June / July 2025 - very early plans

[Penarth Fella]

Developing our itinerary for our visit end of June 2025. We have been in 2018 and stayed in HRH and BC for similar timeframes. We did KSC last time and thought it was great but not planning to return this time.

When we last went I think the rest of the family got fed up with me developing such a detailed plan - so planning to be much more flexible this time. They were also not keen on early starts/rope drops so planning to take advantage of the EEH in MK and Epcot. I love the water parks, but my wife in particular is not so keen. I imagine some of the times I have earmarked as ‘flexible’ will be spent strolling around EPCOT as we are so close.

Not sure about whether the lightening lanes set out below are worth the investment (I really don’t like queuing though so will probably buy them if current arrangements are still in place).

Two adults, 19 year old & 16 year old girls.

Any thoughts welcome:

Thurs - flight in 7.30pm HRH
Fri - US/IOA (with express passes)
Sat - EPIC (hopefully early entry)
Sun - VB/US/IOA
Mon am - US/IOA?
Mon pm - arrive at BC.
Epcot inc. EEH & fireworks
Tues am - flexible
Tues pm/eve - HS inc fireworks
Wed am - flexible/waterpark
Wed evening- MK EEH & fireworks
Thurs - flexible / water park
Fri (4 July!) - AK (possibly lightening passes & FOP pass)
Sat - Swamp Trip
Sun - MK (possibly lightening passes)
Mon am - HS (possibly lightening passes & SW RoR lightening pass)
Mon eve - EPCOT EEH
Tues - Bush Gardens
Wed am - flexible / water park
Wed eve - MK EEH
Thurs - fly back 1pm

[abzorba]

The 7:30pm check-in to HRH means you'll get little of the benefits of paying the excessively high price for the hotel. You could have the first and second nights in the cheaper Helios hotel to get an early walk in to Epic for your first day and then head over to HRH the next morning (Saturday) at 7am, check-in and pick up your Express Passes for the other parks?

[Penarth Fella]

Thanks - that’s really helpful

[Merrykerry]

Sounds like a fabulous trip.
My only input, having only been once before, would be to consider putting Busch Gardens in the first week.
We left Busch until our last few days and ended up not being able for it- we just needed a chill day before heading home! - we were using the bus to go though so might not feel like such a full day out if you're driving yourself there.
I was really sorry to miss out on Busch- but, every cloud, we are heading back in May next year and doing Busch as our very first theme park day!
Have a wonderful holiday!

[Penarth Fella]

Hi

Thanks for this. After writing yje itinery I was considering not going to Busch Gardens at all. We would be doing it by bus and I would’ve abut concerned about how short a day we would have there? Given we would not be able to rope drop it and leave the park early to catch the bus.

It’s at a very busy time of the year as well.

[ajw77]

Originally Posted by Penarth Fella

Hi

Thanks for this. After writing yje itinery I was considering not going to Busch Gardens at all. We would be doing it by bus and I would’ve abut concerned about how short a day we would have there? Given we would not be able to rope drop it and leave the park early to catch the bus.

It’s at a very busy time of the year as well.

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If you've got coaster loving people in your family, I would definitely do Busch Gardens it's got the best line up of pure coasters. My DH and DS loved it and wouldn't miss it. We did Busch using the coach transfer and it was easily enough time. Arrived around about 10.30/11.00 - lot of rides don't open till about this time anyway and then had to be back at the bus for 6pm, which was plenty of time. The queues are generally really short, which means you get round the rides much quicker, just make sure you go in the week, mon to wed esp. are known for short queues.

[Penarth Fella]

Hi

Ok - you two are convincing me - might do it on the first Tuesday of the holiday then.

[Merrykerry]

I think you should! Watch a few youtubes of the Serengeti safari.. I bet you'll be fully persuaded then!
We arrive on a saturday and going to head to Busch on the Monday, by bus- It picks up at loads of places, last time we had booked to be picked up from seaworld. I might bring a little picnic for the bus. Our tickets do include all day dining though, so maybe I should wait... you can eat every 90 minutes if you want- which is mental!- but a money saver!

[ChrissyWissy]

If you fly into Tampa you could stay at a cheaper hotel the first night then do Busch Gardens on your first full day then move on the Universal

[ecnirp98]

Just wondering what:

Sat - Swamp Trip

Is? Is it the Air Boat rides? I've done them in the past, they are really good.

We are visiting Orlando in June, mainly visiting Universal, also Discovery Cove & Busch Gardens, so looking for a few more activity days to get away from the parks.