Post cruise in orlando or fort fauderdale

[cndmama05]

We are boarding the magic at the end of january. It departs from miami but we are thinking about renting a car and driving to fly back home through mco instead of fll. We have a few between debarking the cruise and when we have to fly home. We have 3 kids ( 13, 6, 2). We don't plan on visiting the parks but not totally opposed to it. Trying to find free or cheap things to do around orlando. We will be spending a couple days before the cruise in miami. A day at a beach and another day doing something else would be nice. Any ideas?

 

[cndmama05]

The title is confusing sorry. I meant to ask if it would be better to spend a couple more days in miami area vs. Orlando with our ages of kids.

 

[Shanti]

We don't plan on visiting the parks but not totally opposed to it. Trying to find free or cheap things to do around orlando. We will be spending a couple days before the cruise in miami.

There is a lot more for families to do in the Orlando area than in Miami, but those things don't tend to be cheap or free. Since you'll already be spending your pre-cruise days in Miami, it also makes sense to spend the post-cruise days in Orlando. Orlando gets my vote.

 

[cndmama05]

There is a lot more for families to do in the Orlando area than in Miami, but those things don't tend to be cheap or free. Since you'll already be spending your pre-cruise days in Miami, it also makes sense to spend the post-cruise days in Orlando. Orlando gets my vote.

Thank you! Thats what I was thinking too. I am contemplating staying at a resort on wdw property and just hanging out at the pools and resort hopping.

 

[Shanti]

Thank you! Thats what I was thinking too. I am contemplating staying at a resort on wdw property and just hanging out at the pools and resort hopping.

Mini-golf is fun at Disney, too.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Don't forget, if you do this, you'll be spending a chunk of your day driving. I think its about 4 hours on the toll highway.

 

[Dug720]

Don't forget, if you do this, you'll be spending a chunk of your day driving. I think its about 4 hours on the toll highway.

IF there is no traffic and no accidents.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Yes, be advised that it is approximately 4-4 1/2 hours from Miami to Orlando. So you loose at least a half a day in transit time. Lots to do up the East Coast of FL though.
How about these places as they are in the Miami area:

http://zoomiami.org/
https://www.monkeyjungle.com/
http://www.miccosukee.com/indian-village/

Or kind of on the way to Orlando:

https://www.marinelife.org/
http://www.butterflyworld.com/
http://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/

 

[cndmama05]

Yes, be advised that it is approximately 4-4 1/2 hours from Miami to Orlando. So you loose at least a half a day in transit time. Lots to do up the East Coast of FL though.
How about these places as they are in the Miami area:

http://zoomiami.org/
https://www.monkeyjungle.com/
http://www.miccosukee.com/indian-village/

Or kind of on the way to Orlando:

https://www.marinelife.org/
http://www.butterflyworld.com/
http://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/

Thank you!
For some reason I thought the drive woild only be a couple of hours. So my FIL is going on the cruise with us and lives in delray so finding a nice hotel close to the beach to spend a couple nights would be great