MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: no golf clubs at all on May 20, 2011, 11:04:22 am
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I have been fighting it for years (hate the place, walking, queing, too many people etc), but my daughter is now 11 and we reckon this is probably the last year she can a) get there on a kid fare and b) not be grumpy teenager about everything :fighting:
Any advice on which parks to go to? I have heard Universal, Sea World and Busch Gardens are great, I have been to EPCOT years ago, not sure it would give my daughter the best day out though....
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I love Orlando although probably because i'm a big kid - :happy2:
I went when I was 11 and enjoyed it so much I begged my wife 2 years ago to go just the two of us.
Top tip always get to the parks when they open and use the fast pass system as soon as you get there. Universal is excellent (been to LA one not Orlando) as an 11 year old I loved epcot. Magic kingdom with all the rides is a must and maybe one the water parks.
Sea world is defiently worth it is a good starter as it is not as big as other parks and is fun way to walk the jet lag off. We did a behind the scenes tour and got to touch a penguin which was fun.
An absloute must is to go to Kennedy Space center.
For car nuts going to Daytona speedway you can go to museum
If you have time the keys and everglades are fun but they are a long way down
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The best places for Ur daughters age are busch gardens, universal islands of adventure and sea world aquatica is a good water park plus dineys blizzard beach
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if you are armed forces, you can get into busch gardens and seaworld for free and get discount at all the other theme parks.
go to the supermarket in the evenings and make butties and get drinks - as with most theme parks in the world, the price of food and drink is extortionate
Rich
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Thanks for the input guys, no sadly not armed forces though I feel i may need a military budget to make the most of this holiday :scared:
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We try and go every year, my Missus is hooked on the place.
The last couple of years we've stayed in Disney hotels as it just makes life so hassle free (as long as you can get in on the free dining plan offers). They're not expensive either.
Having said that, over the last couple of years the holiday prices have at least doubled, mostly because of the fact it is so hard to get cheap flights now unless you can put up with the hassle of changing plane somewhere on route.
There's so much to do and see at all the parks I couldn't possibly recommend one in particular for an 11 year old girl (and I've go two boys anyway who will have slightly different tastes!).
If she likes Harry Potter you've just got to do that. It's done well but the area is a bit small and it gets PACKED at peak times.
Is she into rollercoasters and thrill rides? If so head more towards Universal, and she'd like Sea World too which comes under the Universal umbrella. Busch Gardens comes under the Universal banner too but I've never been arsed to go there!
If she's into more laid back things then head more towards the Disney places, their water parks are excellent too.
The Disney resorts have a definate twee character that sort of sucks you in and most of the staff are really good and get into the spirit of things. Universal staff can be a bit rude!
There's no right and wrong way of doing Orlando but you will need a definate plan of action before you go as the days just run away from you.
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Don't you have to pay to go to America now......used to be a visa or similar. what do you have to pay now? It used to be free , why they charging now?
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An ESTA. They were free but are now £15 IIRC.
Pales into insignificance when you're paying about £600+ each for a flight!!
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Both my kids were born in Daytona so know the place well
Highly recommend the space centre, sea world and any of the water parks. The Disney village is also a nice place for a shop and lunch.
Universal boardwalk is nice and lively in the evenings for drinks/meal as well
Have a good time - I have never been in July/August so cannot comment on the crowds
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I'm guessing July is a busy period (4th etc?) we will do 3 parks maybe four over the fortnight, should we buy tickets before we leave the uk or buy there?
Part of the hols will be to malls for the mrs (ugh) and guitar and Apple stores for me (mac book pro on the way woo hoo), but most of all I want to make sure my wee girl has a lovely time, she said she doesnt want to go near Disney but I think she is just trying to be cool :signLOL:
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Yh it's cheaper 2 buy tickets for parks before u go dude :happy2:
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We absolutely love Orlando and will be visiting this September, only tip i can offer is to check out www.thedibb.co.uk for all your questions, just like this site an excellent forum with loads of friendly people more than willing to help.
