First Time in Orlando? Here's Where to Start

By Lizzie Best

Planning your first Orlando holiday is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming.

You may be thinking about Disney World, Universal Orlando, flights, attraction tickets, car hire, villas, restaurants and shopping - all before you have decided what you are going to do each day.

The good news is that you do not need to organise everything at once. The easiest approach is to make the major decisions first and gradually add the details.

Here is where we recommend starting when planning your first Orlando villa holiday.

Decide when you want to visit Orlando

School holidays will naturally influence the travel dates of many families. If you have some flexibility, however, think about the Florida weather, theme park crowds, opening hours and your overall budget.

Orlando is a year-round destination, but the experience can vary considerably throughout the year.

Summer is hot and humid, with regular afternoon rain and thunderstorms. The cooler winter months can be pleasant for spending long days exploring the theme parks, although evenings and early mornings can sometimes feel surprisingly cool.

Spring and autumn can provide a balance between warmer weather and slightly more manageable conditions, but special events and US holidays may still affect theme park crowds.

There is no single perfect month for everybody. The right time will depend on your family, budget and holiday priorities.

Allow enough time for your first Orlando holiday

For a first visit, we would normally suggest staying for around 14 nights if your available time and budget allow.

Walt Disney World has 4 main theme parks, while Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, Aquatica and Kennedy Space Center can easily fill several more days. You may also want time for shopping, dining, golf, Florida beaches and other Central Florida attractions.

Trying to fit everything into a short visit can leave the whole family exhausted.

Most importantly, do not assume that you need to visit a theme park every day. Build quieter days into your plans so that you can enjoy your Orlando villa, spend time around the private pool and recover after several busy days.

If you are travelling with little ones, our guide to planning an Orlando holiday with young children explains why a slower itinerary, rest days and flexible plans can make the holiday easier for everyone.

Choose where you want to stay

Your accommodation will be one of the most important decisions you make.

An Orlando villa gives your family separate bedrooms, living and dining areas, a kitchen and, in many homes, a private swimming pool. Depending on the property you choose, you may also have a spa, games room, cinema room, themed children’s bedrooms or access to community facilities.

Most established Orlando villa communities are located in Kissimmee, Davenport, Clermont and Haines City. These areas are generally well placed for Disney World and provide access to supermarkets, restaurants and the major road network.

Each area has its own advantages, so do not choose purely by looking at photographs of the villa. Consider where you expect to spend most of your holiday, the facilities your family will use and how much driving you are prepared to do.

Our detailed guide to where to stay for an Orlando villa holiday compares Kissimmee, Davenport, Clermont and Haines City.

Make a list of your villa requirements

With so many Orlando vacation villas available, it is easy to spend hours comparing one home with another.

Before you start searching, write down the features that genuinely matter to your family.

Consider:

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?

• Would you like a private pool and spa?

• Is a games room important?

• Would themed bedrooms add to the children’s holiday?

• Do you want a gated community?

• Would your family use a clubhouse, communal pool or other resort facilities?

• Would you prefer a lake, conservation or golf course view?

• Does anybody need a downstairs bedroom or accessible facilities?

• How many cars will you have, and what are the parking arrangements?

Try separating your list into essentials and features that would simply be nice to have. This will make it much easier to narrow down your options.

Families travelling with grandparents or several generations should also read our advice about planning a multi-generation Orlando holiday. Bedroom arrangements, bathrooms, mobility and personal space can all become particularly important for a larger family group.

Choose who you book your Orlando villa with

Finding an attractive villa is only part of the decision. You should also consider who you are booking with, what protection is provided and who will assist you if you need help.

Large online accommodation platforms can offer an extensive choice, but the booking process and level of support may differ from using a specialist Orlando travel company.

Debbie’s Villas is a UK-based, independent travel agent specialising in Orlando villa holidays. Our team knows the villa communities and can help you choose a home that suits your family’s requirements.

We are members of ABTA, and qualifying flight-inclusive package holidays are protected under our ATOL licence. The precise protection will depend on what you book, so check the arrangements before confirming your holiday.

Our comparison of Debbie’s Villas, Airbnb and Vrbo explains some of the differences to consider when choosing where to book your Orlando villa.

Think about how you will get around

Orlando and Central Florida cover an enormous area. Places that appear close together on a map can involve a longer drive than expected, particularly during busy periods.

For many families staying in an Orlando villa, hiring a car provides the most flexibility. You can travel between your villa, theme parks, supermarkets, restaurants, shopping malls and other Orlando attractions without arranging every day around transfers.

Driving on the right may initially feel unfamiliar, but most UK visitors adapt quickly. The roads around Orlando are generally wide and clearly marked, although local driving rules differ from those in the UK.

Before travelling, read our guide to driving in Florida for UK visitors. It includes guidance about 4-way stops, turning right at red traffic lights, school buses, speed limits, child seats and other important differences.

Remember to consider luggage when choosing your hire car. A vehicle may have enough passenger seats but insufficient boot space for everybody’s suitcases on the journey between the airport and your villa.

