Theme Parks
DISNEY THEME PARKS: There is a good chance that one of the reasons you are here in Florida is to visit Disney World. Disney is a magical place and one of the main reasons that we purchased this house. This house is so close that you could practically throw a stone and hit Animal Kingdom.
There are four main Walt Disney World Theme Parks – Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. There are also two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Disney is adding new attractions and even new lands all the time plus their live entertainment is outstanding. There are also fantastic firework displays & light shows that are unquestionably worth staying late in the parks to watch.
Even if you aren’t planning any park days, you can always visit Disney Springs for a little Disney Magic. They have some wonderful restaurants. Our kids love T-Rex and my favorite is House of Blues, but you really can’t go wrong in Disney Springs. I would suggest making reservations in advance because Disney Springs can get pretty crowded.
UNIVERSAL THEME PARKS: There are two Universal Theme Parks: the Universal Studios Park where you ride the movies and Islands of Adventure with its cartoon and superhero theme. Do not miss Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley & Hogwarts Express. Another must-see is Shrek: the show & the Simpson’s ride. For the little ones check out Curious George Goes to Town.
Universal also has a water park called Volcano Bay that has a creative theme and plenty of thrill rides.
SEA WORLD: Sea World is a more relaxing day where you can marvel at the shows, as well as seeing many marine animals, including the manatee. In addition, there are thrill rides like the Kraken for the more adventurous. At SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove you can swim with dolphins & snorkel with exotic fish. Sea World’s water park, Aquatica, is great for the whole family and includes a wave pool, beach, slides and sea animal exhibits.
GATORLAND: The home of Florida’s oldest inhabitants, the alligator. Visit Gatorland for a view of the alligator in its natural habitat, from the boardwalk walkway with towers overlooking the river, you will be amazed at their size and number. There are many shows including the world-famous Jumperoo where meat is suspended over the alligator’s heads and alligators jump into the air to snatch the food from a pole! Gatorland may sound strange if you haven’t heard of it before but check it out on Tripadvisor and you’ll see that this is a very well loved wildlife park.
LEGOLAND: If you have a lego enthusiast in your group then you can’t miss Legoland. This park is geared towards younger kids and has a variety of lego inspired rides. It also has its own waterpark.
How To Get Ahead At The Theme Parks
- Get there early, at least 30 minutes before the official opening time, as the parks may open earlier than the published time on busy days. Also be aware that traffic can get busy around park opening time, so beating the traffic and getting there early is always a good idea.
- Make sure you purchase your tickets in advance, so you can go straight to the turnstiles and avoid long lines to exchange vouchers or buy tickets at the gate (which almost always works out to be more expensive).
- Do your homework and have a plan on what you want to see and do before you arrive. If you have time, you can always go on the other rides later.
- As soon as the gates open head straight for the furthest point of the park, and do not get side-tracked by the areas you pass through to get there, (as most people do). Also, when in doubt go left. Most people are right handed and therefore tend to go right. For example, in Magic Kingdom head to Adventureland and Frontierland first.
- Avoid eating between the hours of 12 pm-2 pm, as the restaurants are very crowded and the rides are not so busy, so use this time to do the rides. Have a big breakfast before you leave and pack some snacks if the park allows it. Then you can have a late lunch when the restaurants are not so crowded and everyone else is back on the rides. Make reservations weeks or months in advance to your park day if you want a sit down restaurant.
- Try to leave the shows and rides with air conditioning until the afternoon, as you will need a break from the afternoon heat. We like to eat late lunches in air conditioned restaurants. There are some wonderful restaurants in the parks such as Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom, but be sure to make your reservations ahead of time.
- Try to buy any souvenirs etc. during the day as the shops are the most crowded at the end of the day when everyone is leaving. Most theme park shops will keep the items you buy for you to pick up at the gate when you leave. Another option is to wait and buy souvenirs on non-park days. Almost all Disney souvenirs except for specific rides are available at Disney Springs.
- Stay until the park closes if possible as the crowds do thin out in the evening because small children need to get to bed. If you have young children, try to leave the park for a couple of hours in the afternoon for them to have a nap and come back later in the day. We often stay 30 to 45 minutes after the parks close to avoid the mad rush. I would much rather relax on a bench and enjoy a view of the castle than stand in a huge crowd waiting for a monorail.
- Do not park hop, if possible. Travel time between parks can add up to 45 minutes to an hour.
- If you are in a hurry, avoid Disney transportation, and use Uber or Lyft instead. On the other hand, during a non-park day heading to Disney to ride the monorail and skyliner can be inexpensive and a lot of fun.
- Watch lots of YouTube videos or read websites about planning your day at Disney such as allears.net. Their advice will allow you to avoid crowds and visit the most rides and shows at the parks.