Im off to Florida for the first time in a couple of months and Im wanting to buy the tickets. Were going for 2 weeks, can anyone tell me what we are best off doing with regards to tickets? We want to go to the disney and orlando but also want to have a couple of days sunning and sight seeing. Any suggestions?

Oh Tracey I envy you...i looove florida....we went about 5 years ago and we bought the park entry tickets beforehand and i am glad we did as the queys were massive when we got there and also they are cheaper if you buy them beforehand.

apart from all the parks which are FANTASTIC, the italian restaurant in Epsot is the best, sea life world is a must, swimming with the dolphins is another must, if you can visit bush gardens.
universal studios is great also.

There is a fab restaurant just off international drive called Fish Bones, the food is just mmmmmmmm <<<dribling>>>> do not go to the chinese 'eat as much as you like' type of thing.

as for sunning head for clearwater in tampa, its about 2-3hrs drive from orlando, great beaches, will you be renting a car?

for 'sight seeing' head to the malls and the outlets.....lots of shopping :-)

the only thing i didnt like was the long flight and the jet-lag when you come back, apart from that its magical, enjoy it and you will love it :-)

I have been to Orlando for last five years i love it as for tickets i think the best value is the  5 -Park Orlando FlexTicket offers you incredible variety, value and flexibility, giving you unlimited daily admission to 5 Parks for 14 consecutive days. These 5 Parks are Universal Studios®, Universal's Islands of Adventure®, SeaWorld® Orlando and Wet 'n Wild® Orlando, plus Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay. Plus, you receive free entrance into the venues at Universal's entertainment Complex, Universal CityWalk®*Also this ticket gives you free coach journeys to busch gardens..then for the disney tickets we normally get Disney's 5-Day Premium Ticket. Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney-MGM Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
I purchase ours in the uk either from any travel agents or http://www.keithprowsetickets.com/

Look out for the ticket booths dotted around the place (normally near car parks).  They buy and sell tickets to the parks quite cheaply.  E.g.  If someone buys a 3 day hopper ticket and only uses 2 of the days they usually sell the ticket to the booth attendant, who can then sell it to you to use the final day up.

Also, there are lots of ticket sellers in the malls (walking around), watch out for them as they wont often tell you all the restrictions on the tickets they're selling and you may not end up with what you expected.

I second the recommendation for Clearwater - we normally drive there and spend a couple of days in a hotel so we can enjoy the beach.....

Have a wonderful time. 
Helen

I wouldn't buy from the ticket booths. The first year we went to Florida, we travelled with another couple. After the hols we all had a few days left on both disney and universal tickets. OH and I kept ours and used them the next year but the people we were travelling with sold theres to a booth on the 192. On the plane coming home the guy said he'd told the ticket seller he still had 4 days left on the disney passes not 2!

I agree too... Clearwater, St.Petes Beach for chilling out. Busch Gardens and SeaWorld are a must :D

Wherever you go you will have a brilliant time!! I went in May for the first time and loved it! You can get loads of info and tips from the Dibb website.

Agree, Clearwater/St. Pete's have fabulous beaches.

Busch Gardens is my favourite of the Florida parks - bit of everything, and the most fantastic animal habitats which knock Animal Kingdom into a cocked hat. Say hello to the hippos for me. :D

The Disney water parks are fantastic too for a bit of a quieter day, or for a relax before/after the main parks if you have the right passes.

Despite expecting it to be a dull day, Kennedy Space Centre was great too - and don't know anyone who's been who hasn't loved it. Bit of a drive, but well worth it.

M.

Well we've bought them! So we're definately off now¬ We got the 5 park universal flexiticket and the 7 day disney premium one. For 2 of us it has cost £535!!

OMG!! £535
fleepin minpin, when we went, 5 years ago it was about £150ish for 2 of us!!!

I grew up around there and I love air boats. My step-kids went and thought the river tour on the airboat to see the gators was great fun. Plus there's a nice wilderness area to go hiking in around the Cape. For when you're sick of tourist destinations.

I might retire there. Just think, I could get an annual pass and spend my olden years speeding down roller coasters yelling whoopee! Have a great time!!

Jealous now LOL

We're planning to go off to Florida around the end of October - a few days in Orlando, staying with my husband's relatives in Orlando, then off down to the Keys.

M.

Ooh I might bump into you!!

I hope you're planning to go back again Tracey...or are staying for a month :D A day in the park (any park) is such a full (and exhausting) day that I usually do one day at park and one day relaxing. You want to get to the park when it opens to avoid queues on the most popular rides, although with fastpass now this isn't so important. Then most of the parks have night time fireworks or shows so you're at the park till around 10 or 11pm. You're going to havea  fabulous time, but be exhausted :)

The fast pass system is well worth spending extra on!

Aren't fastpasses still free? There wasn't a charge when I was there???

They were free when I was there a couple of months ago and I'm sure they still are! I think you have to pay for a similar thing at the Universal parks

We know we're gonna be shattered but we've said that although we've got these tickets we dont have to go to disney for 7 days just because it says its a 7 day ticket. Im hoping to get some sun and come back nice and brown to be the envy of all my pale workmates!

That is right....it was over a year simce we were there. Universal is the one! Still well worth while if you do like to get the rides in.

Tracey, please don't swim with the dolphins as suggested above, and if possible avoid Seaworld completely, its wrong wrong wrong!

Absolutely agree with jessthepest DON'T GO TO SEAWORLD!!!!
I'm a supporter of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and they are running campaigns to stop acts of cruelty like done at seaworld.

They have done reports on the petting pools at seaworld and they expose that they are unsafe, unsanitary and overcrowded condtitions which the dolphins are forced to live in. The risk to the animals far outweighs any entertainment or educational value the public may get from these petting pools.
I don't meen to rant but I feel very strongly about cruelty to whales and dolphins as they are very beautiful,intelligent and special creatures.
If you have a look at the WDCS website www.wdcs.org it will give you loads of information on issues like this.
I hope you have the best of time on your holiday though.
Best wishes
Emma

I wont be swimming with dolphins because Im not too fussed about it anyway to be honest but thanks for the little warning!!

Yep fast passes are still free