arrrggg go on saturday no idea what to do

[Immatoity]

going for 2 weeks from saturday

have 14 day passes to universal/disney and some seaworld tickets

however I don't want to spend 2 weeks in parks (might as well be at alton towers)...

I thought maybe spend the first week in parks ( as UK school hols dont start until 19th) and then shopping/other stuff in last week?

need some sort of guidance

6 people (35,32, 37(has DVT), 6 ,14 ,16)

[Scotsmomma]

Is it your first time? If you're expecting it to be like being at Alton Towers for a fortnight,you're in for a shock :grin:

If you've got the ultimate tickets I'd mix the parks and shopping up over the 2 weeks....

[pongo]

first off it will be nothing like being at Alton Towers believe me:d:instead of doing one week in parks and one not why not try alternate days you might find if you do a full week of just parks you will start to get fed up have rest/shopping days in between and space your parks out :thumbs-up

[Immatoity]

Hi... I know its not Alton Towers but you get my drift.. I don't want to spend majority of the time in Theme Parks..seems silly to travel thousands of miles purely for that

The rest days was something I considered but I suppose I want to know if the "influx" of UK holidaymakers is massively noticeable in that second week..if it is I want to avoid it

[ali-s]

I'd say do 2 days at parks ( we do 3 , but I wouldn't recommend it :) ) then a day doing something else - shopping, beach, kennedy Space centre or even a waterpark is a break. Not sure how much the English 'crowds' will impact on you, think the American schools have already broken up ? so will be busy anyway. If you really are worried that the UK visitors are going to make a difference, then try to get the main rides/attractions done in the first week - then it's no big deal if the queues are too long later. I would do a few days of getting to the parks early ( for opening ) and maybe in the 2nd week, do some late evenings/nights ( little kids will be in bed ) that should avoid the worst of the crowds.

[GRUMPY OLD DAH]

If it is your first time, I would say go with an open mind particularly regarding whether you want to go all that way just to spend time in theme parks. They are certainly a different world to any theme park in UK and apart from a shopping day or two we spend most of our time in the parks or their vicinity (dtd, city walk). There are a variety of eating options from budget to grandoise, many a marvellous snack/dessert to try, there are lots of extra activities that you or any of your party might get into, autographs, pins, hidden mickeys. So i would say give them a try and see how you react to the atmosphere, the crowds, the heat and then decide on what breaks you'll need (if any!).
i wouldn't worry too much about any Brit invasion, we still make up a fairly small percentage and its unlikely you'll get a load of tanked up chavs running round the parks singing "Engurland, Engurland":grin:
Most of all though, stay cool and enjoy and as you've probably heard "You will go back".

[pongo]

Hi... I know its not Alton Towers but you get my drift.. I don't want to spend majority of the time in Theme Parks..seems silly to travel thousands of miles purely for that

The rest days was something I considered but I suppose I want to know if the "influx" of UK holidaymakers is massively noticeable in that second week..if it is I want to avoid itTo be honest the uk visitors will have already started invading my dd has a couple of friends that go this week and tag a week on to the school hols as they are really just winding down at school now anyway and my friends little boy finishes this friday what im trying to say is i dont think there will just be a mad rush of uk guests all of a sudden;)

[darren.cooper]

I would say get to the parks for opening, get the rides you really want to do done first (use fastpass) and aim to leave the parks early afternoon. It will be very hot so you will appreciate a relaxing evening or some time by the pool in the afternoon. Don't try and do everything, it's not possible we tend to pick out 3 attractions at each park we definately want to do, get them done first and then just take the rest of the day as it comes. Makesure you include some rest days too. Whatever you do i'm sure you will have a great time!

[mousemad]

We dont the parks now apart from catching up on new things (cant wait for Harry Potter!!). If we do we usually go in the 1st few days of getting there as we are up early & we get to the parks early. When we have had enough for that day we go back & laze around the pool for a break & then decide wether to go back or not or do something else.

[BenH]

Hi... I know its not Alton Towers but you get my drift.. I don't want to spend majority of the time in Theme Parks..seems silly to travel thousands of miles purely for that

The rest days was something I considered but I suppose I want to know if the "influx" of UK holidaymakers is massively noticeable in that second week..if it is I want to avoid it

Hehe I love it - you have no idea what a treat you are in for! I assure you thousands do travel thousands of miles for these set of special Theme Parks. Disney World is a whole different world.

The US school broke up a month ago, the UK crowd is considerably smaller even if the schools are out.

There are loads of things to do - malls, shopping outlets, walmart!!, golf courses/crazy golf, the beach and thousands of restaurants to try. We find it easier having park days then days off where we are free to shop, relax and spend time in the pool. Doing half days at parks is good too or coming home from a park at about 2pm going for a meal and relaxing by the pool then going to a park in the evening for the fireworks.

[san40blue]

Going to Florida is nothing like Alton Towers it is 100% better!!!!! We do a park day and then a chilling out day sitting round the pool, shopping, waterparks or driving to the beach! I know some people do parks everyday but there is so much more to florida and it makes it a wonderful place.:d:

[Bridget]

Sorry to be blunt (I don't mean to be) but can only put this one way. :) It seems silly to me to go thousands of miles to go shopping - you can do that here too. An afternoon or so shopping is a great but not loads of shopping surely?:nonono:

How about St Augustine, airboat rides, crazy golf, Siesta Key beach - nothing else in Florida like it... one of the hundreds of natural parks, swim with manatees, hot air balloon rides, space centre, Richard Petty driving experience, exotic car gallery near Mall at Millenia :spin:

Have a wonderful holiday :thumbs-up

[san40blue]

Sorry to be blunt (I don't mean to be) but can only put this one way. :) It seems silly to me to go thousands of miles to go shopping - you can do that here too. An afternoon or so shopping is a great but not loads of shopping surely?:nonono:

How about St Augustine, airboat rides, crazy golf, Siesta Key beach - nothing else in Florida like it... one of the hundreds of natural parks, swim with manatees, hot air balloon rides, space centre, Richard Petty driving experience, exotic car gallery near Mall at Millenia :spin:

Have a wonderful holiday :thumbs-up

Got to have a look round all the malls and you havnt got wallmart over here, If there are thunderstorms we will be shopping!!!!!:pgig::pgig:

[jean genie99]

We do parks every other day,this way we don't "burn ourselves out". On non park days we see the other Florida i.e St.Augustine (long drive but well worth it) Daytona,Tampa,K.S.C.and the Malls etc.
Whatever you do have a good holiday.

Jean

[Immatoity]

Many thanks for all the replies...!!

I am going to do some sort of itinerary tonight...

However, taking the laptop with me (Skype purposes) so will be checking back here regularly!!

[loadsapixiedust]

Once you see the theme parks you will be hooked and want to spend more of your time in them, it's what most of us go for and there is really nothing to compare with here in the UK.

An itinerary is a great idea, make sure you include all your must-see attractions, that way nobody comes home disappointed. You will never see it all but instead you will leave wanting more and probably planning your next visit on the flight home.

Happy planning!

[onionspal?]

shopping:d: they won't be able to drag you out of the parks;)

[I love Mary]

You might be suprised how tired you are if this is your first trip, trying to cram all the parks in on the first week isn't good, you really need a good mixture of a day for a park and the next day doing something different.
There is loads to do over there other than the parks, as you say shopping - also good are airboat rides, crazy golf, how about a helicopter ride.
I come home absolutely shattered needing another holiday:d: