Orlando and Florida family holidays and breaks

Everyone knows about Orlando and its theme-parks. With sunny days almost guaranteed most of the year, plus some of the world's most famous family attractions, it makes for a great combined destination for family holidays with a stop elsewhere in the state of Florida, perhaps Miami or the Florida Keys, or combined with a break on a Caribbean island such as Cuba, or even a New York city-break.

 

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What to Do

Note that there are loads of multi-park tickets available for Orlando attractions. Make sure to do your research into which parks best suit your kids' ages and interests, and to plan your ticket purchases accordingly.

Constituting four theme-parks and two water-parks, Walt Disney World Resort is the obvious starting point for family holidays in Orlando. Its Magic Kingdom is a guaranteed hit with younger children, offering dozens of rides, carnivals and daily parades and the chance to see Mickey up close. Disney's Hollywood Studios is all about the magic of the movies, with High School Musical and Toy Story attractions as well as the famous Aerosmith Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Teenagers and adults enjoy the futuristic rides on offer at Epcot, whilst Disney’s Animal Kingdom gives you the chance to take the kids on safari even in Florida. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon complete the Disney parks in Orlando, with plenty of waterpark fun.

More compact than Disney but packed with heart-thumping action, Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure let you go behind the scenes of your favourite movies, books and comics. The Simpsons Ride and Shrek 4-D are the top Studio attractions, while Universal Islands brings The Cat in the Hat and Spiderman to life. Like Disney, Universal can also be topped off with a water-park – Wet ‘n Wild. The new-in-2010, 20-acre Harry Potter attraction at the Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, gives Potter fans the chance to visit Hogwarts, stroll through the streets of Hogsmead and sneak a peek behind the door of Professor Dumbledore’s office.

Seaworld Orlando is another popular theme-park choice.

Or head 45mins south of Orlando, to Winter Haven, home to the new-in-2011 Legoland Florida, designed for ages 2–12.

Further afield (2hrs each way from Orlando by car or bus), the Kennedy Space Center, home of the U.S. Space Program, is highly recommended for a day-trip if your children have astronautical aspirations, to experience the past, present and future of space travel.

If your schedule allows, combine a visit to Orlando with a few days on the Gulf Coast, where you will be spoilt with sun, a 60km stretch of beautiful beaches and more theme-park fun. Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay combines an impressive zoo with thrilling rides and America’s first dive rollercoaster, while across the street there are slides aplenty at Adventure Island, Tampa’s only water-park. Be sure to make the trip to Clearwater Beach to sink into the pristine white sands.

Miami is a great place for a family holiday, whether you decide to hit the beach or use it as a base to check out the nearby attractions. Miami Beach has plenty of family-friendly resorts and a less urban feel than mainland Miami, with colourful Art Deco hotels. The northern end of South Beach to is best for families, away from the partygoers further south. The Miami Children’s Museum is worth vising, or take a peek at what’s on offer at the Miami Science Museum and Planetarium. The Miami Metro Zoo is also a guaranteed hit – don’t miss the $50 million Amazon & Beyond exhibit that opened at the end of 2009. For a more low-key animal encounter, try Monkey Jungle in South Miami.

An 80km drive from Miami takes you to the entrance of the Everglades National Park, the third largest National Park in the lower 48 states of the USA. Camping, hiking, canoeing and bird-watching are popular here, and an airboat ride and a stop at the Everglades Alligator Farm is a must.

See our destination page on the Florida Keys for a totally different kind of holiday.

Where to Stay

There's a vast choice of family-friendly hotels and motels close to the theme-parks – take a look at Disney hotels with Expedia, or book from a vast range with Virgin Holidays (you save up to 5% by booking online). For a luxury all-inclusive option on the coast, check out Club Med's Sandpiper Bay. See also the suggestions for family holidays in Orlando and Florida in the right-hand column of this page, including details on Disney cruises in the region.

Alternatively, think about renting a villa – air-conditioned villas with private pools, cable TV, ensuite bedrooms and massive kitchens are available from about £500/wk. Many are on quiet private estates a 5min drive from the attractions of Orlando.

When

Florida is a year-round destination for family holidays, with a warm sub-tropical climate and sunny days virtually all year in the south. Summers are warm and humid, with frequent but refreshing rainfall. Occasional hurricanes may occur during the rainy season (May–Oct).

Click here for an up-to-date family-friendly events guide to Orlando.

How

British Airways runs direct flights to Orlando from London Gatwick, while Virgin flies direct from London Gatwick, Glasgow International and Manchester. Several charter options depart from regional airports, as well as London. 

There are also direct flights to Miami International Airport from London Heathrow, with American Airlines, British Airways and Virgin. See our flight deals page.

The flight time is around 9hrs, and Florida is 5hrs behind the UK, meaning that you should factor the effects of jet-lag into your family holidays.

Orlando International Airport is just 24km from the major attractions. Most visitors hire a car, although taxis and shuttle buses are available.

Eat

Florida is an easy place for eating out on family holidays. Orlando has a good choice of restaurants of all kinds, many of them offering buffets that are good for choosy children, plus the expected gamut of fast-food restaurants. Various themed dinner attractions let you combine dinner with some form of entertainment.

Eating out remains relatively cheap in the USA, and portions are so huge you can save money by ordering two or three portions per family.

Cost

A week in a villa for a family of 4 starts at approximately £500, while flights from London to Orlando average around £400pp. Fly-drive deals can work out economically for family holidays in Florida.

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