Tickets to Orlando attractions have been boosted beyond the usual theme parks to include the new Universal Islands of Adventure, Sea World’s Discovery Cove – opening this summer – dinner shows, excursions, the Kennedy Space Centre, other day trips from Orlando and night-time entertainment.
All of these attractions are pre-bookable at the time of the holiday sale, helping agents gain more opportunities to increase the commission on a package.
Major selling points for buying a ticket in advance include guaranteed ticket prices, no queueing on site, less cash to budget for and less time spent on planning your time on arrival.
Keith Prowse Attractions Tickets is the largest supplier of a wide range of pre-bookable options but many tour operators have also increased the number of offers in their brochures.
These examples are some of the options agents can sell, as featured by Keith Prowse:
Universal Studios
One-day Escape tickets to Universal Studios’ Florida and Islands of Adventure costs £29 for adults and £23 for children. A two-day ticket costs £53 for adults and £43 for children, while a three-day ticket costs £66 and £53. All tickets include free admission to top venues at Universal CityWalk. After 6pm, parking is free at CityWalk.
Walt Disney World Resort
A10-day World Pass includes entry to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Centre, Disney MGM-Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom; Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon and River Country water parks; Downtown Disney Pleasure Island and Disney’s World Wide of Sports Complex. Prices start from £225 for an adult and £180 for a child aged three to nine years. A range of shorter five, six, seven and eight-day passes incorporating various attractions and offers lead in at £153 (adults) and £122 (children) for the five-day Park Hopper Plus.
Sea World and Discovery Cove
Sea World one-day tickets cost £30 for adults and £24 for children. An all-inclusive ticket for the new Discovery Cove aquatic park, a major marine and wildlife area, costs £123 and includes entry to Sea World plus swimming with marine life, all equipment and facilities and a meal. The same ticket but excluding the swim with dolphins, costs £65. Discovery Cove opens on July 1 and tickets must be bought in advance.
Orlando excursions
The Kennedy Space Centre tour costs £31 per adult, £18 for a child; Naples/Everglades Adventure (beach and wetlands trip), £56 and £31 respectively; Clearwater on the Gulf Coast, £37 and £6; South Beach Sizzle, a trip to Miami including a guided tour of the art deco area and a night at the Radisson hotel costs £62 and £24. The Miami Bahamas Getaway includes transport to Miami, a 22min flight to Grand Bahama and a night in luxury accommodation. This costs £124 per adult and £112 per child.
Orlando balloon flights
This 1hr journey features a champagne breakfast and costs £104 for adults and £53 for children aged between 10 and 15 years. Children under nine go free with one adult. For a wedding with a difference, packages are also available priced £673. A wedding package includes transport to the take-off site, a wedding ceremony on the ground, a 1hr flight for two and a champagne and buffet breakfast upon landing.
Busch Gardens (Tampa)
One-day entrance is £30 adults and £25 for children; an Adventure Passport, allowing 14 days’ unlimited admission to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld, costs £57 and £47. It includes free use of the Gwazi Express, a transport link between SeaWorld and Busch Gardens
Evening entertainment
Wild Bill’s Wild West Dinner Show is priced at £28 for adults, £18 for children; King Henry’s Feast, £28 and £18 respectively; the Arabian Nights horse show, £23 and £17. Medieval Times, £27 and £16; Cirque du Soleil, a performance of acrobatics and dancing, costs £41 for adults and £33 for children.