How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Orlando, According to Theme Park and Travel Experts

Orlando is so much more than home to some of the best theme parks in the country. Last year, 74 million visitors came to Orlando, making the Florida city the number one travel destination in the country. With lush landscapes, historic architecture, award-winning food, and world-class entertainment, there is something for every kind of traveler in Orlando. 

While it’s easy to spend an entire vacation exploring the city’s famous theme parks, there’s enough outside of the Disney and Universal “bubbles” to make an entire trip out of as well. I visited the area often when I was growing up and have traveled there frequently as an adult; last year, I spent over a month in the area, and I truly consider it my second home.  

Best Hotels and Resorts

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World

The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World is located on Disney property within the ultra-exclusive Golden Oak neighborhood. With fantastic onsite dining options, one of the best lazy rivers in town, and service and suites fit for royalty, you may not want to leave the property for the nearby Disney parks once you check in. It’s one of the very best Disney World hotels, according to Travel + Leisure editor and theme park aficionado Elizabeth Rhodes, too. 

The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve

The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are within a short walking distance of both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While they may not have over-the-top Disney theming, they do come with their own perks: transportation and proximity to the parks, on-site dining offerings that are open later than most other neighboring resorts, access to exclusive benefits such as theme park early entry and extended evening hours, and room service. Plus, each fall, the property hosts the annual Food & Wine Classic that serves up sips and snacks from all of the restaurants and bars at the property. Best of all, the hotels are operated by Marriott, so guests can use Bonvoy points to pay for their stay. 

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The lush grounds of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are a peaceful escape from busy theme park crowds. One of the best places to stay on Walt Disney World property — and one of the opening-day resorts dating back to 1971 — the Polynesian offers top-notch pools, a highly themed interactive tiki bar, and quick transportation to Magic Kingdom via boat or monorail. There’s no greater way to end a day at Disney than catching the nightly fireworks while relaxing on the white-sand beach with a tropical cocktail in hand. 

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

A paradise for mid-century modern enthusiasts, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers an extensive list of on-site amenities and detailed theming at an affordable price. The hotel is decked out in retro flair, from the Eames chairs and terrazzo floors to vintage-inspired toiletries. “My favorite budget hotel at Universal Orlando is Cabana Bay. When it opened in 2014, it redefined what a theme park 'value resort' should offer,” says Len Testa, co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. “The decor is American mid-century modern throughout, and the resort includes dining, multiple bars, a Starbucks, a fitness center and bowling alley, a giant pool, and a lazy river. I know many Orlando residents who use Cabana Bay as a staycation.”

Evermore Orlando Resort

The newly opened Evermore Orlando Resort isn’t a typical hotel; the multi-bedroom apartments, villas, and houses are perfect for those traveling with large groups, not to mention the eight-acre human-made clear lagoon, two golf courses, and high-end spa. Travelers who don’t need the extra space but still want to enjoy Central Florida’s newest beach resort can book a stay at the on-property 433-room Conrad Orlando. While it may feel like you’re worlds away from the hustle and bustle, the resort is just a few miles from the gates of Walt Disney World. 

JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

Centrally located near the largest theme parks, the airport, and downtown Orlando, the JW Marriott sits on 500 acres of property. The resort shares many on-site activities with the adjacent Ritz-Carlton, such as eco-tours that paddle down the headwaters of the Florida Everglades via kayak, a falconry class, and a sunrise safari led by a certified master naturalist offering the chance to spot whitetail deer, bobcats, otters, alligators, and more. The property has extensive dining venues, including Michelin Guide-recommended Primo from award-winning chef, Melissa Kelly. 

Best Things to Do

Catch a show at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts. 

The Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts offers a variety of events, from traveling Broadway musicals and ballet to concerts and comedy shows, in a gorgeous setting. Check the calendar for your trip dates to see what’s on. 

Splash around Wekiwa Springs State Park. 

Located minutes north of Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park is one of the most beautiful freshwater springs in Florida. One of the oldest tourist attractions in the state, the park offers more than just swimming in the half-acre spring. Visitors can book guided kayak tours, hike, fish, and even book an overnight campsite at the park. 

Shop and eat your way through Disney Springs.

For visitors looking for a taste of the theme parks without purchasing a ticket, consider a stop at Disney Springs, Walt Disney World’s outdoor entertainment center. Here, you can find stores and restaurants from award-winning chefs, like Jaleo by Jose Andres, Chicken Guy by Guy Fieri, and Wine Bar George from Master Sommelier George Miliotes. 

If you’re more interested in malbec than Mickey, make sure to get tickets to the new Wine Experience at Wine Bar George. Offered twice weekly, Miliotes leads a small group of guests through a blind tasting of six selections of wine, teaching them how to identify aromas, tasting notes, and growing regions from different varieties of grapes. Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil is a show from the legendary acrobatic company. The performance draws inspiration from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 100 years of storytelling, celebrating iconic Disney stories with multiple performances a day, Wednesdays through Sundays. 

Theme Parks

Orlando is known as the theme park capital of the world for good reason. From world-class parks like Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World to regional parks like Gatorland, there’s no shortage of amusements in this Central Florida city. 

