Florida

Driving is mental and Magic Kingdom is an endurance test rather than anything like enjoyable. I f***ing hate it. I was there on wednesday and after the crush on the bridge watching the fireworks it took two hours to get to the car.

Buggies and mobility scooters everywhere. They just let too many people in.

Having said that some places are just brilliant.

 


Driving is mental and Magic Kingdom is an endurance test rather than anything like enjoyable. I f***ing hate it. I was there on wednesday and after the crush on the bridge watching the fireworks it took two hours to get to the car.

Buggies and mobility scooters everywhere. They just let too many people in.

Having said that some places are just brilliant.
I’ve been living 90 minutes from Disney for almost four years and don’t have the slightest desire to want to go there. All the SMBers on a mad scramble to get there baffles the shite out of me. That will liklely have to change when the bairn gets older like. I’ve been to Busch Gardens (only 30 minutes away) a couple of times and that’s a canny day out like. Would much rather be a the beach me.
 
I’ve been living 90 minutes from Disney for almost four years and don’t have the slightest desire to want to go there. All the SMBers on a mad scramble to get there baffles the shite out of me. That will liklely have to change when the bairn gets older like. I’ve been to Busch Gardens (only 30 minutes away) a couple of times and that’s a canny day out like. Would much rather be a the beach me.

It's the worst Disney park by a mile. The 'classic' rides are shite and it's so busy so constantly it's impossible to get on them without sacrificing a huge chunk of your day in queues. It's a bull bait from start to finish.
In contrast, Hollywood Studios is really good and only going to get better with Star Wars and Toy Story lands coming, Epcot is just class and Animal Kingdom has a fantastic vibe and also the best new ride in Flight Of Passage (avoid River Journey though - it's a glorified It's A Small World)
 
Never had a car over there personally don't think I would trust myself on them roads like. Uber is cheap and reliable the likes of universal etc are 7 dollars To international drive. Disney is about 15 dollars compared to 45/50 in a taxi. Even jumping in a uber to get food is never more than 5 or 6 dollars. There's that many Uber's they normally turn up within minutes.

Wow that’s cheaper than the parking costs at the parks. Do you use theUber app to book them, or just phone up?
 
I’ve been living 90 minutes from Disney for almost four years and don’t have the slightest desire to want to go there. All the SMBers on a mad scramble to get there baffles the shite out of me. That will liklely have to change when the bairn gets older like. I’ve been to Busch Gardens (only 30 minutes away) a couple of times and that’s a canny day out like. Would much rather be a the beach me.

Agree totally Tex, was in that area three weeks ago and while I didn’t visit Disney, the crowds were crazy.

Nah mate, you are correct.
 
looking to go to Florida next year, bout September. Didn’t realise how expensive it is to get there. Do people just use virgin or Thomson or is there other options, cheaper preferably.

Was hoping to pay no more that £1500 for the hotels and flights.

Is international drive still the place to stay or is Disney/universal a better option? Been 20yr since I was there.

It's a lot more expensive to stay in the Disney/Universal resorts than on I Drive. Some parts of I-Drive are very run down these days - closer towards the Conference centre are the better quality hotels in terms of how it looks.

Last few times I've stopped there I've stayed in the Hard Rock in Universal but that's cause I'm a lazy bastid and I can walk to the Universal parks in 5 mins from there.
 
I liked LA. Hollywood is very underwhelming isn't it, but once you get kind of used to the places, I found it was pretty cool. It's certainly not obvious where to actually go and where is actually good. I loved Melrose (although I gather it's gone down hill now and is more commercialised), Santa Monica is one of my favorite places.

I didn't drive there mind, I got taxis/ Ubers and used their subway thing.

Maybe that's the key to see and enjoy it properly. I was in a car most of the time, so may have missed loads. Santa Monica was canny, but didn't stay long.
 
looking to go to Florida next year, bout September. Didn’t realise how expensive it is to get there. Do people just use virgin or Thomson or is there other options, cheaper preferably.
Was hoping to pay no more that £1500 for the hotels and flights.
Is international drive still the place to stay or is Disney/universal a better option? Been 20yr since I was there.
Locations depends very much on what you want to do when you're there.

Never been a fan of I-Drive myself, but if you want to spend your time in Universal Parks, and want to go out shopping a drinking, then it makes sense.

