Orlando, Florida - The Insider Guide from Someone Who's Been Six Times

The Review

I have been to Orlando six times. For work, for my honeymoon, for family trips, for our annual convention. I know this destination better than almost anywhere else in the world and my honest opinion is this - Orlando rewards the people who plan and it never, ever gets old.

​

Villa vs Hotel - The Honest Breakdown

This trip I stayed at Sonoma Resort with a group of 30 people - a large, high end villa with its own pool on a beautiful complex, around 25 minutes from the main parks. For a big group on a budget it is absolutely the right call. The space, the privacy, your own pool, the cost per person compared to hotel rooms - it makes complete sense.

But I want to be honest with you because I think it's important. Villas are not for everyone. You are essentially moving from one home to another. You are making your own beds, washing up, managing without the daily fresh towels and housekeeping that a hotel provides. For me personally those hotel luxuries matter on holiday - they are part of the switching off experience.

That said, many villas on complexes like Sonoma Resort do come with maid service and have restaurants and facilities on site, which genuinely helps. We Ubered everywhere which was much simpler and more affordable than I expected. No car hire, no stress.

​

My honest guide:

• Big group or family on a budget - villa every time. Sonoma Resort, Bears Den, Evermore Resort, Storey Lake and Championsgate are all in great locations.

• Couple or someone who wants to fully switch off - hotel, no question

• First time visiting with young kids - hotel, the convenience makes everything easier

​

Discovery Cove - The All Inclusive Day Out You Didn't Know You Needed

If you have never heard of Discovery Cove, let me change your life right now.

It is a marine theme park where absolutely everything is included - food, drinks, suncream, towels, snorkel gear, all of it. Think of it as an all inclusive resort but for a single extraordinary day out.

We swam with dolphins AND sharks. The dolphin swim is one of the most special experiences I have ever had anywhere in the world - just you, in the water, with these magnificent animals. The shark swim only lasts around ten minutes but it is still absolutely worth doing. The reef snorkelling with manta rays and tropical fish is stunning and you could genuinely spend hours drifting through it. Plus, there is an aviary and flamingos on the park too. What more could you want from a relaxing tropical day out?

​

My insider tips for Discovery Cove:

Get there at opening. I cannot stress this enough. We arrived around an hour after opening and there was not a single sunbed available - we nearly had to pay for cabanas. Arrive at the gates when they open and claim your spot first, then explore. Also - the dolphin swim photos are absolutely incredible but brace yourself for the price before you look at them. Just a word to the wise. We had a friend who didn't want to swim with them, taking videos and pics from outside the pool and they were just as good.  

The premium alcoholic drinks are a small upgrade worth knowing about - standard drinks are included but if you want cocktails and spirits you will need to add that on. Worth it for a day out.

​

Volcano Bay - The Best Water Park in Orlando (in my opinion)

I have been to Volcano Bay several times across my six Orlando visits and my opinion has never changed. It is the best water park out of them all.

The slides cater for absolutely every level - from gentle rides for the little ones to the kind of drops that leave your stomach somewhere at the top. TeAwa The Fearless River always has me howling with laughter every single time without fail. The pace, the atmosphere, the fun - it is just brilliant from start to finish. If you are doing a water park day in Orlando, make it this one. No debate.

​

The Disney Fireworks Boat Trip - The Experience Nobody Talks About Enough

This was the single highlight of my entire trip and I want to shout about it because not enough people know it exists.

You board the boats from the dock at Disney's Contemporary Resort as it gets dark. They take you out onto the lake and pitch up as the fireworks show begins. The full Disney fireworks soundtrack plays through the speakers. You sit on the water, in the dark, watching the whole show from the lake.

There are genuinely no words for what that feels like. The music, the fireworks reflecting on the water, the darkness around you - it is magical in a way that is very difficult to describe to someone who hasn't experienced it. Drinks and snacks are included. It is worth every single penny and I would do it on every Orlando trip from now on without hesitation.

Book it in advance - it sells out.

​

Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk at Night

Both of these are non-negotiable evening activities and neither requires a park ticket.

Disney Springs has incredible restaurants, shops, live music and that unmistakable Disney atmosphere without the queues and the ticket price. Universal CityWalk is the same - brilliant food, great bars, fantastic energy. Both come alive at night in a way that feels completely different from the daytime park experience. Build them into your itinerary as evening wind-downs and you will not regret it.

