Orlando is best known for its theme parks and fun rides but if this is your first visit, you might find it a bit hard to choose which one fits your holiday best. Here’s a small guide to what you should do on your first holiday to Walt Disney’s, fantastical little world, and of course Orlando as well!
Flights
From London, flights can range from £400 to £700 so it’s best to book in advance to get a better deal. You can also check some late deal offers and get a seven night holiday including flights for £700 pp. I’d say it’s pretty good considering flights alone can cost £400. Check Thomson Holidays and Travel Supermarket for some deals. You’re bound to find something.
Tip: Flights to Orlando can be expensive so it might be worth flying to Daytona, hiring a rental car and enjoying the scenery on the 40 minute drive to Orlando. Everybody wins.
Hostels
If, however, you got your flights sorted there are some great hostels you can stay at. You can book Palm Lakefront Resort and Hostel for just £12 and it’s well worth it. The backyard has a lake view, there’s a nearby supermarket and diners, plus the hostel organises parties at the weekend so you can make lots of friends to go to Disney with and have fun. The only downside is it’s a bit outside of Orlando but that does bring the cost down. And if you get cheap car hire it’s a winner.
Moving around
Choosing a mode of transport when travelling can be a daunting prospect but you can always get around with a car. It can actually be cheaper and easier and you can go on a road trip at any time. If you’re looking to compare prices you can check out Orlando car rental with Holiday Autos and choose the type of car that best suits your trip.
We need food
If you make a point of trying the traditional local food wherever you go Orlando will spoil your tastes. Having influences from Asian to South American there is definitely something for everyone. One place you should NOT miss is Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion. Service is amazing, prices are reasonable and the food is as most people describe it: OUT OF THIS WORLD! It is best to reserve a table before you get there so you can enjoy a marvellous dining experience. The owners will treat you right and you will want to go back there for sure.
Let’s have some fun!
There are so many theme parks in Orlando, it’s extremely hard to choose just one or two. Depending on how much time you have available you can pick 2-3 parks and then get in your car and drive 20 minutes to Titusville where you’ll see a full-size replica of Fort Christmas. The Fort was originally made for the Second Seminole Indian War and has pioneer demonstrations with muskets and cannon firings. It’s open throughout the year but just keep in mind that it’s closed on Mondays and bank holidays.
Regarding the theme parks the best thing to do is buy your tickets BEFORE you get to Orlando. If you decide to get them when you arrive at Disney world, you’ll waste time, patience and money. This way you can research which ticket option fits your needs and you can hit the rides first thing in the morning when the park opens.
For example, The Walt Disney World Resort has four theme parks, up the road is Universal Orlando Resort and then between Disney and Universal there’s SeaWorld Orlando. So many choices and so little time.
So with time ticking and summer almost here, book your flights, car hire and theme park tickets to make sure you can enjoy every second of your first trip to Orlando!
This was a guest post from Janine Mercer, A Londoner and Disney lover.