gardens
-Some type of Water Park... we never did get to do either Disney one so maybe that or Aquatica?

Thanks a bunch!
Holly

 

[Detailor]

I'd think that if you want a packaged deal to include attraction tickets and lodging you may want to contact a local travel agent who should be able to put all that together for you. However, if you're willing to put it all together yourself it will take a bit more work but you might be able to find ways to get slightly better pricing.

On lodging, I'd suggest looking into deals that are posted at the DIS site like the Sheraton Vistana Resort banner at the top of the page. Or go to www.mousesavers.com and look at the hotel deals that are posted there. A lot of DISers use Priceline or Hotwire as a way to lower there lodging costs. Both of those companies use name brand hotel vendors. There's a Priceline sticky at the top of this forum page that will give you an idea of what others are paying for the various hotel star-rating types. Very good "how to use" information on Priceline and Hotwire can be found at www.betterbidding.com and www.biddingfortravel.com.

You'll be really busy for four days if you go to Universal/Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens but if you plan ahead and know what you want to do once your get to these parks that would make them doable. And getting to the parks early is helpful too. But if you want to do a water park in that timeframe too then you're going to miss alot. I think that's a lot to do in a short time.

Generally, I've found that the best ticket pricing for those four theme parks is through their websites but you might want to check pricing at a couple of the discount ticket agencies: www.undercovertourist.com or www.ticketmania.com. If you go to Aquatica you might find a combo ticket deal for Aquatica and SeaWorld (www.seaworld.com/orlando/ and/or www.aquaticabyseaworld.com). If you decide to go to a Disney waterpark you should consider checking the TicketMania website - don't know if they still have discounted water park tickets but they used to offer them at a small discount. Any of those three parks or the water park that's next to Busch Gardens (maybe combo water park/Busch Gardens ticket option from www.buschgardens/bt2/) would be good choices for you. Busch Gardens is about an hour from the Disney area of Orlando if the traffic along I-4 West flows without any problems.

Assuming that you'll do a fifth day at the beach you might consider Cocoa Beach - it's the closest beach about 50 or 60 miles east of Orlando via Toll Road 528. There are lots of other beach choices - like Daytona that you mentioned - along the Atlantic and lots more along the Gulf of Mexico on the western side of the state (closest are around 90 minutes from Orlando via I-4 West).

However you decide to proceed, have a great time in the Orlando area.

Dick Taylor

 

[ADisneyQueen]

There are some great package deals on the Sea World site. I got a one BR suite (breakfast included) at Residence Inn SW and the room comes out to be $85 a night. The package includes 14 day length of stay tickets to SW and Aquatica. Other hotels are available too. You can also add Busch Gardens
We also are not doing as much Disney this time- just 2 days. Then we have our SW package, Kennedy space center and the beach. I'd skip Universal if I were you. I think your 5 year old would have more fun with a few days at SW. Shamu's Happy Harbour would be nice for that age.

 

[taliategan]

I would check both the Universal or SeaWorld websites. If you stay on-site at Universal - there are 3 on-site hotels - all considered delux, but cheaper than Disney deluxes - main advantages both Universal parks and City Walk are all within walking distance of all three hotels and you get unlimited Express Pass (like having a fastpass for every attraction). There are some supersaver rates on these hotels if you stay 4 or more nights. There is normally not much of a difference if you buy a package deal or just get a room and buy park tickets separately

There are no on-site hotels at SeaWorld, but the packages for Seaworld are with Marriott hotels and some are very close to SeaWorld and Aquatica.

If you stay on-site at Universal or at a Marriott by Seaworld, you would have to buy tickets for the other parks separately. Having a rental car would be the best way to get to the other parks. You could also stay at any off-site hotel in the Universal or Seaworld areas.

There is something called a Orlando Flex Ticket which includes both Universal parks, SeaWorld, Aquatica & Wet N' Wild, which is good for 14 days. You can also add Busch Gardens to this ticket for an added cost. (I'm not sure if you are aware that Busch Gardens is in the Tampa area - not Orlando.) If you are interested in Busch Gardens, you can also get various combo tickets on the SeaWorld Website for SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens. Since you are not staying more than a week, I don't think the flex ticket would be the best deal for you.

Water Parks - either of the two Disney parks or Aquatica would be best for a 5 year old; Wet N' Wild is cheaper, but has no theming and would be better for older kids. If you are going to SeaWorld, Aquatica would be the cheapest as you can get a combo ticket together with SeaWorld or possibly have it included in a package if you stay at one hotels on the SeaWorld web site.

There is a lot to consider - but I would check out both the Universal and SeaWorld web sites as a starting point.