If you're going to spend most of your time in Disney, then its crackers to be so far away. If so, check out he hotels on Lake Buena Vista, right over the road from Disney Springs.

Driving is mental and Magic Kingdom is an endurance test rather than anything like enjoyable. I f***ing hate it. I was there on wednesday and after the crush on the bridge watching the fireworks it took two hours to get to the car.
Buggies and mobility scooters everywhere. They just let too many people in.
Honestly, when I was there, it was quite quiet - and the after-Fireworks egress was still horrific.

It's the worst Disney park by a mile. The 'classic' rides are shite and it's so busy so constantly it's impossible to get on them without sacrificing a huge chunk of your day in queues. It's a bull bait from start to finish.
In contrast, Hollywood Studios is really good and only going to get better with Star Wars and Toy Story lands coming, Epcot is just class and Animal Kingdom has a fantastic vibe and also the best new ride in Flight Of Passage (avoid River Journey though - it's a glorified It's A Small World)
Magic Kingdom is an entirely new experience when you have kids.
Fastpass+ is an absolute must though
So is looking at those sites that tell which which days of the week are quiet at each park - use them to plan your trip - it makes a massive difference.

Agree about River Journey though - what a let down that was.

It's a lot more expensive to stay in the Disney/Universal resorts than on I Drive.
This is why I keep banging on about the hotels right outside of Disney Springs.
Disney own the land, but not the hotels.
 
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looking to go to Florida next year, bout September. Didn’t realise how expensive it is to get there. Do people just use virgin or Thomson or is there other options, cheaper preferably.

Was hoping to pay no more that £1500 for the hotels and flights.

Is international drive still the place to stay or is Disney/universal a better option? Been 20yr since I was there.
We’ve just booked up for next year and are staying in Disney. It’s costing a small fortune but we want to take the kids before my little lad gets too old. Our lass phoned all over for prices to play them all off against each other and got the best deal through TUI, I can send you the lasses details if you want? She’s been a massive help.
 
It's a lot more expensive to stay in the Disney/Universal resorts than on I Drive. Some parts of I-Drive are very run down these days - closer towards the Conference centre are the better quality hotels in terms of how it looks.

Last few times I've stopped there I've stayed in the Hard Rock in Universal but that's cause I'm a lazy bastid and I can walk to the Universal parks in 5 mins from there.
Stayed there last week, cracking hotel and like you said just walking distance to the universal parks.
Stayed in Saratoga Springs while in disney, luckily a mate of mine has a time share in Disney so got accomadation for two weeks for free :lol:

Definitely agree about the magic kingdom being a pain in the hole, just too many people and the rides are all pretty dated these days. Disney studios is much better, could sit on that main street for hours just watching people go by. Easier to get booze there too!

That new avatar ride in the animal kingdom I thought was very overrated, the queue times were all nearly 2.5 hours too so you could actually watch the whole avatar film while waiting! I got lucky and managed to get a fast pass, glad I didnt wait in the normal queue. It was fun but nothing special.

Dunno how people do Disney with kids, costs a fortune, you're queuing all day.
 
That new avatar ride in the animal kingdom I thought was very overrated, the queue times were all nearly 2.5 hours too so you could actually watch the whole avatar film while waiting! I got lucky and managed to get a fast pass, glad I didnt wait in the normal queue. It was fun but nothing special.
you're queuing all day.
We had to do the Flight of Passage ride as a rope-drop. 45mins, wasn't too bad. Amazing ride though, definitely taken its cues from Soarin, but added 3D and simulation. Brilliant.

As for queuing, honestly, aside from above, we barely queued for a thing. Fast Pass + rope drop - leave by 2pm. Perfect
 
Got to agree was massively underwhelmed with Disney, Animal Kingdom was ok but Epicot was a waste of time. The avatar ride in Animal Kingdom is a must do, I still can't believe how real it felt, was laughing like a little kid the whole ride. Universal studios is ok, Islands of adventure is canny. Out of the lot we enjoyed Volcano Bay the most.
Loved the water parks in Disney and would've loved volcano bay but their tapu tapu system is a complete joke, I was there two weeks ago for about four hours and only managed to get on two things. The system is just stupid, you get a time to join the queue instead of being able to just queue. I was sitting outside the main slide for about 10 minutes before I was allowed to then go join the queue and wait for a further 45 minutes. This was all in the off season too.

