Planning an Orlando holiday is exciting right up until you have 47 tabs open, three different ticket options in your basket and someone asks whether you’ve booked the car yet.
We’ve been going to Orlando as a family for years, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that you really do not need to plan everything at once.
Start with the big three
Before worrying about restaurants, Lightning Lanes or what time you’re getting to Magic Kingdom, sort your dates, flights and where you’re staying. Those three decisions shape pretty much everything else.
For a first trip, we love around 14 days if the budget allows. Orlando is huge. Disney alone can fill days, then you’ve got Universal, shopping, food, pool days and all the random things you suddenly decide you want to do once you’re there.
Do not make every day a park day
This is probably one of our biggest tips. It’s very easy to plan 14 days and somehow end up with 13 theme park days. On paper it looks amazing. By day five, when everyone’s feet hurt and nobody wants to look at another queue, not so much.
Build in proper rest days. Sleep in. Sit by the pool. Wander around Celebration. Go shopping. Get food. Orlando is still Orlando when you’re not inside a theme park.
Choose what matters to your family
You do not have to do everything just because TikTok told you that you do. If your family loves Disney, give Disney more days. If you’re all Harry Potter and rollercoaster people, spend longer at Universal. If nobody cares about a certain park, skip it.
Our rule is to pick the things we’d genuinely be gutted to miss and build around those.
Work out the boring costs too
Flights, accommodation and tickets are the obvious ones. Then Orlando starts sneaking money out of your account through parking, tolls, food, tips, pool heat, baggage, car hire extras and the inevitable Target trip where you somehow spend $150 on absolutely nothing.
Budget for those from the beginning and the holiday feels much less painful.
And finally, enjoy planning it
You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to have a lazy day. You are allowed to go to the same restaurant twice. Your itinerary should make the holiday easier, not make you feel like you’re sitting an exam.
That’s basically why we created Orlando Deal Finder. We wanted somewhere to put the deals we find, the things we’ve learned and the advice we’d genuinely give friends or family planning their own Orlando trip.
Next step: have a look through our Orlando guides and itineraries, then keep an eye on our latest deals before you book.