Disneyland Florida do's and don'ts .

[KWIKR 1]

heading to Florida for 4 1/2 weeks in August/Sept . yes I know it's hot . Staying just outside Disneyland for 2 1/2 weeks. the other 2 weeks in the Clearwater/Sand Key area . need to know from you Florida area guys best places to eat , where to get the best deal on Disney tickets , where to go where not to go ,and what to do and what not to do . traveling with two teen kids and a wife ,so strip clubs/bars are out . thanks .

 

[Louie L.]

Its Disney World, Disney Land is in California.

What I have seen in the past there are no ticket deals to get into Disney unless you know some one who works there. Stay away from all of those" 2 for 1" or" free tickets here" places.


Places to eat are all good. If you get a chance go do the Boston Lobster Feast, but everything especially inside the Disney gates is good. Expensive but good.

Good luck, bring lots of sunblock.

 

[87natl]

Teen kids? Skip Disney, and go to Universal Studios. Soooooo much better for those over the age of 10. Don't miss out. Universal's 2 parks are the worlds best.

Great food all over Kissimmee. Anything from Chevy's for Mexican, to The Crab House and Shells for seafood. Try City Walk and Downtown Disney as well. Free to get into and fun areas to run around. Themed restaurants like the Hard Rock, and Planet Hollywood.

Don't get me started. I could write a book on the subject.

 

[IrvJr]

If you like Italian, you have to hit Carabba's. I agree skip Disney and hit both Universal parks and MGM Studios.

Scott

 

[lyonsd]

You can get cheap DisneyWorld tickets if you're willing to sit through a sales pitch for a time share.

 

[Justin231]

If your kids (or you) enjoy arcade games, go to Disney Quest in Downtown Disney. It is a five story building of arcade games. I think its around $30 to get in for the day and that covers unlimited game play of the best arcade games. When I went there, I spent an hour playing the uncle fester game that 'shocks' you. Medieval times is entertaining and good food. The Marbel Slab has very good ice cream. Mcdonalds in Orlando do not have dollar menus and are about $10 for a person. Find out the hottest day of your trip and go to Wet N Wild. Lastly, stay out of the tall grass.

-Justin Spaulding

 

[KWIKR 1]

thanks guys . lots of GOOD info !!!!

 

[Brutal Buick]

When you get to Clearwater make sure you get over to Tampa for Busch Garden and right across the street is Adventure Island. Been going to both since I was a kid. Busch Gardens has great rides and if you get there early enought lines usually aren't too bad. Hope this helps ya some.

Jamie

 

[Vector]

There is a haunted house just outside Universal Studio's theme park. The haunted house is called Skull Kingdom. Call for hours and reservations. It is very expensive - something like $30 per person. It is worth every penny! I highly recommend it. I think there may be age restrictions so check that out first.
But if you are down there, you MUST try it.
Also, very close to that place there is one of those places where they mounted a jet engine in th ground and you can suit up and hover in the wind it produces like you are sky diving - but you never get more than ten feet off the ground.
I have not done that one yet, but it looks kinda neat.
I for get the name of the town, but about an hour south of Daytona is a place called JB's Fish Camp. Really good seafood in a cool atmosphere - if you have the time...

 

[GN SBS]

Go to your local bookstore and check out a couple of the guide books-- my wife and I found the "Unofficial Guide" and "Fodor's" both to be good and worth the small investment.

Use speed pass in the parks to ride the more popular rides; there's really no need to wait through long lines if you are strategic with the use of this.

Food in the parks is great, but very expensive for the burger quality stuff. If you're on a budget I'd bring lunch most of the time and then plan on eating in one of the nicer places (make reservations) occasionally. It makes for a nice break in an air conditioned area (I was there last Aug for a conference and you'll appreciate it). Also, the nice meals are more closely priced to what you'd usually pay.

-S.

 

[scottyb]

I agree with the Universal Studios suggestion, it's better for the older kids and adults. On the other hand, if you're set on Disney, or never been there, I suggest getting a 4-day park hopper ticket. I think they are just over $120 vs $50+ per day per park. You can come and go for 4 non-consecutive days to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdon and MGM. You can do one park in the morning, and another in the afternoon and only burn 1 day of the 4. We didn't care for Animal Kingdom at all. It wasn't anything but a glorified zoo. MGM is similar to universal, and also enjoyed by the older kids.

I also agree on the Tampa suggestion, Busch Gardens. I'm glad to see you're spending time in Clearwater instead of all tourist trap south Orlando/Disney. You'll enjoy that.

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

take a day to go over to kennedy space center too.