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make sure you have some realy realy comfy shoe's, your going to need em. get ya self down to old town one evening, there is a bit of a funfair and some nice little shops. not sure how you would find out but on some nights, there is an old school car show and on other nights they have bikes. plus there is a longhorn's just over the road and it's mint (if your not veggie)
eating out: i found golden coral to be the best buffy style place, there are a few to chose from, sizlers and ponderosa but for me, choice and service is a lot better at golden coral.
shopping: when visiting the mals, go to the customer services/relations and collect a discount book, they give you 10-15% off all the major store's.
also try the flea markets, you can get some good deals on gifts n stuff, be care full with the electricals though, some of em are snide (any one want to buy a tomtom1)
ps: wallmart cheese cake is the best in the world.
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Went a few times myself when i was younger and always been keen to go back, not sure quite how it works now but we got the unlimited disney pass before we flew out, used to get to the main parks as they opened in the morning and then leave early afternoon and head to the water parks - typhoon lagoon, blizzard beach and river country as they got a bit quieter then.
went to coco beach and daytona a few times to break up the parks and you have to go to the space centre too, busch gardens was a bit of a drive from where we usually stayed so only went once but great rides
As for food probably all changed now but i liked 'steak n shake', and after visiting another state more recently i found 'chillies' pretty good.
We managed to do it cheap, by booking a flydrive and staying in these pretty budget motels around kissimmi, 19 years ago now but me mam said it cost c£600 for 2 weeks flights, accom and car for family of 4. You spend all day out and about so need for a fancy hotel, cereal from the malls for breaky, sneak in your sandwiches for lunch and then out for dinner in the evening :happy2:
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Believe me Prices have soared, especially Flights! were going for 20 days in September and with spending money for a family of 4 its going to cost virtually 10K
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We absolutely love Orlando and will be visiting this September, only tip i can offer is to check out www.thedibb.co.uk for all your questions, just like this site an excellent forum with loads of friendly people more than willing to help.
That's the website I was trying to remember. My Mrs spent hours on there in the past and we were both trying to remember what it was called!
The prices have indeed rocketed. About 5 years ago I could go in August for just over £2K (tickets extra, and food) which was about the same price as a fortnight in Ibiza (admittedly flying from a local airport and some food included). It now costs us nearer £3k just for the flights!
July is a very very busy time as all the Yanks are on holiday, plus the Brits and worst of all the South Americans. There are thousands of young South American kids in the parks (perfectly well behaved) in big organized groups which doesn't help queue times on rides.
The end of August is best for school holiday compatability as the Americans go back to school much earlier than the Brits so the parks are a lot less busy. Plus prices come down slightly. The only downside is that that parks close earlier (unless you are a Disney guest and can take advantage of the extra hours).
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Don't come back through the airport with Megs clay in your hand luggage :evilgrin:
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:grin:
Did they give you an anal probe Stu?
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I shiver at the 'thwack' sound of rubber gloves.
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I have a whole box load. I'll remember to bring some to Inters. :grin:
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We’ve just come back from 2 weeks in Orlando over Easter, our 1st visit.
We booked a villa (house) with pool that was great quite location, 15 mins from Disney, 25 mins from Universal, beer fridge, skinny-dipping every day, own kitchen to make and take lunch with us, washing machine (so you can pack light)
Our cost’s were;
Flights £2k (2 adults 1 child, virgin M/C to Orlando direct)
Villa & car hire £1k
My tips would be;
• Book Villa for all above, it’s all yours when you want to relax
• Pack light – clothes for 3-4 days if you’ve a washing machine, we could have take just 3 carry-on bags
• 1 pair of shoes – Croc band, comfy & waterproof
• Prosport sunscreen, apply once and forget (just don’t miss anywhere)
• Don’t buy unlimited tickets, be realistic to what you can do in 2 wk’s, we did all 6 days at Disney parks, 5 days at Universal, 1 at Seaworld, 2 days at water parks(with an 8 ½ year old)
• Get a big car – we had a jeep cherokee
• Don’t go in the summer, the humidity must be a killer, we had 30c of dry heat and didn’t sweat at all.
