California girl's first trip to Disney World and Florida...

[CaliforniaGal]

Hello, I've lived in California all my life and have been to Disneyland many times during my childhood and as an adult but now I'm taking my first trip to Florida and Disneyworld from October 7 through October 17.

This is what I have planned:

I read that Magic Kingdom is very similar to Disneyland so I'll probably plan on spending more time at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kindgom. I also want to do Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Do you still recommend the park hopper pass or is one park a day a good plan since I'm gonna have 9 full days and one half day in Florida

One day at Universal Studios and one day at the Island of Adventures.

Day trip to the Discovery Cove to hang out with Dolphins.

Day trip to Kennedy Space Center

Day trip to Cocoa Beach.

I also want to experience at least one Florida thunderstorm. I've never experienced a thunderstorm up close or warm rain in my life since it only rains in winter in California and it's thunderless. Someone told me that the average Californian would freak out upon being caught up in a typical gulf coast thunderstorm so that made me curious enough to want to experience one. I've heard thunder from a distance maybe 5-10 times in my entire life and I like how it sounded. I bet the thunderstorm will put more adrenalin in me than all the rides put together. Is early October too late to guarantee this experience? I was planning to walk around in a swimsuit, shorts, and crocs to experience the thunderstorm. I may think of it as a thrill ride but I do know there are some dangers with lightning so would like some tips on how to know when to come in from the rain. Also, how risky is it to go swimming in the hotel pool during a thunderstorm? Do they close the pools when there's lightning nearby?

I chose early October because I wanted to avoid the crowds that come during school vacations and the oppressive humidity of summer and still have a guarantee that it would be warm enough enjoy the water parks and swim in the pool at night.

Hotel has a full shuttle service to the theme parks but I plan on renting a car for the day trips to Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach. I have a friend joining me from the 7th through the 13th and I'm on my own from the 14th through the 17th.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I've experienced a couple of Florida thunder storms. The first time the patio furniture in the back of our condo was blowing around in circles and the screen door kept opening, another one we were watching from the pool concession stand and hoping the funnel clouds wouldn't go any lower wondering if we had time to get to the car, they're storms can be berry fun . The last one was cool, I was staying in a high riser on the top floor and got to watch it under this big overhang since it was an outdoor hallway.

 

[cmybliss]

I bet the crying adults were from California.......I would like to experience that situation just once just to see how I'd handle it. Sounds like a mini-hurricane. I'd be ok with that kind of event just one day of the trip and prefer the rest of the days have calmer weather so I can comfortably walk around doing the rides and attractions and not hiding inside a building. Did the cast members attempt to calm down the people who were shaken and crying?

My guess is that I'd probably be a little jarred by a storm of that intensity but I don't think I'd be one of those completely shaken ones cuz I'd know I was safe inside a building and nothing would happen to me if I stayed inside. I'd probably have my iphone out by a window recording the whole thing and then put it up on youtube. I think my friends (most of whom lived in California their whole lives) would be really impressed.

Maybe I'd panic more if I was caught driving in it and couldn't see where I was going due to such heavy rain or caught outside far from a building and lightning was striking right in front of me.

Sounds like you Southerners are so used to it though. Did you laugh at the people who were panicking the way we Californians laugh at the newbies who freak out over small earthquakes? Just kidding!

Thanks for the safety tip about staying out of pools. I was thinking of floating on my back and watching lightning but it sounds like it's totally unsafe so I won't do that. I'll take shelter and watch from the window instead. I love to swim though.

Hmph! As a California native I take offense to the crying bit! How can a fellow Californian think such a thing? After all, the earth literally moves under our feet out here!

We were there Sept. of '11 and got caught in the most awesome thunder storm! It was truly awe inspiring. My then 10 y/o daughter loved it. My husband loved it. I loved it. We were careful to stay under cover, as some of those strikes looked pretty darn close.

 

[CaliforniaGal]

Hmph! As a California native I take offense to the crying bit! How can a fellow Californian think such a thing? After all, the earth literally moves under our feet out here!

