Florida theme park tickets

[Psycho Ned]

Yeah Hulk was closed from not long after I went (in April 2015) till last summer last year. They took all the tracks and everything down and upgraded the lot I think. It's the same circuit as the original just smoother.

When I went to Orlando in April/May time the queues were not bad at all, think the longest I waited for a ride the whole holiday was Test Track at Epcot at 60 minutes!

Oh and my favourite Rides I went on (even though no one asked ) Harry Potter and the forbidden journey at Universal and Mission Space at Epcot (this ones the real literal vomit comet for some people!!)

 

[Mr Plow]

Yeah Hulk was closed from not long after I went (in April 2015) till last summer last year. They took all the tracks and everything down and upgraded the lot I think. It's the same circuit as the original just smoother.

When I went to Orlando in April/May time the queues were not bad at all, think the longest I waited for a ride the whole holiday was Test Track at Epcot at 60 minutes!

Oh and my favourite Rides I went on (even though no one asked ) Harry Potter and the forbidden journey at Universal and Mission Space at Epcot (this ones the real literal vomit comet for some people!!)

I was one of those people hah, came very close to vomiting on that one but just managed to hold it back! Had no idea what I was getting myself in for an expected it to just be like one of the 4D experiences, turns out it's a cleverly disguised tilting centrifuge and the physical effect is incredible to experience.

We went in 2015 and stayed in one of the Universal Deluxe Resorts (Portofino Bay which is stunning), the fast passes you get for the Universal parks are just brilliant although we couldn't use them in Wizarding World of Harry Potter but you get early access before it opens to the general public which was cool.

Parking for the hire car was a little pricey as mentioned, something like $20 per day but having the car was a godsend to get to all the parks and the Kennedy Space Center with ease and not have to muck about with buses.

 

[-RV-]

Haven't read through the entire thread but we went April this year. We also didn't need all the parks and we hadn't planned each day, so left it until we arrived to buy tickets.

We got them from Maple Leaf Tickets in Kissimmee.. They were great value and the guy working there was really helpful. We visited him a few times and got just what we needed each time.

Oh, and one more thing --- swimming with dolphins... We weren't sure about doing that so didn't book anything in advance. When we arrived, we saw they were doing "dolphin experience" for $10 I think (may have been $20) where you get to meet a dolphin and get really close and stroke it --- that was great and you could book that there and then -- I think we may have had to wait an hour or so, but the place is enormous so plenty to do. Was a lovely experience for the kids (and adults!).

 

[Clipsey]

Guilty of visiting Orlando 9 times, 3 times with my parents (aged 6, 10 and 18), 6 times with various partners.

Same here
Heading there in a 15 days time.....will be 3rd trip to Disney within 12 months
Prefer Universal for rides etc, but once you take your young ones to Disney, it truly is worth every penny. When they get a little older we'll head over to Universal.

 

[Rifte]

When we arrived, we saw they were doing "dolphin experience" for $10 I think (may have been $20) where you get to meet a dolphin and get really close and stroke it --- that was great and you could book that there and then -- I think we may have had to wait an hour or so, but the place is enormous so plenty to do. Was a lovely experience for the kids (and adults!).

Happen to remember where this was? We are doing Discovery Cove but our daughter will be unable to participate due to her age.

If there is an opportunity for her to engage with one with her out of the water, that would be great.

 

[nutcase]

Going again later this year. Just picked up day tickets for legoland for £20 and we bought our disney tickets prior to the previous two price rises. We also maintain a single annual pass to save money on parking, food, and gift shop tat.

 

[-RV-]

Happen to remember where this was? We are doing Discovery Cove but our daughter will be unable to participate due to her age.

If there is an opportunity for her to engage with one with her out of the water, that would be great.

It was in Sea World and I just looked it up now and its called the Dolphin Encounter. You only get a few minutes, and you will be in a group with others, but you will each get a chance to get close to the dolphin and stroke it. Its brief, but well worth it. For us, they seperated the group into families, and each family had a chance to touch the dolphin while we (including dolphin) posed for the camera. The photos, although expensive as expected are well thought out.

They also have the Dolphin Up-Close tour which is longer but we didn't do that.. It sounds similar, just longer. No sure if you get more hands on though.

 

[joelk2]

Theme park tickets are cheaper at the moment

Disney 14 day ticket is £299 per adult.

A single day entry per adult is $123 ish you can buy from undercover tourist.

Been looking into it all.recently as I'm going in may

 

[Rifte]

It was in Sea World and I just looked it up now and its called the Dolphin Encounter. You only get a few minutes, and you will be in a group with others, but you will each get a chance to get close to the dolphin and stroke it. Its brief, but well worth it. For us, they seperated the group into families, and each family had a chance to touch the dolphin while we (including dolphin) posed for the camera. The photos, although expensive as expected are well thought out.

They also have the Dolphin Up-Close tour which is longer but we didn't do that.. It sounds similar, just longer. No sure if you get more hands on though.

Cheers thanks. I will take a look at that.

I have been sorting our our theme park tickets today. Looked at the annual pass idea for one of us, and although up front it works out more expensive. During the 5 weeks we are in Orlando, the saving on parking will probably pay the difference before we use any of the discount benefits in the park. $20 a day is excessive!

Still expensive though for all of it. For me, the wife and the kids I am not going to get much change out of 4k.

Some of the popular theme park ticket sites have started to advertise prices for 2018. It seems they may be hedging themselves for a massive slump in sterling, because for example :

The Orlando Passport is 610 GBP this year......next year 780 GBP

Next year could be expensive to go for anyone paid in the pound.

On another note, anyone had any experience with Gatorland? Tickets are pretty cheap, but it just seems to be a few walkways with a zip line around a few swamps with a crap load of alligators. Is it any good?

 

[-RV-]

On another note, anyone had any experience with Gatorland? Tickets are pretty cheap, but it just seems to be a few walkways with a zip line around a few swamps with a crap load of alligators. Is it any good?

We enjoyed it, worth the money for a couple of hours, it's bigger than it looks when you're walking around. The little boarded walk through the swamp & tall tree was great.

Watched the gator wrestling show too which was fun.

Didn't do the zip line, but it looks great... Zipping over the gators !

Also, theres a good photo opportunity to hold a baby gator & snake. Got a great one of our kids.

 

[ristac]

If you want thrill rides go to Busch Gardens, I thought the Hulk ride was amazing until I went to Busch Gardens, it makes it seem tame.

 

[Rifte]

If you want thrill rides go to Busch Gardens, I thought the Hulk ride was amazing until I went to Busch Gardens, it makes it seem tame.

Yeah we loved Busch Gardens when we went a number of years ago, its planned in our itinerary.

The only issue I can remember is that it was a damn hot day and the park is epic in size.....it made Alton Towers seems remarkably small if I can remember it correctly.

I have got a busy couple of months with my work before I can start to get excited, but my wife and kids are over excited already!

We have decided to bolt Gator land onto our itinerary. We have 5 weeks there, so I dont think we will struggle to slot it in!