Planning an unforgettable Disney and Universal Orlando adventure
Our travel consultant Hannah Chase recently visited Orlando, Florida and explored the Disney and Universal parks– learn how to make the most of your own magical trip with her top tips and advice.
So many people dream of visiting the parks in Orlando – it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures! I’m a real thrill-seeker and absolutely love theme parks, so it’s always been on my bucket list.
I spent two weeks in Orlando, Florida exploring the parks in order to give you the best advice when crafting magical trips for customers. I’ll share the best places to stay, where to eat and my other top tips – to find out more, just get in touch!
My guide to Orlando, Florida
From top tips on the best places to stay to insider secrets for beating the lines, here’s everything you need to know for your perfect Orlando adventure!
Our itinerary
We flew directly from Heathrow to Orlando with Virgin Atlantic; we had premium economy seats, which gave us that extra bit of comfort for the almost 10-hour flight! Upon arrival, we hired a car with Alamo.
We spent 10 nights at Disney, then stayed at Universal for four nights, visiting both Universal theme parks and the Volcano Bay Waterpark.
Two weeks gave us enough time to see everything without feeling rushed – we also had the chance to explore some of Orlando in that time.
How long should you spend at Disney World?
We spent most of our two weeks at Disney – a full 10 nights! It might sound like a lot, but there’s so much to do and explore.
A week would likely be enough to explore the parks, but the extra wiggle room makes it more relaxed. We visited all four Disney theme parks – and each park is enormous – and a water park during our stay.
We also stopped by the shopping complex Disney Springs multiple times for food and some shopping.
So many people dream of visiting the parks in Orlando – it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures!
Where to stay
For such a big trip, you want to make sure you find the perfect place to stay! These are my reviews of the carefully selected resorts we chose for our stay.
Boardwalk Inn, Disney
Our first 10 nights were spent at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, and honestly, it was everything we could have hoped for and more. The resort itself was gorgeous, and the customer service was brilliant – no request was too big or small.
But the best part was the location! We could walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, or use the complimentary Disney transport to reach the other parks. Staying in a resort within walking distance of the parks was such a time saver!
We could pop in and out when we wanted – we weren’t restricted to staying all day in the parks if we didn’t want to. We could go early in the morning, pop back to the hotel to relax or explore Orlando, and go back into the parks in the evening (which helped us avoid the busiest periods!).
As we stayed in a Disney Deluxe resort, we could use the extra magic hours in some of the parks on select evenings which was a great benefit that we really made the most of.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Universal Orlando
For our stay at Universal Orlando, we spent four nights at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. This also had an amazing location, only a 5-10 minute walk from the Universal theme parks and city walk.
To reach the Universal Volcano Bay water park, you could take the regular complimentary bus service, which only took about 5 minutes.
The hotel itself was lovely. Stepping into the lobby felt like walking into a tropical paradise like Tahiti or Fiji – it smelled incredible! I wanted to bottle the scent and take it home.
As it’s a Universal preferred resort, you receive complimentary express passes for the rides at the Universal Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks. This came in so handy, saving us lots of time from queuing.
Top three highlights
1. The sunny weather!
It was 35 degrees on average most days which is heaven to me. Even with a few tropical showers it was incredible.
2. The rides
I absolutely love rollercoasters; I’m a massive adrenaline junkie, so spending two weeks in the world’s best theme parks was amazing!
3. Using the passes
The Universal Express pass made our lives so much easier, so we could spend more time on rides and less time queuing! It was a huge benefit of staying in a Universal preferred hotel.
Places to eat
My favourite meal was breakfast at the Boma restaurant in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s an African-themed buffet and is absolutely delicious, it’s one of the best buffets I’ve ever had.
Other recommendations I have are:
- Art Smiths Home Coming at Disney Springs
- Captain Cooks at the Polynesian Resort
- Space 220 in Epcot
- Cowfish at Universal City Walk
- Cheesecake Factory
Who should visit?
It’s perfect for families of course – children will love the parks and meeting all their favourite characters. A trip to Orlando is also great for thrill-seeking couples.
My top tips
- Download the My Disney Experience app. It lets you see wait times, book fast passes, book restaurants and experiences, and also helps you to navigate the parks.
- Have a flexible day-by-day plan. Doing a bit of planning makes sure you can do everything you want to, but staying flexible takes off the pressure to get it all done so you can just enjoy it!
- Download Mobile Passport Control. If you’re travelling on an ESTA visa (which most will), it makes passport control so much smoother and quicker. We managed to get through in about 10 minutes!
- Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, live in the moment and just soak it all in.
Book a magical Disney adventure with Oyster Travel
Visiting Disney World and Orlando is a magical experience for all ages – whether you’re creating unforgettable memories for the family or fulfilling your own life-long dream to visit the parks.
But the logistics of such a huge trip can be overwhelming, and with a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this, you want to make sure everything is perfect. Our experienced team can help you get the most out of your experience, and take care of all the stressful bits so you don’t have to worry – without adding hidden costs.
Chat with us today to discover more.
