Florida in September

[Unregistered]

Hi all,
I'm off to Florida for the first two weeks of September with my Husband and 10 year old daughter, we are staying at Disneys All Sar Movies resort, we haven't hired a car but we have upgraded flights though only on Charter. What I'm hoping for is some tips as this is first time to Florida and we're kind of winging it at the moment.

[Mark2005]

Okay - dont worry about the car, you dont need it!
Assuming that you have at least 10 days at disney, a few days at universal, a day at seaworld (if youre going to blizzard beach / typhoon lagoon you dont need to go to wet and wild).

Your days could work out like this:
1) Magic Kingdom
2) MGM
3) Epcot
4) Animal Kingdom
5) Universal Studios*
6) Universal Isalnd Of Adventure*
7) The bits you missed at Universal* (if you want to, something else if you dont)
8) Typhoon Lagoon / Blizzard Beach (you'll need to relax by now)
9) Hotel Hopping** / Blizzard Beach / Downtown Disney
10) Seaworld*
11) Animal Kingdom / Epcot
12) MGM
13) Magic Kingdom

*Get a taxi, it costs about $35 plus tip, and is door to door at your convenience! However that is $70 a day x at least 3 Days = $210. If you can rent a car for a week for that much, that'd probably be better.

** Hotel hopping is just fun!! Use the free buses to check out the other hotels, plan where you may stay next time! The animal kingdom lodge is amazing, and even without staying in it, you can use their balconies to view the free roaming animals.

The 13th day is the day you fly home. If you picked up a 14 day disney ticket, its still valid, and although you have to vacate your room early, all the disney hotels will hold your luggage in a safe place all day so you can go spend more money in their theme parks.

Buy your tickets in England - not alot of places in Flordida do discounted tickets.

Dont be afraid to ask! Everybody, staff and visitors are super friendly.

Pin (Badge) Trading is expensive to do properly, but fun to just play at - all disney staff members have a lanyard on, and if you have an official disney badge and they dont already have it, but have one you want, they HAVE to swap. Take advantage of that if you want.

Walk about a bit - if you walk out the front entrance of all star movies, about 5-10 minutes away is a huge McDonalds!! Well cheaper than the foodcourt in the hotel.

Slightly less expensive collectibles - squashed pennies! theres loads of penny presses around disney (mostly in shops), they cost about 50 cents and a shiny penny - they sell books to put them in too!!

Taxi drivers and waiters expect to be tipped - about 10%. So do the people that carry your luggage (a dollar or so). And the maids who make your beds - about a dollar every other day (its the same people, we left a dollar a day and they stopped taking it!

Finally - and most importantly - the first night you stay, call room service and ask for a wake up call the following morning (even if you dont need it) - I wont spoil the fun, but its well worth it!!

Have fun!!!

[Mark2005]

Dont forget to go to Downtown Disney after the theme parks close - theyre open late, theres loads to do there, and the food selection is amazing!

[edward]

And Kennedy Space Centre (you'll need a car) Driving is quite easy
http://florida-1st-time.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/

[Unregistered]

Thanks all, very helpful though it sounds like we need a car, I take it we can hire one out there easily enough?
We are very excited and now can't wait to get there.

[edward]

Hi
If you are hiring out there remember to take your licence if you have the new ID type take the two parts (some renters ask for both).

Personally I recommend Dollar Car Hire everytime, they are helpful and courteous.
Got some driving tips on here

http://florida-1st-time.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/

Hope you have fun..

[ROBDUFFILL]

YOU WILL NEED A CAR IF YOU ARE GOING TO ONE OF THE BEACHES OR KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND IT GENERALY MAKES IT A LOT EASIER :cool:

[ClaireE]

Hello, this is my first vist and post to this site and so far find it very informative.

My husband, 7 yr daughter, 5 yr old son, my 18 yr old sister and I are going to Orlando on the 9th Sept this year for 2 weeks. We are staying at the Holiday Inn, International Drive and as this is our first time abroad my hubby opted not to drive over there but to catch the buses to the parks. I am quite worried what the hotel will be like as I read some very mixed reports on Tripadvisor but the children especially are really looking forward to it.

Thanks for the tips so far but anymore would be gratefully received, especially places to eat and visit plus places to avoid too.

[Unregistered]

the international house of pancakes (ihop) you may think all they do is pancakes but they do meals as well and they are great. well worth a visit. sizzler steak house is also a good place to eat and good value @ $8.99 for a steak meal and buffet combined.if you are looking for chinese meals the florida mall has a meal court and they are terrific alot of choice deli's also but the one we would say to avoid is Danny's it was disgusting made us all feel very sick after eating there. there is also a chinese buffet near the bells mall that is also one to avoid but we can't remember the name of it. if you can afford a dinner show the best out of all the dinner shows we would have to say is arabian nights don't do dolly partons as we were very digusted with the meal and the choice of drinks not just because there is no alcohol but not everyone likes coca cola or water. we are going to orlando on the 10th of sept 05 and will be staying at the inn and suites i-drive may see yous over there
bye and good luck from shamu1

[Unregistered]

Hi, have been a few times now and when we told the children we were going again and asked for their fav places, our youngest actually stated sizzlers (we were expecting disney ect) so there you go. I must admit it is best value for money, its all you can eat buffet but you can also order steaks that are cooked to perfection for around $7, all soft drinks are refillable and as it says you can eat as much as you like. The parks are not as expensive as you would think to eat and you can get some very large snacks (turkey leg and fries) $6 next to the tower of terror in MGM but eat after the ride. When you enter disney go to information and see about booking a charecter meal, we paid about $15 to eat at the crystal palace with pooh bear and friends, also an all you can eat but the charecters come to your table and spend time with you and sign autographs and have photos ect, well worth the money. A brilliant place to visit is the rainforest cafe, menu is basic price and there is also a childrens menu (same menu but smaller portions) the ribs i ordered went over both sides of my oval plate and the salad and fries were hidden underneath. The portions are huge as the americans have large appatites. Hard rock cafe (universal) is also great, go early as you sometimes have to wait or phone resivations in the morning, they do burgers and wonderful puddings, as before theres loads so we now leave out a starter. and while your waiting for your food you get to look around at all the memorobilia. Another one to try is Johnny Rockets on I-drive its in point orlando shopping, its an old fashioned dinner that again does loads of different burgers and great chilly cheesy fries, they still have duke boxes on the tables and if you choose one of the songs of the day the waitresses get up on the bar and dance. (this sounds like all we do is eat). You can have a preview if you go to www.rainforestcafe.com and www.hardrockcafe.com . Lastly seaworld offer some great meal deals they cost a little extra but are worth the money for the experience and memories, we had lunch with the killer whale Shamu, again a buffet lunch, right next to the training pool, around 7 whales came out and you got the chance to ask questions and even lean over the wall and stroke the killer whales, you have to book as they only seat so many a day but it was brilliant. hope this has given you some clues (www.seaworld.com) another great site for first time visitors is www.go2orlando.com whare possible try and either book or get your tickets before you leave as they realy are cheaper. Have a brilliant time

[Unregistered]

Has anyone heard of medieval times or splendid china developments in orlando, would love to know what to expect before we get there. thanks