Posted on 07/16/2012 7:20:14 PM PDT by enduserindy
I am taking the family to Florida soon and need help. I have 3 kids from 9-13 going. I know we have 2 days at Disney but what to do with the rest of my time? About 3 days down there. Thanks for any help.
Are you saying you have a total of 3 days, with 2 days allotted to Disney?
I disagree with Rio & Ron — EPCOT is great for that age. Or Animal Kingdom. Of the 4 Disney parks, I’d probably skip the Studio (Hollywood, or whatever they call it now). With one day remaining, I’d do Sea World.
Spend a day at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach (both Disney) to unwind. Also spend a day at Cape Canaveral. Take the cheapest tour, it is as good as the more expensive ones.
After going to Downtown Disney my kids wanted to go to the Holyland Experience in hindsight.
Sorry, I’m posting from a 100+ degree zone so the high 80s didn’t seem that bad. :-/
We tried to cram too much in last time so next time around, I would make the drive, spend the night kicking back on the beach in Key Largo and make the rest of the drive to Key West the next day.
I think it’s something everyone should see once, anyway. :-)
Sanibel Island.
The Space Center, then Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach.
Swimming with the mantees at Crystal River is the most amazing thing you’ll do there. Tops Disney even for the kids. We still talk about doing that ten years later. Can not tell you how utterly amazing the experience is.
I hope you have a good time in FL
As an alternative next time, consider the MS Gulf Coast.
A lot more bang for your buck. These are not mine. I just live nearby. They are very nice.
Seconding the swim with the dolphins experience at Discovery Cove @ Sea World. My wife and I did it in May and they have added sea otters to the park since we have been there. I highly recommend it.
Agreed. Sea World is a good deal. Every time I’ve been, I paid once, and got back in for free the next two days (except parking, of course). And if you purchase your tickets online, you can get a discount by entering a company code. I just keep entering company names (e.g. Verizon) until I get a rate I like. And if you’re military, they treat you right.
We went in June. In addition to the parks, we also drove over to Clearwater Beach (mainly to visit relatives, but also for sightseeing). We also drove the A1A between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, which is beautiful. We spent part of a day there, but could have easily stayed for many more.
We didn’t go to the Space Center this time, but I’ve been there before. I actually saw the Columbia take off once many, many years ago.
There’s all kinds of stuff to do in central FL if you look around.
Oh, and you CAN carry a gun at Disney, if you have a permit that is honored in FL (mine is). I did it in all four parks. They search any bags you bring in, but they don’t search your person. No metal detectors, either. I just tucked my Kel Tec P32 in my front pocket and went right in the front gate. If they find out you have it, they’ll offer to secure it for you in a locker or allow you to lock it in your car rather than kick you out of the park, according to other sources on the Internet. Never was an issue with me, though.
The Space Center, then Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach.
This is exactly how I spent one of my days I was in Orlando. I felt like a 9 year old at the Space Center. Missed the last shuttle launch by a week (couldn’t change my vacation after they moved the launch date). It was an unforgettable trip, and where else will you get a change to touch the moon, literally.
Take them for an airboat ride through the swamp.
There are some on Rt. 50 on the way to the Space Center.
The water ski show at Cypress Gardens is nice.
Sarasota for the Ringling mansion.
Google: Barnum and Bailey Museum, Thomas Edison Winter Lab Museum, Salvador Dali Museum; Sanibel Island; Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fort Meyers.
Also Google: Florida Parks, and Wildlife Reserves, Fishing Charters and read Fudors (sp?) guidebook.
BTW, there is a RINO Zoo exhibit in Tampa at the end of August - - - .
Bring lots of toll money for Turnpike and various toll roads in/around Orlando.
We really enjoyed The Holyland Experience...entertaining, spiritual, educational...wonderful time.
At that age they only want to stay at pool.
Agree. Go to the Florida Keys! So much fun and very different and the kids will love it. Book it at the Hampton Inn in Islamorada. It is located half way between so easy access to Key West at the end. So much fun!
I would highly recommend Universal, we had a great time there. It’s wonderful for folks like me who are kind of scared of rides. The “simulator” thingys they have give you all of the fun and none of the fear.
And please do things like Boss Hubby had us do it: get a wake up call from your hotel, really early, and get to park BEFORE it opens. (We stayed at a Disney location and we had Mickey Mouse telling us “up & at ‘em pal” which cracked me up because that’s what my dad always used to say.) You want to be standing on line outside the gates. Go in, do all the rides, and by the time the crowd starts to build you’ll probably be ready to call it a day, do lunch and head back to your hotel’s pool.
This was the ONLY time in our marriage that hubby was up and raring to go so early, but it was a great plan. We hit no long lines, even going on some rides twice and it just made the day truly filled with fun.
Enjoy your vacay, whatever you do! You’re stimulating the economy, so that is good too!
ST Augustine, maybe. The oldest city in the United States, the old part (do they call it el castillo?)is fun to climb around and explore, beaches are good, I recall. Mind, it’s been many, many years since I’ve been there, might want to do some research on your own.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.