Trying to plan our trip...questions?

[queen_bee]

We are going to Florida from 1/21-1/28. We've decided to do US/IOA and SW/BG. It definately makes more sense to buy the 7 day SW/BG combo ticket, but I am wondering about the US/IOA tickets. If we do one each day, not counting arrival and departure days, that leaves 2 days to do any of them again. So I'd save about $40 if I bought just the one day each tickets, or about $80 if I bought either just the IOA or US tickets.

I'd really like to spend some time at a beach as well one of the days I am there and am still tossing around the idea of doing the Kennedy Space Center.

So I guess my question is twofold. IOA or US? Both? And if I were going to spend some time at a beach, would you go to Daytona Beach or Clearwater area?

 

[Motherfletcher]

Both IOA and the Studios! Clearwater, the Gulf beaches are calmer waters and finer sand.

 

[RVGal]

IOA & US are both wonderful parks. Each has its own feel. I have favorites in both, so I couldn't pick one over the other. It really depends on what you are looking for out of your trip to the parks. Thrills or shows? IOA leans more to the thrills, US leans more toward the shows... but there are good rides and good shows at each. I would do both if you can.

Sea World is fun. Certainly more of an "experience" place (shows and such) than a "ride" place. Busch Gardens Tampa is fun. More of a "ride" place than an "experience" place. Of course, they both have some of each.

I haven't been to Kennedy Space Center in a number of years, but I'm really glad I went several times in the past. One of our visits, the shuttle was on the launch pad. That was neat since we got to see it in the distance. Of course, for security reasons, they couldn't let our tour bus *too* close to where it was.

Just like with the theme parks, it depends on what you are looking for out of a trip to the beach. Daytona is old established tourist spot. They allow cars to drive and park on the beach (for a fee) at low tide. The water is more filled with rolling waves. Clearwater has calm waters, not much for waves and no cars on the beach.