United States
Early evening at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando: swan paddleboats on the water, the fountain lit up in the middle, walkers on the 0.9-mile path, and the towers of downtown behind.
Orlando is where most UK families come for the theme parks: Walt Disney World to the south-west, Universal at the top of International Drive, SeaWorld in between. It's a spread-out, car-based city, hot and stormy in summer and mild in winter. Downtown, Winter Park and the springs give you days away from the queues.
Orlando sits in the middle of Florida, about an hour from the Atlantic beaches and 90 minutes from the Gulf coast. Walt Disney World has four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), two water parks and Disney Springs. Universal Orlando sits at the north end of the International Drive district, about 15 minutes south of downtown: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, the Volcano Bay water park and, about 3 miles further south, Epic Universe. SeaWorld and ICON Park are on International Drive itself. Downtown Orlando surrounds Lake Eola, with Thornton Park and Mills 50 next door, and Winter Park is 20 minutes north. Kissimmee, in Osceola County next door to Disney, is villa country. Kennedy Space Center is about an hour east.
Nowhere else puts this many big theme parks within a short drive of each other. Disney and Universal alone have seven theme parks and three water parks, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND Florida add more, and Universal's newest park, Epic Universe, opened in May 2025. In winter the average high is about 22°C, so the parks are comfortable when the UK is cold and dark. There's more to Orlando than queues, though. Rockets fly from the Space Coast an hour away, Wekiwa Springs is 25 minutes from downtown, and you can spend a quiet morning on the lakes of Winter Park. Plan your park days, rest days and budget before you book anything.
Orlando neighbourhood by neighbourhood — the character of each and who it suits.
Orlando's hotel and attraction strip, running from the Orlando International Premium Outlets in the north past ICON Park and the Convention Center to SeaWorld and the Vineland outlets in the south. Restaurant Row is just off it on Sand Lake Road.
The hotel district around Disney Springs at Walt Disney World: an open-air complex of four neighbourhoods with more than 150 restaurants, shops and activities.
Osceola County, next door to the Disney parks, which calls itself the Vacation Home Capital of the World: more than 30,000 vacation homes, plus Old Town on W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (US 192).
The north end of the International Drive district, about 15 minutes south of downtown: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and CityWalk, with Epic Universe about 3 miles further south.
The city centre around Lake Eola Park, with the cobblestoned, walkable Thornton Park on its east side and the Mills 50 District just to the north.
A separate city 20 minutes north of Orlando, built around the cobblestoned Park Avenue District of restaurants, museums and shops.
Orlando's food is much better than its burger-and-chips reputation. Visit Orlando counts six MICHELIN-starred venues, 14 Bib Gourmands and 40 recommended restaurants. The best place to start is Mills 50, just north of downtown, with Vietnamese and other Asian kitchens and more MICHELIN Guide restaurants than any other district. Black Bean Deli there has served Cuban food for nearly 20 years. Near International Drive, Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road has more than two dozen restaurants, heavy on steak and seafood. Disney Springs has over 150 restaurants, shops and activities, and entry and parking are free. Florida's own flavours are the pressed Cuban sandwich, grouper, stone crab in season and key lime pie. Character meals and dinner shows are the family splurge.
Orlando eats from every kitchen in the world, from Mills 50's Vietnamese and Asian restaurants to Latin American cafés and Restaurant Row's steakhouses, so vegetarians have plenty of choice away from the burger stands. The theme parks and Disney Springs have a huge range too. For coeliac or other strict diets, contact restaurants before you go.
Pick the parks first, then the base. Doing mostly Disney? Lake Buena Vista or a Disney hotel saves driving. For Universal, stay at Universal or the top of International Drive. International Drive suits families without a car, thanks to the trolley. Kissimmee's villas give bigger groups space and a pool, but you'll drive everywhere. Downtown and Winter Park are for food, walking and a slower few days.
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Orlando is built for cars, and a hire car is the simplest way to cover the parks, the coast and the springs. Your UK photocard licence is valid, though you may also need a 1949 international driving permit. The Central Florida Expressway toll roads stopped taking cash in September 2025. You need an electronic pass, or you'll be billed later by Pay By Plate. On International Drive, the I-RIDE Trolley runs daily from 8am to 10:30pm for $2 a ride, with passes from $8. LYNX buses cost $2, or $4.50 for a day. SunRail links Kissimmee, downtown and Winter Park, but only on weekdays. Stay at a select Disney hotel and free buses, boats and the monorail take you to all four parks. Universal's hotels run free water taxis and shuttle buses.
The I-RIDE Red Line runs the length of International Drive, from the Orlando International Premium Outlets past ICON Park to SeaWorld and the Vineland Premium Outlets, about every 20 minutes. The Green Line covers Universal Boulevard about every 45 minutes, and transfers between the two are free. LYNX Link 42 joins the airport to International Drive by way of Sand Lake Road SunRail station, every 30 minutes. Link 311 runs from the airport to Epic Universe and the Disney Springs transfer centre. FastLink 407 serves Kissimmee on weekdays and Saturdays. Downtown, the LYMMO circulator is free. SunRail stops at Church Street and LYNX Central for downtown, Winter Park/Amtrak for Park Avenue, and Kissimmee/Amtrak, but runs Monday to Friday only.
