5 days in Orlando, What are the must do's!
Discussion
Looking for some advice as per the title.
I'm going to Florida for the first time in June, for two weeks with my other half and two year old daughter.
We're hoping to spend 5 days somewhere on international drive, and then tour about for the rest of the two weeks ( Naples, Miami, the Keys etc) but we can alter this to suit.
Having not been before, can anyone recommend the must see attractions around about international drive, bearing in mind my daughter is only two.
Thanks in advance
I'm going to Florida for the first time in June, for two weeks with my other half and two year old daughter.
We're hoping to spend 5 days somewhere on international drive, and then tour about for the rest of the two weeks ( Naples, Miami, the Keys etc) but we can alter this to suit.
Having not been before, can anyone recommend the must see attractions around about international drive, bearing in mind my daughter is only two.
Thanks in advance
Hi - we went over a few weeks ago with my 3 year old.
I suspect that you will find that most tbings pass by your 2 year old. Our daughter enjoyed the hotel pool and water parks the best.
She did enjoy Seaworld - although was not keen on that naughty whale (who splashed her!) Also near seawork is an Aquatica which is a giant water park, with real beaches and an excellect child/toddler pool. You can get a combined ticket for Seaworld and Aquatica.
Downtown Disney is good, but does get very busy. Beach at Clearwater is fab.
We have done all the Disney parks. Animal Kingdom is great, but there is not too much you can do with a 2 year old so would have to take turns on the rides. Epcot is probably a bit boring for the kids, but is a really good day out. We did not do Magic Kingdom this time, as our daughter really did not seem to be into the parks. In hindsight I regret at least not trying. We were disapointed by Disney Hollywood Studio a few years ago, but it must have changed by now.
Busch Gardens at Tampa is excellent and a good mix between the Disney Parks.
If you happen to have a birthday you get free entry into Disney parks, or if you have pre paid tickets there are other goodies on offer.
However our daughters favourite place was definately the hotel pool!
Hope you have a good holiday.
I suspect that you will find that most tbings pass by your 2 year old. Our daughter enjoyed the hotel pool and water parks the best.
She did enjoy Seaworld - although was not keen on that naughty whale (who splashed her!) Also near seawork is an Aquatica which is a giant water park, with real beaches and an excellect child/toddler pool. You can get a combined ticket for Seaworld and Aquatica.
Downtown Disney is good, but does get very busy. Beach at Clearwater is fab.
We have done all the Disney parks. Animal Kingdom is great, but there is not too much you can do with a 2 year old so would have to take turns on the rides. Epcot is probably a bit boring for the kids, but is a really good day out. We did not do Magic Kingdom this time, as our daughter really did not seem to be into the parks. In hindsight I regret at least not trying. We were disapointed by Disney Hollywood Studio a few years ago, but it must have changed by now.
Busch Gardens at Tampa is excellent and a good mix between the Disney Parks.
If you happen to have a birthday you get free entry into Disney parks, or if you have pre paid tickets there are other goodies on offer.
However our daughters favourite place was definately the hotel pool!
Hope you have a good holiday.
Me and the misses are in Orlando just now on Int drive.
Seaworld has been the best so far - whale show was impressive, and a food couple of rides (new one opened the day we were there)
Universal Studios was a big let down.. I'd avoid
Islands of Adventure was only slightly better..
Disney has been surprisingly good, plenty for the kids to enjoy - not that I have kids
Epcot was more grown up with different themed country areas
Holywood studios was good!
Aquatica is good, best waterpark we've done. Wet N Wild was a bit grubby.
Hopefully going to Busch gardens this week, and maybe a couple of other Disney parks
Seaworld has been the best so far - whale show was impressive, and a food couple of rides (new one opened the day we were there)
Universal Studios was a big let down.. I'd avoid
Islands of Adventure was only slightly better..
Disney has been surprisingly good, plenty for the kids to enjoy - not that I have kids
Epcot was more grown up with different themed country areas
Holywood studios was good!
Aquatica is good, best waterpark we've done. Wet N Wild was a bit grubby.
Hopefully going to Busch gardens this week, and maybe a couple of other Disney parks
If you like fishing, hunting, water, camping etc you have to go here
www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?...
I'd happily pay to get in
We went last year with our two and a half year old. There's was plenty to do for him in the all of the Disney Parks. We've been before so did not mind doing stuff aimed solely at 'preschoolers' for the whole time. In fact we probably saw more of the parks than during previous visits.
www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?...
I'd happily pay to get in
We went last year with our two and a half year old. There's was plenty to do for him in the all of the Disney Parks. We've been before so did not mind doing stuff aimed solely at 'preschoolers' for the whole time. In fact we probably saw more of the parks than during previous visits.
You can get an orlando flex ticket http://www.orlandoflexticket.co.uk/pages/home can save you a few £ if your visiting the major parks.
Disney parks worked out at about £75 per person on the gate when we were there, I think the exchange rate has improved a bit though - we were $1.37.
The Disney tickets are really complicated - but it seemed to me that if you were going to no more than 2 parks it was as cheap to pay on the gate.
