Orlando vacation
 

Hi, I'm thinking of visiting Orlando in March of '09. I'm single, no kids - just want to visit Disney and Sea World.

I'm hoping to visit Disney-World on March 17 - my birthday - so I can get free admission. I just want to visit Disney for part of the day, and possibly visit the Animal Kingdom Park. Can I do both in the same day, or is it just too much?

For Sea World, is it possible to buy tickets online? And if so, do I still have to wait in line at the park, or just skip the lines?

Re: Sea World seating, is it first come-first served? I'd like to sit in the Splash-Zone, if possible, lol.

I'm also hoping to see Epcot and Universal Studios. Any other advice appreciated. Thanks, Greg

Thanks, Greg

Hello gregs317 :)

I'd check the fineprint on those free birthday tickets.

I'm not sure they are good for park hopping (going from park to park on the same day).

If they're not, you'd be paying an admission for the 2nd park on the same day.

But to answer your question, can you do AK and another park in the same day? Yes. I would suggest doing the AK first, early in the day, as many of the animals tend to sleep in the afternoons, especially if it's warmish.

Happy travels!

I do not know the details of the free birthday admission to Disney, but it cost $50 to add the "hopper" feature to a ticket - no matter how many days you are there. In other words, if you only have a one day ticket it costs $50 to hop. If you purchase a ten day ticket, it's still $50 to hop. When you say "Disney World", I assume you mean the Magic Kingdom. You can visit the Magic Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom in one day (as long as you have a hopper, of course). It would be a busy day and you would only be able to hit the highlights at each park, but it can be done. You also mention Epcot, so I assume you are planning to be there for more than one day. You can, of course, visit one park each day and not add the hopper. However, if you want to visit more than one park in a day you must have a hopper.

Have fun!

There is a little more information here <http://tinyurl.com/3uot2p> on the free Disney birthday tickets.

If you are an AAA member, it is possible to buy Disney and Sea World tickets online. Go to <http://www.aaasouth.com>. There may be some other online purchase options I am not aware of for non-AAA members.

Please be aware that March is peak spring break season. Book your hotel (and restaurant reservations) well in advance.

Seaworld has several shows in 3 different outdoor theaters every day. The big Shamu show, the funny walrus one (unless it's changed), and the dolphin one. Just pick your times and get there early to sit in the splash zone.

Magic Kingdom (the traditional Disney - but IMHO mostly for kids), Animal Kingdom and Epcot are all part of Disney - and you should buy tickets based n how much time you plan to spend in all 3.

Also - suggest you do some back-up reading - since Animal Kingdom is usually best wen animals are eating/more active - often dawn or dusk.

Also, IMHO Epcot has way more for an adult to see/do - more like a world's fair - than Magic Kingdom, which has a lot of stuff just for kids.

Also - you don;t say where you're staying, if you're renting a car etc (which you really need if you want to do Disney, Sea World and Universal).

Thanks for all of the replies. I thought that most of the hotels in the Orlando/Kissimmee area offered a shuttle service to the parks. Please tell me if I'm wrong.

So far, I'm considering a stay at the Travelodge Suites Kissimmee Maingate. It does advertise as providing free shuttles to all parks. I haven't decided on this place for sure; still looking around.

About getting to the parks early: What time do they open? I'm guessing around 8 a.m. Again, please tell me if I'm mistaken.

Thanks, Greg

Double check on the shuttles - how often and how reliable (check on tripadvisor.com and disboards). We stayed at the Hilton across from downtown Disney and their every 30 minute shuttle ran more like once an hour - and sometimes not at all. WE ended up renting a car on day 2 to avoid wasting all that time.

And I believe the hotel you're looking at is further from the parks. Also -make sure it is free.

(Frankly I would rent a car - dirt cheap in Orlando and avoiding wasted time and aggravation is worth a few $.)

All of the Disney parks typically open at 9 am... barring extra magic hours (and you have to be a resort guest to take advantage of those).

Again, along with the other posts, I am not sure if the "get in free on your birthday" includes park-hopping abilities.

With both Sea World and Universal Studios, you can purchase tickets online. Unfortunately, you can not completely by-pass all lines when entering. You will have your tickets already, but you will have to go through the "bag check" line and wait to go enter the park turnstiles with the rest.

Having lived in Florida my whole life and being a seasonal employee of Disney World, I love all of the parks and they offer a variety of things to do. If you are a roller coaster fan, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure will have what you are looking for. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom offer kid-oriented entertainment, but if you've never been, you have to go atleast once! Epcot is more adult-focused... where else can you drink around the world on $40 or less? In March, you'll be in prime Spring Break season, so... prepare for the sunburned masses and extended waits.

Thanks again for all the info. Just out of curiosity, are parks like Magic Kingdom, Sea World, and Universal Studios open on Thanksgiving Day? I don't think I'm gonna move my trip closer, but just in case. Greg

Yep, they are all open 365 days a year. Major holidays are actually busier than usual.