Florida 3/22-3/27

[Poiple]

My folks are being kind enough to fly me to Florida to visit them for a week, and I want to take the opportunity to visit a couple of theme parks. They're aware of my interest, and have indicated that they're interested in tagging along to a park or two as well. This will be my first trip down there since I was a wee lad, but I don't imagine it will be my last as the folks have recently set up residence in Jacksonville.

 

Does anyone know what the crowds at the Florida parks are like during this time of year? I took a similar trip to BGE and King's Dominion last year (albeit on a weekend) and was surprised by the crowds. Are the crowds bad around Spring Break time?

 

I know at the very least I'd like to visit BGA, but the extra hour from Jacksonville is definitely a concern. My mother has expressed interest in SeaWorld, but I'd sort of prefer to hold off on that park until after Manta is finished. A package ticket deal might be nice though.

 

I'd rather avoid the Universal Parks this trip as well, as both of them are at least partially under construction. I did receive an email confirmation that I should be expecting a Super-Bowl contest ticket. I haven't received it yet though, and I think I may try to use it later in the year anyway (Sept).

 

Animal Kingdom and Epcot don't hold much interest for me, but WDW and DHS look interesting. It might be interesting to do BGA and Animal Kingdom on the same trip though. I think my mom would really like Epcot too.

 

I'm not above a little-bit of credit whoring, but I wouldn't want to subject my parents to it. They just don't have the patience for a lot of the theme-park ambiance (waiting more than an hour for anything). Given that, I'm not above spending a couple hundred extra bucks for front-of-the-line privileges. I understand Disney offers a free service of some sort for this? How does that work? What about the other parks, universal or Busch?

 

All of that being said, I'm not tied to anything in particular, my folks may or may not tag along to one or two parks, and I may even visit one with my brother on Friday 3/27. I've been saving my pennies, but I'm still rather price sensitive. Does anyone have any general tips for Florida trips, or anything specific to what I've mentioned?

[monsterfan99]

I can help you with the Disney Part. I was planning a trip there for the week after that but had to change it.

 

This link will be a ton of help in the what days to go and when.

http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=14

Remember to always, always hit the Magic Kingdom on a Monday.

 

With the front of the line system, Universal and Disney each have one (not sure about BGA or Sea World.) With Universal, you pay a fee (different price by day) on top of the ticket price. This gives you one front of the line pass of X number of attractions that have listed.

 

With Disney, everyone can use the fastpass system. Your ticket to get into the park is inserted into a machine and it gives you a slip with a return time. This allows you to by pass most to nearly all of the line. The one thing to remember about this system is they can and do run out of passes for some rides. Toy Story Mania is known to run out of passes early in the day. You also can only have one pass at a time or every 2(or maybe 4) hours, which ever is sooner.

 

Basically, if you make a touring plan (Plan of what to hit when. there are sample ones on the site above) for the day and use the fast pass system the right way, you should be OK at the Disney parks. Get there 20-30 minutes before rope drop and you will beat the crowds as well.

[Poiple]

Okay, well, I'm leaning towards BGA and DHS. It looks like that would be DHS on Tuesday or Friday then, but the park is open an extra 3 hours in the evening on Wed and Thurs. Does the day you go really make that much difference?

 

Also, I think Rock N Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror look like must rides, and my dad really likes Toy Story so I think he would enjoy Toy Story Mania. What other attractions are really worthwhile there?

[chauncey]

Okay, well, I'm leaning towards BGA and DHS. It looks like that would be DHS on Tuesday or Friday then, but the park is open an extra 3 hours in the evening on Wed and Thurs. Does the day you go really make that much difference?

honestly, no. i think that with Disney parks the most important things are to get there when the parks opens, yet be willing and able to stay as long as nessecary, and have a plan, yet be willing and able to change it as nessecary! but, really, most importantly: have a plan — no matter how simple or silly it may be! once i went to the Magic Kingdom with a plan consisting of “ride everything with less than a 15 mintue wait, ride nothing with more than a 30 minute wait, and go clockwise!”, and had a great time! i've been to Disney on week days, weekends, during peak season, off season, even the dreaded and cruel Christmas week (definitely not recommended!), and i've never missed anything i really wanted to do, unless it was closed…

 

although, just so you know: if the park is open extra hours it's usually because they're expecting extra crowds! i usually plan to go on the days with the shortest hours, because i can typically get more done!

 

Also, I think Rock N Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror look like must rides, and my dad really likes Toy Story so I think he would enjoy Toy Story Mania. What other attractions are really worthwhile there?

uh, nothing… my “usual” Hollywood Studios strategy is to get a park hopper, go to Animal Kingdom for the day, and then make my way over to Hollywood Studios in the evening to do the “big” rides (basically, Tower Of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster), and whatever doesn't have a line! i did go to Hollywood Studios for a day once, and i did enjoy myself, but i ended up doing a lot of stuff i'd typically skip (shows, shops, etc.) — that might just be me, though…