Orlando recommendations

Abbeygoo

What's everyone's opinion on Sea World?

Sebastalona

We went in 2014, and it was alright but nothing to write home about. Last year, we got tickets for Aquatica (Sea Worlds water park), which for a two week pass for all four of us was about the same price for a few days at either of the Disney water parks. Really good value, good facilities, and the kids loved it. It was great being able to go whenever we wanted. A few times, after we'd been shopping etc, we popped in on the way back to the villa for a couple of hours.

Sebastalona

@Abbeygoo

Just reading back through the last couple of pages, it looks like you are planning a pretty full on trip!

When we went in 2014, we got passes for Disney, Universal and Sea World. Even at that, it was a really crammed two weeks, to the point it felt like we were just ticking off boxes to justify the cost of the tickets and say we had done everything.

Last year, we had a much more relaxed time, passes for the fortnight at Aquatica, 7 day Universal tickets, with a stay at Universal Royal Pacific hotel overnight (for fast passes/early entry to park), and two nights on the west coast at St. Petes taking in Busch Gardens.

I'm sure you have had lots of good advice already, but my main tip would be not to try and cram too much in.

rustybin

Liked it. Some of the best big coasters in Florida and tonnes to do.

We've got pass at the end of our holiday to do Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sea World.

Donnacha

planning to go next Easter with the kids. I've been a few times (years ago) and I know some people feel strongly about the place. I've not watched the Blackfish documentary and not sure I want to before I go again. They are as much about rides now as they are about animals when looking at their website. Their water park Acquatica is supposed to be good as well.

Greg Hook

I've been many times, but would never go again. I wouldn't be able to look past the animal welfare if I paid another visit.

Durtranks

It really is a great system, as I mentioned we recently got back from our trip and on our first (full) day we opened and closed magic kingdom, once you've used those first 3 fast passes just keep checking the app to see what's available, I think in total that day we got around 12 fast passes!

After doing a few days in universal I personally wouldn't say the express passes are worth it, unless it's extremely busy. Provided you plan well and don't follow the typical trend your average wait time for each ride will be around 5-10mins. The only long-ish wait we had was for the two harry potter rides (gringotts and forbidden journey), we waiting around 30 mins for each. So considering everything else was around 5-10 mins and the fact that you can't use express for harry potter rides it's just not worth it.

Worst case scenario - you get to the parks and find it's very busy - you can always buy the express passes on the day. Imagine spending $1,119 only to find you didn't need them!

As a defender of seaworld I was absolutely amazed at how much blackfish had damaged them, the park was dead compared to what it used to be, there were times where we were the only people in the area we were passing through!

Additionally out of the 4 main rides they had Kraken was down for renovation, manta went down early in the day and never came back on and journey to atlantis was on and off all day! Budget cuts to maintenance maybe?

rustybin

Were you there during half-term?

I'm very tempted with Universal at the end of the holiday.

Durtranks

No, just after - 22/04 - 13/05. That said I was keeping my eye on wait times throughout spring break and easter and even then the wait times didn't really skyrocket.

Donnacha

We were there during spring break last year and the queues were hitting 2 hours on some rides at Universal (minions, rip rocket, harry potter). We got there for general admission opening time one of the days and went straight to the Minions ride which was already around 45-60mins. Gringotts was around 60 mins but the queue experience is good so the time flew by as it did for Forbidden Journey going through Hogwarts.

At Islands of Adventure you can head to the water rides before lunch as they are usually less busy (Bluto's barges, Ripsaw Falls) because I think people wait for it to get warmer before going on them......you will get soaked, so if you don't mind walking around the rest of the day with soggy pants then go early

I highly recommend the Spiderman ride and Transformers (similar type of rides). Brilliant use of 4D