I'm considering a trip to Florida in either January or February. Since everything that's happened, I can get a flight for only just over £200! The queries I have are:

What are crowds like at this time of year; I don't want to go if it'll be jammed! Also, are there any public holidays that I should avoid?

What's the weather like? I'm guessing reasonably warm during the day and cooler at night.

Lastly, any particular tips for the parks and coasters? What should I hit first? Which coasters are the best/worst? Is it worth getting a pass for all the parks, or paying for them separately?

Thanks for your help!

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Andy Rathe

Jan and Feb are generally good times to come. It's right after the holiday crowds, so it kind of dies down. It usually doesn't get that cold here, but it can get a good doggyilly at times. Hit Marvel at IOA first, Gwazi at BGT, MIB at Universal, Kraken at SWF, there's no particular pattern at Disney parks. Don't forget the 300ft skycoaster in Kissimmee either.

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"BECAUSE someone like you cared a whole afwul lot, this park is alive where before it was not." -The Street of the Lifted Lorax, IOA

I went to Disney World last January. Early in the month, but after the New Year's rush cleared out. It was great. The parks were just where I wanted them to be as far as how many people were there. The lines, although existent, were painless. And the weather was great. Of course, I live in Minnesota, so anything above freezing was a big change in January.

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I would say make IOA your first priority. Then, if you wanted to, I'm sure you could get a discounted ticket of some nature and go to the regular Universal Studios the next day. Personally, unless you are a diehard Disney fan, I would skip any of the Disney parks in the area and drive over to Tampa for Busch Gardens.

Depending where you are going to fly into and the type of Amusement parks you like. Here Goes

If in Orlando weekdays are best. Really all parks in Florida. But I would hit IOA and Disney stuff early in week less lines.
IOA has great coasters.
Sea World Florida has alot of sea life stuff. But has a great floorless coaster Kraken. Sea World gets crowded in the afternoons.
BGT in Tampa has great coasters.
As for a rule of thumb get to the parks when the parks open ride the things you want a bunch and as the park gets busy ride the other stuff. You will get more rides early in the mornings.
If you want to see photos of all the coasters go to

RCDB.com

Mostly any park in Florida will be less busy during the weekdays,
weekends tend to get very busy.

The weather depends. Usually 40 to 50 at night and up to 70 during good days. Some rain, some cold snaps only into the 30s once or twice.

As for prices.
Check all the park websites for deals. They list vacation deals and other things just do a little investigation. RCDB.com has links to all the parks. You will see.
Some you can get a 5 park pass. IOA has 14 day 5 park pass for about 200 dollars. Includes both universal and both busch and a water park. Busch has a 2 day pass. And if you want you can catch a free shuttle bus from sea world to go to Busch Gardens, free of charge. Do a little shopping and you will find a good deal.

Also email all the parks you will visit and have them send you an information package and park maps. Tell them you will be visiting from overseas and want to visit their parks. They usually send hotel discounts and park perks you just never know. You could even ask them for discounts.

Check out all the main park websites and don't forget the 300 foot sky coaster at Oldtown in Kissimmee Florida just down the road from Disney.
Have a great trip here to Florida.

We have lots of B and M's here. I just love them.
Hulk - launched
Dueling Dragons - 2 inverted
Kraken - floorless
Kumba - sitdown looper
Montu - inverted
Hope this info is helpful.

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Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.

Thanks for all the info guys!

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Andy Rathe

have fun

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Since there were already 2 threads for Florida trips, I didn't want to start another. My husband has an NMRA dragrace event in March in the Tampa/St. Pete area. I told him we can go ONLY if I can hit some coasters while in FLA. Since we'll be so close to BGT, it looks like that will be a given, but would it be worth the money and time to throw in an extra day to hit IOA?

And, since we'll be taking it easy on the drive down (I-75 all the way), how far off the beaten track is SFoG? Would that be worth a stop?

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I'm almost certainly coming over now, so if anyone has any more stuff they can add to what's already been posted I'd be grateful!

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Andy Rathe

Andy, if you're coming in January there is one holiday to avoid other than New Year's -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a public holiday and most Florida schools have the day off, so that might drive up crowds a bit. This year it will be on January 21st, and some schools do not go back from the holiday break until the 7th, so those are some dates you might want to work around. And oh BY THE WAY if you might just feel like meeting up with a fellow moderator...

Islands of Adventure is very definately worth the trip - the crowds are light, the coasters are superb, and the theming is to die for!

Everyone, enjoy!

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Walk Beyond...

To answer OldCP'er's question on IOA, it is definitely worth the time and money to visit. IOA is a little over an hour from I-75. It's not nearly as large as CP, but all of the rides are high quality and the theming is outstanding. I think the Hulk is the best beemer out there right now, if not the best ride of them all. The castle queue of Dueling Dragons is the most awesome queue ever created. You will not even notice that you are waiting. Even the non-coaster rides are excellent. Spiderman is the best motion simulator ride I've ever been on, and the water rides are great, too. Also, don't miss the talking fountain near the stunt show theatre. It is hilarious.

SF0G is worth a stop, too. It is only minutes from I-75 in Atlanta. Don't expect CP's standard of cleanliness, though, if that is what you are used to. I found the queues of Mindbender, Batman, and Freefall to be atrocious. Gum is everywhere. However, they do have some decent rides. Batman is a short, but intense inverted coaster. Mindbender is a decent older steel coaster that takes you on a ride through the woods. Georgia Scorcher is a nice B&M stand-up. Not as long or intense as Mantis, but the ride is very smooth. I wouldn't bother with Ninja; the ride looks good, but it is very rough. I was kind of let down, too, with GASM's roughness after hearing about how great it was. I've been on much better woodies than that one. I haven't been to the park since Acrophobia or Deja Vu opened, but they look pretty good.
Also, they may be getting a B&M flyer, so next year should be great.

If you are going to DeSoto dragway near Bradenton, I have some info on that locale as well. I am a hard core drag racing fan myself.

i went in feb last year and im goin again this year.. it wasent crowded at all really but it seems that more people want to go in feb now cause they no its not ganna be as crowdded

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definately go to bgt the park is empty even during presidents week.

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PatMan like SFGAdv Rocks

When is Presidents Week? We haven't got a president here in England!

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Andy Rathe