Florida Recommendations

poet123

Where are you staying? We usually do a week in the Orlando area and then 2 weeks on the gulf coast. Best of all worlds.

If you are staying in the Orlando area for the whole time it makes sense to limit the driving to that area.

masscrazy

We're staying in Kissimmee, and Miami is no longer in scope. We'll be going as far as Tampa and KSC but thats about it I think.

We're going for 7 days.

I'm not sure about the less is more bit but agree cutting down a bit is probably wiser.

So removed Busch Gardens and Miami for Disney MK and Universal studios, possibly taking a third day and doing Island of Adventures. And those who dont want to do any of those 3 can do a day at KSC instead.

This sounds better..

poet123

You will easily fill 7 days with just those activities.

[Deleted User]

masscrazy wrote: »

We're staying in Kissimmee, and Miami is no longer in scope. We'll be going as far as Tampa and KSC but thats about it I think.

We're going for 7 days.

I'm not sure about the less is more bit but agree cutting down a bit is probably wiser.

So removed Busch Gardens and Miami for Disney MK and Universal studios, possibly taking a third day and doing Island of Adventures. And those who dont want to do any of those 3 can do a day at KSC instead.

This sounds better..

7 DAYS !
You're in for shock if you think you can do much more than a couple of theme parks and a couple of days at the beach in that time.
I don't think you quite understand the scale of what you're proposing.

meer53

We've been for 3 weeks before and still needed a holiday when we got back

7 days would be a big NO from us, the first day is taken up with travelling and the last day is limited too. We go to Tampa to see friends but i wouldn't consider it if i only had 7 days and it was my first time in FL.

mgdavid

If you really want to do something that you can't do anywhere else, go to the Dali gallery in St Petersburg. I'm not an arty type at all - far from it - but it is simply stunning and breathtaking.
http://thedali.org/

vivatifosi

mgdavid wrote: »

If you really want to do something that you can't do anywhere else, go to the Dali gallery in St Petersburg. I'm not an arty type at all - far from it - but it is simply stunning and breathtaking.
http://thedali.org/

Oooh, I love the Dali Museum. Stunning collection, but worth seeing with a guide as they explain all of the paintings.

We did an early drive to Clearwater, looked around and walked on the beach for a couple of hours, quick lunch then drove down the coast road to the Dali (I think it took about 45 mins to an hour), spent a couple of hours at the Dali and then drove back to Orlando.

L-o-n-g day but worth it.

If you do go to the Dali, make sure you know the opening and closing times and what time the guides do their tours.

vivatifosi

Deleted_User wrote: »

7 DAYS !
You're in for shock if you think you can do much more than a couple of theme parks and a couple of days at the beach in that time.
I don't think you quite understand the scale of what you're proposing.

It is just about possible, but you do need to be:
a) fit
b) in possession of a good pair of comfortable walking shoes
c) not someone who suffers from jetlag
d) part of a small and nimble party with similar aims and capabilities
e) doing planning, planning, planning and more planning...

OP, don't be surprised if you get there and decide to do something different. But that's totally ok, you're on holiday. Plan loads and then when you're there, do what you fancy, you'll have options, the weather may change, you may get there and decide you don't want to go to the coast. All of that is fine. Just remember: if you go to the theme parks, get there early...

maemaesmummy

Gosh I feel tired even thinking about what you are planning

masscrazy

There and back again!

Incredible trip.

So we didnt get to do alot of the things we planned, as some of you said.

So basically on our first full day we went airboating and gatorland. Gatorland was not that great, Trip Advisor reviews for are not true. Even so it was some what interesting with hundreds of gators and white gators and other smaller animals. The airboating was also a underwhelming. We did an hours worth and essentially was just a long winded boat ride stopping at certain places to see where the gators rest and stopped to see sea cows.

Next day we went SeaWorld, yeah we did it. The Shamu show was brilliant and so was the dolphin one. The rides are the probably best in all the parks we went to, including Islands of Adventure.

Next day we went Aquatica, good water park, started to rain heavily for about 20 minutes during the day, and due to the surrounding weather the rides closed 3 times while we were there and the ques were long for the new slide. Overall pretty good day.

Tickets to both cost $135, could have been $117 from wallmart travel office had we enquired earlier, been two price rises this year by the park.

Next day we did clearwater, nice beach, rented these tents for $20, quite expensive but convenient. Then we went Florida Mall.

Next day we did Island of Adventure, $98. Pretty good, decent rides, harry potter was really good, something I've never experienced, Hulk was fun and the river ride Jurassic Park was brilliant. Then the Rip saw Wacky races ride, that was incredible, got soaked 4 times and had a big drop at the very end.

Final full day of shopping and Thursday morning bit more and we had our flights in the afternoon.

Overall very good trip, food pretty inexpensive as was the petrol. Driving was easy, never got traffic, smooth driving. Rented from Alamo sat nav was old but accurate. Without the parks it would have been pretty cheap holiday.

So we never got to do the space center or Miami, next time :cool:.

@vivatifosi - great advice again! Took that into account. Thanks for all the help :beer:.