Only Booked for one week

[Shocking Hocking]

Hi , We had are first Florida trip last year in October and we really packed a lot in and we had an amazing time . I really need a Florida fix but DH wanted to avoid Summer hols as he is put off by the heat and just loved it in October . Can't go at Easter as we are already away . So we have booked for one week in October 2015 . We are staying on site at Universal with a car . Don't think we will be doing much Disney but will be doing the Universal horror night as we did that last time and my son enjoyed it . He did also very much enjoy MNSSHP . Was thinking of giving Bush Gardens and Kennedy Space Centre a go this time . What are your experiences of a week ? Going to make Florida a regular holiday now , so I will be working on getting the DH to go in summer or Easter . We can not tag a week on in October like we did last time as DS is 14 next so can't take him out of school while doing exams ect . We stayed at Hilton Bonnet Creek last time and did love this location a lot ,so think in future we will look at Bonnet Creek again as I have just been reading the trip report on the other hotel and it looks perfect for what we like as a family . What are the crowds and weather like at Easter ? Excited just to be returning : )) even if it is only a week : (((

 

[wilma-bride]

I did WDW for a week with my DD in March this year. We got plenty done (probably more so because it was just the two of us) and, although I would have loved to stay longer, it allowed plenty of time to just do the Disney parks. I think we might have struggled if we'd tried to fit too much in to that week but as it was a 'bonus' trip, we didn't worry about doing everything.

ETA: Easter, you willl find, is very busy. It is the second busiest time of the year, after Christmas. You will be unlikely to get as much done then as you would in a quieter month.

Also, I am not sure if you are indicating that you intend to go twice a year for a week at a time but you will most likely find that is almost twice as expensive as just going once a year. It is a shame your DH wants to avoid the summer holidays as the end of August can actually be a really great time to visit, crowd-wise if not weather-wise. Yes, it is hot and humid but manageable and you have the benefit of longer park hours. We tend to visit parks mornings and evenings when we go in the summer months.

 

[Shocking Hocking]

Thanks a lot . I want to get in two weeks at some time in the year and want to do summer and only other school holiday would be Easter . Think I'm just going to have to get the DH to go in the summer time . I know he will be fine once I get him there . Us women seem to have a way of getting our own way . I'm excited for our week next Oct and think he will see it's just not long enough . He did suffer with jet lag last time but me and DS were fine so by the time I've burnt him out in a week he will see it's better in summer for two weeks . Do you know when the flights tend to be released for summer ? Thanks again !! Can't wait to do a bit of planning : )))

 

[wilma-bride]

Thanks a lot . I want to get in two weeks at some time in the year and want to do summer and only other school holiday would be Easter . Think I'm just going to have to get the DH to go in the summer time . I know he will be fine once I get him there . Us women seem to have a way of getting our own way . I'm excited for our week next Oct and think he will see it's just not long enough . He did suffer with jet lag last time but me and DS were fine so by the time I've burnt him out in a week he will see it's better in summer for two weeks . Do you know when the flights tend to be released for summer ? Thanks again !! Can't wait to do a bit of planning : )))

I will say that I always seem to suffer more with jet lag after a short trip than a long one. Possibly another piece of ammunition if her tends to suffer anyway

For flight only, scheduled flights (Virgin, BA etc.) tend to be released around 11 months prior. Chartered flights (Thomsons, Thomas Cook etc.) are released a bit earlier. I am looking for flights for next summer and will start to look seriously from around January time.

 

[FutureMrsF]

I am so glad you asked this question as we are thinking of booking for one week next year as well.

It will be our kids 1st ever time, do you think we are crazy to try and fit it all in one week.

We won't need to do all of Disney as we have been to the on in Paris and seen characters on a Disney cruise but the parades, fireworks and a few rides are a must. The kids really want to do universal and my youngest DD desperately wants to drive over to Clearwater on one of the days to see Winter the dolphin.

Are we crazy of is this doable in one week?