We were there Sept. of '11 and got caught in the most awesome thunder storm! It was truly awe inspiring. My then 10 y/o daughter loved it. My husband loved it. I loved it. We were careful to stay under cover, as some of those strikes looked pretty darn close.

I'm a California native too and have never even been east of the Rockies and I wouldn't cry or freak out either but I think some people would. I don't even think I would have cried or freaked out at age 10 either. But I do remember when I experienced my first thunderstorm when I was in first grade.
We were doing an subtraction worksheet and all of a sudden, I heard this sound I never heard before. The teacher had to explain what the rumbling sound was since we haven't seen one before since they so rare here. I liked it and got all excited about seeing the flashes and hearing the rumbles. I squealed with excitement.The teacher let us go to the window and watch the storm and explained to us about thunder and lightning. There were a some kids crying and wanting their mothers and the teachers had to comfort them and one mom actually came and picked up her hysterical crying son. First thing I told my mom when she picked me up that afternoon at 2:30, "SCHOOL WAS SO FUN TODAY- I SAW THUNDER AND LIGHTNING and I told her that the clouds bump into each other and go BOOM BOOM BOOM".

The truth is thunderstorms are major events for us Californians; some of us find them extremely exciting and some find them a bit scary, while a few find them downright terrifying, but Southerners don't even bat an eye cuz they're used to them.

 

[Jim Chandler]

As I read your stay it is the 7th to the 17th I hope travel days are not included. If they are not you are spending 5 of the 10 at places other than WDW. If they are you really only have 8 full days and have only 3 days for WDW. I will go by the 10 days including the travel days thus only 8 full days..
From experience if you try to do 8 days straight you will need a vacation when you get back home.
You can do one day at both Universal parks,
Then the one day dolphins and one day at both Kennedy and Cocoa. Why Cocoa beach and not a Gulf Coast Beach is beyond me. Gulf Coast beaches are the best in Fl. but that is another story.
So if you do one day at each (Kennedy/Cocoa-Both Universal Parks and one at the Dolphins) you then have 7 days at WDW again 5 if two days are travel days.

Day
1 AK
2 HS
3 WATER PARK Rest Day

Doing these 3 in a row allows you to only need car for 3 days
4 Kennedy/Cocoa Beach If you do on separate days it means at least 1 hr. travel to get there and then 1+ hr. back again.
5 Universal Both same Day
6 Dolphins Semi Rest Day

7 Epcot
8 MK is very different from DL MUST BE YOUR LAST FULL DAY

If you two extra days due to my miscalculation try and visit a Gulf Coast beach on one like Clearwater or Siesta Key in Sarasota. You will not be unhappy you did.

Do not expect to see thunderstorms in Oct. If we have T storms stay inside and watch in your bathing suit.
A few thousand volts of Mother Nature can put a quick end to this vacation and all future ones. No resort will let you near the pool during a T storm due to the LIABILITY if you get killed on their property.

 

[donaldtoo]

Sounds like you Southerners are so used to it though. Did you laugh at the people who were panicking the way we Californians laugh at the newbies who freak out over small earthquakes? Just kidding!

Thanks for the safety tip about staying out of pools. I was thinking of floating on my back and watching lightning but it sounds like it's totally unsafe so I won't do that. I'll take shelter and watch from the window instead. I love to swim though.

No, no laughing...at least not out loud! JK...!
Many from parts of the country where t-storms and such are prevalent never get used to them, they just tolerate them a little better 'cause of the frequency. The storms are SO unpredictable and sometimes just seem to come outta' nowhere.

And yes, I remember many a quake while we lived in NoCal!
Oh joy...!!!
I remember one while we were at my mother's cousins house for Thanksgiving in Watsonville, Ca. in the early '70's (which, unfrotunately and sadly, was later pretty much leveled by the Loma Prieta quake back in '89).
We had just sat down and said grace for the meal when it happened. We all kinda' looked at each otherr and finally realized what was goin' on and quicly moved outside. We stood there on the driveway as it stopped but the house still kept slowly swaying and creaking itself to a stop. We waited a few moments and then went back in to eat and watch football...no big deal...!

