Florida --the touristy bit - Page 3

wolf · 10-09-2009, 10:53 PM

Having just been there in the wrong month (August in Florida sucks the life out of you) ...

I loved Disney, especially the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT was quite cool. Hollywood Studios superneat, Animal Kingdom was cool, but not as exciting as I had hoped it might be. Okay, Expedition Everest rocked. Fastpasses get handed out EARLY. If you want a fast pass for one of the more popular rides, you have to head straight for it as soon as you enter the park, because once they are all handed out, they are gone. One thing nobody tells you, is that you can arrive any time AFTER the time on your fastpass and get on, even if your pass is "expired."

Parkhopper is a fantastic option, especially if you decide you want to bumble around the Magic Kingdom during the day and then catch the monorail to EPCOT for their fireworks.

Oh, and another advantage of staying on a Disney property is that you get "Extra Magic Hours" ... you get into the park early, and you can stay late. There is a schedule posted. It is very cool to be bopping around in the Haunted House after midnight.

Disney Pin trading is a racket, but it is a fun racket, and cast members cannot refuse a trade. I will have to post a picture of my lanyard at some point.

Universal Studios ... my opinion only, YMMV ... stick to the Movie side, the other half is really just a conventional amusment park. Spiderman was okay, but The Simpsons was WAY better. DO NOT MISS Terminator, the Mummy, and Men in Black.

Express Pass at Universal is a ticket add-on, works for all the rides. It is worth it.

Sea World was magnificent. I did not go for the rides, I went to look at the fishies, sharks, and sundry and assorted sea mammals. I cried during Shamu. It was beautiful.

It's actually very convenient to stay at a Disney Site. I was at Old Key West, which was beautiful. You only need a vehicle if you're going to a non-Disney property. All the Disney Parks have either a Magic Mickey bus or a boat that will get you there.

Parking for The Magic Kingdom is off-site, you have to take the monorail to approach it.

I want to go back during a more sensible time of year. You know, one with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with no hurricanes.

Pretty much unedited vacation photos from Orlando.

Oh, and the Pirate Adventure Dinner is a heck of a lot of fun. Great entertainment, with audience participation.

monster · 10-09-2009, 10:56 PM

thanks, that's great..... say, why not come back in Feb?

wolf · 10-09-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

thanks, that's great..... say, why not come back in Feb?

I don't think I will have paid for the last trip by then ... otherwise, I'd love to.

Oh, and I'm out of vacation time, and you don't accrue any during FMLA

monster · 10-09-2009, 10:57 PM

yeah,, Juni, my sis mentioned then and I thought "more than one park in one day with 3 kids -in what way is that a vacation?"

Trilby · 06-24-2010, 05:46 PM

I haven't seen Juni around for a loooooooong time.

she graduated and r u n n o f t.

Chocolatl · 06-24-2010, 06:31 PM

Pico -- because July is a really busy month at Disney, you might want to consider making those reservations. It can be really hard to get in to some of the better restaurants, otherwise. Another tip is to eat a sit down lunch so you can enjoy the air-conditioning during the hottest part of the day, and leave yourself open for dinner.

Pico and ME · 06-24-2010, 09:44 PM

Thats a good idea...the lunch one. I suppose if we manage to miss a couple of dinners I could use the credits on a room service breakfast too. Chocolatl, how easy is it to get from one side of the park to the other, say from one of the water parks to the Magic Kingdom? Im concerned that a lot of time will be spent travaling in order to make the dinner reservations.

Chocolatl · 06-24-2010, 10:09 PM

By car, or by resort transportation like buses? By car it's pretty easy -- you just hop in and go, and it seems that no matter how many wrong turns you take you'll eventually end up in the right place. To get across the resort by car takes less than half an hour even with wrong turns, in my experience. The buses are usually pretty reliable, but it can be complex to get from point A to point B -- like from one hotel to another, you usually have to stop off at a theme park in between.

ZenGum · 06-26-2010, 08:46 PM

Friend of mine was playing Facebook family feud.