If you are travelling as a large group, hiring 2 cars can sometimes provide more flexibility than relying on one large vehicle.

Create a theme park wish list

One of the easiest mistakes on a first Orlando holiday is trying to do everything.

Sit down as a family and ask everybody to name the experiences they would be most disappointed to miss.

These might include:

• Visiting Magic Kingdom

• Exploring EPCOT

• Seeing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

• Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• Experiencing Epic Universe

• Swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove

• Visiting Kennedy Space Center

• Spending a day at a water park

• Watching a particular show or nighttime spectacular

Once you know the priorities, you can build the rest of your itinerary around them.

Avoid filling every day before you leave the UK. Florida weather, tired children and unexpected discoveries may change your plans. Leaving some flexibility will make it easier to adapt.

Research attraction tickets carefully

Orlando attraction tickets can represent a significant part of the holiday budget, so think carefully about which parks you genuinely expect to visit.

A ticket that offers access to numerous parks may appear to provide excellent value, but only if your family has enough time and energy to use it.

Check what each ticket includes, whether advance park reservations are required and whether there are any expiry or activation conditions. Theme park products and entry arrangements can change, so always confirm the current information before buying.

It is also worth considering whether you want to include rest days between major theme park visits before deciding how many days of admission you need.

Prepare for the Florida weather

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but sunshine is only part of the weather story.

During warmer months, high temperatures and humidity can make theme park days tiring. Drink water regularly, use sun cream and take breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.

Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common during summer. They can arrive quickly, produce heavy rain and then clear again. A lightweight poncho can be useful, but always follow instructions from theme park staff when lightning is nearby.

During winter, daytime conditions may be warm while mornings and evenings feel much cooler. Pack layers rather than assuming every day will be hot.

Plan some time away from the theme parks

Disney World and Universal Orlando may be central to your holiday, but Central Florida offers far more than theme parks.

You might want to visit Kennedy Space Center, explore a state park, play golf, spend a day shopping or drive to one of Florida’s beaches.

Orlando also has an extensive dining and entertainment scene. Areas such as Disney Springs, International Drive, Celebration and downtown Winter Garden can provide a change of pace from a full theme park day.

For more ideas, read our guide to enjoying Orlando like a local.

Think about food before you travel

Eating out is part of the Orlando experience, but taking a family to restaurants for every meal can become expensive.

One advantage of an Orlando villa is having your own kitchen. You can have breakfast before leaving for the theme parks, prepare snacks and drinks, enjoy lunch around the pool or order a takeaway after a long day.

Most villa areas have supermarkets and restaurants within a reasonable drive, although the precise choice will depend on the location of your home.

If there are particular restaurants you want to visit, check whether reservations are recommended. Popular dining locations, especially those at the major theme parks and resorts, can fill well in advance.

Check passports, ESTA requirements and travel insurance

Do not leave essential travel documents until the last minute.

Check that every traveller has a valid passport and meets the current requirements for entering the United States. Most eligible British visitors will need an approved ESTA or appropriate visa before travelling.

Use the official US government website when applying for an ESTA and be cautious of unofficial websites that charge additional fees.

Comprehensive travel insurance should be arranged as soon as you book. Medical treatment in the United States can be extremely expensive, so check that your policy provides appropriate medical cover and covers your planned activities and existing medical conditions.

Buy a reliable Orlando guide book

Online research is useful, but it can be difficult to judge which information is current, accurate or relevant to British visitors.

A detailed Orlando guidebook can help you understand how the different parts of the holiday fit together and introduce you to places you might not otherwise have considered.

The Best Orlando Villa Holiday Guide, written by Orlando specialists Simon and Susan Veness, covers flights, travel insurance, ESTA requirements, car hire, driving, attraction tickets, theme parks, restaurants, shopping, beaches, medical care and choosing an Orlando villa.

Customers booking an Orlando villa with Debbie’s Villas receive a complimentary copy to help with their holiday planning. The guide is also available from Amazon, Waterstones and other booksellers.

Give yourself time to enjoy the villa

Your villa should not simply be somewhere to sleep between theme park visits.

Allow time for a relaxed breakfast, an afternoon around the pool or an evening enjoying the space with your family. Children are sometimes just as excited about the private pool, games room or themed bedroom as they are about the attractions.

Villa days can also help you manage your holiday budget while giving everyone time to recover.

You have travelled a long way to enjoy an Orlando villa holiday, so make sure you leave enough time to enjoy the villa itself.

Enjoy planning your first Orlando holiday

You do not need to make every decision immediately.

Begin with your approximate dates and budget. Decide how long you want to stay, compare the established Orlando villa areas and make a list of the attractions that matter most to your family.

You can then choose your villa, arrange flights and transport, buy suitable attraction tickets and gradually develop your itinerary.

Planning should be part of the excitement rather than another source of stress.

Debbie’s Villas has specialised in Orlando villa holidays since 1999. If you are unsure which area, villa or holiday arrangement would suit your family, speak to our experienced team.

Tell us what matters to you, and we will help you find an Orlando villa that works for your first Florida holiday.