Tickets dilemma

silver_age · 22 Jan 19, 11:48 AM

I've not been to Florida for a few years, but I fancied going back this year, so along with my son (15), daughter (19) and her boyfriend (22) we've booked a villa for 10 days in August.

After much faffing with flights, and fearing I may have bitten off more than I can chew, I managed to get us all on a direct flight with Norwegian from Gatwick to Tampa for Ł720 each with bags and seat reservations.

Now I'm down to arranging tickets. The "kids" are a bit older now so not too fussed about Disney. This is good because I wasn't very keen on lashing out Ł1500 on the 7/14 day passes when we wouldn't be able to get full value even if we went for each of our 10 days. It's a shame there's not a true 5 or 7 day deal at a more reasonable price.

They do want a couple of days at a waterpark as well as maybe 4 days at a more traditional park, so I'm looking at the three park Universal deals or wondering if I could get away with a Seaworld / Aquatica / Busch Gardens combo. The latter option is about half the cost of Universal for a 14 day pass with free parking. Almost too cheap.

We'll have at least one shopping day and one day at Kennedy Space Center I think.

Anyway, what do the wise heads here think about my plan? I'm currently at just under Ł6000 for flights (daughter's BF is paying for his own ticket), villa, car rental, food at Ł50 pppd and other sundries. I'd like to bring the whole job in this side of Ł7000, which leaves me with about Ł1000 for tickets and spending money.

Procrastinator · 23 Jan 19, 01:03 AM

It depends what the group like. If you are coaster people then Seaworld and Busch would possibly be top of the list anyway. I reckon i might well pick those 2 over universal for that reason. But if you have a harry potter fan then that is unlikely to be true for them!

There is plenty of other stuff to do too. Say an air boat ride or go to a gun range.

So it is hard to say what is best for you as it depends what your group enjoys!

Have a look at undercover tourist. They do some good multi day tickets for sea world etc with all day dinning which always seem like good value to me.

silver_age · 23 Jan 19, 10:15 AM

I was chatting to my daughter about this last night and I think the Seaworld etc. option may be the way to go.

We have done Disney and Universal extensively in the past. The Harry Potter thing was just getting going at Universal last time we were there. My son got "chosen" in Olivander's and I remember he was admiring the wand he got in the car park on the way out when he dropped it and the damned thing shattered into a dozen pieces. I had to march back to the shop in the blazing heat and throw myself on their mercy for an exchange.

lizzie145 · 23 Jan 19, 07:59 PM

Undercover tourist have some deals and different amount of days. Sometimes they give discounts too.

Work out what parks you want to do, the new HP ride should be open by then. Are there other rides that have opened since you last went? Volcano bay is supposed to be very good

SeaWorld have some good rides as does Busch gardens.

23 Jan 19, 01:03 AM	#2
	23 Jan 19, 01:03 AM Procrastinator Imagineer
Procrastinator Imagineer Join Date: Dec 10	It depends what the group like. If you are coaster people then Seaworld and Busch would possibly be top of the list anyway. I reckon i might well pick those 2 over universal for that reason. But if you have a harry potter fan then that is unlikely to be true for them! There is plenty of other stuff to do too. Say an air boat ride or go to a gun range. So it is hard to say what is best for you as it depends what your group enjoys! Have a look at undercover tourist. They do some good multi day tickets for sea world etc with all day dinning which always seem like good value to me.