Q: Name something you might do in vacation in Florida?

I suggested "scrub oil off pelicans".

10-09-2009, 10:53 PM	#1
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Having just been there in the wrong month (August in Florida sucks the life out of you) ... I loved Disney, especially the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT was quite cool. Hollywood Studios superneat, Animal Kingdom was cool, but not as exciting as I had hoped it might be. Okay, Expedition Everest rocked. Fastpasses get handed out EARLY. If you want a fast pass for one of the more popular rides, you have to head straight for it as soon as you enter the park, because once they are all handed out, they are gone. One thing nobody tells you, is that you can arrive any time AFTER the time on your fastpass and get on, even if your pass is "expired." Parkhopper is a fantastic option, especially if you decide you want to bumble around the Magic Kingdom during the day and then catch the monorail to EPCOT for their fireworks. Oh, and another advantage of staying on a Disney property is that you get "Extra Magic Hours" ... you get into the park early, and you can stay late. There is a schedule posted. It is very cool to be bopping around in the Haunted House after midnight. Disney Pin trading is a racket, but it is a fun racket, and cast members cannot refuse a trade. I will have to post a picture of my lanyard at some point. Universal Studios ... my opinion only, YMMV ... stick to the Movie side, the other half is really just a conventional amusment park. Spiderman was okay, but The Simpsons was WAY better. DO NOT MISS Terminator, the Mummy, and Men in Black. Express Pass at Universal is a ticket add-on, works for all the rides. It is worth it. Sea World was magnificent. I did not go for the rides, I went to look at the fishies, sharks, and sundry and assorted sea mammals. I cried during Shamu. It was beautiful. It's actually very convenient to stay at a Disney Site. I was at Old Key West, which was beautiful. You only need a vehicle if you're going to a non-Disney property. All the Disney Parks have either a Magic Mickey bus or a boat that will get you there. Parking for The Magic Kingdom is off-site, you have to take the monorail to approach it. I want to go back during a more sensible time of year. You know, one with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with no hurricanes. Pretty much unedited vacation photos from Orlando. Oh, and the Pirate Adventure Dinner is a heck of a lot of fun. Great entertainment, with audience participation. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis Last edited by wolf; 10-09-2009 at 11:01 PM.

10-09-2009, 10:56 PM	#2
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	thanks, that's great..... say, why not come back in Feb? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-09-2009, 10:57 PM	#4
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	yeah,, Juni, my sis mentioned then and I thought "more than one park in one day with 3 kids -in what way is that a vacation?" __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-24-2010, 05:46 PM	#5
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I haven't seen Juni around for a loooooooong time. she graduated and r u n n o f t. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

06-26-2010, 08:46 PM	#9
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Friend of mine was playing Facebook family feud. Q: Name something you might do in vacation in Florida? I suggested "scrub oil off pelicans". __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

06-24-2010, 06:31 PM	#6
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Pico -- because July is a really busy month at Disney, you might want to consider making those reservations. It can be really hard to get in to some of the better restaurants, otherwise. Another tip is to eat a sit down lunch so you can enjoy the air-conditioning during the hottest part of the day, and leave yourself open for dinner.

06-24-2010, 09:44 PM	#7
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	Thats a good idea...the lunch one. I suppose if we manage to miss a couple of dinners I could use the credits on a room service breakfast too. Chocolatl, how easy is it to get from one side of the park to the other, say from one of the water parks to the Magic Kingdom? Im concerned that a lot of time will be spent travaling in order to make the dinner reservations.

06-24-2010, 10:09 PM	#8
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	By car, or by resort transportation like buses? By car it's pretty easy -- you just hop in and go, and it seems that no matter how many wrong turns you take you'll eventually end up in the right place. To get across the resort by car takes less than half an hour even with wrong turns, in my experience. The buses are usually pretty reliable, but it can be complex to get from point A to point B -- like from one hotel to another, you usually have to stop off at a theme park in between.

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