Questions

[Mills]

1. MGM and Universal Studios, are these seperate parks? Both worth a trip?

2. Islands of adventure, worth a trip?

3. What parks could we possibly fit 2 into a day?

4. What parks could we get away with going into afternoon and spending the evening their?

5. We want to see MK fireworks, if we went there in the day, would we still be there at the time they set them off or would we have done everything? If not, would it be ok to go their just one evening or a waste?

Thanks

Ian

 

[JohnnySharp2]

responded to your PM Ian - sure you will get some more views as the day goes on.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

1. MGM and Universal Studios, are these seperate parks? Both worth a trip?

Yes, MGM is a Disney park within the Disney complex. Universal is a Universal Park. Yes, both are worth a trip.

2. Islands of adventure, worth a trip?

Islands of Adventure is supposed to be GREAT if you love rollercoasters and thrill rides. I am not particularly a thrill ride person, so personally I don't bother... Depends what you are in to.

3. What parks could we possibly fit 2 into a day?

To be honest, I couldn't imagine fitting a FIRST visit to any park in half a day - these places are HUGE and you will spend some time waiting in line etc. Could imagine doing a waterpark in half a day, but that's about it.

Would rather be selective and do fewer parks PROPERLY, than run around like a mad thing, trying to do everything, and barely know which park I am...

4. What parks could we get away with going into afternoon and spending the evening their?

Epcot would be good (you have the illuminations in the evening) and MK would be good because you have the evening parade etc. Bot sure about the other parks... some close fairly early (depending on the time of year that you visit) - Animal Kingdom closes at about 5pm or 6pm I think...

5. We want to see MK fireworks, if we went there in the day, would we still be there at the time they set them off or would we have done everything? If not, would it be ok to go their just one evening or a waste?

Don't know.

Boo

 

[carolfoy]

Johnny knows universal and IOA inside out so I expect he'll have sorted those for you.
MGM is worth a trip but its quite a large park and if you've got just one day then make sure you read up well on it, if you wanted to hit Tower of terror and Rock n roller coaster it may take some planning and faspassing to get both in as well as a few of the shows, the stunt show, beauty and the beast and indiana jones are the three bigger shows and you'll need careful planning and a lot of rushing around to get all three in.
As for getting 2 parks in 1 day, you would be missing out a lot of the detail and atmosphere and probably shows to do both but I'd suggest if you wanted to do this to start early in animal kingdom then use your afternoon on Magic kingdom. If you go to MK on a day where they're open late you can realistically get a parade and firework show in.
You don't mention where you are staying or what sort of tickets you have so I don't know if water parks etc are an option.

 

[Mills]

Staying on I Drive, havent sorted tickets out, as we are trying to plan which parks we are going to etc. So going to work around that.

 

[Lexy]

Would echo the previous posts. I would also suggest (we did Orlando as a family for the first time last year & going back again this year!), The Brits Guide to Orlando by Simon Veness. That plus the tips on this site were invaluable. I really felt we got the most out of our trip as a result.
Lexy (a fellow Blue!)

 

[AndRu]

MGM Studios and Universal Studios are based on the same theme but both are worth visiting.

[Personal Opinion]
Seeing as there are only 3 rides worth looking at within Epcot - Mission Space, Test Track and Soarin' - I'd do this park as part of a two parks in one day scenario. Either goto Epcot for the first couple of hours and get the rides in or go there after visiting another Disney park. Even there there are lots of buildings spread out over a very large area, Epcot (for us) doesn't need a full day.
[/Personal Opinion]

As for IOA, if you like thrill rides then you have to visit. Hulk, Spiderman, Jurassic Park, Duelling Dragons and getting wet on Dudley Doright or Popeye is a great way to spend a Floridian day. If Magic Kingdom appeals to the child that lives inside us, then IOA appeals to the rebelious teenager that (most of us) were at some point in our lives!

 

[Mills]

Thanks for all the replies, speaking of big kids inside of us, I'm going to try and watch TNA wrestling if its on when we are there, anyone know more info on this? Were its staged and if its part of the admission for the park?

