park recommendations needed for 7 yr old girl

[stellaxzwang]

Hello Orlando experts. I am in need of some help planning our trip in Orlando next week. We will be arriving late Sat and leaving mid day Thur. A total of 4 days (may be 4.5 if we push it) play time.

DD is 7 and is not into really thrill rides. She loves water but is not a strong swimmer. Last time we took her to Great Wolf Lodge water park, she enjoyed the lazy water the most and refused to do any of the big water rides. She likes tall slides, but not so much the twisty ones.

She had been to Disney Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studio, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot 2 years ago and she said she doesn't want to go back to any of these this time.

SeaWorld is an only definite so far. Discovery Cove, Aquatica, Universal Studio, Island of Adventure, LEGOLAND, Kennedy space center, Bushe Garden as possible maybes. Discovery cove sounds like her speed but not sure the extra cost is really worth it. I am under the impression that Aquatica and Island of Adventure may be too much of a thrill ride park for her to fully enjoy it. Is this a correct assessment? I would like to give her a varied experience while trying to keep the cost reasonable. Suggestions / Advise?

Much appreciated!

 

[dprincessmom]

If you were to do Discovery Cove you get tickets to Seaworld and Aquatica so the cost might be justified if the tickets covered all of the parks. Aquatica has some thrill slides, but also some laid back water park activities. If you have 4 days you could start with Discovery Cove, Seaworld, Aquatica and then either back to one of the other parks, or there may be a way to add Busch Gardens on for a little more money than Discovery Cove. You might be better served to post this on the Universial/Sea World Forums. They probably have more insight.

 

[stellaxzwang]

Thanks, I will post there then. Not sure if it's too much of the same thing if we do Discover Cove, SeaWorld, and Aquatica.... saw that option...

 

[chicagoshannon]

I would skip Universal for sure. Most of those rides are thrill rides.

Sea World and Aquatica are really fun. Aquatica has 2 different lazy riders and a nice wave pool. It also has a few animals to look at and 2 kid play areas.

My kids are begging to go to Lego Land so maybe go there.

 

[mskateb]

Busch Gardens is great, but it has mostly thrill rides (in terms of rides), so I'm not sure if it's worth the drive for you. My daughter (6.5) loves the sky ride (a slow cable car ride above the park), the shows, and the zoo is fantastic (better than AK imo). There's a fun giraffe interaction, but it's an extra cost. She also likes the water rides there -- slightly on the thrill side but really pretty mild.

 

[LoveToTravel2001]

My daughter loved DC, she was 10. I felt it was totally worth it. It includes breakfast, lunch, snacks... We are going again in two weeks.
You get SeaWorld and Aquatica as well. We used SeaWorld but not Aquatica. There's plenty for the non-thrill person there.
We also did Universal and IofA. Universal is definitely for thrill people. IoA, I feel you would be over paying if you are not into thrill rides. There are some rides but only a few. Unless she is a huge Harry Potter fan.
Kennedy Space Center - my parents go every year. If DD is into space, it's a great option.

 

[CookiesNcream]

Legoland. Kids seem to outgrow that one pretty quickly.

 

[stellaxzwang]

Thanks everyone! I booked DC for Tuesday, will also do sea world, aquatic and LEGOLAND I think. Seems to make sense to save US and KSC to the next trip when she is a bit older. Now let's hope that the weather will help. The current forecast is cloudy/shower. I am taking a gamble...