What tickets do I need

[Byrne family]

Hello Everyone, We're off to orlando in June. It's our first trip and we're a bit bewildered at the choice of tickets. We will be in orlando for 14 days, then we're off to Indian rocks for a week to recover! can someone please advise me on the tickets we should buy. There are 2 adults 1DD aged 10 another aged 8 and DS aged4. I have been looking at the 10 day world ticket, but I am unsure about tickets for universal, IOA and Seaworld. Not sure how often we will go to these parks also will we want to go to Busch Gardens or will we be theme-parked out by then?
All replies appreciated

 

[signtalker]

OKay first off, buy yourself a good guide book
"a Brits guide,by simon Veness, is one most of us use.Get a piece of paper and write the numbers 1-14 down the side, day one being the day you fly out, and day 14 being the day you move to your next part of the holiday.

Start to pencil, in what you want to see, like all wdw parks, universal ,IOA,busch, water parks, shopping etc.

This will start to show you,what time you will have, and give you a chance to see how many times youre likely to to want to visit another park(we always tend to do Universal/ioa, and have repeat trips back as these are our favourites)
You might wanna do, 1 park on one day,and work it that way, but we find we can hopp around all the parks,and get all the big rides under our belt.

Pace yourself, only you know your families needs, do they need a break in the middle of the day, or will they be happy to sit down with a coke for a 10 minute break?.

Personally Im a great beleiver of doing planning, do you want to see parades, and fireworks??, and do the children want to dine with the chararcters??

Sounds so much to take in, but the planning is the best part!.

if you need help getting a rough plan together PM or email me, I love planning, and am willing to help you.Once you start piecing together a rough plan, it will start to show you which ticket option you will need
Jules

 

[JohnnySharp]

As it's your first time it will be extremely difficult to see all the Disney Parks and Universal too.
Especially as the weather will be very hot in June.

Jules gave some good advice regarding researching which parks may suit you best.
You do need to have a basic plan, however, despite your week at Indian Rocks you will need time to rest in your first 2 weeks between park visits.
Orlando and all the theme parks can be a bit bewildering for the first timer.
We always get the 4 day Universal Flex Ticket , the 5 day however, would give you Universal/IOA/Sea World/Busch Gardens and WetnWild. These tickets do expire after 14 days though.
I think they represent great value for money.

The Disney Passes tend to be more expensive but never expire, so if for instance you buy 5 day Park Hoppers, any unused days can be used on further visits over the years.

On our trip next month, we have the 14 day flex ticket, plus 3 days round Disney plus 1 water park - left over from our last holiday.

I do not think you should approach it with the aim to see everything as this will just be too much, just plan ahead and relax and enjoy.
If you aim to spend several days round Disney maybe give Universal etc a miss presuming that you will visit again sometime?

 

[vernon]

IMHO one of the most common mistakes for first timers is to over buy themepark tickets and end up with wasted days. For Disney I think it's a minimum of 5 days in the main parks and a day at each of the water parks. For this a 5 day hopper plus is perfect, it covers most of your needs and if you find you don't have enough time to fit everything in the tickets never expire so you could use them on a future trip. I agree with Jules to look through a guide book and decide on what you think will suit your family best, of IOA and Universal it is Universal IMHO, that has the wider appeal. But it is IOA that has the far superior thrill rides. Because of the height restrictions , if your kids are below those restrictions it may make for less dissapointment if you leave IOA for a future visit. I think SW will be a great day out for your party and with 2nd day free entry (that they usually run) you can get away with a one day ticket. BG also often have the 2nd day free so that may be an option. Last year I bought a 2 year pass good for both BG and SW and the total was about $120 for both parks, if that's still on offer ( check on http://www.seaworld.com ) it's a no lose option, it's only a few dollars more than 2 one day tickets and gives you multiple visits for this trip and any future ones in the next two years.

 

[UKDEB]

Personally, I think Busch Gardens is one park too far for a first visit. I would allow one day each for the main parks - Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, Univeral Studios, Island of Adventure and Sea World - and then 2 extra days to re-visit those you liked best (or more depending on how many other things you want to factor in - shopping, water parks, Downtown Disney, DisneyQuest, Cirque du Soleil, BoardWalk, CityWalk, etc). Will you want to visit water parks? If so, I would be inclined to get the Passes for WDW which include <i>their</i> water parks and buy tickets for US and Sea World separately - both parks usually have some very good deals.

