Kev_turbo

Looking to take the kids to disney florida for a week while we are in the states at the end of March/early April. Kids will be 2 and 4, has anyone who has been got any advice on what passes to buy, which parks to visit, any other advice.

We are going to stay at one of the holiday inn resort or vacation places as my wife has enough loyalty points from previous US trips to pay for 7 nights there - any recommendations?

Thanks in advance

Kev

Trout

iTrader: (1)

We went to Kissimmee (just along the road from Disney Parks) last April with a 2 and a 4 year old.

Magic Kingdom was OK - not as good as expected - everyone thought this.

Animal Kingdom - everyone really loved this. There are also shows like Nemo and Lion King that are fantastic with kids of this age.

Hollywood Studio - we didn't think this would appeal to kids - but it was brilliant. There is a cartoon area where they can play with Little Einsteins and Handy Manny etc, there is also a huge Pixar bit. Live shows like Beauty and Beast. Also at Hollywood there is Star Wars, Power Rangers and the Street Party is perfect for 2-4 as it is all Pixar, Monsters Inc, Toy Story, etc.

As for passes - best deal we got was WalMart. They are very friendly and gave great advice.

Be wary of road side ticket booths - there are loads, lots sell dodgy extended passes and the Disney parks are introducing fingerprint readers etc. There are lots of scams.

The other best place it Disney at the gate. But you may have to queue for an hour on a bad day!

Snazy

There is a great thread hidden away somewhere with loads of recommendations.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Disney

Disney

Snazy

Well found. Sorry I was too lazy to look lol.

Off there for 3 weeks this year, week of skydiving, woooooooo!

Hysteria1983

Saves us all posting again.

I'm soooooo looking forward to going, but it's going to be a few years yet.

Geezer

Was in Orlando in October. Epcot and Hollywood studios are great, the other parks not so unless you are three (that said, Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom is very good).

Blizzard Beach is excellent, I thought it was much better than any of the other water parks. Plenty of stuff for smaller kids too.

Sea World, top notch. Universal/Universal Islands of Adventure - untoppable but not really suitable for your age of kids.

It's a long way to go with kids that small, and if it's Easter, it will be mad busy. Have you thought about leaving it a few years so they get the full benefit? It's a full on tiring holiday.

Geezer

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Forgot to mention Seaworld - both our kids loved it. Buy a one day pass and get it stamped after you enter and get an extra day free pass.

Kev_turbo

We are going as far as Newark, New Jersey for a week first anyway and the flight from there to orlando is only a couple of hours. We just thought whilst in the states to call down the disney for a week.

Thanks for all the other replies and links to previous threads, I never thought to search for Orlando.

Kev

Leslie

Its a long time since I went there so I don't now about passes etc any more. I think you will all love it, don't miss the parade later in the day. I do remember the Country Bear Band show was well worth seeing. Especially when the stuffed animal heads on the wall of the theatre start talking to each other and discussing the customers as they arrive!

Les

magneel1

iTrader: (18)

Been 5 times already . Disney is very good but you have to visit Universal too.

Don't miss that out

jods

If anyone is going to Florida - send me a PM - We have a villa out there that we rent out!

PaulC72

YOu must be going up high if it takes a week to get down

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

would like to know for next year possibly ,never thought about getting a villa do you just buy your flights seperately and hire car.



we really enjoyed kennedy space centre ,one of the best attractions along with busch gardens

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Only other thing to mention is try and pick a week that it isn't the school hols, especially given the age of your children. It goes without saying midweek is better than weekends, if you have 7 days there then I suggest arrive midweek, do 3 of the parks then rest / do other things over the weekend, then back to the parks on Monday

magneel1

iTrader: (18)

Timeshare or a freehold?

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

busch gardens IMO is great if you're over 48" and like rollercoasters, Animal Kingdom is twice as good for a young family

Snazy

Yeah this is how I have done it for the past 6 years, just buy a flydrive, or just the flights and rent a car separately. If you prefer a deposit and pay off, flydrive is the way to go, if it's cash then just get the flights and book the car. There are some great sites out there to get good prices from.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

We did our own car hire, flight and villa separately.

For five of us for two week it was £4,000. We could have knocked about £400 off that but we hired a stupid car (Chevy Suburban so I could wear my Raybans and imagine I was in a Tom Clancy movie!!).

Flights were £439 each, villa was £1,000 for the two weeks. Private pool, great gym, playground etc.

A quote for two weeks in one of the decent holiday hotels was twice that. There are loads of cheap motels though if you want to do it at super low cost.

Snazy

Lol Tahoe's and Suburbans are a must though lol
Last year we had a Tahoe and a Mustang convertible, lovely stuff.

jods

Freehold - 100% mine

Kev_turbo

We are going to stay at one of the holiday inn's associated with disney. The wife stays at holiday inns or intercontinentals for business throughout the year and has enough loyalty points to cover the hotel, book price for the week in the same hotel is £900-1100.

Wifes flights paid by the company as she has 2 meetings in the US during week 1 of the holiday, youngest daughter under 2 so free. Just me and number 1 daughter to pay for.

Not an ideal amount of time but hard to turn down the opportunity to do disney for not much more than £1.5k for a family of 4

jods

This is why I don't understand why people choose a hotel over a villa.
Our place is 1960 Sq. Ft. 3 Bed, 2 bath and private pool - Would cost you half that!

Kev_turbo

Your place sounds a good price but we are looking at paying £0 and using loyalty points. I assume you won't accept the loyalty points

jods

zs_phil - Just re-read your post above! Ignore the irrelevant bits in my PM

Cheers

Mark

Snazy

Lol na 50 seconds of screaming, 10 mins of sirens wailing, then 6 days in hospital lol