Orlando Holidays

Orlando travel guide

• When's the best time to visit Orlando?

  We’re not joking when we say the weather in Orlando is pretty great all year round! Thanks to its sub-tropical climate, you can expect some hot, sultry summers and some dry (and sunny!) winters. But the very best of the weather is normally found between January and April when those temps are in the mid 20s – you can get some proper exploring down without feeling like you’re actually going to melt into the tarmac. If it’s crowds you’re worried about, your best bet is probs September when visitor numbers are much lower, and the temps will still be lovely too!
  

• How to avoid the crowds in Orlando

  Orlando holidays are most popular during summer, so this is the busiest time to go – you can expect higher prices and lengthy queues at the theme parks. The Easter and Christmas holidays are also a busy time to go to Orlando. For families looking to go to Orlando, May half term tends to be a slightly cheaper time to go. If you’re travelling without kids – or travelling with pre-school children – try booking your Orlando holiday for May, June or September. You’ll get good weather and fewer crowds.

• What are the best Orlando attractions for families?

  Walt Disney World Resort Florida

  Come on, you know what we’re gonna say. There's no place like it, after all. Don’t think of Walt Disney World as a theme park, but more as an immersive experience. The little'uns can meet their fave characters — and not just the classic Minnie and Mickey, but those that even you’ve never heard of — before skipping between all four of the mesmerising park areas – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney's Hollywood Studios . And yes, the “it’s a small world” ride is still there, and it’s still great. For Space Mountain magic or animal adventures like no other, Walt Disney World Resort is a must for anyone headed to Orlando. In fact, did you even visit Florida if you skipped it? Not in our book.

  Universal Studios Theme Park

  Universal’s flagship resort is also big fat must for visitors to Orlando. One of the most widely visited resorts in the whole world, a trip to Universal Studios makes the big kids (that's you) feel young again. The sheer size of the place alone is a bit mind-boggling, with loads of differently themed areas to play with – Hollywood, Production Central, New York, San Francisco, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (our fave!), Springfield…the list goes on.
  
  We reckon this is a really good shout if you’ve got slightly older kids along with you for the ride.

  And boat loads more!

  Orlando’s sunny climes offer a summer of balmy temperatures (if you’re not caught in a storm), so - quite frankly - it's a bit daft not to make the most of its outrageously fun water parks. You're not short of choice, either.
  
  Orlando is home to some of the world’s wildest water parks - more than you can shake your goggles at. There’s Discovery Cove, Volcano Bay at Universal, Aquatica and the newest of the lot, Island H20.

• What are the best Orlando attractions for adults?

  Now, we ain’t saying you can’t explore the parks at Disney to your heart’s content if you don’t have kids in tow, but just in case you don’t fancy it here’s a few pointers as to what you can get up to elsewhere!

  Take to the sky in a a hot air balloon

  If you don’t wanna go in the actual parks and stand in those queues, why not float right on over them? Go up in a balloon with Bob’s Balloons and you can sail blissfully over Kissimmee, Disney World Resort, or the Davenport areas in a flight that can be customised just for you.

  Slip into a kayak (with some dignity intact) in the Everglades

  If you’re not into heights then you can float in a kayak instead, gliding through the Everglades – a national park consisting of 1.5 million acres of wetland in the south of Florida. We’re talking rivers, creeks, swamps…the lot! Head back out at night and you can go for a pretty magical bioluminescence paddle.

  Get yer boots on in Ocala National Forest

  Get your boots on and go hiking in Ocala National Forest, just north of Orlando. There’s more than 600 lakes and rivers here – blimey! – and you’ll stumble across some migratory birds and the odd playful manatee or two. Oh, it also happens to be home to some of the world’s rarest plants. One of Florida’s last truly wild places, nature lovers, this one’s defo for you.

  Now, let's talk nightlife

  Right, we’ve talked wildlife, now it’s time to talk nightlife. There’s loads of places where you can wet your whistle, from clubs to hotel bars.

