Things to do around Orlando?

[Diesel Dan]

Hey folks, my family is going to do the Disney thing in Florida and then will have a few days to take day trips based from Orlando. One thing we will do is go to the Canaveral Seashore and Kennedy Space Center. Anyone have any other ideas? Bear in mind we will not have the bus on this trip, so it's just day trips in a rented van. Also we will have old folks and young folks with us. Yes, three generations to accomodate!

[lornaschinske]

Kennedy space center was great. It is more than you think. Check out the website for more info. Several years ago, we dropped in just for a few hours and regretted that we couldn't spend a couple of days there to see the whole thing. David & I have both been there when we were kids (I used to watch rocket launches off a shrimp boat in the port) but it was the first time for our kids and completely unplanned (smoke had shut down the Orlando attractions).


http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

[Diesel Dan]

Thanks for the suggestions! Anyone else? We leave Dec. 25th.

[wmah]

If you have a laptop you will see this if not O-well.
Along 192 east of the main gate entrance there is a nice go cart track with multiple levels on one of the tracks. If you are into Harry Potter go to Universal where there is a new Harry Potter attraction.

Also when you go to the Magic Kingdom till they close use either the ferry boat or the resort monorail as it is much faster than the normal monorail line to the parking lot. our favorite rides in all of Disney are Buzz Lightyear blasters, Jungle Cruise, and Toy Story Midwaymania. There is no charge for fastpass. For best information on visiting Disney visit http://disboards.com .

If you plan on going on December 31 to Magic Kingdom plan on being there EARLY. As in before 10am and stay all day in the same park if you want to be there for the new years eve firework display. (trust me it is worth the wait I did it 12/31/07) There is no bad spot in the park to see the fireworks from. And since you are going while Christmas break is still going expect to see up to 2 hour lines. We are thinking about seeing a dinner show or two in late January when we go there. There is an m&m store near by.


We are going to Orlando monster jam and the second Tampa show while there but that is next month

[putterspitt]

Dan, I'd rather come to Austin than go to Orlando. Miss all the stuff around Austin. Hippie Hollow, Lake Travis, Bastrop, beef ribs, brisket, Town lake, you know, all the stuff you take for granted, lol

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by putterspitt

... I'd rather come to Austin than go to Orlando...

ROAD TRIP!!!!

[Diesel Dan]

Thanks to everyone for your replies and suggestions. We had a great time at Disney, but after the four days we were exhausted, and pretty much done with theme parks or anywhere else where you will find "attractions" and crowds. The remaining 3 days of our Florida sojourn were spent going to the beach, checking out natural areas/habitats and hanging out at the resort at which we were staying. I just looked up prices at the Disney RV/camping resort and it looks like it would cost $50 or $60 per night if you were to roll up with your skoolie. Expensive for an RV park, but a lot cheaper than the hotel rooms at Disney. I couldn't have done this with my elderly parents and the current state of my bus, but if we ever went back with just the kids, I'd want to go that route.

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

... I just looked up prices at the Disney RV/camping resort and it looks like it would cost $50 or $60 per night if you were to roll up with your skoolie. Expensive for an RV park, but a lot cheaper than the hotel rooms at Disney...

I've stayed in Ft Wilderness a couple of times. When I lived in FL, I lived only a couple of hours away so a trip to Dizzy World was a twice a year deal. I first when there the year it opened (the whole park) my parents booked our family in there for 4 nights/5 days and it was amazing how much of the park was open late for folks who stayed inside the park. David and I went there (with his sister and her hubby at the time) and stayed in the campground (tent) for several days. Again, we were in the park well after normal hours. It was great. And a short trip back to our bed at the end of the day. If you ever have the opportunity, Stay inside Disney World. Disney after dark is a different experience. Far less crowded. Slower pace.

[Diesel Dan]

We stayed at one of the resorts inside Disney and we were at the gates by 7:00am or so at which ever park was opening early for resident guests that day, and we often stayed until 9pm or 10pm each night. Some of the parks stayed open until midnight or later, but we were too exhausted to hang in there that late, plus we have young kids who aren't accustomed to back-to-back late nights. We found that the best time to be there was early in the morning before the crowds arrived. It remained fairly crowded even into the night, but that may have had something to do with us being there during the holidays.

[lornaschinske]

Our last trip to Disney was a Christmas present for the girls. They were so young they remember very little (only did the Magic Kingdom and Epcot) I think they were about 5. Stacey keeps telling me to hurry up and win the lottery so we can go back (fly) for a week! We were there for three days and the girls pooped out on the last day. That is a lot of walking for a small child.

I have no grand desire to ever go back to FL.