First ever trip to Orlando- 4 days there

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
First ever trip to Orlando- 4 days there
7
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 3:53pm
DH just found out yesterday he is going to a conference in Orlando mid-June. With this being a last-minute trip, the only reasonably-priced airfare we could get gives us only 4 days of sightseeing. The company is paying for us to stay at the conference hotel so we would drive to WDW. It will be DH, me, DD age 9, and DS age 7.5. The kids will want to go to WDW, but DH doesn't want to spend all 4 days there. What are the best things to do with just 1-2 days at WDW? We come from a small town in Texas and have never been to any Disney park or any other large amusement park or to Florida, so they will be thrilled at everything, Disney or otherwise. What other things are there to do in the Orlando area for the other 2-3 days? Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 4:09pm

What a nice opportunity for you all!
I'm curious to know why your DH doesn't want to do Disney for the 4 days? You could go to each of the four parks one time and have a totally different experience each day. Disney also has two water parks, and a huge shopping and entertainment complex called Down Town Disney.

In the Orlando area, there is also Universal Studios and Sea World too. I've never been to either of those. We find that there is so much to do within Disney World that there is no need to venture elsewhere!

Have a great trip!

Marcy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2007
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 4:14pm

Hi. Why does your DH not want to spend more than a day or two at WDW? Does he realize it's more than the MK...that there's Epcot, and MGM and AK...and so much to do? What are his interests...and the kids? It would help to know more about them in order to make recommendations. My DH is into animals and quirky stuff so when we went in 2000 he not only wanted to spend time at AK but also wanted to go out of Disney to see GatorWorld, this relatively small local attraction...and he loved it. Not only that but other strange things on the way like the Tupperware Tower (?? I kid you not!!) It wasn't my cup of tea (and I was sick as a dog so I stayed in our hotel room) but he and the kids had a great time on their one day out of the World.

Another interesting place is the Kennedy Space Center out in Port Canaveral. When I was a kid my family always made a stop there on the way to or from Disney. (We flew in from South America and drove from Miami!)

I would try to convince him to do maybe one day for MK, one day for Epcot...and non Disney places the other 2 days? That's a reasonable compromise, no? :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2007
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 4:20pm

On re-reading my post I think I may have mis-named some places. It might be Gatorland? Not sure!

As for the 4 days...I'm sure if you've been reading some posts here, you already have an idea, but for instance my family is going for 9 days from Oregon, and we are spending two days each at MK and Epcot, one day each at AK and MGM, and the rest outside the parks (but inside the world). DH would probably have liked to drag us out for a taste of the "real Florida" but it was just not worth renting a car, etc...There is enough to do there that none of us will get too tired of it! And it is, as the other poster said, all different experiences from park to park.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 6:33pm
I 2nd the Kennedy Space Center.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 11:59pm

A Disney trip would be a once-every-few-years occurrence at most for us (since DL and WDW are both halfway across the country from us), and we don't know if we will ever get to Orlando again, so we want to see more of it than just Disney. When we vacation somewhere, we like to experience what makes that part of the country special & different from just another big city, if that makes sense. DH is also not fond of withstanding heat and crowds for days at a time. :-)

We do plan to spend one day at the Kennedy Space Center. DS-7 likes science and space, so I think he'd especially enjoy it. DD-9 is a typical tween girl, liking music & clothes, but she also likes artsy-craftsy stuff.

I think one day of MK and one of Epcot would be a good compromise. What would be the "must-sees" for both? I have read so much information today my head is spinning!

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 7:27am

Don't forget that a 4 day ticket to DIsney would be WAY cheaper than a 2 day ticket there, then 2 days' admission to somewhere else.

We went to Disney on our Honeymoon almost 8 years ago, spent 4 days here then 1 day at both Universal parks.

We went back to Disney Exclusively last year for 6 days, staying JUST on DIsney Property.

We head back this year for 7 days, again staying JUST onDisney Property! THere is SO much to see here!

If you are set on "just" doing EPCOT and MK, though, make shure you have a good plan and try to avoid the most crowded days at either park so you can maximize your time (ANd realize you WILL NOT get to see "Everything" in that amount of time!)

At MK, my crew Loved Space MOuntain, Buzz Lightyear, Philharmagic, Barnstormer and Big Thunder Rail Road. Nto granted in our 2 full days there last year we never got to Adventure land, Frontier lands and only 2 places in Liberty Square. Yes, 2 full days and we only did 1/2 the park!!

EPCOT we loved Turtle Talk With Crush, Soarin' and playing in Innovations, but with a limited time, I do not think you should go there. There was some GREAT places to eat here, and you MAY be able to get and ADR for our favorite, Le Cellier, even!! ITs an amazing steak house in Canada. If you can only get in for lunch, go for it! THe only major difference in the menu is your choice of cuts of meat, but I much prefer the filet to the prime rib anyway!!

Anyway, I"d much prefer 2 days at WDW to none, so just enjoy your time there!!!

~ELena

~Elena Princess Of Everyday Adventures! event.png
Avatar for carolejd
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-1999
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 8:28am

There are lots of things to do in Orlando besides the theme parks, you mentioned the Space Centre and another fun thing might be an airboat ride in the swamps (we were supposed to do this last time but never actually fitted it in)

Here's a web site http://www.orlandoinfo.com/ which will give you some ideas.

Carole

Carole