 

[Hobnail Boot]

I bet you've never felt an earthquake and I've felt many small ones and a few medium sized ones.

I actually have felt an earthquake, here in Georgia surprisingly. It was at least 10 years ago, and it was so minor that I thought someone was walking up the stairs until I saw it on the news later. That said, I secretly wanted to experience one when I was out in Cali, just not on my Disney days.

 

[donaldtoo]

Oh, and we actually have a fault that runs right through Austin and central Texas called the Balcones Fault...but, it's been dormant for about 10,000 years...!

 

[CaliforniaGal]

No, no laughing...at least not out loud! JK...!
Many from parts of the country where t-storms and such are prevalent never get used to them, they just tolerate them a little better 'cause of the frequency. The storms are SO unpredictable and sometimes just seem to come outta' nowhere.

And yes, I remember many a quake while we lived in NoCal!
Oh joy...!!!
I remember one while we were at my mother's cousins house for Thanksgiving in Watsonville, Ca. in the early '70's (which, unfrotunately and sadly, was later pretty much leveled by the Loma Prieta quake back in '89).
We had just sat down and said grace for the meal when it happened. We all kinda' looked at each otherr and finally realized what was goin' on and quicly moved outside. We stood there on the driveway as it stopped but the house still kept slowly swaying and creaking itself to a stop. We waited a few moments and then went back in to eat and watch football...no big deal...!

As I read your stay it is the 7th to the 17th I hope travel days are not included. If they are not you are spending 5 of the 10 at places other than WDW. If they are you really only have 8 full days and have only 3 days for WDW. I will go by the 10 days including the travel days thus only 8 full days..
From experience if you try to do 8 days straight you will need a vacation when you get back home.
You can do one day at both Universal parks,
Then the one day dolphins and one day at both Kennedy and Cocoa. Why Cocoa beach and not a Gulf Coast Beach is beyond me. Gulf Coast beaches are the best in Fl. but that is another story.
So if you do one day at each (Kennedy/Cocoa-Both Universal Parks and one at the Dolphins) you then have 7 days at WDW again 5 if two days are travel days.

Day
1 AK
2 HS
3 WATER PARK Rest Day

Doing these 3 in a row allows you to only need car for 3 days
4 Kennedy/Cocoa Beach If you do on separate days it means at least 1 hr. travel to get there and then 1+ hr. back again.
5 Universal Both same Day
6 Dolphins Semi Rest Day

7 Epcot
8 MK is very different from DL MUST BE YOUR LAST FULL DAY

If you two extra days due to my miscalculation try and visit a Gulf Coast beach on one like Clearwater or Siesta Key in Sarasota. You will not be unhappy you did.

Do not expect to see thunderstorms in Oct. If we have T storms stay inside and watch in your bathing suit.
A few thousand volts of Mother Nature can put a quick end to this vacation and all future ones. No resort will let you near the pool during a T storm due to the LIABILITY if you get killed on their property.

As I read your stay it is the 7th to the 17th I hope travel days are not included. If they are not you are spending 5 of the 10 at places other than WDW. If they are you really only have 8 full days and have only 3 days for WDW. I will go by the 10 days including the travel days thus only 8 full days..
From experience if you try to do 8 days straight you will need a vacation when you get back home.
You can do one day at both Universal parks,
Then the one day dolphins and one day at both Kennedy and Cocoa. Why Cocoa beach and not a Gulf Coast Beach is beyond me. Gulf Coast beaches are the best in Fl. but that is another story.
So if you do one day at each (Kennedy/Cocoa-Both Universal Parks and one at the Dolphins) you then have 7 days at WDW again 5 if two days are travel days.

Day
1 AK
2 HS
3 WATER PARK Rest Day

Doing these 3 in a row allows you to only need car for 3 days
4 Kennedy/Cocoa Beach If you do on separate days it means at least 1 hr. travel to get there and then 1+ hr. back again.
5 Universal Both same Day
6 Dolphins Semi Rest Day

7 Epcot
8 MK is very different from DL MUST BE YOUR LAST FULL DAY

If you two extra days due to my miscalculation try and visit a Gulf Coast beach on one like Clearwater or Siesta Key in Sarasota. You will not be unhappy you did.

