Anyone been to Kissimmee Fl?

Spyda

Spyda

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Sorry *Cringe* know it's non horsey but booking tickets tonight so hope someone can recommend the best parks to get tickets for before we travel. We're going in Jan 2011 (me, OH & 4 boys 8 aged -14). Just wondered which attractions are best out there and if any are to be avoided? Any advice appreciated. Thanks! :)
 
I have been several times, not for a few years though. I would recommend all the theme parks, blizzard beach is the best water park in my opinion. It really is an amazing place, the theme parks are awesome...when you come back if you go to alton towers...they will never be the same! We also used to go into kissimmee old town which is lovely, and they used to have car shows on a saturday. Also its worth going to international drive, universal studios and seaworld is down that way. I would love to go back and do busch gardens again and also seaworlds water park is meant to be good too. You will have a fab time...everyone is very friendly. Also i would recommend going to downtown disney, we went in the evening and they have planet hollywood, house of blues, rainforest cafe etc.

Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know. :)
 
Been yrs ago and loved it.
All the parks are great, i did like the old town with the big ferris wheel, but for me it was the thunder and lightning show every evening about teatime from the balcony window .. Now that was spectacular :D
 
Great thanks.... We're planning on working out our 14 day itinerary tonight and it's a nightmare knowing where to start. A nightmare, but a nice one LOL.
 
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marydoll said:
Been yrs ago and loved it.
All the parks are great, i did like the old town with the big ferris wheel, but for me it was the thunder and lightning show every evening about teatime from the balcony window .. Now that was spectacular :D
Click to expand...

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

*Note to self: pack Cagouls!!!*
 
My parents owm a property there and i got back about a month ago. I deffo recommemd universal studios, busch gardens, sea world, wet n wild and aquatica. You can get a ticket for all those parks at universal.
Also disney although i havent been there for a while. Gatorland is fun too. And deffo recommend The Outback restaurant to eat.
Oh and old town and funspot is also fun. Have a fab time!
 
Ooh - lucky you! Yes been a few times....my sis in law has a villa out there. Do all the Disney parks - generally once you get past a 3 day ticket the more days you buy the better the value. Universal and Islands of adventure - you can do that in a 1 day 2 park ticket. If you make a day of it you will have loads of time to do all the main attractions. Busch gardens at tampa is also v good if you like your thrill rides and worth the extra miles. We also like Kennedy space centre but think you have to be intersted in space a bit to really enjoy. I can take or leave Seaworld but kids seem to love it. If you want to get away from parks for a quiet stroll and a lunch out, visit Celebration, a typical 50's american town. There is a lovely ice cream parlour there. Also a nice day is a picnic at Blue Springs national park where you will be able to see the manatees at this time of year. Have a fab time!
 
Ooh just thought of a tip someone gave us - if you are going to do Disney Animal Kingdom (and I think you should:)) do it on your first day there. You will be up early cos of the time change and that is the best time of day to see the animals on the Kilimanjaro safari! Make sure you get a fast pass for Everest too!
 
ooh you lucky thing! Have been twice, last time was 3yrs ago, we took 2 daughters 17 & 18 at the time and my son was 6. my biggest bit of advice would be to allow yourself a couple of days 'rest time' in between the parks, so do 2 or 3 days of parks then have a day shopping (its amazing, such bargains) or just chilling by the pool, because the long days get to you and the kids otherwise, its very tiring.
Parks wise, we all really enjoyed universal, sea world of course is fab, busch gardens is a must if your older ones enjoy the bigger rides - they've got awesome rollercoasters! Aquatica (the newest waterpark) is really good and we also went to discovery cove to swim with the dolphins and they've got a huge freeform pool with loads of fish, rays etc where you can snorkel. The discovery cove day was expensive, but glad we went.
When you're booking your tickets you'll find they are grouped together into disney or universal and you can get 3/4/7 day hopper passes to use across their parks, these are usually a good deal.
The food over there is amazing :) would second the recommendation above for the outback (try their blooming onion) and also applebees and ponderosa for their breakfast buffet.
Sorry to go on, but i loved florida, it's the most amazing family holiday :D
 
We owned a villa there until 1 year ago when we sold. We spent 6 -8 weeks out there every year for about 15 years so know the area well, and been to the parks many many times! Miss it so much. Its a great place, there's so much to do even if you dont do the parks. The regular places we went to where Old Town (an "old" sort of town amazingly enough with a vintage American car rally ever Fri or Sat night, as well as live music, Downtown was also good - you can go watch a circus or go shopping (its like a large outdoor mall). Gatorland we used to visit quite a lot just because it was only 20 mins from our house. We used to also go on air boat rides and watch car racing at Daytona etc.

