Planning a Trip to Orlando
Orlando is one of the most visited destinations on earth. Quite possibly the tourist capital of the world, in Orlando visitors will find an endless array of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and attractions. The sheer number of choice available may seem overwhelming, but with just a little investment of time you can assure yourself a fantastic vacation.
One of the first questions to ask yourself is how much time you are willing to spend in Florida. If you are planning on visiting the theme parks, remember to plan in some days for rest as touring them can be quite exhausting.
Quite possibly the most important decision that will come up in planning is where to lodge while in Orlando. There are a vast amount of accommodations to choose from ranging from modest economy hotels to five star luxuries, all within a few minutes of the popular attractions. In picking a hotel it’s important to factor in how much time you plan on spending at the hotel itself.
One of the biggest choices in lodging is whether to stay at one of the official Walt Disney World hotels. Obviously, the Walt Disney World hotels are more convenient to the Disney theme parks and there are a few special perks for hotel guests. First, guests are given Extra Magic Hours which amounts to either an hour before the park opens or a few hours after the park is closed for normal guests. Considering the large amount of Disney guests who stay on property, the Extra Magic Hours are not necessarily a chance visiting the park diminished crowds, but it does give you extra time in the parks. Keep in mind though that the early morning hours start at eight in the morning and the extra evening hours can last towards midnight. Quite possibly, the best perk of the Disney hotels is that they have the special Disney touch. The theming of the resorts is quite extraordinary, giving the guest a complete Disney experience.
Sometimes though, you may not want a complete Disney experience. Visiting Sea World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and other theme parks is nearly impossible without your own car if you stay on Disney property. Some off-site hotels offer free shuttles to all the theme parks. Staying at a Disney resort can be quite expensive, especially compared to non-Disney hotels of equal quality. Disney rooms have a tendency to be quite small and often cannot accommodate more than four guests. Staying off Disney property can offer you a similar experience at a much smaller cost.
For large groups or families there’s also the option of staying in an Orlando rental home. Just recently Orlando underwent a huge surge of housing developments with many of these developments made specifically to cater towards vacation rentals. These beautiful vacation homes give families the option of rooming together in a large space at a much smaller cost than multiple hotel rooms. Most homes come with a fully equipped kitchen that can help families save money on food costs as well. There are also homes that come with their own private pool which often becomes a favorite part of the vacation.
Once you’ve decided your lodging, next it’s time to decide what parks you’d want to visit. At Walt Disney World there’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At Universal Orlando there’s Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. There’s also Sea World Florida as well. Every theme park caters to different tastes and age groups, so it’s best to research to discover which park would be best for your group.
In terms of tickets, there are countless options available based on your tastes and budgets. Disney has recently implemented the new Magic Your Way system, which allows guests to customize their ticket package. The first level Disney sells tickets is called the Base Ticket. These tickets are valid at all four Walt Disney World Theme parks, but they are restricted to one use per day. For guests who like the added flexibility, there is the Park Hopper option. With the Park Hopper option you may travel between the different theme parks as much as you desire. Another option that Disney provides is the Water Park Fun and More option. This ticket allows admission into the two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, the nightclubs at Pleasure Island and the virtual arcade Disney Quest. The amount of admissions allows varies on the amount of days on the ticket. For example, a five day ticket with the Water Park Fun and More option includes three admissions into those locations. You do not have to have the park hopper to upgrade to the Water Park Fun and More option. At Universal Orlando all multi-day tickets are automatically a Park Hopper type ticket that allows you to visit both Universal theme parks. Universal Orlando and Sea World also offer the Orlando Flex Ticket which gives 14 days of admission to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Sea World and Wet ‘n Wild.
Beyond the theme parks there are other attractions worth noting. There are beautiful beaches about ninety minutes away. Kennedy Space Center offers a chance to get a close up look at the NASA space program. For those who love shopping, there are a large collection of outlet malls offering great prices on designer clothing. Orlando is also home to loads of miniature golf courses, as well as go-kart tracks and other family attractions.
Orlando is one of the top destinations in the world for a good reason. The amount of family activities is second to none anywhere else. With all of this available, with just a little bit of foresight and planning you can have a vacation you will never forget.
Orlando tourism & sightseeing
