Orlando for adults

We landed in Orlando and headed straight for Cocoa Beach after picking up our hire car. Staying at Beach Place Guesthouse for three nights, with hammocks, fire pits, and beachfront views, was the perfect start to relax before the theme park excitement.

Another reason we chose to stay here was to visit Kennedy Space centre and I can’t believe that this being my eighth visit to Orlando, I’d not been before! Walking amongst historic rockets, seeing the space shuttle Atlantis, experiencing the Shuttle Launch simulation, and exploring Heroes & Legends was incredible—definitely worth the wait.

On 18 September, we woke up just after 5 a.m. and walked onto the beach. The sky was still dark, but it was very warm. We were so lucky as we got to experience SpaceX launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying broadband satellites. Talk about being in the right place at the right time - watching it rise was amazing, but the real thrill came a few seconds later as it disappeared, when the deep, rumbling sound hit, a reminder of the raw power behind space exploration. Moments like that remind you why Florida’s Space Coast is truly special.

We then spent two nights at Universal Orlando, staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The tropical-themed hotel is beautiful, and the perks include unlimited Express Passes, early park entry, and easy access to the parks, making the visit smooth. Friday night was our Universal Halloween Horror Night, and with the RIP (VIP) Tour, we skipped lines for the haunted houses, had reserved seating for the show, enjoyed some of the horror snacks and got behind-the-scenes access, all of which made the scares even more fun.

For the last five nights, we were lucky to be able to stay in a 6-bedroom / 4-bathroom villa at Windsor Island Resort, thanks to Ocean Florida. Not only did we have a private pool, but there was a mezzanine level with tabletop games and, best of all, a retro arcade game (think Pac-Man and Space Invaders). The resort is just 5 years old, and the villas are stunning, contemporary, modern and built with multi-generational families in mind. The resort itself comes complete with a lazy river, water slides, mini golf, and a clubhouse.

We also had another first, a visit to Celebration, which was developed by the Disney Company and is designed to resemble a historic small American town. It is built around a lake with a charming centre, and if you visit on a Sunday, as we did, it’s market day, and you can wander around the charming Disney-inspired streets, artisan stalls, and enjoy local treats for a lovely, relaxing break from the parks.

One of the most exciting parts of this trip, for me, was going to the brand-new Epic Universe theme park. Cutting-edge rides, incredible theming, lots to explore and absolutely PACKED. Thankfully, I purchased Express Passes as we only had one day, without them we’d probably still be standing in a queue somewhere!

Eight trips in and Orlando still surprises me - from beaches, rockets, theme parks, Halloween frights, and quaint towns like Celebration, our trip had it all, and I’d happily do it all again tomorrow.

If Florida gave out honorary “Orlando Expert” badges, I’d be wearing mine proudly.