All thoughts welcome

Thank you

Andrea

 

[scoobydooby]

It's relatively really expensive to go for just a week. I just did a 9 night trip and it cost as much as two of us would need to spend on a 17 day visit. We are experienced Disney visitors and did all of MK, a bit of Epcot, some of DHS and most of AK. Bear in mind I don't queue. I am really good a foiling the lines via pre planning. So our time wasn't wasted in line. So if you're only going a week it is a fact you will only skim the surfaces of the parks. Not a reason not to do it, but you need to be realistic.

 

[wilma-bride]

I am so glad you asked this question as we are thinking of booking for one week next year as well.

It will be our kids 1st ever time, do you think we are crazy to try and fit it all in one week.

We won't need to do all of Disney as we have been to the on in Paris and seen characters on a Disney cruise but the parades, fireworks and a few rides are a must. The kids really want to do universal and my youngest DD desperately wants to drive over to Clearwater on one of the days to see Winter the dolphin.

Are we crazy of is this doable in one week?

All thoughts welcome

Thank you

Andrea

Sorry, I know I will probably get shot down for this but I don't think you can compare DLP to WDW at all. Personally, there is no way I would do just a week for a first visit. You wouldn't even begin to be able to fit it all in. And there is no way I would go all the way to Orlando for the first time and not do Disney.

Yes, I said above that a week was doable but longer is obviously preferable and, for a first visit, I would definitely not go just for a week.

 

[Cinderella2006]

I am so glad you asked this question as we are thinking of booking for one week next year as well.

It will be our kids 1st ever time, do you think we are crazy to try and fit it all in one week.

We won't need to do all of Disney as we have been to the on in Paris and seen characters on a Disney cruise but the parades, fireworks and a few rides are a must. The kids really want to do universal and my youngest DD desperately wants to drive over to Clearwater on one of the days to see Winter the dolphin.

Are we crazy of is this doable in one week?

All thoughts welcome

Thank you

Andrea

Yes i would say this is slightly crazy
Having been to both Paris and Florida they are noway comparable ... Walking down main-street in MK is a magical moment even now after 15+ trips, i would definitely recommend visiting all the Disney parks and there is noway you would fit in universal and clearwater too, you would be exhausted and come home wanting another holiday. If you cant do 14 nights, could you push for 10?

 

[Shocking Hocking]

I agree we did two weeks for our first visit and I used the touring plans to plan our days at the park and it worked really well . Mainly planned what days to go to which park . We did see a lot and really didn't have to wait long for any ride . My son was 12 so we did miss a lot out at MK . For your first time a week won't be long enough , especially if you have young kids as we were shattered . I did plan rest days but never really did rest . I had lots of help from people on here and for all we did it really was full on . So this time we will mainly do Universal as that what DS enjoyed and that is why we have choose a universal on site hotel . Next time we will try both at a steady pace . Even when we did the two weeks and we were up early everyday and made use of fast pass , I felt we maybe rushed with the excitement and missed just having a good look round at the great detail that Disney put into the parks . Loved all the Disney parks and Universal , did Discovery Cove for my treat and loved that too . Seaworld was ok but not a patch on Disney as staff were just rude . Dine with Shamu was good but not somewhere I felt I wanted to go to again . We also did the MNSSHP and universal Halloween , MNSSHP was great loads of sweets for kids and fab fireworks . My son was 12 and was frightened to death at Universal Halloween so not really for the little ones . Went into disney to see the night time shows and did a water park one day . Only one disney waterpark was open in Oct . It really was full on and now just want to go back to do it at a steady pace . I think if you just did a week first time you might come back wishing you had longer and that you had paid a lot and missed a lot .

 

[FutureMrsF]

I agree you can't compare DLP and WDW I was only telling my sister in law the other day DLP just doesn't gave that magical feeling.

We really only could have one week its a time constraint as opposed to money or anything. I just thought a small amount of florida magic might be better than nothing for the kids.

We don't mind being shattered and having a long rest after.

Should we save our money and leave it for another year or see how much we can cram into a week?

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I appreciate it as I'm really struggling with the decision.

Andrea x

 

[dixonsontour]

We've been for a week with DD and several times as a couple.

