Planning an Orlando Theme Park Trip

TRAVEL · GLOBAL

Planning an Orlando Theme Park Trip

Ticket types, how many days, heat and queues, and what to book in advance

Orlando is the most planning-dependent holiday most families take, and the decisions made before travelling determine whether it is enjoyable or exhausting.

Ticket types

Base tickets admit you to one park a day. Park hopping costs more and lets you move between parks, which is worth it only if you are staying long enough to be relaxed about it.

Multi-day tickets fall sharply in price per day, so a fourteen-day ticket frequently costs little more than seven. Check whether unused days can be used on a later trip.

How many days

Two days per major park is realistic if you want to enjoy it rather than march through a list. Building in a rest day mid-trip prevents the collapse that usually arrives around day five.

The heat is the real constraint

Florida in summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms. Plan an early start, return to the hotel for the middle of the day, and go back in the evening when it is cooler and quieter.

Carry water, use sunscreen repeatedly, and recognise heat exhaustion — dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating and cramps. Get into air conditioning and rehydrate.

Queue systems

Each resort operates its own paid queue-skipping system with different rules, and some must be booked at a specific time on the day. Read how the one you are using works before you arrive.

Arriving at opening achieves much of the same thing free.

Book in advance

Popular restaurants and character dining book out months ahead. Park reservations are required at some resorts even with a valid ticket.

Beyond the parks

Orlando has springs, beaches within an hour, and state parks that cost very little. Building one non-park day into a fortnight prevents the trip becoming a queue endurance test.

Car hire is close to essential outside the resort areas, and check the insurance and toll arrangements carefully.

Budgeting

Food, parking, souvenirs and queue-skipping add a substantial amount on top of tickets. Set a daily figure before you go rather than deciding in the moment.

Travelling with children

Build in naps or quiet time, since overtired children are the usual reason a day ends badly. Rider swap arrangements let both adults ride without queueing twice.

Agree a meeting point and put a note with a phone number in each child's pocket.

Insurance

Take travel insurance covering medical treatment, which is extremely expensive in the United States, and check it covers the activities you plan.

Practical

Check height restrictions before travelling with children, and check bag policies. Comfortable worn-in shoes matter more than anything else you pack.

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