Visiting in Feb 04 and need your help

[Howard]

I've just booked a week in Orlando for next Feb (leaving on Fri 13th!!) and need some advice on the best things to see. I have two kids, a daughter 16 and a son 12 plus my wife. I would love to hear your recommendations for our itinerary. How busy will it be that week - I know that it is President's day on 16th Feb, what will queues be like at Universal/Disney?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Howard & family

PS I went to Florida (Miami and Orlando) about 20 years ago, I guess it may have changed a bit!!

[blott]

Hi Howard

Welcome to the forum. Well, I guess it just might have changed just a teeny bit in 20 years!

It might be a tad busy as it's the UK half term holiday at some stage during February (depending on which part of the country you happen to live) also.

With kids of those ages, I guess it'd have to be Universal Islands of Adventure at the very least. I don't think you're going to fit it all into a week (or you'll get back home needing another vacation!).

[fiona]

My daughters are 18 and 15 and for the past few years it has been Islands of Adventure. They like Sea World for the combination of animals and thrill rides, but Disney is old hat to them now. However, I think you should allow a couple of days for Disney - a must for those who have not been before. Seems so very different from those little girls of 9 and 5½ we first took to Florida and were awestruck! You might strike lucky and hit Universal over Mardi Gras - they have bands performing etc.

We have been in February half term before and found it very quiet, however I don't think that year coincided with President's Day, so I would expect that to be busy.

Are any of your family interested in space? If so a trip to Kennedy Space Center is a must.

I think you must allow a day of shopping (been there got the tee shirt) and going on my gals vote I would suggest Premium Outlet Mall. I'm all done there in a few hours but the serious shopper in our house (currently studying Fashion at uni!) can take the best part of a day. If you have a half day spare try Lake Buena Vista Outlet - Gap and Old Navy Outlet.

Plan your time with military precision - you will need to in order to benefit the most.

Have a great time and let us know how you got on.

[hamptonlakes]

Hi Howard & Family welcome to the most helpful forum on the web

I agree with Blott it will be quite busy because of school and as you say Presidents day.

Well 20 years since you have last been i would say that you will not reconise Orlando it has changed and is still changing so much

I have just come back from Florida and just went for a quick holiday 7 days we only got chance to go to three parks which were Typhoo Lagoon Disney Water park, Magic Kingdom and also MGM Studios i have to say we loved all especially MGM and seeing the Fantasmic Show @ 7pm plus also Tower OF Terror and Seeing Bear In The Big Blue House and meeting all the Charactors.

I agree with Blott Islands Of Adventure would a great park for you to visit plus i also Like Blizzard Beach but could not go last week because its closed for refurbishment.

Good luck hope you have a great holiday and you will love it[msnsmile2]

[Howard]

Thanks for your replies - you have given me plenty of ideas! I think Islands of Adventure is going to be the top of the list and I am sure that some shopping will also feature. We need to plan the rest out as soon as I have told the kids - I'm keeping it as a surprise for Xmas day.

Thanks again for your help.

[steph_goodrum]

Wish I could be a fly on the wall Howard and see their faces, what a lovely surprise for Christmas.

We have to have several trips to Sea World each time.
If your son is into skateboarding there is a Vans skate park at the top of I drive so you could drop the women at the Belz for some shopping and take him there.
Kennedy is also worth a visit if you've never been before.
Walmart is a good place for shopping as it's 24 hour and has a huge range. I can spend hours in the craft dept alone quite easily. In Feb I would imagine the parks will be closing around 7-8 ish in the evening so you can probably get a couple of hours shopping in if they have any energy left.

[pbensur]

In the greater scheme of things, it won't be really that busy. We go often in February and find the crowds to be moderate during President's Day week. This really is a nice time to go.

In my opinion, Epcot is not to be missed!! Especially with the kids being the ages they are, I highly recommend you set aside at least one full day for a trip to Epcot.

[DMC]

Hi Howard

Good to hear that you are looking forward to your first trip back to Orlando in 20 years.

What you will have gathered by now is that a week is not long enough to get around everything, you will be a like a kid in a toy shop not knowing which way to go next.

I think you are 100% correct in sitting down and working out what to see and do, if you don't you'll end up racing around all over the place, you will need to be selective.

I would suggest a couple of days over at Disney, I would do Magic Kingdom just for the atmosphere alone, MGM is well worth a visit plenty to keep the young and old amused, Animal Kingdom can be done in a half a day ( at a push )and Epcot can be done either very quickly or slowly depending if you like it or not ( I have to say that it not one of our favorite parks )

I would leave the Water Parks until another visit as February is not the warmest of months.

Don't forget if you get a Disney Hopper Pass the days never expire so you can use them agian on your next visit.

Then of course there is Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, both are great but in different ways, if you like thrill rides then IoA is a must

The Universal Parks are next to each other so you can get from one to another very quickly, you could do both in a long day and if you are very selective on which of the rides you go on.

Then of course there is Seaworld, which if you like marine life / dolphins and killer whales etc, is great and well worth a trip.

Finally for that all important shopping trip, if you only half a day or so to go shopping then visit the Premium Outlet Centre at the southern end of International Drive ( its about 2 miles south of Seaworld )- it is our favorite place to shop - all the desinger names are there including Nike / Ralph Luaren and Tommy Hilfiger etc etc - in many way shopping in Orlando can be more tiring and more expensive than doing the Theme Parks

As for places to eat then you will be spoilt for choice, but for a good family restaraunt with great Italian Food, try the Olive Garden on International Drive ( next door to Race Rock ) - you may have to wait 30 mins for a table, but it is well worth it.

No doubt you will return home absolutely shattered, but you will have had the time of your life, we have booked for what will be our 12th and 13th trips, in 6 years for May and September 2004 and we are already excited and planning where to go and what to do - and we don't even have any children !!!

I am sure that you will have a great time.

[DaveL]

Disney Quest in the Disney Downtown area is often overlooked. You can do things like design your own roller coaster and then ride it in a VR pod. This is relly good if you have older children that like this sort of thing.

Regards Dave

[chris]

Howard
It doesnt say whether you are from UK or not. If you are then I suggest you buy a copy of Brits Guide to Orlando 2004 by Simon Veness. It costs £11.99 though I just bought one in a discount book store for £6.99. I had to move all the 2003 copies to find a 2004 one behind! Hide in your bedroom and read all the hundreds of things you can do there. It also details each ride and how thrilling they are by a star system.