What can we do in this amount of time?

[Narnia_girl]

Hello! I'm normally asking questions on the cruise board since we are taking our first cruise in July. Our family includes mom, dad, DS 18, DS 14 and DD 8.

Here's our situation, after we debark on Sunday we plan to drive to Orlando and we fly out Monday night.
So we have from approx. 10 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday to kick around.
We have a free room at the Holiday Inn across from US.

I know we want to do at least one of the parks but didn't know if we have time to do both? We are leaning towards U.S. and not IOA simply because our kids are 'okay' with big roller coasters, but not necessarily gung-ho.

Would a good plan be to do UA on Sunday? If we arrive there in the 10 a.m. hour will it be too packed at that point to get on any rides right away?

Should we go to IOA on Monday if we have to leave by 6 p.m.? (8 p.m. flight)

Another option I considered was doing US on Sunday and visiting Downtown Disney on Monday. My main reason for this is that we have a Lego freak in our family and I thought about giving him some birthday $ to blow there.

Any info or guidance would be so appreciated. I've never set foot in Florida before.

thanks

 

[Metro West]

I think with the amount of time you have, your group can easily do the Studios on Sunday and since your group aren't huge coasters fans maybe save IOA for the next trip although there are lots of other fun attractions to do. Getting there around 10am is about the time when the crowds start to show so if you can get there by 9am you should have a nice jump on the lines.

Going to DD on Monday sounds like a good idea since you will have an almost full day to walk around and take in the sights before leaving for the airport.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

So we have from approx. 10 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday to kick around.

I would say it depends how adventurous your family is. There are so many things you could do in that amount of time and there is so much available to do

If I had never been, I think I would try the commano approach and would do both IOA and US, one each of the days. Neither park is huge and could certainly be done in a day each. If you choose to do this, I would recommend IOA on Sunday because of the water rides and US on Monday since you are departing. This could easily be done...

Going to one of the US or IOA parks and then DTD on Monday could be a good use of the time (especially for the Lego freak) and this would be much a much more relaxed and slower paced. There is a lot to do at DTD including Disney Quest which you kids would probably enjoy also.

Some other options might be : Seaworld, a WDW park (mk, ep, ds, ak, tl, , international drive (go karts, arcades, mini golf, individual attractions/rides, outlets & tacky gift shops), Kennedy Space Center, See a show (Cirque Du Soleil, Blue Man Group, murder myster dinner, etc).

If you have questions about any of the above and/or other ideas just ask...

 

[Narnia_girl]

• I just thought of another option for us...rather than doing downtown Disney AFTER our cruise, we could hit that BEFORE as we will be arriving in Orlando the day before we set sail. That would leave Sun. and Mon. for Universal.
• Also, thinking of switching to the Crowne Plaza hotel rather than the Holiday Inn, as it seems to be so much better rated. Both would cost me the same number of priority club points.
• Finally, probably going to get the meal plan for Sunday. We would be at the park from 10 a.m. to close. Our boys are big football players and can put away the food! Cost for our family would be $90. I'm wondering if we didn't get the meal plan and just bought ourselves a 5 counter type meals for lunch and a sit down meal for 5 for dinner, would we surpase that $90 mark?

 

[ky07]

• I just thought of another option for us...rather than doing downtown Disney AFTER our cruise, we could hit that BEFORE as we will be arriving in Orlando the day before we set sail. That would leave Sun. and Mon. for Universal.
• Also, thinking of switching to the Crowne Plaza hotel rather than the Holiday Inn, as it seems to be so much better rated. Both would cost me the same number of priority club points.
• Finally, probably going to get the meal plan for Sunday. We would be at the park from 10 a.m. to close. Our boys are big football players and can put away the food! Cost for our family would be $90. I'm wondering if we didn't get the meal plan and just bought ourselves a 5 counter type meals for lunch and a sit down meal for 5 for dinner, would we surpase that $90 mark?

Usually say the meal deal isn't worth it but since you said your boys are big football players and can eat alot but if they are not into regular theme park food such as burgers and such then thats when I would do a regular meal

 

[Metro West]

Usually say the meal deal isn't worth it but since you said your boys are big football players and can eat alot but if they are not into regular theme park food such as burgers and such then thats when I would do a regular meal

That would certainly make sense.