I have already planned a lot of complicated trips in this life, but I never thought that one of those who was going to give me the most headache would be to plan a trip to Orlando. There are numerous parks, different types of tickets, hotels inside and outside the complex, pie-fila passes, special meals, car rental and other details to keep an account. In addition, it is so much information available and so many options that as much as we read, it always ends up kind of confusing.
After seeing many people complain and having the same doubts I had when I went to plan my trip, I decided to set up this little “Guide to plan a trip to Orlando for Dummies”, with everything you need to know to start dreaming about your trip.
Attention: It is not a good idea to travel to the United States without international health insurance, since the hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find safe and well-benefit insurance.
Best time to go
I advise you to travel in low season, so you can take the empty parks and the prices more affordable. And when would that be? From March to May and from September to November. I have been in March and at the end of May and have not faced long lines in any of the parks, any of the time.
If you choose to travel in low season and make a point of not competing in toys with a crowd, you just need to stay tuned to the week of Spring Break, a recess that American schools and universities have in the early spring and that can fill the parks a little. Dates vary from state to state, but overall the Spring Break takes place between February and April.
For those who have school-age children and teens, it can be difficult to plan a trip to Orlando in low season. All right, you can know and enjoy all the parks during the Brazilian holidays as well, which in general are in July, December and January. The only problem is that the parks will be fuller, but nothing you can handle.
If you are concerned about the cold, know that Florida does not have a harsh climate in winter, which makes it possible to travel during our school holidays (December and January). You won’t have to face a blizzard while descending on the roller coaster, rest assured.
How long to stay
People spend 10-15 days in Orlando. This time is enough to get to know all the main parks and shop at the outlets without making your trip an unbridled rush. Remember that spending the day in the theme parks is tiring and you will need quieter moments and more relaxation to endure the marathon.
Don’t you have that much time? All right, you can have an overview with fewer days. You can choose only two or three parks that interest you more. I particularly get tired of visiting so much park (but remembering I have no children) and I have a horror of shopping, so I only stayed five days and went to three parks. I found it good size, even more so that on this trip my companies had no breath and no interest in knowing all the enchanted lands of Mickey Mouse.
What are the parks of Orlando? Are they all from Disney?
It is not without reason that Orlando is known as the world capital of fun. The city has numerous parks and no, not all of them are Disney. Disney parks are inside Walt Disney World Resort, a huge complex that also includes several hotels. Look at their list:
Magic Kindom: This is the classic, the one that everyone thinks about when it comes to Disney. That’s what’s Cinderella’s castle.
Epcot: This is where that huge silver ball that we always see in the tourist pamphlets. It is inspired by futuristic themes.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Remember the biggest hits and history of cinema.
Animal Kindom: It is aimed at real animals and plants and fiction.
Disney also has two water parks within the complex, Thypoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
This is the Disney complex. All right so far?
But Orlando also has another important complex of parks, Universal. It encompasses the theme parks Universal Studios, more geared towards classic cinema, and Islands of Adventure, with attractions inspired by great action-adventure hits. Inside the Universal complex is also the CityWalk, an area dedicated to restaurants, bars, shops, shows and nightclubs and the Wet’n Wild water park.
The third park complex in Orlando is Sea World, consisting of the park geared towards marine life, Sea World, and Bush Gardens, known as the city’s most radical park. The Sea World complex also features the Aquatica and Discovery Cove water parks. I didn’t visit Sea World because I’m against using captive animals for shows.
In addition to these three major groups I mentioned, the city is still full of smaller parks, such as Legoland, The Holy Land Experience, Old Town, Kennedy Space Center and Gatorland. Wow!
What about the Harry Potter park?
Although we’ve become accustomed to calling it the “Harry Potter park,” the attractions that reproduce the magical world of J.K. Rowling does not form a separate park. In fact, they are part of the Parks Island of Adventure (Hogsmead) and Universal Studios (Diagonal Beco). Therefore, if you make a point of visiting this part, it is for these parks that you should buy tickets.
Despite being two areas in different parks, they are connected by the Hogwarts Express and you can travel from one to another inside the train. For this, you just need to buy a type of ticket that entitles you to enter the two parks on the same day. See more about this in the links below.
Which tickets should I buy?
The three main park complexes have different types of admission that limit the amount of days you can enter and the amount of parks you can visit per day. All you have to do is think about how many days you will stay and how many parks in each group you want to see. Choose the best ticket for you.
There is a ticket category, the Orlando Flex Ticket and the Orlando Flex Ticket Plus, which entitles you to the parks of the Universal and Sea World complex, but the ticket to Disney parks must always be purchased separately. Do you understand?
