What did you do differently on your second "once in a lifetime" visit?

[Mo&Chris]

Our first trip, we hired a car, booked a condo for 3 weeks, and got 2 week passes for both Disney and Universal. After visiting both Universal parks we headed back to Disney and extended our Disney tickets to cover.

Since then, we've stayed in the same condo, but just not bothered about Universal. Instead, we've explored more of the area around us.

/Mo

[Guest]

We are still following much the same pattern as our first trip. We stay onsite, no car, generally stay in one place and do either Universal or Disney, although in February this year we did both. Have never had any interest in doing anything else other than KSC, which we were disappointed with.

I knew we would make repeat trips to Universal, but I genuinely thought Disney would be a one off. Not in the sense of "once in a lifetime trip", we just thought it was an easy break (we have always been quite adventurous with holidays) and we didn't think we would want to come again. I actually booked our next trip whilst we were there.

[Gizzyspop]

We did one week on site at Saratoga Springs and one week on Int Drive.

Spent the first week in Disney with the dining plan. 2nd week we visit Universal, Seaworld and Discovery cove.

Next time, we will stay the entire time on site with the dining plan. It made things so much easier. Last time our 2nd week didn’t feel as special. And we won’t be doing Sea World again and will give Universal a miss but will do again. Discovery is a must though.

More rest days will be needed too. Barely had one last time.

[stan_the_man]

First visit we tried to cram in everything we could, visit as many parks as we could. You never know if it really is a 'once in a lifetime' so you have a mindset of reading the Dibb and trying to do everything everyone recommends.

Second visit, we went for 19 days rather than 13, went to moderate resort from value, had some more downtime/pool time, visited some more 2TS restaurants, slept in a bit. Just basically tried to re-do the first holiday with some perks. Subsequent holidays have followed suit, really. We're always trying to do something different, eat somewhere different etc

[Kadence]

We started slow, sped up and now slowing down again 😂

2014 - In Laws won at bingo...took us on a trip to Orlando! 😄 The 4 of us stayed at Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando - basic but we loved the whole trip. We did everything but Disney (apart from 1 day at Epcot)

2015 - Back to Rosen Inn! We got a car this time and added Disney but took away Busch and Seaworld

2016 - Wanted a bit of luxury! So it was the Hilton hotel in LBV which we took a risk with as we didn’t know if pool would be completed. It’s was, and it was fabulous so more pool time. Again, Disney & US only

2017 - We absolutely had the bug, but wanted to try super luxury (decided this was the last trip) Booked for a full two weeks at US Portofino Bay...however the hurricane had other ideas so we had to move the trip back a week, and with it lost our stay at Portofino! Booked at the Hyatt Regency LBV instead - it was lovely but we definitely got swizzed with only a £200 refund 😏 Disney, US and lots of shopping!

2018 - Finally on site at US, Royal Pacific Resort. This time was defo going to be our last... so we booked everything! Disney, US, Seaworld, DC. It was full on but fabulous

2019 - So it wasn’t the last 😂 Each trip has been with the in laws and we couldn’t go without them now, it’s tradition! Two weeks, US Hard rock coming up (92 days to be exact!) We bloomin loved those queue jumps, and last trip definitely didn’t get our money’s worth from Disney. So it’s a chilled out trip, with US, Busch and Seaworld plus a night at St Petes beach. Can’t wait! And actually excited to come back more relaxed 😄

[Nic18076]

The first time we went we had a strict schedule for each day, and we went to Busch Gardens and Kennedy Space Centre and every Disney, Universal and Seaworld park - we were exhausted pretty quickly, and on day 11 we went to Busch Gardens even though we didn't really have it in us. Needless to say we had a miserable time there, and I was almost in tears with how defeated I felt by "not making the most" of every second of time.
The second time we went our schedule was much more relaxed, and we didn't try and fit absolutely everything in. We were flexible if we needed to be, and we spent time just enjoying the moment - people watching, and resort hopping and just generally meandering about. There may have been more that we could have fitted in - but we feel that being more "go with the flow" is better value for us - because we get an actual holiday

[BaconAndAvocado]

We did 3 rather than 2 weeks our 2nd time to,action in a Disney 3 night cruise and a bit more relaxation time.

Returning next year for 2 weeks and will be staying onsite for the first time.

There are so many ways of doing Orlando, that's what makes it so special.

[kingphil]

For us it was to make the most of our Disney tickets and concentrate more or less on everything Disney.

Previous visits have always involved Universal/SeaWorld etc so only really spent a day each in each park.

This time around we had at least two days in each park, played crazy golf three times and even made it to Disney Springs on two occasions.

Far more relaxed, better Disney experience and of course a saving of about £1k as no Universal tickets to purchase.

[7SeasSailor]

First trip stayed on I Drive. Second trip picked up somebody else's luxury villa cancellation for peanuts and this totally changed us. Its been villas with some on site nights and driving round in cars that I can only dream about owning in the UK.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Our second trip was totally different to our first.

First trip Thomson (Tui) package at Easter so no dining plan at Art of Animation. Had a great time but full on, barely any rest time, and all on-site

Trip two; 5 days in a budget hotel on Sand Road (which was perfectly fine and walkable to Universal) No Disney, just Universal and Mall trip. Then flew to New York for five days in a luxury hotel sightseeing

Trip 3; Booked diy, on-site stay at POFQ with upgraded dining plan for just myself and our daughter to celebrate both her 18th and my birthday. More pool time to relax, lots of leisurely meals, lots of park time, MNSSHP as a birthday treat and a Mall day.

Each trip has been better than the one before. I think you tend to know what you want to do on subsequent trips so it’s easier to plan.