There is the Orlando Flex Ticket, but also if you are going to Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens there is a combined ticket from them direct which is quite good value and allows unlimited visits for 2 weeks. Good for small ones as if they get too tired you can go back.
incidently we found with our daughter that she dropped into exhaustion at about 5pm for the first few days and struggled to get out for dinner. You may well be luckier as an afternoon nap would sort that, something that my daughter will not do anymore.
If you are going to Epcot they do fireworks in the evenings so a late start might work well.
The Disney tickets are really complicated - but it seemed to me that if you were going to no more than 2 parks it was as cheap to pay on the gate.
There is the Orlando Flex Ticket, but also if you are going to Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens there is a combined ticket from them direct which is quite good value and allows unlimited visits for 2 weeks. Good for small ones as if they get too tired you can go back.
incidently we found with our daughter that she dropped into exhaustion at about 5pm for the first few days and struggled to get out for dinner. You may well be luckier as an afternoon nap would sort that, something that my daughter will not do anymore.
If you are going to Epcot they do fireworks in the evenings so a late start might work well.
Things you can consider 
Disney Parks:
Epcot (May not appeal to the little one - But is my fave park)
Hollywood Studios (Ok... but nothing special)
Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom (Prob the best one for the 2 yr old)
Water Parks:
Wet and Wild (Avoid if you can)
Aquatica (Sea World Water Park)
Typhoon Lagoon (Disney Water Park)
Blizzard Beach (Disney Water Park)
Other Parks:
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios
Busch Gardens
SeaWorld
Other things:
Kennedy Space Centre
Gatorland
Crazy Golf (My pref ones are the Disney ones.. there is one next to the Swan Hotel and one next to Blizzard Beach)
Downtown Disney (If you want to spend lots of money!!)
Disney Parks:
Epcot (May not appeal to the little one - But is my fave park)
Hollywood Studios (Ok... but nothing special)
Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom (Prob the best one for the 2 yr old)
Water Parks:
Wet and Wild (Avoid if you can)
Aquatica (Sea World Water Park)
Typhoon Lagoon (Disney Water Park)
Blizzard Beach (Disney Water Park)
Other Parks:
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios
Busch Gardens
SeaWorld
Other things:
Kennedy Space Centre
Gatorland
Crazy Golf (My pref ones are the Disney ones.. there is one next to the Swan Hotel and one next to Blizzard Beach)
Downtown Disney (If you want to spend lots of money!!)
I's recommend a trip to this place after Orlando.
http://www.uniquefloridavacations.net/Explorations...
Wonderful beach with shallow water. Manatees, dolphins and baby sting rays swimming around.
http://www.uniquefloridavacations.net/Explorations...
Wonderful beach with shallow water. Manatees, dolphins and baby sting rays swimming around.
We've got Disney timeshare (DVC) so we go most years.
The real factor for you is that you've got a two year old. Given this, I'd focus on the Disney parks more than Universal - which is more for teenagers and older.
Worth driving to Tampa (about 90 minutes) and going to Busch Gardens I reckon - even with a two year old. The Disney water parks are great for kids - they have areas specially for the little 'uns. Five days is not a lot - to see it all requires at least a fortnight.
Oh, and we like Cirque du Soleil and The Blue Man Show - both of which are a giggle in the evenings.
The real factor for you is that you've got a two year old. Given this, I'd focus on the Disney parks more than Universal - which is more for teenagers and older.
Worth driving to Tampa (about 90 minutes) and going to Busch Gardens I reckon - even with a two year old. The Disney water parks are great for kids - they have areas specially for the little 'uns. Five days is not a lot - to see it all requires at least a fortnight.
Oh, and we like Cirque du Soleil and The Blue Man Show - both of which are a giggle in the evenings.
If you fancy something a bit different from the parks, try this:
http://www.cypresslakeairboattours.com/index.php
Probably the best airboat ride in the Orlando/Kissimmee area.
http://www.cypresslakeairboattours.com/index.php
Probably the best airboat ride in the Orlando/Kissimmee area.
Some good replies
Having discussed it with the other half, we will probably stay for longer in Inter Drive.
Sea world, Aquatica and bush gardens seem to be quite high up the recommended lists.
I think there is a flexi ticket that covers these three parks, and we'll probably check out at least one of the Disney parks as well.
Having discussed it with the other half, we will probably stay for longer in Inter Drive.
Sea world, Aquatica and bush gardens seem to be quite high up the recommended lists.
I think there is a flexi ticket that covers these three parks, and we'll probably check out at least one of the Disney parks as well.
JRM said:
To be honest we went with a 2 year old last year, as we happened to be near-by, and it's just not worth the hassle of travelling into Disney in my opinion, there is so little for them to actually do, you'd be better off driving to Sarasota and the beach IMO
Don't let Mickey hear you say that! 
S7Paul said:
If you fancy something a bit different from the parks, try this:
http://www.cypresslakeairboattours.com/index.php
Probably the best airboat ride in the Orlando/Kissimmee area.
Seconded - very good and the Blue man group are funny.http://www.cypresslakeairboattours.com/index.php
Probably the best airboat ride in the Orlando/Kissimmee area.
Can't believe no-ones mentioned Fantasy of flight - really good aircraft museum with flying exhibits.
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