Orlando is one of those places that everyone wants to visit.
Known as the theme park capital of the world, this vibrant city is absolutely jam packed with things to do, amazing places to visit, incredible restaurants to eat in, and some of the most stunning luxury homes available to rent. But with so much on offer, how do you know where to start? When should you go, where should you stay, and what should you do when you arrive?
Get all the answers you need with our ultimate Orlando travel guide, with hints and tips on what to do, see, and where to stay when you pay a visit to the world’s most magical destination. Use the menu below to hop straight to the topic you’re interested in!
When to visit
Where to stay
Visiting the theme parks
Other activities
Eating and drinking
Getting around
When to visit
Your whole experience of Orlando will be shaped by the time of year that you choose to visit. That said, the weather is almost always good in Florida, with plenty of opportunities for swimming and sunbathing. They don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing…
However, there definitely are best times to visit, with the peak months typically offering lovely sunshine, but much heavier crowds. In off-peak months, you’ll find the weather is still utterly delightful, but you can also benefit from lower amounts of visiting tourists, due to work and school term times. You can find out exactly when is the best time to visit Florida with this month-by-month guide to the state’s sunny climate, with handy weather charts to help you plan your vacation. And if you’re planning on spending your Orlando vacation in the Disney parks, then be sure to check out this guide to the best time to visit Disney World, which takes into account when the parks are most likely to be busiest, and therefore the wait times for the rides and attractions longer than they would be in off-peak months.
However, if you don’t traveling in peak months, then why not consider traveling to Orlando during special occasions and national holidays? Spending Christmas in Orlando is one of the easiest ways to make the day feel that much more special. If you have little ones, do be sure to visit the Disney parks festive season, as every square inch becomes infused with a sense of magic that is sure to light up your childrens’ worlds.
Where to stay
If you’ve never visited Orlando before, it can be tricky to know where to stay. However, here at Top Villas, we make the decision easy.
Our properties are destinations in and off themselves. The only thing you will have to consider, is if you book into somewhere so nice, that you find it too difficult to leave to explore the rest of the city!
In Orlando, some of the best places to stay are the resorts, with the most popular typically being Reunion, Encore, and Champions Gate resort. Each resort is located close to Disney world and Universal Studios, and offers an abundance of stunning vacation properties, along with an extensive offering of entertainment facilities. This includes golf courses and water parks. You will also find your every need catered for with plenty of restaurants, bars, and casual eateries, where you can pop down when a rumbling tummy strikes.
These homes are unlike anything you would have ever seen before. Our top-of-the-range family homes come with incredible facilities that will delight every member of your party, from incredible themed rooms for the little ones, to stunning home movie theaters, to villas with basketball courts and even homes with private spas. We weren’t kidding when we said the villas themselves are their own vacation destinations!
Visiting the theme parks
There’s no shortage of family friendly attractions to enjoy in Orlando. Known as the theme park capital of the world, you can expect some truly sprawling destinations, complete with immersive theming, a huge range of restaurants, and of course, some of the best rides in the world found right here in Orlando.
The two biggest players in Orlando, and the most-loved destination on any Orlando travel guide, is of course Disney World and Universal Studios. Both these parks offer extensive attractions – certainly enough to keep you occupied for the entirey of your trip, and definitely enough to keep you coming back time and time again. These two parks are world-famous, and people travel from all over the globe just to spend a couple of days here.
Disney World is made up of several main parks, along with some water parks, which means there is plenty to do for all the family. You can find smaller rides perfect for toddlers, or high-adrenalin, terrifying rides that will challenge ever the hardiest of roller-coaster lovers. So whether you are traveling as a family, a couple, a group of friends or anything in between, Disney World is perfect for absolutely everyone. The parks are also very accessible for those with mobility concerns, with wheelchair and ECV hire available, and plenty of rides that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Universal too is another park in Orlando where people will journey for thousands of miles to visit. With an extensive list of incredible rides, and even an upcoming, brand new park set to open in 2025, there has never been a better time to visit Universal Studios.
Other activities
Next in our Orlando travel guide is what else you can do in the city besides the theme parks. With the sheer size of Orlando and the unbelievably long list of activities, sights to see, and things to do, you might think it would be impossible to sift out the very best and memorable activities that you should enjoy on your vacation. But we’ve done the research and have picked out plenty of amazing experiences that are certain to make your vacation to Orlando your best one yet.
Whether you want to tackle on of Orlando’s many award-winning golf courses, want to enjoy a bit of retail therapy, are wondering what the best things to do with your children are, or are looking for some cost-cutting, budget friendly activities to enjoy in between your theme park visits, we have it all here in our blog.
Find out where the best beaches are near Orlando, the best activities for adults and the more things you can see and do in the city. Browse through all of our lists in this Orlando travel guide and make sure you keep a list of the activities that most call to you – and then get booking!
Eating and drinking
With so many cafes, bars and restaurants in the theme parks, plus options downtown and in the resorts, you’re truly spoilt for choice on the dining front.
If you are heading to Disney World, then you will more than likely be grabbing at least one meal at one of the parks’ various eateries. Have a look at our guide to the very best restaurants in Disney World, including quick service establishments where you can grab a bite and head off back to the rides, as well as the full-on, sit down and full service restaurants that are certain to be a memorable dining experience.
In the city itself, your choice of dining gets so much bigger. Explore the best fine dining venues in Orlando, the most fun restaurants in the city that will delight everyone of any age, and our overall, best of the best restaurants in Orlando. And if you are staying at one of the resorts, check out our guides to the restaurants at Reunion, Encore and Champions Gate.
Getting around
Last up on our Orlando travel guide is how to get around. Orlando is a large, bustling city. Although there are public transport systems in place, it is easier and more convenient to make use of a vehicle throughout your stay in Orlando. This is because the roads are wide and open, with easy access to all corners of the city, including between the airport and the resorts, as well as the theme parks. Check out our guide to driving in Orlando to find out all you need to know about getting around.
Remember, if you book with Top Villas, our guest experience team is able to help you with your car hire, on top of many other available extras, so you can have a worry-free vacation.
What next?
Now you’ve been through our ultimate Orlando travel guide and have read our blog posts, you are fully prepared to embark on your adventure to Orlando. Which means now, its time to get booking.
Browse our full collection of luxury Orlando vacation homes, or contact us today and let one of our vacation home specialists help you to arrange the perfect trip.
