question about planning for SW, DC & BG

[paige1014]

We are heading down in 3 weeks and will be going to SW, DC, BG & Aquatica. Last year I had our Disney trip planned out to a "T". Since we are not going to Disney is there a need for this trip to be planned out? The only thing that is planned is our DC trip for Tuesday of that week. Should I be getting a game plan together on where we will go which days or is it ok to wait until we get there and then decide what days we will go to which park? Thanks!

 

[cswtmom]

We went to SW and Aquatica last year and this year (April) we went to SW/BG/DC and Aquatica. Last year I planned the trip to a "T" and this year we just decided the night before what we were going to do for the next day. JMO it was easier not planning it to a "T".The only day we planned was DISCOVER COVE. I hope you have a great trip !!!
Discovery Cove is Wonderful and worth every penny !!!!! I only wish I could of gone there every day.

 

[twinglesmome]

I am trying to decide the same thing. Our DC day is only date planned so far, and it is right smack in middle of our vacation. I am wondering if we should go to Aquatica and Busch Gardens before DC, as those are parks we've never visited. Will we feel 'let down' by those parks after visiting DC? Maybe not so much Busch Gardens as Aquatica I am thinking, but I don't know... Or all the parks so different from one another that this isn't an issue? We've only been to Seaworld--and we love that place!

I also didn't know if crowd levels vary by day of the week, as well as traffic for traveling to Tampa. I scheduled DC on a Saturday since there is a capacity limit. I have been thinking of just staying at the resort on Sunday.

 

[disneyohbear]

I had the same problem however our DC day was planned for the second day of our vacation. I figure we will just wing it each day although as we get closer I may try to figure some days out based on the weather forcast or we will stick SeaWorld on our weekend days as we've been there before and get the others in during the week. That's the closest to a plan i have.

We will be there in just under 2 weeks now. This vacation feels a little out of control without a master plan for each day but its kinda nice too. I can't wait!!! Our DC day has been 10 years or so in the making (it feels much longer than that). It took so long cause there was always another kid that wasn't quite old enough. Now they are and we are going!!!

 

[paige1014]

At least I'm not the only one without a "plan" for these parks. I'm used to having my touring plans for WDW and this trip is so different without the plans and I don't know how to act. I ordered the SW, DC & Aquatica book by Kelly Monaghan but it really didn't provide me with any info I didn't have already. I guess we will decide where we are going when we see the weather or on our trip down in over a week - except for DC.

 

[czycropper]

I just got back from DC & BG and whenever we go to Disney I'm planned to the nth minute BUT this time I had no plans and let me tell you-you don't need to plan for DC at all. This was a great day! We got there about half-an-hour before it officially opened and though the line was long we got through fast. Once we got our pass and were told my DDs swim we just took it easy, found a couple of chairs (never used BTW), ate breakfast and snorkeled on the tropical river, went to the reef, played with the sting rays, had a snack and then it was time for my DDs swim. After the swim we ate lunch and went back to the tropical river beach and just relaxed. We spent about an hour in the Aviary - my DDs loved it there. Went back to snorkel for another hour or so. It was the most relaxing day!!!! I ended up having to fly down early since my Dad was hospitalized so I had had a very stressful week prior to going to DC and boy, was I ever relaxed after leaving

We absolutely DC!!!!!!

BG - we went the day after Memorial Day and it was crowded since lots, & lots of school trip kids were there so I decided to get their version of "front of the line" pass which helped alot. The con for this is that you can only use it once per ride BUT if a ride is closed that is listed you can use for any other ride AND it also comes with a bonus so you can ride your favorite ride a couple of times. We'll be back when we visit my Dad!