Do not expect to see thunderstorms in Oct. If we have T storms stay inside and watch in your bathing suit.
A few thousand volts of Mother Nature can put a quick end to this vacation and all future ones. No resort will let you near the pool during a T storm due to the LIABILITY if you get killed on their property.

Taking the red-eye flight the night of the 6th and reaching there at 7AM on the 7th. Will sleep on the plane, give my luggage to the staff at the hotel, and go to the theme parks on the 7th. Will have the entire day on the 7th-16th and then catch the flight at 6PM on the 17th which means I have to be at the airport at 4:30PM giving me half that day. A friend of mine suggested Cocoa beach but I will also research Clearwater. What about the airboat gator tours? are they worth doing?

I am planning to spend the daytime hours at the park and only stay for one evening show (either fireworks of Fantasismic which we both have in California's DL). I want to spend most evenings chilling in the pool in the evenings from 9PM to 11PM since the pool's open til midnight. SO hoping for thunder-free evenings. I will be a tad dissappointed if I don't get to experience ANY thunderstorms the whole trip though. I knew the season would be winding down but I didn't think it would stop til later in fall.

 

[donaldtoo]

Taking the red-eye flight the night of the 6th and reaching there at 7AM on the 7th. Will sleep on the plane, give my luggage to the staff at the hotel, and go to the theme parks on the 7th. Will have the entire day on the 7th-16th and then catch the flight at 6PM on the 17th which means I have to be at the airport at 4:30PM giving me half that day. A friend of mine suggested Cocoa beach but I will also research Clearwater. What about the airboat gator tours? are they worth doing?

I am planning to spend the daytime hours at the park and only stay for one evening show (either fireworks of Fantasismic which we both have in California's DL). I want to spend most evenings chilling in the pool in the evenings from 9PM to 11PM since the pool's open til midnight. SO hoping for thunder-free evenings. I will be a tad dissappointed if I don't get to experience ANY thunderstorms the whole trip though. I knew the season would be winding down but I didn't think it would stop til later in fall.

Yea, unfortunately, that time of year, the only "thunder and lightning" entertainment you get may get is the fireworks!
But, I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya'...!

 

[CaliforniaGal]

I actually have felt an earthquake, here in Georgia surprisingly. It was at least 10 years ago, and it was so minor that I thought someone was walking up the stairs until I saw it on the news later. That said, I secretly wanted to experience one when I was out in Cali, just not on my Disney days.

Seems like you do get very occasional small earthquakes the way we very occasionally get very small thunderstorms. Unlike t-storms, there's no season to earthquakes nor can you predict them so if you actually want to feel a medium sized one (where the ground shakes hard and things rattle loudly), they only happen once every 3-5 years while the small ones (the ones that feel like trucks going by or somone walking upstairs) happen once every couple of months.

 

[Hobnail Boot]

Seems like you do get very occasional small earthquakes the way we very occasionally get very small thunderstorms. Unlike t-storms, there's no season to earthquakes nor can you predict them so if you actually want to feel a medium sized one (where the ground shakes hard and things rattle loudly), they only happen once every 3-5 years while the small ones (the ones that feel like trucks going by or somone walking upstairs) happen once every couple of months.

Awesome, I haven't visited Cali in about 3 years so I should be right on schedule for something. Kidding. I do want to experience a real one though. My buddies on the other hand, not so much. Wusses.

 

[CaliforniaGal]

No, no laughing...at least not out loud! JK...!
Many from parts of the country where t-storms and such are prevalent never get used to them, they just tolerate them a little better 'cause of the frequency. The storms are SO unpredictable and sometimes just seem to come outta' nowhere.

