If you’re planning a family vacation, a trip to Orlando is an excellent option. While Orlando is a great choice for couples and singles, it’s almost as if this place was designed for families- making it a must if you have kids.
However, like most vacation destinations, there are a few things you should know before visiting Orlando in order to get the most out of your trip. Here are some top tips for your next family vacation to Orlando:
Do your homework
There’s so much information about Orlando available online, that there really is no excuse to show up clueless. By doing your homework, you’ll know which theme parks are best for your kids, how much you can expect to spend, and approximately how long you should stay to see all the attractions you want to see. This is also a good time to look into car rental in Orlando since this will likely end up saving you money when you consider how much you’d spend on Taxis or Ubers. You’ll also save time if you hire a car since you won’t need to rely on public transport and can instead just go wherever you like, whenever you like.
Purchase tickets in advance
If you’ll be visiting the theme parks (and any other attractions), it’s a good idea to purchase your tickets in advance. First, you’ll need to create a rough itinerary (this will help make sure you don’t pack too many activities into your trip), and then you can figure out which days will be best to visit each attraction.
Purchasing your tickets in advance will not only ensure you avoid standing in line waiting to purchase tickets at each attraction, but you can also save by finding deals only offered online.
Budget accordingly
While Orlando itself isn’t inherently expensive, there’s so much to do and see here that it can be easy to blow your budget if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s a good idea to do your homework and figure out how much money you’ll need when you’re planning your trip. This will ensure you can relax while you’re traveling and you won’t need to worry about money.
No one likes to return from vacation with more credit card debt than they had planned, so do yourself a favor and split your budget up based on what you’ll be doing each day. If you want to avoid the constant whining from the kids, consider giving them a small allowance for the trip- that way, they have the responsibility associated with spending their own money, and they know that once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Get outta town
If you have enough time, it’s well worth taking a road trip from Orlando. This is an especially good idea if you’ll be planning to visit the theme parks- these can be overwhelming and a nice drive can make a good break in between parks.
This is another reason why you should rent a car in the airport so if you decide to explore the greater Orlando area, it’s simply a matter of loading the kids into the car and taking off. There are plenty of awesome places within a five-hour drive of Orlando, including Miami, Key West, Fort Lauderdale, and the Everglades.
If you do go down south to the beach, it’s a good idea to spend a night or two down there- that way you won’t have to deal with exhausted kids. Be sure to break up your road trip with frequent stops, and look for fun attractions on the way to keep everyone involved and reduce the boredom.