I think based on the replies, when we land we will eat and go to Downtown Disney. Next full day, AK and MK (especially for the fireworks), still not sure about other days though. Ive heard feeding the dolphins in Seaworld is better done early, but including the shows and tours there, perhaps that would take a whole day up? Possibly leaving the evening for Epcot if its open that late?

 

[KayleeUK]

Epcot is open until 9pm Check out the park hours on this link http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm#hm-parkhours-quicklink I would not just go to Epcot for an evening. There is so much more to this place than 3 rides.

Get a guidebook and look at what each park has to offer that would interest you and the people you are travelling with. You will need to factor in some time for queuing for attractions too. Half a day for a park, especially on your first visit would not be long enough.


Here are some more links about the parks http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/themeparks.htm#themeparks-nav

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks for all the replies, speaking of big kids inside of us, I'm going to try and watch TNA wrestling if its on when we are there, anyone know more info on this? Were its staged and if its part of the admission for the park?

I think based on the replies, when we land we will eat and go to Downtown Disney. Next full day, AK and MK (especially for the fireworks), still not sure about other days though. Ive heard feeding the dolphins in Seaworld is better done early, but including the shows and tours there, perhaps that would take a whole day up? Possibly leaving the evening for Epcot if its open that late?

I have responded to your other thread regarding Sea World.

It's just a personal choice, and can depend on what type of tickets you have but certainly with our Magic Your Way (hopper/non expiry) one's if we go to Disney park in the evening, for eg EPCOT we would ensure we went to another WDW park in the morning, for eg MK - to just go in the evening would for me be a waste of a day's ticket.

I know you are getting information overload today mate - but you may get an idea of the different types of ticket here : www.mapleleaftickets.com

Some info here about TNA
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1087324&highlight=TNA

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Epcot is open until 9pm Check out the park hours on this link http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours.htm#hm-parkhours-quicklink I would not just go to Epcot for an evening. There is so much more to this place than 3 rides.[/url]

Agreed... Epcot is "different" to most of the other parks. It isn't everybodies taste (i.e. not many thrill rides), but it does have a lot to offer. On a first visit, especially, it would be a shame to fun in "do the three main rides", then run out again.

Epcot involves a lot of walking (personally, I would be tempted to do the Segway tour - http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/epws-segway.htm and http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/tourDetail?id=AroundtheWordEpcotTourPage), but has it's own rewards - it is quite an amazing place, but much more laid back.

Boo

 

[KayleeUK]

The Segway Tour was great

 

[gilld]

In my opinion, you need at least 2 days at Epcot, a whole day and evening at MK, most of a day at AK and a whole day at MGM, US and IOA ( if you like rollercoasters - if not like me, then a few hours is ok) All this assumes you are going during a reasonably busy period, if you're visiting at a very quiet time, you can fit in more.

After doing all those, then it would be possible to do some of 2 parks in a day, revisiting what you missed first time around or what you want to re-ride/re-see.

Don't try and do all the parks if you're short on time, just choose those that are of particular interest and do them thoroughly.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Don't try and do all the parks if you're short on time, just choose those that are of particular interest and do them thoroughly.

Definitely agree - better to do a few things well (and really enjoy it), that do loads of things in a rushed blur...

Planning a full itinerary is good (although rest time is good, especially if you have kids - otherwise there will be a lot of tiredness and crankiness...), BUT you could find yourself becoming slaves to a schedule...

Life is like a box of fine chocolates: eat slowly and savour each one... if you gobble them all down in one frantic mouthful, you will not get the full enjoyment and could very well end up feeling ill...

How long are you going for?

Boo

 

[Mills]

Definitely agree - better to do a few things well (and really enjoy it), that do loads of things in a rushed blur...

Planning a full itinerary is good (although rest time is good, especially if you have kids - otherwise there will be a lot of tiredness and crankiness...), BUT you could find yourself becoming slaves to a schedule...

