Orlando is even more magical than you imagine. And we have everything you need to know to make sure the magic happens on your next Orlando family vacation.
Picture Orlando and in your mind’s eye it’s all fairy tale castles, parades and fireworks. Of course, it is all those things, but it’s a lot more besides which is what makes it such an enduring popular family vacation. That, and the fact that there is no age limit to feeling the magic in Orlando, you are never too old to pop on some Mickey ears. And if you don’t believe the hype, you’re in the minority, almost 76 million people visit Orlando every year and for many of them it’s far from the first time.
It goes without saying that you want to make plenty of time for the big hitters on vacation in Orlando. By that, we mean of course Walt Disney World® Resort and Universal Studios – home to the astonishingly authentic Wizarding World of Harry Potter, if it’s possible to claim your imagination is, ‘authentic’. Then take a breath and discover what old hands at the Orlando game know only too well: there is life beyond the theme parks, and it’s just as thrilling, in its own way.
There’s the city of Orlando for a start. To say colourful doesn’t quite encompass thousands of years of history that pulls everything into its orbit from indigenous peoples to conquistadors, cattle ranchers, citrus farmers and even a sprinkling of astronauts. If you want to get an overview of the multi-cultural vibe, visit the Orlando Museum of Art – ORLANDOMOA or grab a map and browse the street art or just take to Lake Eola Park on a sunny afternoon: also the best place to find out why Orlando is nicknamed The City Beautiful.
Although not many parks anywhere compare to the Everglades, and if you think you’re a bit far north for that in Orlando, think again. The Everglade headwaters here give any of the spectacular waterparks a run for their money, not least because they come with real wildlife and airboat tours. Alternatively, or also, there are legends like Gatorland where the critters are equally as fearsome as they are in the wild, you’ve just got a better chance of a close encounter – at a safe distance, naturally.
Plenty of families want to stay in the thick of the theme parks and it’s no surprise that some of Orlando’s most dazzling resort hotels belong to the Disney brand. But many hotels operate free shuttle buses to the parks, and there are always good deals to be had on iconic drags like International Drive. For the more independent minded, it’s also worth remembering that Kissimmee (theme park heartland) is known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World, good to know, particularly if you’re planning for a larger family: rental mansions can sleep up to 20, without a squeeze.
Direct flights to Orlando from several Canadian airports, including Vancouver and Toronto, take from 2 hours, 20 minutes year round.
January is the coldest month of the year in Orlando and temperatures seldom fall below 20°, and highs of 29° are normal in October and November.
Home to Walt Disney World® Resort and Universal Studios, Orland is the undisputed theme park capital of the world.
Kissimmee leads the world in vacation rentals with over 18,000 homes available from apartments to mansions sleeping up to 20.
Airboat tours of the Everglade headwaters bring you up close to some of the wilder Orlando residents, including iconic Florida alligators.
Sometimes forgotten in the rush to amusement parks, multi-cultural Orlando city is green and artistic with a great culinary scene.
Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and Ocala National Forest are all within 40 minutes drive of Orlando.
The Atlantic coast is an hour’s drive from Orlando for legends like Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.
Walt Disney World® Resort alone could fill an entire family vacation in Orlando, but you probably want to do more than one amusement park, particularly as the competition gives you Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Islands of Adventure and, the upcoming, Universal Epic Universe, not to mention The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which spans all the Universal Orlando theme parks. Take a look at our quick ‘where to go’ guide to get your bearings and help you get the most out of every minute.
The original and, many would say, still the best, Walt Disney World® Resort is the Orlando vacation must-do for most families. However, you might not want to focus all your attention here, in which case it’s good to know what’s what.
Spread across 700 acres, Universal Orlando Resort is big, though not even close Walt Disney World® Resort. That said, it’s home of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and for many families that has become a reason in itself for an Orlando Vacation.
SeaWorld Orlando might be best known for its killer whale shows and ridiculous splash capes, but it’s also one of only two places in Orlando where you can see manatee.
Apart from being the Vacation Home Capital of the World, with over 30,000 vacation rentals available, Kissimmee is also the home of most of Orlando’s theme parks. All that aside it’s also one of the most family-friendly areas, with chill dining and shopping districts, as well as almost every outdoor activity you need to antidote the manmade thrills of all those amusement parks.
International Drive, or I-Drive as it’s known locally, is the 11-mile strip which runs from Orlando Premium Outlets, south to Highway 192. More of an experience than a boulevard, it’s home to some 20 attractions, along with six theme parks, over 200 restaurants and 100-plus hotels. And if you don’t visit at least once on your Orlando vacation you are seriously missing out.
Often overlooked in the rush for rollercoasters, Downtown Orlando definitely deserves your attention. For a start it has an entire lake, complete with fountain, right at its heart and if you feel like a walk, you can stroll round the entire circumference.
For families flying into Orlando International Airport, a rental car is the easiest way to get around. The large interstate highway system makes Orlando a very drivable city. Many of the theme park resorts, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offer shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Plus most theme parks offer complimentary shuttle services from their resort hotels to the attractions, and many Orlando resorts and hotels include theme park shuttles in the cost of your stay.
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