Terry Everall Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Going to Florida for 1 week in October with my wife, daughter and 3 grandchildren (17,16 and 10) Want to get tickets for Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Disneyworld ( magic kingdom park?) and Kennedy space centre We are staying near Kissimee and need a 1 day ticket for each place What is best way to buy tickets and where from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesT Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 You can buy all of the tickets from each attractions website in £, although it may be cheaper in dollars, if your credit card had a good exchange rate. As for one day in each, you will not see all of each park, Universal is now two theme parks (on one ticket) and you really need a day at each to see the majority of rides. Kennedy Space centre can be done in a day, and tickets can be bought at the gate. Disney now only sells multiple day tickets to access all of their parks, you cannot buy just a magic kingdom ticket. I believe the shortest ticket is now 7 days for all their parks. The ticket is an RFID wrist band and the owners fingerprint. So the tickets cannot be swapped with other people, the current scam is selling the wrist bands with unused days (the days left can be checked an an app) but forgetting to mention the need for the fingerprint. I have not been to Busch Gardens for 20+ years, but when i went, there was a free tour of the brewery with free samples of the beverages at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingster Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Kennedy Space Centre is a MUST DO! Seeing an actual Apollo Saturn V in the flesh (so to speak) is spine-tingling stuff - one off my Bucket List for sure and one of the few things that the over used word "awesome" is suitable for! I walked in and my jaw dropped - then a huge grin appeared, interspersed with more gaping and further child like grins as I walked around with my neck craned backwards in sheer awe. Advice - take plenty of money, it's fuppin expensive (and that was when the pound was strong) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Mace Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Off topic, but when I was in Florida in the early 90s, we (and every other car) stopped on the freeway to watch the shuttle taking off. I think the count got down to less than 10 seconds (we had it on the radio) before it was aborted. Gutted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff oakley Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 If a week is all you have ask your grandkids what they want to do. If it is rides then Busch Gardens and Universal, they are the biggest and best with the least queues. Busch Gardens is an hours drive from Kissimmee so a long day. Disney is good but the queues can get long, my favorite for one day is MGM studio as there are some decent shows, fair rides "Tower of Terror" being one. Kennedy Space centre is another long day as a hour or so drive but worth it, again unless the kids want to see it they may find it all a bit flat as space travel is now so ordinary, when we all recall it being extraordinary. We took a cousin who did nothing but b***h all day as there were no rides and she had no interest at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I've checked and there are no launches in October at the KSC, but there are opportunities to meet a number of different astronauts. Never been there but would love to go some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Kennedy Space Centre is a MUST DO! Seeing an actual Apollo Saturn V in the flesh (so to speak) is spine-tingling stuff - one off my Bucket List for sure and one of the few things that the over used word "awesome" is suitable for! I walked in and my jaw dropped - then a huge grin appeared, interspersed with more gaping and further child like grins as I walked around with my neck craned backwards in sheer awe. Advice - take plenty of money, it's fuppin expensive (and that was when the pound was strong) Had exactly the same experience at KSC. A Saturn 5 on it's side and separated at the stages is amazing. I didn't see a launch but there was a shuttle on the pad so we were restricted from going too close (2 miles I think). I'd happily go back and do it all again. Kissimmee is nice enough but a bit of a sprawl. And don't forget Sebring is not much more than an hour south. 15 minutes further is Lake Placid, an off-the-beaten track town with friendly folks, lots of lakes and guys with airboats. Check when they meet. They might take you for a ride. They used to meet on the shore of Lake Istokpoga just off the 27. You'll see plenty of unsilenced 5.7 Chevy's in the back of the boats, and if he's still going(!) one of the guys has a 6 pot Lycoming in the back of his. Makes a great noise and goes well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooch Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 You can spend a week in Universal Studios and not see/ride everything but we did as much as we needed into full days. I love the Harry Potter stuff, and have done the Hatfield studios tour, but nothing quite prepares you for the way these guys have done it. It's simply breathtaking. Take the Hogwarts Express between the two sites and be prepared to queue for some of the rides. We loved it. Best theme ride - The Mummy. Most puke inducing ride - The Simpsons. You don't leave the ground as it's all virtual but by goodness you feel queasy at the end. All of the big rides are fab KSC is a must for types like us. And agree with the Saturn V. being a show stopper. We left it late to get the shuttle bus to the separate facility that has all the Apollo stuff and didn't leave enough time to see all the good bits - there's lots of incredible bits to see in that shed. The moon dust on Gene Cernan's suit was awe-inspiring but I was dragged away to get on the last bus back just as I spotted it....nooooooo! I don't want to go!