As Jules says, once you have your plan in place, it should be a lot easier to see which ticket options work best.

 

[SidB]

Given the age of your kids, and the amount of walking involved I'd give Epcot a miss. Universal are doing 5 days for less than the price of 2. Last year, when my daughters were 11 and 7, they both loved Universal and IOA, and would have been quite happy to spend 14 days there. You have to do a Disney water park (hence the "Plus" option).

Personally, I'd get a Disney 5 day Hopper Plus, 5 day ticket to Universal/IOA, and the 2 days at Seaworld.

 

[shellbell]

Hiya the Byrne Family

My self and my family are goimg to Orlando in Spetember for 14 days and then onto Indian Rocks for the final week to relax after 14 busy days.

The tickets we have got are 5* 7 day hopper pass (4 adults and one child) for the disney parks with that we get Freedom to visit more than one park on the same day Plus four visits in total to any of the water parks or disney sprots complex, use of the Walt Disney world transportation and one vist to Disney Quest. We booked with Virgin and the price of this ticket was £219 for the adults and £175 for DDs.

We have also got a 5 Park FLexi Ticket this lets have unlimited access to the parks Islands of adventure, Universal Studios, Sea World, Wet and Wild and Busch Gardens. Were going to do Busch Gardens from Indian Rocks I think it might be closer to IR than to Orlando but then we also have something to do on one of our days down there. You don't get Busch Gardens with the 4 park flexi ticket.
The price of the 5 park flexi ticket is Adults £142 and Child119

That take ups most of the two weeks in Orlando but we still have time to go shopping etc which i believe is another great reason to go to America

Hope this helps Where are you staying in Indian Rocks?

 

[JohnnySharp]

Hi Shellbell,

Just remember your Flex Ticket is only valid for 14 days.

As you are planning to visit Busch Gardens whilst you are at Indian Rocks just be careful the pass has not already expired.

 

[shellbell]

Thanks for that yeah we already thought about that and luckily were going to do Disney for the first days

 

[Byrne family]

Thanks everyone, your advice is really helpful. I have already bought a brits guide 2003, as we've been planning the trip since last year. I have a rough plan already made,
2/6/04 Leave lgw for mco flydrive with virgin
3/6/04 Seaworld
4/6/04 Magic Kingdom
5/6/04 Animal Kingdom
6/6/04 Epcot (p/s princess storybook brekfast 10am)
(p/s ice cream social 3.10pm)
7/6/04 Water park/Rest day
8/6/04 Revisit Seaworld
9/6/04 Disney MGM Studios
10/6/04 Islands of Adventure
11/6/04 Rest day maybe ksc
12/6/04 Revisit Magic Kingdom
13/6/04 Free day, no plans
14/6/04 Universal Studios
15/6/04 Water park
16/6/04 Drive to indian Rocks, staying at Holiday inn hotel & suites
REST
23/6/04 Go Home

We have booked most of the holiday indiviually. While we're in orlando we are renting a Villa in Lindfields. I know the kids will get really tired, but we will bring the buggy for DS and try to take our time and not wear the girls out. Do you think the above plan will work? Or am I trying to do too much?

 

[shellbell]

We too are staying at the Holiday Inn Harbourside. We have two Condo Villas on the sunset side One for me DH and DD and the other for My In-Laws. Our DD will only be 3 when we go and our days are mapped out pretty much the same as yours so hopefully they will be ok.

My In-laws have been to holiday inn at I/R before and said it was fantastic

 

[UKDEB]

Are you big fans of marine life? If you are, there's certainly plenty to keep you occupied for two days at Sea World, but for most people I reckon one day is sufficient. Whilst it has some improved areas, it doesn't quite have the wow factor of the WDW and USF parks for me. I would keep your plans flexible and see how you feel once you've been.

 

[JohnnySharp]

The Byrne Family:
You have rest days in between which is very advisable.

Obviously has everyone has said you do need a basic plan, I always do something similar for our trips - but they always change when we get out there!

The more you visit the more experienced you get at planning what you want to see.

Although we are usually always out and about every day, we do like the opportunity to relax also - everyone is different however, for us visiting the parks day after day is unthinkable, but that's just us it's all about tailoring the holiday to your needs.

If you are trying to do too much I am sure you will find out and change your plan accordingly.

I am sure whatever your plan you will have a fantastic time.