Three days in Universal then what? Suggestions needed

[kitkatsmom]

Our trip is almost here.

We fly into Tampa early on a Saturday morning, pick up rental car and drive to Orlando. We are staying offsite since we're using reward points to pay for the week. (Couldn't pass up a free week)

Sunday first day at universal park. I bought the park hoppers and paid extra online to get the unlimited express pass.
We plan on staying the entire day into evening. Dinner we will probably grab offsite.

Monday we will hang out at the hotel by the pool then later that afternoon/early evening head over to downtown Disney to eat and bowl at Splitsville and then walk around.

(Gotta get some Disney in there lol)

Tuesday we will hit the other universal park, stay all day. Eat offsite dinner after we leave or maybe somewhere in citywalk

Wednesday. SUGGESTIONS NEEDED. Maybe Kennedy space center ( is this near enough to drive to?)

Thursday. Third and final day hitting our favorite rides at universal parks

Friday pool day followed by? SUGGESTIONS NEEEDED

Saturday drive back to Tampa and fly home.

The past five times we've been to Florida we have done disney exclusively. And the last time we were there my kids actually said to me they were done with Disney (so sad). At 15 and 17 they outgrew the rides and want more adventure lol

So no disney this time, plus I don't want to put out over 400$$$ for one day.

We were at sea world last year so that's not an option either and we're not fans of water parks.

Soooo. Is Kennedy space center cool? My son is really into space stuff, but is it worth the money?
Is there anything else we could see?

Hopefully the weather corporates with us

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[hermionesnape]

Our trip is almost here. We fly into Tampa early on a Saturday morning, pick up rental car and drive to Orlando. We are staying offsite since we're using reward points to pay for the week. (Couldn't pass up a free week) Sunday first day at universal park. I bought the park hoppers and paid extra online to get the unlimited express pass. We plan on staying the entire day into evening. Dinner we will probably grab offsite. Monday we will hang out at the hotel by the pool then later that afternoon/early evening head over to downtown Disney to eat and bowl at Splitsville and then walk around. (Gotta get some Disney in there lol) Tuesday we will hit the other universal park, stay all day. Eat offsite dinner after we leave or maybe somewhere in citywalk Wednesday. SUGGESTIONS NEEDED. Maybe Kennedy space center ( is this near enough to drive to?) Thursday. Third and final day hitting our favorite rides at universal parks Friday pool day followed by? SUGGESTIONS NEEEDED Saturday drive back to Tampa and fly home. The past five times we've been to Florida we have done disney exclusively. And the last time we were there my kids actually said to me they were done with Disney (so sad). At 15 and 17 they outgrew the rides and want more adventure lol So no disney this time, plus I don't want to put out over 400$$$ for one day. We were at sea world last year so that's not an option either and we're not fans of water parks. Soooo. Is Kennedy space center cool? My son is really into space stuff, but is it worth the money? Is there anything else we could see? Hopefully the weather corporates with us Thanks for any suggestions

My 15 year old went to orlando over Christmas break and did Wet n Wild along with Universal. Wet n Wild has a 29.99 FOTL pass good for one ride on each slide. Its right next to Universal so very close by. Much less then a day at Disney.

 

[johde]

I see you've already purchased some tickets and things. I'm planning a "Disney Light" vacation and this is my plan right now. It's still a 7-8 months away so some details are still up in the air.

Day 1: Fly into Tampa, Rent car go to Busch Gardens Tampa, Spend night at Tampa
Day 2: 2nd half day at Busch Gardens, Drive to Orlando.
Day 3: Disney (I have tickets left over on a No Expiration option ticket)
Day 4: Seaworld
Day 5: Water Park/DTD etc.
Days 6-9: Universal.
Day 10: Fly home out of Orlando.

A 14 consecutive day Sea World/Busch Gardens ticket is currently about $140. $156 if you add Aquatica. I'm actually looking at a package that include the 1 night in Tampa and single use per ride FOTL passes for Sea World and Busch Gardens.

 

[mjohnson96]

Soooo. Is Kennedy space center cool? My son is really into space stuff, but is it worth the money?
Is there anything else we could see?

Kennedy Space Center will be about an hour away and I honestly have never been there. But it does look pretty neat and it is near Cocoa Beach so you can always head there as well for a bit too.

If you don't like water parks you could also check out Busch Gardens which is about an hour away as well. Or if you want to really break the bank Discovery Cove is my favorite place to go visit.

 

[wergoin2camouse]

Just returned today... 5 days at universal! I like your plan so far... Very similar! We spent last evening at pirates cove putt putt... Very nice place! Followed by a ride on the sling shot and giant swings ( was in sight ) just down the road! Good times!