​

Top Tips for Orlando in 2026 - Things to Know Before You Go

Universal Epic Universe is now open and it's a game changer

Universal's brand new fourth park opened in May 2025 and is already being talked about as one of the best theme parks in the world. It features The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon and Universal Monsters - and it's the largest Universal park in the US. If you're planning an Orlando trip in 2026 or 2027, you need to factor this in. It is a full extra day minimum on its own. Note that it's located about 15 minutes from the original Universal campus so it's essentially a separate resort - plan your days accordingly.

​

Buy a Park to Park ticket for Universal

If you want to ride the Hogwarts Express you need a two park ticket - it runs between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. Don't make the mistake of buying a single park ticket and missing this.

​

Download the apps before you land

Download the Disney and Universal apps before you travel to see live wait times, find out where characters are and make dining reservations. You'll use them constantly throughout every single day.

​

Book dining 60 days in advance

Make dining reservations 60 days before you travel. Popular Disney restaurants book up incredibly fast - if you want to eat somewhere specific, book it before you leave home. This is not an exaggeration.

​

Go during value season if you can

Early September and late January are the best times to visit for smaller crowds and more manageable weather. School summer holidays and Easter are the busiest and most expensive periods. October half term is doable but you will notice the difference in crowd levels.

​

Build in a rest day

Plan for at least one full rest day during your trip. A week of non-stop park hopping is exhausting even for the most enthusiastic visitors. A villa like Sonoma Resort with its own pool is perfect for this - a day doing absolutely nothing by the water midway through the trip makes the second half so much better.

​

The Go Orlando Card is worth looking at

The Go Orlando Card All-Inclusive pass lets you visit multiple top attractions for significantly less than gate price. If you are doing several attractions across the trip it can represent a real saving - worth calculating against individual ticket prices when you are planning your itinerary.

​

Bring a refillable water bottle

The Florida heat is no joke and water inside the parks is expensive. A refillable bottle will save you a surprising amount across a two week trip.

​

My personal tip

After six visits my single biggest piece of advice remains the same - plan every single day before you leave home. Know your parks, book your Lightning Lane passes, research your must-do rides. The people who come home saying Orlando was overwhelming are the ones who didn't plan. The ones who come home already booking the next trip are the ones who did.

​

The Most Important Thing I Can Tell You About Orlando

Plan everything before you leave home. I mean everything.

Know which parks you are visiting on which days. Book your Lightning Lane passes in advance. Research the rides you absolutely cannot miss and have a rough plan for each day. The parks are enormous, the days disappear faster than you can imagine and if you arrive without a plan you will have a good time but you will come home knowing you missed things you wanted to do.

With a plan, Orlando is one of the greatest holiday destinations on earth. Without one it is overwhelming and exhausting.

​

Who is Orlando Actually For?

Honestly, everyone. But let me be real with you for a second.

I went on my honeymoon and we had the absolute time of our lives just running around like big kids. Orlando is absolutely not just for families and never has been.

I took my son when he was 3 and it was genuinely magical - the characters, the atmosphere, the wonder of it through his eyes. But he didn't want to go on barely any rides. If you go with a toddler, bring your own buggy from home or hire one on arrival. The walking is no joke and the park buggies cost around $20 a day which adds up fast across a two week trip.

My honest recommendation for the full theme park experience is to wait until your youngest is around 6 or 7. That is when they can go on everything, understand what they are seeing and fully feel the magic of it. I am heading back in 2027 when my youngest hits 7 and I cannot wait.

​

Bottom Line

Six visits in and I am still counting down to the next one. There is nowhere quite like Orlando. It is loud and enormous and relentless and completely, brilliant. Plan ahead, get to Discovery Cove at opening time, do the fireworks boat trip, spend your evenings at Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk and book your Lightning Lane passes before you land.

And if the thought of planning all of that yourself feels overwhelming - that is exactly what I am here for.

 

I have booked Orlando for dozens of families, couples and groups - villas on Sonoma Resort, hotels, park tickets, Discovery Cove, the fireworks boat trip, all of it. If you want it done properly without the stress, get in touch and let's start planning.