And yes, I remember many a quake while we lived in NoCal!
Oh joy...!!!
I remember one while we were at my mother's cousins house for Thanksgiving in Watsonville, Ca. in the early '70's (which, unfrotunately and sadly, was later pretty much leveled by the Loma Prieta quake back in '89).
We had just sat down and said grace for the meal when it happened. We all kinda' looked at each otherr and finally realized what was goin' on and quicly moved outside. We stood there on the driveway as it stopped but the house still kept slowly swaying and creaking itself to a stop. We waited a few moments and then went back in to eat and watch football...no big deal...!

I am now beginning to think how someone handles a severe thunderstorm or an earthquake may be more based on their personality than if they are used to them or not. I experienced a 5.8 earthquake in 2007 that shook pretty hard and I just calmly went to the hallway and then once the shaking stopped, I went straight back to my guitar hero on game consume until my friend (who is also born and raised Californian) called me crying and freaking out about how "big" that quake was and she was scared to sleep that night (most of our quakes we feel are in the 3.5 to 5.0 range so the shaking's not as strong).

 

[CaliforniaGal]

Awesome, I haven't visited Cali in about 3 years so I should be right on schedule for something. Kidding. I do want to experience a real one though. My buddies on the other hand, not so much. Wusses.

Sorry; the odds are way against you...
I'll custom order a medium sized earthquake of you if you can custom order a loud, flashy nearby thundestorm for me when I'm in Florida.

 

[Hobnail Boot]

I'll be down there the same time you are so I'll see what I can do!

 

[donaldtoo]

I am now beginning to think how someone handles a severe thunderstorm or an earthquake may be more based on their personality than if they are used to them or not. I experienced a 5.8 earthquake in 2007 that shook pretty hard and I just calmly went to the hallway and then once the shaking stopped, I went straight back to my guitar hero on game consume until my friend (who is also born and raised Californian) called me crying and freaking out about how "big" that quake was and she was scared to sleep that night (most of our quakes we feel are in the 3.5 to 5.0 range so the shaking's not as strong).

Yea, obviously, I tend to agree. Although, at this point in my life anyway, I'm not too worried about either of 'em much.
I seem to remember them predicting, way back in the '70's about every 6 months or so, that the San Andreas was gonna' slide half a' Cali. off into the Pacific!
It got to be a joke for us kiddos, anyway, after about the second "prediction" failed to come to fruition, but it was fun stuff...!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Thanks for the tips- I'll probably use the fastpass to definitely hit the rides you recommended and only do ones that have a Disneyland counterpart if I have extra time. Are crowds REALLY low in early October? Schools are all in session so I'm assuming it's mostly adults without kids, families with really young kids, or homeschooling families that go as opposed to going during summer vacation, Christmas vacation, Thanksgiving weekend, Spring break, President's week, etc. I read that mid Septmeber, October, early November, early December, January minus president's day weekend, and early May were the least crowded times.

Yeah, you should be pretty good in October. Kids are all in school over here. Early May is okay but can get pretty crowded. What you may or may not see in October (or any time really) are large tour groups from Brazil and Argentina. They mainly hang out in Hollywood Studios during the weekend, so it's a good idea to avoid that park on the weekend, as well as Magic Kingdom unless you are staying at a Disney resort and want to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. Also, if you plan on taking advantage of that benefit, you should only do so for Epcot and Magic Kingdom. If you don't plan on taking advantage of it or if it takes place at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, you should avoid that park.

Also, unlike Disneyland which only has EMH in the morning, WDW has it in both the morning for an hour and the evening for two hours. Check the schedule for more details.

Also, if you plan on dining sit down, you should make thise reservations as soon as ible. 180 days out from the date of the reservation to be exact.

 

[CaliforniaGal]

Yeah, you should be pretty good in October. Kids are all in school over here. Early May is okay but can get pretty crowded. What you may or may not see in October (or any time really) are large tour groups from Brazil and Argentina. They mainly hang out in Hollywood Studios during the weekend, so it's a good idea to avoid that park on the weekend, as well as Magic Kingdom unless you are staying at a Disney resort and want to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. Also, if you plan on taking advantage of that benefit, you should only do so for Epcot and Magic Kingdom. If you don't plan on taking advantage of it or if it takes place at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, you should avoid that park.