 

[KWIKR 1]

you guys you are going to make this trip easy . I'm telling my kids about all the different things you guys are posting and they are freaking out . I'm going to have a hard time keeping them maintained untill August . to top it off, it would be great if you can tell me what Florida banks take Canadian money at par lol . thanks again .

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

have to agree with the above

the wife and myself went to disney last year this time ... she's into disney stuff so it was ok for her but for men and older kids BORING

we are going back in june to hit Universal Studios

hit the other board (the one with an s on the end) and post there too

I met a few of the guys from over there when we went down last year

dont only stay out of tall grass but going behind buildings to use the mens room could be a bad idea ...never know whats crawling around back there

 

[denn454]

i went last year. we went to both universal for 3 days and disney world for the other 4 days. We got the passes that will let you go in all the different parks, thats the way to go. The universal pass will let you go into universal studios and their islands of adventure. disneys pass will let you go in all 4 of their parks.

Personally i liked disney MUCH better. (was 17 at the time) I wouldn't even recomend wasting your time with universal studios. its very over rated, packed with people, over priced and the rides suck. back to the future was cool, and so was walking down their streets and seeing the stuff but it wasnt' very entertaining. islands of adventure was a lot better. most of the rides are great; ride the hulk! that park is pretty fun. the thing i really don't like about it is their fast pass thing. you can only get 2-3 a day at universal, where as at disneyland you can get 50 if you try. and use them, especially if the line is big.

disney is much better. do get the hopper pass (i think thats what they call it) you can go between all 4 parks, and they have free shuttles running between all of the parks too. and if you can stay at a disney hotel, they have a bunch of them. you get cool free stuff, and you get into a park an hour early every day (different park every day) all i can really say is do everything. mgm studios was my favorite, lots of fun rides, jsut a fun place. whatever you do DO NOT miss the fire works at epcot every night. thats the only one we caught and i can say its undoubtedly the coolest thing i've ever seen. iits worth going just to see the fireworks.

theres a good hooters down there to.

 

[scottyb]

BTW, at MGM they have the "Rock and Roll"ler coaster. They have speakers in the headrest and you get to listen to Aerosmith during the ride, in stereo. Now I'm not exactly an Aerosmith freak, but HOW COOL IS THAT? It really re-defined my view of roller coasters! It also does not do the "pull you up a hill, then go from there" method. It accelerates via electro-magnetism (or something like that). It's a standing start and they told me if you sit in the rear, it approaches a 3G hole-shot! It feels goooood. If the line wasn't so long, I'd have stayed there all day (wife permitting, of course).

 

[J Banning]

Originally posted by 88 CuttyClassic
take a day to go over to kennedy space center too.

The Kennedy Space Center is AWESOME! Only two countires in the world have sent a man to the moon. Kennedy Space Center is the only one you can tour.

Makes you proud to be an american.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

You and your kids will love Universal Studios. Get the fast pass tickes like mentioned above. Busch Gardens is pretty cool and you get free beer! Suggestion---- Go to beer school!

You gotta hit (white sands) Siesta Key beach in Sarasota and while your in Sarasota.... might as well hit Mote Marine aquarium( just a couple miles up from the beach). (shopping) St. Armonds circle.

Largo cruise?

All I can think of now.


Bo

 

[denn454]

Originally posted by scottyb
BTW, at MGM they have the "Rock and Roll"ler coaster. They have speakers in the headrest and you get to listen to Aerosmith during the ride, in stereo. Now I'm not exactly an Aerosmith freak, but HOW COOL IS THAT? It really re-defined my view of roller coasters! It also does not do the "pull you up a hill, then go from there" method. It accelerates via electro-magnetism (or something like that). It's a standing start and they told me if you sit in the rear, it approaches a 3G hole-shot! It feels goooood. If the line wasn't so long, I'd have stayed there all day (wife permitting, of course).

how did i forget to mention that! something like 0-60 in 3.0. its flat out awesome. i went to mgm 3 times, every time i went straight back to it, got a fast pass then stood in line for the muppets movie (very cool also) then went back, road the roller coaster, got a fast pass for tower of terror and found something else to do.

its morefun than the hulk, which goes from 0-40 in somethign very fast, uphill which adds to the fun. but i still say disney world is better than universal.

 

[Stone]

Going to disney around labor day is one of the LEAST crowded times because all the kids are starting school you wont belive it. The down side is the park's hours change, they close early around that time of year mike sure you know the hours. But you can get so much more done in a shorter time it makes up for it. Animal Kingdon was are fav and make sure you go to the tree of life show!

Mike