Ready-made day plans for Orlando — from a single day to a long weekend.
Drive east to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, 59 to 61 miles from Orlando on SR 528 or SR 50 (about an hour from International Drive). Admission includes Space Shuttle Atlantis and the bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. It opens 9am to 5pm; set your sat-nav to 'Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex', not just 'Kennedy Space Center'.
Take a day off the parks in the city. On a weekday, ride SunRail to Winter Park for Park Avenue, the Morse Museum and the hour-long Scenic Boat Tour. Back in downtown, walk the 0.9-mile path around Lake Eola and eat in Mills 50. Next morning, swim in 72-degree water at Wekiwa Springs, 25 minutes north of downtown (reserve ahead).
Do Universal in a run: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure on day one, Epic Universe on day two, Volcano Bay or CityWalk on day three. A Three Park Adventure Ticket covers the dry parks for 14 consecutive days, so you can space them out between rest days instead.
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Units
What to expect — December to February is mild: average highs of 22 to 24°C at Orlando airport and lows around 10°C, so pack a jumper for evenings. It's the drier half of the year and outside hurricane season.
What's best — Park days without the heat, EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays in December and its Festival of the Arts in the new year.
What to expect — Warming fast: average highs of 26°C in March, 29°C in April and 31°C in May. The rainy season usually starts in late May. Easter is in spring, so book tickets and hotels early and check the price for your dates.
What's best — Long park days before the summer storms, and the springs before they get busy.
What to expect — Hot and humid, with average highs of about 33°C from June to August. June to September are the wettest months, with afternoon thunderstorms as the sea breezes collide. Hurricane season starts on 1 June.
What's best — Water parks in the morning, indoor rides in the afternoon storms, and early starts every day.
What to expect — Still warm: 32°C in September, 29°C in October, 26°C in November. The dry season usually starts in mid-October. Hurricane season runs to 30 November and peaks in September. Visit Orlando says autumn brings smaller crowds.
What's best — October half-term, Halloween events (Horror Nights isn't recommended for under-13s) and the start of the holiday season.
British citizens need an approved ESTA (or a visa) before flying. Apply only on the official site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov: the fee is US$40.62 per person and babies need one too.
An ESTA lasts two years, or until the passport expires. Stays are limited to 90 days.
You need an e-Passport, valid for your whole stay. The form now asks for a selfie.
Other websites charge extra to submit it for you.
Border officers may ask to look at your phone and social media.
Disney: four theme parks and two water parks. Park reservations may be needed depending on your ticket. Lightning Lane passes cost extra; Disney hotel guests can buy them 7 days before their stay, everyone else 3 days before the park day.
Universal: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and Volcano Bay. Express is a paid add-on, included at three Signature Collection hotels.
On-site hotel guests get early entry at both resorts. All of this changes, so check before you buy.
Summer highs average 33°C with high humidity. Drink water, get into shade or air conditioning between 10am and 4pm, and use SPF 30 or higher.
Central Florida is the lightning capital of the US. When thunder roars, go indoors, and wait 30 minutes after the last rumble.
Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. Follow local instructions, including evacuation orders.
Alligators live in every county: swim only in designated areas in daylight and never feed them.
Your UK photocard licence is valid, but you may need a 1949 international driving permit; get it in the UK. Hire firms may set their own age and experience rules.
Central Florida Expressway roads no longer take cash. You pay electronically or get a Pay By Plate bill.
If you hire a car at Orlando International and fly home from there, the free Visitor Toll Pass from the airport terminals is an option instead of the hire company's toll deal.
Don't leave passports in the car.
Medical treatment is expensive and there are no special arrangements for British visitors, so travel insurance is essential. UK prescriptions aren't valid in the US.
Emergency number: 911.
Prices are shown before tax: Orange County adds 6.5% sales tax at the till, and hotels add a 6% tourist tax on top.
Most UK flights land at Orlando International (MCO). Virgin Atlantic flies non-stop daily from Heathrow and Manchester, plus a seasonal Edinburgh service, with a flight time of 9 to 10 hours. Virgin Atlantic uses MCO's Terminal C. The airport's own route list also includes Gatwick. TUI flies to Melbourne Orlando International, 110 km from the city and just over an hour's drive away. TUI quotes about 10 hours from Gatwick. Orlando Sanford (SFB) is 30 minutes from downtown but lists no UK flights. Get your ESTA before you book. At MCO, hire cars are in the terminal garages. LYNX buses leave from Terminal A, level 1 ($2, exact fare): Link 42 for International Drive, 311 for Epic Universe and Disney Springs, and 11 or 51 for downtown. Mears Destination Services runs the resort transfers, and Brightline trains to South Florida leave from the station next to Terminal C.
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