Also, unlike Disneyland which only has EMH in the morning, WDW has it in both the morning for an hour and the evening for two hours. Check the schedule for more details.

Also, if you plan on dining sit down, you should make thise reservations as soon as ible. 180 days out from the date of the reservation to be exact.

Unfortunately, I won't qualify for Extra Magic hours cuz I can't afford to stay on resort property. Dining sit down is also beyond my price range. Plan on eating at the cheap buffet at the hotel for breakfast and grabbing a lunch at a food court at the parks in the afternoon and then returning to near the hotel for dinner to eat at a Subway's or BK. Shoestring budget vacation.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Unfortunately, I won't qualify for Extra Magic hours cuz I can't afford to stay on resort property. Dining sit down is also beyond my price range. Plan on eating at the cheap buffet at the hotel for breakfast and grabbing a lunch at a food court at the parks in the afternoon and then returning to near the hotel for dinner to eat at a Subway's or BK. Shoestring budget vacation.

Okay. I understand. I'll be staying at a value this January because it's my first trip without my parents and that's where my dad said he could send me. Thankfully my annual will be good and I have frequent flyer miles so I'll only have to pay for a one way ticket, so my friend and I can do sit down places (both of us are super sensitive, plus we both feel like we need the down time)

I recommend you at least take the time to see the resorts on the monorail loop. Just kind of go around and see them (you won't be able to use the pool, but you can shop, look around, grab a bite to eat, etc.). Those would be Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary. They are really neat resorts and you can explore them even if you are not staying there. You can park at the Transportation and Ticket Center. walk to Poly, and take the monorail to the rest. You can do this in the morning before heading to MK if you like.

QS Places:
MK: Cosmic Ray's, Be Our Guest if you get there early enough, Columbia Harbor House
Epcot: Anything along World Showcase that you like (except American Adventure) Food Court at the Land, good if you're like me and need the fresh options
DHS: Backlot Express and Pizza Planet. If you want to do one cheaper sit down option, here would be the place to do it as the QS food isn't stellar. I recommend Prime Time.
AK: Flame Tree BBQ and Pizzafari.

There is a McDonald's on property that has normal prices if you want to drive there and stay in the parks in the evenings. I would also highly recommend stopping at a nearby grocery store and grabbing some food to take with you if you are trying to save money. This especially goes for drinks. Disney allows food and drinks in all of their parks. This way you could get a full park day if you decided to stay later in the evening, something I recommend so you can see fireworks/parade (Main Street Electrical, it's my understanding Disneyland goers miss that parade), and Fantasmic! (Yes I do recommend it. I know you have it in DL, but it's a different show here with a few different scenes, though my guess is you'll still like the DL version better. Also, there's an ampitheater and the show is in DHS. Check which nights it plays. Also, unlike DL, fireworks are every night since the air quality restrictions aren't as high here).

 

[real mad hatter]

What's all this talk of earthquakes,thunderstorms,tornados....Here in Bonnie Scotland we don't have any of these natural disasters.We do get the occasional thunder & lightning but its nothing like I've encountered in Florida.....What can happen is after a thunder & lightning storm occurs at night,you may get a glimpse of The Will- O- The -Wisp....This phenomenon causes a ball of blue fire,the Latin name is "Ignis Fatuus" or as its Gaelic translation " Teine Biorach " known as Sharp Fire floats through the air.It would be dangerous if not deadly to try and touch it..On the Scottish island of Benbecula in 1812,a young lass named Rebecca chased a Will o the Wisp after a severe storm,she eventually caught it in her hands,but the power of the Wisp flung her in the air and into the sea..She was never seen again,and to this day on the island,after any storm,it is said that you can see the ghost of Rebecca out in the water,with her hair glowing blue with fire.

 

[Poofiesdream]

In October we don't usually get thunderstorms, its the start of the dry season. Sounds like you don't need a park hopper save your money, but add the waterparks and more on your ticket. I think that hotel shuttle you need to reserve for the days you want it so do that when you get there. It also only runs a few times a day. You will be looking at low to mid 80's days cooling off a little at night. Make sure you do twister at Universal you will get lightening!