  International Drive

  I-Drive to the locals, this is a classic Orlando nightlife option, and it's defo for the more young and energetic amongst you who love a touch of glitter and hearty dash of drama. We're talking medieval banquets, ghostly castles, murder mysteries, and even Middle Eastern Bedouin tents to fill your boots with. Our fave? Howl at the Moon Orlando - described as a "singing, clapping, stomping, dance on the piano, Rock 'n' Roll dueling piano show", this place is all about audience interaction and really great music.

  Wall Street Plaza

  If that all seems a bit much, then you might just love Wall Street Plaza, where a more leisurely crawl from bar to bar is on the agenda. There's seven places to check out here, from Hooch - a former moonshine warehouse - to the Henhouse, always sure to surprise you. And don't forget the famous Block Parties every Friday and Saturday night, baby! Just you and a thousand of your new best friends.

  Downtown Orlando

  Not far from Wall Street Plaza you'll find Downtown Orlando. The core of the city, it's home home to improv shows at SAL Comedy Club, clubs like Savoy Orlando, Southern Nights, and the Sky Lounge, and Tinker Field, where you'll find the Electric Daisy Carnival every November - an epic, three day celebration of EDM.

• Orlando shopping

  Shopping in Orlando is big business! They’ve got cool little independent places for your more unique buys – from boutiques, to jewellers, to galleries, even museums – but they also know how to do big brand shopping on a big scale. We’re talking International Drive, baby! Your one stop street for bagging some designer. Seriously, there’s over 180 designer shops on this one street alone.

  But because this is Orlando, the gift that just keeps on giving, there’s even more – there’s a bunch of fab malls to rifle your way through too, from The Mall at Millenia to the Orlando Fashion Square Mall. Orlando Premium Outlets, meanwhile, is the superstore to end them all – Burberry, Coach, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Versace…the lot, and all for an absolute barg! Nice one.

  Pointe Orlando is a bit more than just a mall. Think of it as a fun-filled entertainment centre, just with a plethora of designer outlets thrown in for good measure! There’s loads of restaurants too, a 21-screen cinema, and WonderWorks, a fun-filled amusement park for the mind – oo-er.

• Orlando dining

  Don’t get us wrong, some of the best grub we’ve ever had in Orlando is theme park food, but there’s some seriously fab restaurants for you to try out just a couple of miles from the parks. Orlando has become a bit of a melting pot of cuisines over the past few years, stretching from theme park food stalls to celeb and Michelin-starred chefs.

  You've got family-friendly restaurants that can be found on almost every corner, and then you've also got the city’s fancier hotels serving up thrills on the plate big enough to rival the theme parks.
  
  There’s Wine Bar George at Disney Springs, a fave with tourists but also locals too – so you know it’s a good-en. If you hadn’t guessed, they’ve got a pretty large selection of wines on offer, but there’s also cheeseboards to pick at and family style platters of steak or sea bass. In the Winter Park neighbourhood you’ll find Buttermilk Bakery – a heavenly place that you should make a beeline for come breakfast. Croissants, tarts, bread, and quiche – they’ve got the lot!
  
  Twenty Pho Hour is super popular at the moment, thanks to its quirky interior design, classic, great big bowls of good old ramen, and their lengthy opening hours – we’re talking 24 hours on Friday and Saturday!

  Capa at the Four Seasons is mega elegant and perfect with a capital P for date night. On the top floor, it’s got sweeping views of Walt Disney World and its menu is full of top shareable tapas – we told you it was great for date night. Knife and Spoon is new at the Ritz-Carlton, headed up by award-winning chef John Tesar. Go for the dry-aged steaks, it’s their speciality.

  Malls are a good place to eat as they’re home to some seriously good Italian restaurants and seafood diners, while along I-Drive you’ll find an excellent array of Tex-Mex, tapas, steak houses and wonderfully inventive themed restaurants; with everything from 50s American diners and futuristic space-shuttle joints to Titanic-era fine dining.

• Cultural things to do in Orlando

  Beyond the frenzy of International Drive, you’ll find that there’s quite a laid-back vibe to Orlando with some fab arts and culture, thanks to the museums. We know getting a dose of culture probs isn’t super high up on the list of things to do for most folks heading to the Sunshine State, but Orlando really does it have it in spades. It’s got a history that includes Indigenous settlers, astronauts, and some African-American trailblazers.