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Everall Posted August 26, 2016 Author Share Posted August 26, 2016 Can you get one or two day tickets for Universal Studios as well as Busch gardens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy (Sycho) Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 When we went you could, we had a day a universal but bare in mind there is another park there Islands of adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsechris Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 If you are pressed for time and the budget can handle it, go for the VIP upgrades that get you a fast pass on pretty much every ride. Last time we did the theme parks we did this, and although familiarity will have helped a bit, we did everything we wanted to at each park in a day, with time to spare. Queueing for rides really kills the time. Don't take a load of stuff with you into the parks either, a lot of the rides insist on no loose items so you have to use lockers which again eats time messing with those. As first time visitors, I really doubt one day will be enough though as there is just so much to see and do over and above the headline thrill rides. Not done the parks for a few years now but we noticed they didn't really change much one year to the next. Don't know if they are still going, but some favourites at Universal are The Hulk, Fire & ice, Dudley do right ripsaw falls (yes, really!), Spider-Man is great. Other parks, space mountain of course, big thunder mountain, splash mountain, like to have lunch in 'Mexico' at EPCOT, love the surreal sensation that place generates. maelstrom not too bad, many of the live acts are good too. Test track is pretty lame is you have a Westy! Some of the 3D simulator type rides have left me feeling seriously nauseous in the past, depends how well synchronised they are. Sea world is OK too, but queues can be terrible. not been to Busch for many years, but Montu was good, as was Gwazi. At the risk of turning what should be fun into a military operation, it might be worth downloading the park guides, trying to decide what you really want to do then plan a timetable to try and fit it all in. This can be handy if you want to see any of the many live action stuff. Quite like Old Town for a gentle wander round. Cruise nights can be interesting. Had some nice meals at Pacinos in the past. Enjoy it though. KSC well worth a visit as already pointed out, although it's not what it was back in the early 90s it used to be much more real and accessible than it is now. It was quite a while back, but it got all 'Disneyfied' at some point along the way and a lot of the exhibits are fake now. Once had tickets for a launch but it got scrubbed 3 times and the second half of our holiday was over near Sarasota so in the end we missed it. Did get to see if from the Gulf coast but it wasn't quite as dramatic from there as it would have been from 2 miles away. Still an amazing sight though. Headed back there next year ourselves, although no theme parks for us this time. One night in Kissimmee then over to Longboat Key for a bit. Last few trips we've flown to Tampa but are getting fed up with BA so trying Virgin again, so MCO and hence the short stay in Kissimmee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Don't know if this is still true but, in case useful to anyone, I found many years ago that UK travel agents were really loading the accommodation in Florida in summer. High season there is Christmas to March (when it's freezing almost everywhere else in the USA). UK summer is low to mid-season. We got some cracking deals on Gulf Coast condos by booking direct with a 'realtor'. Mainly with these guys, who were always excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 All the above - Epcot is lovely in the evening - great atmosphere if you fancied it Spider-Man ride is superb at Uni - as is potter ride We got stuck on the Simpsons ride when our carriage got stuck - it's not all that to be honest Old town is superb - they have a couple of nights a week where the local hot rods fill the street - take your camera We tended to have a lazy morning at the villa in pool then hit the parks in the afternoon/until closed - they get less busy and atmosphere is great when it's darker ( worth checking what time the parks close) We haven't done bush as our eldest was 8 at the time - I understand it has bigger rides ? Your going to have an amazing time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 You'll have a good time there whatever you do. Brings out the Kid in you even if you are a bit anti USA style commercialism. All the staff, or Team Members as they call them are welcoming and a good laugh. The performance at Orlando US immigration is a bit tiresome, have patience there. America is not cheap anymore for food and drink, seek out the independent restaurants for the best value grub and if you like your beer avoid the usual Bud,ask for the bottled Boston Steam bitter, really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 The performance at Orlando US immigration is a bit tiresome, have patience there. Forgot about Orlando International... Fly to Orlando Sanford instead. It *should* be a bit less tiresome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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