Short trip to Orlando from KC. Anything we should see?

[carcrz]

Leaving KC on Thursday afternoon & will be in Orlando on Friday afternoon if I drive the 18 hours straight through. Mapquest takes us through St Louis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, then straight South to Orlando. I may add a couple hour detour & go East a little farther in Georgia & follow the coastline South through Jacksonville, Daytona, etc...

Planning on taking the kids to Magic Kingdom on Saturday, Clearwater on Sunday morning for the beach (saw lots of manitees last time I was there), & maybe Sea World on Monday, & drive home Monday night/Tuesday. Any stores or other cool stuff you would recommend we hit while we're there? Kids are 8 & 5.

[st68]

Surprisingly Ruby Falls in Chattanooga and Rock City (if weather is not too cold) were favorites for my kids ages 5 & 7... Ruby Falls in a cave so weather does not matter. Both of these are on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga. The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine was another place my kids enjoyed too... not sure if it is open in the winter. In downtown Atlanta the Westin Hotel has a revolving restaurant at the top (Sundial restaurant)... city view is pretty cool, outdoor glass elevator ride up 72 sotries to get there is a trip and eating while moving... kids love that. Have a great trip!!

[whiteflash watersports]

I live in Jacksonville and would suggest driving to Orlando form Atlanta. Otherwise you will be spending and extra 4-5 hrs in the car just to go down I 95 instead of I75. If you don't have a specific reason to go to Clearwater there are beaches on the Atlantic a lot closer to Orlando than that. I believe New Smyrna is only about 45 minutes where Clearwater will probably take an hour and a half at least.

If you want to ride OWC is great or hit up Freedom Wake Park. Tarah and Cobe Mikacich are great they have a private lake with a couple of boats and a 2.0 system with some rails and kickers. Also they are great with the kiddos. My daughter started with them when she 6 and absolutely loves them and still counts them as friends now that she is in high school.

The advice on Disney is dead on. It will be mobbed. We went at Christmas once and had to sit on the ground to eat our lunch. We did not complain it is beautiful at Christmas and well worth it Just have the right attitude knowing it will be crowded. Also be careful on what you promise the kids my buddy went two weeks ago and waited in line for 5 hrs with his 6 year old daughter to see Elsa from frozen.

[carcrz]

You guys are great! Thanks for the suggestions. I think mapquest does have us going through Atlanta too, so no worry there.

[carcrz]

Holy smokes I feel awful about not updating how our trip went. You guys were awesome in giving suggestions.

As you know, our time was very limited in what we were able to do. Sleep was 1 of them for me. I drove the 17 hours there straight through after Christmas Dinner at the in-law's house & we were at Cocoa Beach for breakfast on the 26th. I took a little nap on the beach while my wife & kids got to spend their first time playing on the beach in the sand & in the ocean - 2 of my favorite things in the world.

Day 2 - Went over to Sea World. The kids had fun but we probably won't return. It was just as I remembered it 20 years ago. Fun once but then you're good. Both of them fell asleep at 6:30 on our way back to the hotel.

Day 3 - Magic Kingdom. They both had a blast! We arrived just in time to sit down for the parade. Princesses, Pixar Heroes, all the Fairy Tale characters, etc... We brought a Woody doll along this trip to take pictures & have fun with. The smile on these 2 faces when the real Woody started waving & pointing at their doll was priceless. Rode all of the rides I rode when I was kid & a few new rides that they really enjoyed. Here's a little token for those of you who have been here, I don't want to be the only 1 with this stuck in my head... "It's a small world after all. It's a small world after all..." =) You're welcome.

Day 4 - Drove home. Hit traffic jams in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, & St Louis. Next time I'm making this trip at night. 22 hours straight through. I was still wide awake & kicking from the 5-hour drink, so I went to work & my partners made me go home. Slackers.

All-in-all we had a great time full of smiles & laughter - everything a parent wants for their children.