That said the slides are class, scary as fuck waiting for that trap door to open!


We had to do the Flight of Passage ride as a rope-drop. 45mins, wasn't too bad. Amazing ride though, definitely taken its cues from Soarin, but added 3D and simulation. Brilliant.

As for queuing, honestly, aside from above, we barely queued for a thing. Fast Pass + rope drop - leave by 2pm. Perfect
Soarin was class, hadnt done that before, actually thought it was better than avatar.

Had two really nice days in epcot doing the food and wine expo, really nice just eating and drinking your way around the park
 
Loved the water parks in Disney and would've loved volcano bay but their tapu tapu system is a complete joke, I was there two weeks ago for about four hours and only managed to get on two things. The system is just stupid, you get a time to join the queue instead of being able to just queue. I was sitting outside the main slide for about 10 minutes before I was allowed to then go join the queue and wait for a further 45 minutes. This was all in the off season too.

That said the slides are class, scary as fuck waiting for that trap door to open!

Oh really? That's shit. I thought the whole point was that there wouldn't be a queue. What's the f***ing point then?
Maybe they just haven't worked it out yet - word is that they opened 2 months before it was ready so as not to miss prime-season.

That trap door thing - there was one like that at Wet N Wild - The Distuka I think it was called, they added a trap door launch bay - it was class :)
 
Driving is mental and Magic Kingdom is an endurance test rather than anything like enjoyable. I f***ing hate it. I was there on wednesday and after the crush on the bridge watching the fireworks it took two hours to get to the car.

Buggies and mobility scooters everywhere. They just let too many people in.

Having said that some places are just brilliant.

Problem is you've got all the MNSSHP going on at Magic Kingdom at the moment so when it isn't on everybody flocks there on that day as you won't get booted out early and can see the new fireworks show.

Magic Kingdom needs some serious planning.
 
Soarin was class, hadnt done that before, actually thought it was better than avatar.
Had two really nice days in epcot doing the food and wine expo, really nice just eating and drinking your way around the park
Soarin V2 is a massive improvement - especially if you're in the centre set of seats (otherwise there's still a bit of distorting going on).

Loved Epcot's Food and Wine fest too - bought loads of those "flights" :lol: tbh, it was the only proper drink we had in 2 weeks. That's not what Disney is for imo
 
Stayed there last week, cracking hotel and like you said just walking distance to the universal parks.
Stayed in Saratoga Springs while in disney, luckily a mate of mine has a time share in Disney so got accomadation for two weeks for free :lol:

Definitely agree about the magic kingdom being a pain in the hole, just too many people and the rides are all pretty dated these days. Disney studios is much better, could sit on that main street for hours just watching people go by. Easier to get booze there too!

That new avatar ride in the animal kingdom I thought was very overrated, the queue times were all nearly 2.5 hours too so you could actually watch the whole avatar film while waiting! I got lucky and managed to get a fast pass, glad I didnt wait in the normal queue. It was fun but nothing special.

Dunno how people do Disney with kids, costs a fortune, you're queuing all day.

You're doing it wrong ;)

Seriously though, we tend to sack off anything with more than a 20 minute queue and get pretty much everything done. I plan everything within an inch of its life, like.
 
Problem is you've got all the MNSSHP going on at Magic Kingdom at the moment so when it isn't on everybody flocks there on that day as you won't get booted out early and can see the new fireworks show.

Magic Kingdom needs some serious planning.
Yeh, there's only usually 1 day per week that counts as "quiet" at MK. Definitely have to be there that day - and hope its not a "party" day too.

The hardest one to plan was actually Hollywood Studios as the stage show times are fixed - so if you want to do all of them, it really fills the day and leaves small gaps dotted around to fill with Fastpasses.
Like I said, totally different when you have kids :lol:
 
We had to do the Flight of Passage ride as a rope-drop. 45mins, wasn't too bad. Amazing ride though, definitely taken its cues from Soarin, but added 3D and simulation. Brilliant.

As for queuing, honestly, aside from above, we barely queued for a thing. Fast Pass + rope drop - leave by 2pm. Perfect

45 mins in a queue, the kids would not stand for that one like. :lol:

How long are the queues on a fast pass these days in Florida?
 

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