  You’ve got the Orlando Museum of Art, for one - founded back in 1924 it’s practically part of the furniture now! It’s home to a collection of sculptures, art and photography dating back to the 19^th century that sits alongside the work of local artists and some internationally significant pieces.

  The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art doesn’t just have a super long name, it also houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany – yep, the guy who did those really fancy stained glass lamps! Obvs, there’s more to the collection than just lamps, and quite frankly we’d like to have it all, so defo give yourself a good, long while to have a goozy.

  Hannibal Square Heritage Centre is in the heart of Winter Park and here you can learn about Hannibal Square’s origins as one of Florida’s original African-American communities, whilst The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center, about 30 mins north of International Drive, looks to the past, but also has a firm focus on a future free of antisemitism, prejudice, and bigotry. One of the best bits? You can don some Oculus goggles for a virtual reality experience that will take you right into the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis. Important stuff.

• One last thing before you go!

  When you head to the USA, you’ll need to complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (or ESTA as it’s known to the cool kids), an entry requirement by the US Customs & Passport Control. All jokes aside, you really do wanna get this done as they may very well refuse you entry at border control without it!

• Hiring a car in Orlando

  Seeing everything Orlando has to offer is tricky without a car - but our car hire has you covered. Arrange Orlando car hire through Netflights and you can pick up your car right at the airport.

• Orlando events - what's on when?

  Plan your action-packed visit to the Sunshine State with our Orlando event calendar.

  
  January – Walt Disney World Marathon

  The only full marathon to take place on Disney property, this is a highlight in the Disney calendar. For a magic-fuelled event with a fun atmosphere and the chance to see Walt Disney World Resort® in a whole new light, make sure you’re part of the action.

  
  February – Daytona 500

  The most important and prestigious race in the NASCAR calendar takes place annually at the Daytona International Speedway. The atmosphere is unparalleled by any other racing event, as 43 stock cars zoom round for 500 miles.

  
  March – Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

  This outdoor art festival sees over 350,000 visitors and artwork from over 200 artists, featuring paintings and sculptures made from clay, glass and leather. The three-day event also involves show-stopping jazz, children’s activities and great eats.

  
  April – Florida Film Festival

  As one of the most respected and loved regional film events, Florida Film Festival showcases the best in American and foreign films.

  
  May – Orlando International Fringe Festival

  This 14-day arts festival features an array of different performances across theatre, dance, music and art. It was the first American Fringe Festival, and is now one of the largest in the United States. Enjoy yourself as you take in a variety of off-beat – and often uncensored – performances in this creative community, which has won a series of ‘best festival’ awards.

  
  June – Annual Harvest Festival

  This annual festival offers fun for all the family. Join in with popular events like the stomping of the grapes, while listening to a variety of live music, and see the crafts and work of various local artists. You can also partake in a complimentary winery tour and tasting.

  
  July – Fireworks at the Fountain

  Celebrate American Independence Day in style at Orlando’s amazing fireworks display, located at the majestic fountain at Lake Eola Park. With food, drink, music and more, you’d be mad to miss it.

  
  September – Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

  This annual event is held during September and October at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Experience the magic of the ‘House of Mouse’ with a series of family-friendly Halloween events, including a parade, trick or treating, fireworks, stage shows and parties for children of all ages.

  
  October – Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights™

  Prepare for the ultimate Halloween experience when you head to Universal Studios in October. Halloween Horror Nights™ are not for the faint-hearted. You can expect spook-tacular events across eight haunted houses and six scare zones, plus live shows starring Universal Studios’ most famous monsters.

  
  November – Annual Festival of Trees

  Towards the end of the year, the Orlando Museum of Art is transformed into a glittering wonderland filled with sparkling trees and stunning décor. A glamorous gala night marks the start of the nine-day event. The festival continues at the museum, with daily music performances and family entertainment throughout the week.

  
  December – Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ transforms for Christmas, as snow and festive decorations adorn the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Enjoy festive food, drink and entertainment – and make sure you don’t miss the grand finale. Every night, a magical spell is cast on Hogwarts castle, cascading it in magic, candlelight and festive moments inspired by the films. It’s a truly amazing sight for any Potterhead.