Family Holidays: Orlando family holidays and breaks
Take the Family holiday rating 
Why
Orlando is the world's number one family holiday destination. Classic theme parks such as Disney World, Epcot and Universal Studios will provide days of entertainment for all the family. Multi-park tickets and special family deals can help keep the cost of your holiday down.
And you can combine a few days or a week in Orlando with a break or holiday elsewhere in Florida, including Miami, the Florida Keys and the coast. Alternatively, treat your family to the Caribbean or even New York.
- Top left: Dragons rollercoasters
- Top middle: Kids enjoying themselves
- Top right: Space shuttle launch
- Bottom left: Family fun on the beach
- Bottom right: Daytona beach
When
Florida is a year round destination with a warm sub tropical climate, sunny days are virtually guaranteed at any time of the year. It can be hot and humid between June and September and is a little cooler in the winter months, but there is no real time to avoid.
How
take the plane
British Airways and Virgin operate direct flights daily to Orlando starting at around £300. There are several charter options too, departing from regional airports, as well as London. Check some great flight deals from Expedia
Flying time is around nine hours and the time in Orlando is five hours behind ours.
from the airport
Although most visitors opt for hiring a car there are also plenty of other options, including taxis and shuttle buses. Orlando International airport is 15 miles from central Orlando and the major attactions.
Stay
There's a massive choice of family friendly hotels and motels close to the
theme parks. Take a look at Disney hotels with Expedia
Holidays or book from a vast range with Virgin
Holidays (and save up to 5% by booking
online). For something different we recommend renting a vacation villa.
A fully air conditioned villa with a private pool and all the facilities you
would expect such as cable TV, ensuite bedrooms and a massive kitchen are available
from £495 for one week. Many villas are located on quiet private estates
just a 5 minute drive from the theme park attractions of Orlando.
Do
Where do you start? Disney World offers dozens of rides, carnivals and daily parades. Epcot offers a taste of the future whilst Disney’s Animal Kingdom gives you the chance to take your children on safari in Florida. If you want to be more active there are water fun parks such as Wet and Wild or Typhoon Lagoon. Universal Studios and MGM Studios have their famous adventure film rides. All the parks are designed with families in mind, it’s this that makes Orlando the ultimate family destination.
Kennedy Space Centre – Further afield, a day trip to Cape Canaveral (allow two hours each way by car or bus), home of the U.S. Space Program, is highly recommended if your children have astronaut aspirations.
St. Petersburg / Clearwater – if your schedule allows, combine a visit to Orlando with a few days on the Gulf Coast, where you will be spoilt with sun and a 35 mile stretch of beautiful beaches. Two of them are rated among America’s Top 10 beaches.
Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Orlando.
Eat
There’s a wide range of quality restaurants. Many restaurants offer buffets for choosy children and there’s a full range of fast food restaurants. You can combine dinner with entertainment in one of the many themed dinner attractions.
Cost
A family of four with two adults and two children can enjoy an action-packed week staying in a vacation villa from approximately £1,500.
Travel reading
Why not recommend a book? Search through Amazon.co.uk using the box below and then contact us with your recommendation.