Life is like a box of fine chocolates: eat slowly and savour each one... if you gobble them all down in one frantic mouthful, you will not get the full enjoyment and could very well end up feeling ill...

How long are you going for?

Boo

10 Nights before going to NYC (my gf wants nyc last for shopping)

 

[Boo Boo Too]

10 Nights before going to NYC (my gf wants nyc last for shopping)

If you have any energy left (and money) by then...!

No, I can see why you want to "pack it all in" - Orlando is a great place and SO much to do - but would recommend some "selectiveness". Otherwise you will need a holiday to recover from your holiday!

Did I read that you were staying on I-drive? If so - AND you are going to try and pack a lot in - would recommend hiring a car: more flexibility and less time waiting around for buses and things. I assume that you are over 25?

You will have SUCH a great trip

Boo

 

[Mills]

If you have any energy left (and money) by then...!

No, I can see why you want to "pack it all in" - Orlando is a great place and SO much to do - but would recommend some "selectiveness". Otherwise you will need a holiday to recover from your holiday!

Did I read that you were staying on I-drive? If so - AND you are going to try and pack a lot in - would recommend hiring a car: more flexibility and less time waiting around for buses and things. I assume that you are over 25?

You will have SUCH a great trip

Boo

Thanks Boo, Im 22 and heard hiring a car is maybe too much for the first trip anyway, I wont mind paying extra for taxi's, bus's etc so its ok.

We do wanna do most things, understand its not possible obviously but thats why I asked which parks were possible to cram in 2 days. Ive heard DCove if you go early, your done by 2pm, which maybe we could go to Epcot after it?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Ive heard DCove if you go early, your done by 2pm, which maybe we could go to Epcot after it?

Just remember Ian if you do this , you are still effectively using a full day's Disney ticket at EPCOT.

The answer is yes to your question (sorry for butting in Boo) but whether you would want to I don't know.
If you are just buying single day tickets then that's fair enough, but if you have a 5/7 day pass (for example) you may wish to combine 2 WDW parks in one day, as I said on my PM.

For eg - MK in the morning & EPCOT in the afternoon/evening...it's just a different way of doing it but does depend on what tickets you are getting.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Thanks Boo, Im 22 and heard hiring a car is maybe too much for the first trip anyway, I wont mind paying extra for taxi's, bus's etc so its ok.

We do wanna do most things, understand its not possible obviously but thats why I asked which parks were possible to cram in 2 days. Ive heard DCove if you go early, your done by 2pm, which maybe we could go to Epcot after it?

Yes, being under 25 is a PAIN in the US... seems mad doesn't it? You can be driving for YEARS here and have real problems driving in the US...

I don't know whether it is within your budget, BUT if I couldn't drive in Orlando (and wanted to do "serious damage" to the parks), I would seriously consider staying on-ite: maybe three nights at a Universal Hotel and the other 7 at a Disney hotel. If budget is an issue, then the All-Star/Pop Century resorts look good at Disney and Royal Pacific may be worth considering at Universal (that would give you front of line pass - which would be valuable). Think that you also get "extended park hours" staying on-site.

I don't know... MIGHT be worth considering (or just pricing up) if you haven't done so already...

Boo

 

[AndRu]

You'd be losing an awful lot of money to leave Discovery Cove by 2pm - I'd check the prices before thinking about this!

Others are right through, have a read of the books and check the websites to get a 'feel' of the parks before you go. This, and boards like the DIS, will help you plan your trip to make the most of your time there. Have a think about what you want to do - if you want rides then Epcot (apart from the rides I've mentioned) won't be for you - head for IOA instead. If you want time to spend hours walking around shops, visiting cafe's & looking at exhibits then visit Epcot. You need to decide what you want from the holiday - especially if you've only got 10 days to play with.

Finally, whilst it is possible to visit Orlando without a car but you'll have much more freedom with one. I certainly don't think that it would be "too much" for a first visit. In fact, I think it would be the opposite. The longer you have to wait for taxis or buses the more time you'll miss on doing what you want to be doing.