Works well. Most of the hassle of flying to me is the airports etc - makes no difference if you are on the plane 4 or 8 hours. People also think nothing of a short break in New York or Vegas.

If you have been before you definitely hit the ground running.

Don't try and do too much - universal parks/mnsshp and maybe kennedy would be great.

 

[sandshal]

Just booked our very first week long trip for this October, GCSEs in progress so needs must ...... Having been so many times before I think well be ok but for a first timer I'd definitely say a weeks too short unless you just do Disney and save the rest for another visit.

 

[Cinderella2006]

I agree you can't compare DLP and WDW I was only telling my sister in law the other day DLP just doesn't gave that magical feeling.

We really only could have one week its a time constraint as opposed to money or anything. I just thought a small amount of florida magic might be better than nothing for the kids.

We don't mind being shattered and having a long rest after.

Should we save our money and leave it for another year or see how much we can cram into a week?

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I appreciate it as I'm really struggling with the decision.

Andrea x

Personally i would put the money aside and wait until you can go again but on the other hand if it was a week or nothing i would do it in a shot!
We came across a deal a few years back in summer for week at Pop for £1200 all in for 2a 2c, obviously we jumped at it and had a great time but the jet lag was tough. I just wouldnt do everything you have planned, save some for next time

 

[flortlebap]

I am so glad you asked this question as we are thinking of booking for one week next year as well.

It will be our kids 1st ever time, do you think we are crazy to try and fit it all in one week.

We won't need to do all of Disney as we have been to the on in Paris and seen characters on a Disney cruise but the parades, fireworks and a few rides are a must. The kids really want to do universal and my youngest DD desperately wants to drive over to Clearwater on one of the days to see Winter the dolphin.

Are we crazy of is this doable in one week?

All thoughts welcome

Thank you

Andrea

Please don't book a week for your first visit. I promise you'll regret it.

FWIW we found 14 days worked out cheaper than ten so it's well worth a longer trip.

Frankly, DLP is utterly inadequate compared to WDW. It's not in the same league - in fact it's barely playing the same game! For a first visit you'd be crazy not to do 14 days.

If you're adamant though then I would either spend a week doing only Universal/SW and the beach, or a week doing only disney and the water parks. It would be incredibly difficult to fit in both WDW and Universal plus Clearwater.

 

[BudgieMama]

We're just back from our first visit, which was only a week, and was perfect for us... We were ready to come home when we did. However, we were two adults, so that probably helped. We saw everything we wanted to (except the Tiki Room, which we somehow forgot!)

We only did Disney, stayed on site and went at a lower crowd time which also helped!

 

[Elise79]

I am so glad you asked this question as we are thinking of booking for one week next year as well.

It will be our kids 1st ever time, do you think we are crazy to try and fit it all in one week.

We won't need to do all of Disney as we have been to the on in Paris and seen characters on a Disney cruise but the parades, fireworks and a few rides are a must. The kids really want to do universal and my youngest DD desperately wants to drive over to Clearwater on one of the days to see Winter the dolphin.

Are we crazy of is this doable in one week?

All thoughts welcome

Thank you

Andrea

No this is not doable in a week.

If you stay 7 nights you will only have 6 full days there.

There are 4 Disney Parks and on a first visit they need at least one full day each (really to fully appreciate them MK & Epcot need at least 2) plus you want to do Universal which is 2 parks so another 2 days plus a day at Clearwater.

Honestly for a first visit I would always suggest 2 weeks as it is a lot people than most people imagine. Nothing is next door to each other like Paris.

 

[Minniesgal]

Thanks a lot . I want to get in two weeks at some time in the year and want to do summer and only other school holiday would be Easter . Think I'm just going to have to get the DH to go in the summer time . I know he will be fine once I get him there . Us women seem to have a way of getting our own way . I'm excited for our week next Oct and think he will see it's just not long enough . He did suffer with jet lag last time but me and DS were fine so by the time I've burnt him out in a week he will see it's better in summer for two weeks . Do you know when the flights tend to be released for summer ? Thanks again !! Can't wait to do a bit of planning : )))

We have gone twice in the February holidays and loved it. Isn't that an option for you?