Park-wise, Islands of Adventure is best for the rides. You still have to do good old Disney even if you dont have kids. Epcot is very sciency, interesting but I found it a bit dated last time I went some years ago. Universal is good - simulators are based round films. I wasnt blown away by the Animal Kingdom although I went when in the first year it opened so perhaps its improved. If you've been to any zoo then you get the drift, some of their animals looked pretty stressed when I was there. Seaworld is worth seeing. Used to love Busch Gardens but then it seemed pointless going there (its quite far away) when there were better rides etc. within Orlando at Islands of Adventure etc. The water parks are good too if you like that kind of thing, used to love Typhoon Lagoon when I was a kid. Discovery Cove is brilliant, yes you can get pulled around by dolphins which might be cruel but just being able to swim with tropical fish and feed tropical birds is pretty neat.

If you can be bothered with the drive then Fort Lauderdale is a great place to visit, as is Daytona (if only to drive along the beach which you can't do in the UK I dont think).

I also second going to Outback - that's my all time favourite place. If you go there during your birthday (as I used to), the hot cowboys sing for you ;) The onion is amazing, as is the chicken with cheese and bacon - oh god I want to go back!

You'll have loads of fun!
 
Im a bit of an orlando geek so if you have any questions would be happy to help :)

If you google the Tripadvisor Orlando forum there are loads of hints on tips on how to make the most of Orlando (including money saving ideas, best times to visit, weather, crowd levels etc) I found it invaluable for planning my first trip there.

We are going next October, staying at Disney......I'm literally counting down the days :D :D
 
havent been for a while but defo do Arabian nights fantastic horsey show with eve meal all served by wenches!!!
also Fridays,another great place for food (i must be hungry lol)does the biggest bbq ribs and cocktails!!!
Old town for the bucking bronko and bars
Sea world the last time i went was a bit of a let down but the kids like it
id personaly give gatorland a miss!!
but Universal, City walk if you like a drink!!!:),Epcot,Disney are FANTASTIC
also worth going to Busch gardens if you get the time
weve been about 8 times in total and still want to go again :)
 
Oh my the food and cocktails at TGI Fridays are fab, forgot about that. So yep, the outback and fridays for meals and pondarosa/golden corral for breakfast :)
i cant wait to go back now! im going again in early sept so i get to go before uni starts.
 
I went a few weeks ago (against my will! but really enjoyed it).

Discovery Cove is expensive but a good day, and it includes all food and drinks and things, so make the most of it. The photographs are eye-wateringly expensive though.

Universal/Islands of Adventure is the best park in my opinion....and even a total Harry-Potter-Hater like me enjoyed the Harry Potter park immensely - the Hogwarts ride is amazing.

The food is predominantly greasy high fat rubbish :p We did enjoy Texas De Brazil though, for its good quality meats, and an amazing buffet.
Green Tomato is a good place for salad buffets.

I loved Wet'n'Wild and would happily have spent days there :)

There's a great enormous outlet mall up at the top end of International Drive, got lots of bargains there.

Wouldn't have gone to Seaworld if we didn't have the tickets included in the Discovery Cove price - found it a total waste of a morning and actually quite disturbing, in a way Discovery Cove wasn't.
 
Went about 10 years ago so probably all different now, but we enjoyed Seaworld and Universal Studios most. Also Gatorland is a bit different and we went on an airboat ride in the Everglades to look at some of the wildlife.

Top tip: If it is a wet day head for a top attraction - it will be much quieter!
 
Ditto all the above,but also Kennedy space centre was amazing. We saw a shuttle being loaded ready for one of the last trips to the space station. Even without that,it was a day we all enjoyed. Arabian nights was very good.
Take a warm jacket as we had frosts first thing in the mornings,in early february! And an empty suitcase as you'll buy loads!
 
Oh,sadly prepare to check weather as all the water parks closed when temperatures lower than something like 68 degrees,except discovery cove. We had done them previously,but was still disappointing for daughter she couldn't go again.
 
Been twice and enjoyed it both times. Loved Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Typhoon Lagoon. Typhoon Lagoon is relaxing and a lovely place to go and read a book. When the old Ship blows its funnel and the wave machine comes on its fabulous, it was our favourite water park. We also enjoyed Old Town, lovely to wander round the shops at night. Downtown Disney had a big Disney shop where we got our gifts and keepsakes. We also went to the Flea Markets and they were good too, got a bargain here and there. GAtorland was a cheaper but enjoyable day out too.
 
Oh my favourite topic :)

TBH lots good advice on here already, but my top tip would be to buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney world. It makes your holiday into a bit of a military operation; but then if you wanted a relaxing holiday you wouldn't be going to Kissimmee!! Quote from my version:

"What's that? You haven't got the circadian rhythms of a farmer? Get with the programme, Bubba. This is a DISNEY vacation" :D

It advocates getting up early :rolleyes: Oh and it does give information on the other parks too.
 
Absolutely fantastic holiday of a lifetime, all the parks I went to have been suggested already but would just say you will probably find that you'll need a rest day inbetween each of the parks, they are exhausting but great. We found a day out then a day home worked brilliant. Most of all have fun :D
 
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