Orlando: Parks, Cruise, Beaches, and Endless Fun

Orlando: Parks, Cruise, Beaches, and Endless Fun

After five trips to Orlando over the past 15 years, I’ve experienced this magical destination in just about every way—with my kids at every age and stage. From our first adventure when they were in primary school to now, with my eldest at 18, Orlando has consistently been our family’s favourite holiday—and one of mine, too!

We’ve tried it all: off-site hotels, Disney resorts, Universal on-site hotels, and villa stays. Each option has its perks, but our most recent trip struck the perfect balance for us.

Disney Magic with Extra Value

This time, we stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans, taking advantage of the free Disney Dining offer—a true game-changer! Orlando isn’t cheap when it comes to eating out, especially in the parks, but the dining plan saved us a fortune on food, drinks, and snacks during our six days at Disney. If you see this offer, snap it up! The variety is fantastic—it’s not just burgers and fries; we enjoyed some genuinely lovely meals. In the past, we’ve upgraded to include waiter service and character dining, but having done that before, we kept it simple this time.

Staying on-site also meant we could use Disney’s excellent transport system, saving on car hire and parking fees. With our kids now older, five nights was the perfect amount of time to make the most of early park entry and park hopping. We added Lightning Lane passes for two days (about £30pp), which meant less early-morning rushing and more time enjoying the rides.

The parks weren’t too crowded, though the newest attractions—like Tron at Magic Kingdom—had the longest waits (60–90 minutes most days). For these, you can buy individual fast passes (around £11pp), which are well worth it if you want to maximise your time.

Villa Life & Water Park Fun

After our Disney whirlwind, we moved to a villa for five nights. The kids loved having their own space, I caught up on washing, and we all enjoyed lazy days and evening swims. We also visited Disney’s water parks (with free parking!) and explored Disney Springs and the local shopping malls. Eating out as a family of five can easily cost £100–£150 per meal, so having a villa kitchen was a real bonus. We only really used it for Breakfast and lunch, but it was handy to have.

Cruising in Style

Next, we set sail on a three-night cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas (more on that in a separate blog!). The ship was fantastic—great food, top-notch service, and plenty to do. It was a treat to dress up in the evenings and enjoy a different kind of holiday vibe, with fantastic entertainment.

Universal Thrills

After the cruise, we checked into the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal—my first time there, though I’ve previously stayed at Royal Pacific. We always choose these hotels for the included Express Passes, which are a huge time-saver at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. With Express Passes, three days in the parks was plenty. Our routine: hit the parks mid-morning, relax by the pool after lunch, then head back for more rides in the evening. We dined at CityWalk and enjoyed chilled evenings playing cards at the hotel bar.

Epic Universe: The New Kid on the Block

We couldn’t resist checking out Universal’s new Epic Universe park. We booked one night at the Helios Grand Hotel (beautiful and right inside the park) to take advantage of early admission. Be aware: many rides are outdoors, so afternoon storms can mean long closures and even longer queues when they reopen. Some rides had waits of up to 180 minutes! Our early entry was a bit of a waste of time due to delays, but the staff did give us an Express Pass as compensation to return to the ride that was closed. We found the park much quieter after 6 pm, so we managed to tick off most of the rides then.

The Perfect Mix

For us, this trip was the ideal blend of excitement and relaxation. Yes, there’s a bit of packing and unpacking, but the perks and flexibility make it worthwhile. Everyone’s perfect Orlando holiday looks a little different, and that’s where I come in—by getting to know your family’s style, I can recommend the best combination for you. I’ve tried all the options, so I can help you find what works best.

If you have any questions or want to start planning your own Orlando adventure, just get in touch—I’d love to help you create your perfect holiday!