My love for Orlando is well documented, and my seventh and latest visit had been planned for over three years.
This eagerly anticipated family return to Florida however was markedly different with my adult children compared to their younger selves.
For the first time, I was able to take a step back from the main planner and organiser role and let Ashleigh, my daughter, take control, making things just a tad more relaxing for me.
With all things Disney now managed on an app, she was the one logging on at 7am ensuring we got into the necessary virtual queues for the new rides - Tron at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy at Epcot - I taught her well. 😊
(After ‘joining’ this queue, a boarding group is allocated and at some point during the day, your ‘group’ is summoned via the app).
We collected our seven-seater hire car at the airport and with it not being required for the second part of our stay, the drop-off was conveniently at our hotel.
I had chosen a four-bedroom villa with private pool and games room in Windsor Palms for the first part of the trip, due to its proximity to the Disney Parks.
There are four theme parks and two water parks, all around a 15-minute drive away. We like to arrive at “rope drop” (opening time) and jetlag is a help with this. There is also a Walmart, plenty of restaurants and shops all close by.
A new experience, away from the ‘Disney Bubble’ is always something we like to add and the collective decision for this trip was an airboat ride.
Spirit of the Swamp was perfect, just a 35-minute drive away and a brilliant 90-minute private airboat adventure, zooming across the lakes, swamps and marshes.
Our airboat captain grew up in the area and kept us entertained with stories and knowledge of all the amazing wildlife in their natural habitat. Our highlights were the wild eagles and a mother alligator looking after her young.
For our final five nights, we moved to the Loews Royal Pacific Hotel on-site at Universal, which along with two others - Hard Rock and Loews Portofino Bay - provide complimentary express passes for use at both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
This is a game changer – you just can’t beat the smug feeling of zipping through an express queue whilst passing the slow-moving standby one! It really does give you much more time to enjoy and absorb the parks without spending excessive time in queues.
The predominant reason for travelling in late September was to attend the Universal Studio Halloween Horror nights that are held most evenings between 6:30pm and 2am, which start earlier in the month and continue until the end of October.
This is a highlight of our holiday; it requires a separate ticket and we had booked for two nights.
The first night we had a normal standby and managed to get around four of the 10 themed ‘houses’ and watch the amazing horror stage show.
On the second visit we had express passes and prioritised the six that we hadn’t been to plus we managed to revisit two of our favourites and catch the show again.
This was an unforgettable family holiday that was made even more special with the meticulous planning of my son’s romantic marriage proposal to his girlfriend whilst they were at Discover Cove. Luckily, she said yes.
Orlando, we will of course be back.
My Latest Hints & Tips
I’ve acquired lots of personal knowledge and training to ensure my clients make the most of their Orlando holiday.
Little things can make a big difference and here are some of my suggestions, as well as obviously booking with me to make sure you get the best available benefits:
Book an airport lounge and start your holiday off in style with complimentary drinks, food/ snacks away from the hustle and bustle.
Pre-book your flight seats as early as is possible as there is no guarantee of sitting together if you don’t. Yes, it’s an extra cost but it’s peace of mind if you want to be with your group on a nine-hour flight.
Get a Sun Pass if you are hiring a car which can be pre-ordered online and collected at the airport. Florida has unmanned toll roads, and you will need the exact change if you go on them. The pass, which you hang in your windscreen, allows you to drive through and have your bank account debited. Just ensure returning the pass to avoid an additional $10 charge. This is considerably more cost-effective than the product the car hire company will try to sell you.
Download Google Maps on your phone before travelling, which can be added to the car’s satnav via Bluetooth. This will provide directions everywhere so no getting lost or disputes about which way to go.
The best locations for self-catering villas (especially for Disney) are the communities around the 192, Kissimmee. It is mainly back roads from there to Disneyworld, avoiding a lot of the traffic and there are supermarkets, restaurants, crazy golf and one of our favourite places for an evening out - Old Town - where you will find classic and muscle car shows.
Pre-ordering a food hamper is a must with a villa and something I like to provide complimentary for clients. It negates the need to go straight out to stock up which is not easy when tired from travelling and with the time difference. Arriving to a stocked fridge and larder, with all the essentials (including a bottle of wine and a few beers!) was fantastic. The pizzas went straight into the oven as soon as we walked through the door.
If you want to spend time at both Disney and Universal, I highly recommend considering a split stay. It’s like having two holidays in one and if you can stretch to stay in one of the top three Universal Hotels, then you’ll have the express ride pass bonus too.
There are fantastic things to do away from the theme parks too. Spirit of the Swamp was our choice for this trip, but I have many other great recommendations, too.
Finally, wear comfy shoes. According to Ashleigh’s Fitbit, we walked 53 miles the first week and 46 the second!
Amanda x