 

[DenyingReality]

Is shopping an option? I loved the outlets in Orlando and Ross (we have neither where I'm from).

 

[Thumper_Man]

KSC is pretty cool if you're a big time, and I mean BIG TIME, space geek. Your one son might find it pretty fascinating, but the other one not so much if he's not really into space. Ok, I kid of course. By the end of the trip, he might find it a little more fascinating.

We haven't been there since they put the retired space shuttle on display. We paid to take one of the more in depth tours when we went. We got to see a few more things than what most people see on the regular tour. It's about an hour drive from Orlando. Used to be you could go for free if you contact your State Congress person or Senator, and request free passes. Sometimes they would give them to you, sometimes not. Given you're already close, you probably wouldn't get them in time.

Is it worth it? If you take the time to truly appreciate what is being displayed, it is worth it. If you walk in, take a quick look around and say "is that it?" then, no it's not worth it IMO.

As far as suggestions of what to do. You mentioned no water parks or Sea World. When we go, we do those as well. The only thing my wife and I have done outside the theme parks is we went to Dave & Busters one night. Had dinner and played games for hours. Other times, we take the hour drive to the beach and stay all day.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

As far as suggestions of what to do. You mentioned no water parks or Sea World. When we go, we do those as well. The only thing my wife and I have done outside the theme parks is we went to Dave & Busters one night. Had dinner and played games for hours. Other times, we take the hour drive to the beach and stay all day.

I second Dave and Buster's, because they need something to do on a Wednesday which is half-price games day. It could be an option for a fun lunch. At night it tends to get more crowded.

One of my favorite things to do is swim in the natural springs. Rock Springs at Kelly Park is beautiful- rent a few tubes and float down a crystal clear river over and over. It's unique and it's cheap- It shouldn't cost more than $10-15 bucks total to get in and rent all the tubes.

Would Busch Gardens be an option, since you'll be going to Tampa? It's an awesome park with tons of thrill rides.

 

[kitkatsmom]

I second Dave and Buster's, because they need something to do on a Wednesday which is half-price games day. It could be an option for a fun lunch. At night it tends to get more crowded. One of my favorite things to do is swim in the natural springs. Rock Springs at Kelly Park is beautiful- rent a few tubes and float down a crystal clear river over and over. It's unique and it's cheap- It shouldn't cost more than $10-15 bucks total to get in and rent all the tubes. Would Busch Gardens be an option, since you'll be going to Tampa? It's an awesome park with tons of thrill rides.

Rock springs sounds great!!! Perfect and low key to relax and decompress after being around so many crowds at the amusement park.

Thank you

Also we just did Busch gardens in Virginia so not looking to spend the money to go there again.

 

[Lynne G]

We also did the orange grove tour with citrus world. About an hour or less away. My kids, 16 and 12 enjoyed it, as well as my DH. We then did mini golf and also the Fun Spot near Universal. Loved doing laps on the go carts one late morning. Had the tracks to ourselves for a little bit when we first got there when it opened. We had a groupon for the grove tour, though it was not too expensive, and the FunSpot I think I bought my tickets on their website, unlimited bands, and bought a cup that had unlimited drinks. Was fun for a morning. Kinda like a carnival with three go cart tracks.

Yeah, after visiting DL last year for 6 days, my older one said, we might be done Disney. Younger one complained that California Screamin had only one loop. Yeah, ride junkies, the younger one more so.

If it is warm, my kids both liked hanging in the pool for a few hours one afternoon.

 

[Planogirl]

We've been checking out several of the mini-golf places around the area (Universal has a couple of great ones and the Pirates places are all fun) and we really enjoy that. We've also made it a point to see a movie at the Universal theater during each trip.

I think that Kennedy Space Center would be fun but it is quite a drive. We did it many years ago and also went to Cocoa Beach while we were out there. I do remember that there was a lot to see at the Space Center and the tour we took at the time took quite a while.

 

[glocon]

Would you be interested in going to see The Blue Man Group? That is onsite at UO.

I have seen advertising for Gatorworld also, but have never been. I do know that they have a zipline there as well as all the gator stuff.

Have you ever done DisneyQuest? That's another option at DTD, but I have never done that either.

You can also just add another day to your Universal tickets. That is probably what we would do.

 

[nkereina]

Any interest in Downtown Disney? Still a taste of Disney without the expense. If you're not into shopping, Splitsville is fun with good food. You have the option to reserve a priority bowling alley too.