I know the topic is complex. That’s why we have two whole posts dedicated to the subject. Click here to read our tutorial on how to buy Universal tickets and how to buy Disney tickets.
How do Disney hole-squie works?
In Disney parks, everyone who buys the ticket is entitled to Fast Pass+, a kind of “drill” that gives you the right to enter up to three attractions per day of visit, including shows and parades. Simply schedule the time you want to go to this attraction on the internet or look for the service kiosks inside the park on the day of the visit. This is well explained in this post on the subject.
In the parks of the Universal complex it is also possible to skip the line, but in this case you need to buy the Universal Express Pass for $34.99. The purchase can be made at the same time as you purchase your ticket over the internet or at kiosks within the parks.
Where to stay? What are Disney hotels like?
Both the Disney and Universal complex have hotels inside. Staying in one of them is optional and brings numerous advantages, such as thematic decoration, transportation to the parks, in addition to the climate of magic and fun 24 hours a day. This should certainly be an amazing experience, but it’s also much more expensive.
If you are looking for savings, you can stay in the vicinity of the complexes, which are also full of good hotels and with great prices. Orlando has the second largest hotel chain in the United States. Hotel is not lacking! In this post we break into the city and give tips on where to stay in Orlando.
Find the best hotels in Orlando
What is the Magic Band?
It is a smart bracelet delivered free to all guests of the Disney complex hotels. Those who are not a guest of the complex can also buy yours at any park kiosk, for $12.95. It is not mandatory to invest in one of these, but it helps to plan and make your visit more practical.
What’s so special about her? It controls all its activity within the complex: it serves as a key to the room (for guests of the complex only), entrance of the parks, proof of schedule of Fast Pass+, virtual wallet, and even to manage the photos taken by the park photographers.
But be aware: for it to work you need to associate it with your MyDisneyExperience.com account.
What is Photo Pass?
It is a photo service that you can use inside the Disney complex. It works like this: you spend the day in the park, and every time you see one of the hired photographers, you can take a picture with him. Photos amass accusing on one card or in your Magic Band, and then you can purchase the print multi-products with your photos. You can also buy all photos in digital format.
To use the service, you simply ask for a card for the first photographer who takes your photos and inform the number of them every time you are clicked or register the service in your Magic Band by My Disney Experience.
What can and cannot enter the parks?
Whenever people will pack a backpack for a ride like that is that question: Food can? You can do it! Drinks also, less those that have alcohol. Another question that many people have is whether you can go by slipper. Particularly I don’t find the option more comfortable, but it can. In addition, it has a list of prohibited items on the official website. Many of them you can already imagine.
How do I go to Disney special events?
During the year, the parks of the Disney complex, Universal and Sea World organize several special events. You can check if the date of any of the Disney events will match your trip here. One of the most famous and popular is Mickey’s not so scary Halloween Party in October.
To participate in one of them, you often need to buy an additional ticket, for sale both on the site and at the park ticket offices. In other cases, just go to the park on the day of the event with your normal ticket.
Do I need to book at Disney restaurants?
For some, yes. In cafenete style restaurants it is not necessary, but if you want to eat in one of the a la carte or buffet, it is good to book in advance. Reservations can be made by clicking here.
What is the Dining Plan?
The Dining Plan is an exclusive meal plan for those staying within the Disney complex. You buy a package that entitles you to eat at the participating restaurants in the parks. Look here. Look here.
Do I need to rent a car in Orlando?
It is not mandatory, but renting a car makes life easier and very much in Orlando. Public transport there is practically non-existent. Even if you are staying inside one of the resorts and are going to use their transportation to the parks, you will have trouble visiting the parks of other complexes, the outlets and other attractions.
Some hotels outside the complexes also offer transfers to the parks and other parts of the city, but no doubt it will make your trip much more plastered.
Click here to search for the best cost-effective car rental in Orlando
Can you shop for a trip to Orlando?
Yeah. Yes. Although Miami has become the fame of shopping paradise, Orlando also has great outlets and shopping malls with prices on account.
Index of useful posts to plan a trip to Orlando
How much does a trip to Disney cost
Orlando spending little: cheap trip to Disney
How to travel by bus through the United States
How to Buy Disney Orlando Tickets
Guide to Visiting Disney Holywood in Orlando
How Fast Pass+ works, the Disney Hole-Files
How to Drive in the United States
Guide to Universal Studios Orlando
Itinerary of the Islands of Adventure, Orlando
Harry Potter Park in Orlando
Interview for the American Visa: Practical Tips
How to buy tickets for Universal parks
Prepaid cell phone with internet in the United States
Where to stay in Orlando: cheap places
How to Get the American Visa, Step by Step
Travel Tips for the United States