• You just have to do the harry potter ride, my lad is HP mad
• Go commando (it’s cooler)
• Fireworks are great 10pm
• Food is great, still good value
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Space Center is a must. When are you going? Atlantis is going up on the
6th 8th of July. The last ever Shuttle launch. Head over to ksc.nasa.gov (from memory) to register for the lottery to purchase launch viewing tickets from the causeway (better than viewing from KSC itself IMO, but still a decent view from KSC) or head on over to Titusville about eight hours from the launch.
...also, the Cheesecake Factory is real and serves an amazing cheeseburger. There's one at the Mall of the Millenia in Orlando, and it is superb.
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Totally agree with the cheesecake factory, my favourite restaurant! but there is so much choice, like i said check out the dibb website reviews on all accommodation and restaurants. only 97days and 19 hours until im going
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Totally agree with the cheesecake factory, my favourite restaurant! but there is so much choice, like i said check out the dibb website reviews on all accommodation and restaurants. only 97days and 19 hours until im going
84 days here, give or take....
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Red rock canyaon is a great place to eat as well or Jonny rockets was quite cool
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Great holiday but be realistic in what you can do as others have pointed out. Be organised, the kids even did a spreadsheet of our itinerary, shows , restaurants etc.
Summer is more humid and prone to thunderstorms. They shut the rides when there is a thunderstorm within a 3 mile radius! We were lucky after getting off the front row of Kraken at Seaworld they shut the ride.
The Wizarding world of Harry Potter as others have said is a must, it is really well done. Last summer Universal and Islands of adventure were opening up earlier than advertised so they could get the numbers in!!.
Don't dismiss the Disney parks as they have some great rides too. Star tours 3D has just opened this month and has had some great reviews. Soarin', test track, Hollywood tower of terror are some other good rides. The fire works at EPCOT are amazing too.
My daughter is a similar age to yours and she loved it, so we are going again!!
Like other people have said the Disney Hotels are very good but to get your monies worth the dinning plans are they way to go. You can book the restaurants there up to six months in advance. The Disney transit system is free, so that you can get free busses between all the Disney parks, waterparks and hotels. They are regular and clean but can get a bit busy after the fireworks have finished.
Get some comfortable, footwear X-training sandals are ideal as your feet will be getting wet on a few rides!
One other place to recommend is Discovery Cove.:- http://www.discoverycove.com
I would recommend this book as there are plenty of tips in it:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0572036272/ref=asc_df_05720362722954802?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=0572036272
http://www.britguideorlando.net/
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Superb advice and resources linked above all....many many thanks.
Daughter seems convinced she is too old for Disney (think I am off the hook so probably wont push it :jumpmove: ).
Looking like, Universal, busch gardens and a waterpark, may also do discovery cove or/ and go to see the launch (but that may be too far/ long a day). I intend to eat in as many of these great places as I can and visit the apple store and also a few guitar stores whilst there.... :star:
Schools are out for summer on 24th June here, we are offski 26th for 2 weeks! woooo hooo...
Looks for comfiest pair of "sneakers" in cupboard.
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Forget Sneakers - You want some Crocs :rolleye:
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No problem have a great time, one place to look at for ticket prices are www.attractionticketsdirect.com.
When we got back last time the Mrs and the kids just went to bed for the whole day.!!
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I was 14 when I went, my brother was 12. I'd say forget the Disney parks, although MGM Studios was awesome, and Universal Islands of Adventures was fantastic - all the best rides! Plus go to the malls - I don't know if it would be the same now 8 years later but they were deserted and everything was cheap - like I bought a Quiksilver purse for $8! Though I guess it wouldn't be quite that cheap now, but still... I loved everything so I'm sure you will all have a fantastic time :wink: