What to do 1st??

[LINCLAIRE]

We are going to Florida in January, but will be arriving on the Martin Luther King weekend.We have been several times, but my sister and family are coming for their first time and will almost certainly depend on us to show them the ropes-so to speak-.
Should we risk heading for MK on this weekend and join the crowds or do Discovery Cove first of all.
You all know what it's like, The first thing you want to see on your first ever trip in the Magic Castle, just to convince yourself that you are really there!!
I have never been in January, so I don't know how heavy the crowds are likely to be for this weekend. I know we did Thanksgiving at Mk one year and vowed never again!!.
Would Discovery Cove be a fab way to start the holiday, or would we be comparing it to everything else that we intend to do??
In the 2 weeks we are there, we will have a 5day hopper, 2 day US/IOA ( hopefully the 5 for 2 day offer ) Seaworld (BOGOFday)
Some of us for DC and some going to KSC (12 of us in all)+Boggy Creek Airboats+some of the good eating places that's been recommended on these boards. oh and of course SHOPPING!!!
Lin

 

[vernon]

Not sure I'd do DC on the very first day as I'd rather give myself at least a day to get over the flight and also allow for any delays/cancellations. I would probably plan day one as an easy day, if you're staying in a villa I'd go grocery shopping first up as it's likely you'll be up early (but it's something you don't ALL need to do if there are a couple of stragglers who want/can sleep in a little more). Depending on how early everyone's up and running I'd either go to AK as it's the earliest starting park and the least likely to get overly busy with holiday weekend visitors or I'd use one of the DC's weeks worth of SW tickets. Using the SW ticket would allow for anyone who starts flagging late afternoon as you won't feel that it's a "cost" day. Going to DC early in the vacation is likely to mean you will feel less cold as you won't have had a chance to acclimatise from the chilly British weather. SW handles crowds probably better than any of the other parks in the area.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Like Vernon I'd leave Discovery Cove until later in the holiday. Not only would I want to be fully recovered from travelling, but I'd also want to have something like DC to look forward to during my time in Orlando.

Regards

Rob

 

[LINCLAIRE]

Thanks to both Rob & Vernon.
I would prefer to leave DC to maybe the second weekend/ week of our holiday. Can I obtain my SW 7 day pass before I go into DC?.
SeaWorld is my favourite place as it is with my 2 boys so we would certainly make use of the pass.
Would the pass be sent to me prior to us leaving the UK when I book for DC?.
We are staying in a villa, so probably going shopping would be fine with me, but we are going with 5 kids and I know that they will be so excited that they'll want to head straight for the parks.
AK sounds like a good choice.
Lin

 

[signtalker]

you can obtain your seaworld pass before you go to DC,just take your confirmation letter from DC when you go to seaworld and they will issue you with a pass.

Jules

 

[Sue & Co.]

On our previous visit we hit Ak on our first day - because we (the kids) were up at the crack of dawn and it opened first and we thought it was a good choice. By the time we were flagging in late afternoon we had seen and done everything and were ready to head back for a swim and a rest. i would vote Ak.

 

[Beejayjay]

My vote for first park to do on the day after you arrive is for MGM.

It's just about the smallest of the Disney Parks, has lots of stuff where you sit while riding/watching/whatever-ing, and has enough stuff aimed specifically at littl'uns to keep them interested.

You can do it in under a day easily - if you are concerned about a full park day being too much too soon after your travelling day, but wanna make the most of your precious holiday time, it'd get my vote.

 

[GO2209]

I didn't think Animal Kingdom opens any earlier than the other parks. Isn't now open 9-5? (Excluding Extra Magic Hour days)

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

That's right, OK no longer opens early. On-site guests have Early Entry privildiges on Monday and Thursday (I think) when the park opens at 8am. For everybody else it opens at 9am.

Regards

Rob

 

[peewakio]

Linclaire
we are also doing Discovery cove but we are doing Magic kingdom first then Discovery Cove, however the kids think we are doing Sea World as Discovery Cove is a surprise.
However I noticed that you have exactly the same tickets we have including Boggy Creeks. Did you purchase from TicketMania as I am a bit concerned that Universal may pull the plug on the free day when buying a 2 day pass.
Anyway Roll on October