Universal Orlando

With two theme parks (plus one more on the way), one water park, and an outdoor shopping and dining district, Universal Orlando has so much to offer guests. 

Universal Studios Florida is home to rides and lands based on favorite films and television franchises. The rides are fantastic, the park design is stunning, and the food is truly next-level. If you’ve ever dreamt of what it would be like to be having a butterbeer inside of The Leaky Cauldron or sipping on a Flaming Moe in Springfield, here’s where you can find out. If you’re visiting Islands of Adventure, you have the option to either take The Hogwarts Express between parks or use the main gates at the front of the park. This is also the epicenter of holiday celebrations throughout the year, such as Halloween Horror Nights and Universal’s Mardi Gras. During these events, find specialty food booths and limited-time entertainment like stage shows, parades, and musical performances. 

Islands of Adventure features themed lands based on favorite properties like Marvel, Jurassic Park, and even more Harry Potter. The rides in this park tend to be more thrilling, including some of the best roller coasters in town, like Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. 

CityWalk is an outdoor dining and entertainment destination, featuring restaurants and attractions like The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, VooDoo Donuts, Hollywood Drive-In Golf, and Universal’s Great Movie Escape Rooms. The Coconut Club undergoes seasonal transformations to match several different celebrations in the parks throughout the year, such as the Red Dead Coconut Club during Halloween Horror Nights. Volcano Bay may be the best water park in the world. With not one but two lazy rivers, more than 20 slides, and a great selection of food and beverages, it’s easy to spend a full day at Volcano Bay. Universal is set to debut its newest park, Epic Universe, in 2025. The new park will have five themed lands, including the much-anticipated East Coast debut of Super Nintendo World. 

With eight hotels on property and three more debuting next year, there’s a fit for every budget. From the affordable and family-friendly Universal's Endless Summer Resort — Dockside and Surfside Inn and Suites to the more luxe Portofino Bay, it’s worth it to stay on-site. “We think the benefits of staying at a Universal-owned hotel are worth the cost,” says Testa. “Those benefits include extra time in the parks before the general public is admitted; and (at the fancier hotels) free front-of-line access to most rides, including on your check-in and check-out days. You'll also get priority access to restaurant reservations, plus free transportation to and from the parks.” 

Walt Disney World

Whether it’s your first or 50th trip to the “Most Magical Place on Earth,” there’s always something new to experience and learn. With four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, and more than 25 resorts, there’s more to do at the 43-square-mile property than any one single vacation can ever include. 

Sara Maciel, a travel advisor for Carry on the Magic, specializes in booking Walt Disney World vacations. Her top tip for first-time visitors? “Lower your expectations. It seems impossible, but when you’re planning a Disney trip, you put so much money and research into making it the perfect trip, that if things don’t go perfectly, you can quickly get disappointed. Let each person in your group pick one thing they want to accomplish each day and prioritize those things over everything else. Then once you’ve worked through that list, everything else feels like extra magic.”

Another tip from Maciel is to stay on property. “Staying on the property means staying ‘in the Disney bubble.’ Every Disney resort provides free transportation to and from the parks, which saves money and stress when it comes to navigating your way across the four theme parks. Staying on property also grants you an extra 30 minutes in the parks before non-resort guests are let in.” 

These extra 30 minutes can be a serious game changer, allowing you access to the most popular rides with the lowest wait times. Testa says, “Be at the park, admission in hand, 60 minutes before the official opening. On most days, Disney will let you into the park and allow you to line up for your first ride well before the park opens. This is a tremendous advantage over those who can't get up and out the door that early. You'll be well on your way to your second (or third) ride before most people have gone through the turnstiles.” Maciel says, “Rope Drop can feel like you have the park to yourself if you can get up and get to the parks early enough. If rides are your primary focus, I recommend rope-dropping at least one day of your trip. You can usually get the same number of rides done in the first hour the park is open as you can in the next three hours. And if you’re staying on-site, you get that extra 30 minutes in the park as well!”

Another way to conquer crowds and make the most of your time? Defer to the experts. “Have a touring plan. Crowds grow and shrink at Disney World's rides in mostly predictable ways. Knowing when to visit those rides, and in which order, is the best way to stay ahead of those crowds,” Testa explains. I have been subscribed to Touring Plans for the last five years, and it’s indeed been a total game changer. In addition to providing customizable touring plans, their crowd calendar identifies the best days to visit certain parks, their dining reservation finder allows users to set alerts for hard-to-get reservations, and their room request form allows you to select the ideal room for your upcoming stay and submit a request for that specific room. 

There are more ways to reduce your time spent in lines, whether it’s for food or rides. Susan Veness, travel writer and author of The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World and Walt Disney World Hacks, 2nd Edition says, “Guests should get familiar with mobile ordering. There is something incredibly satisfying about mobile ordering a Dole Whip and sauntering up to the pick-up window without spending an hour standing in a sweltering line.” And for rides? “Guests will also want to learn as much as they can in advance about the Genie+ system: when to use it, when not to use it, which parks benefit from using it, and how to make the most of it if they decide to purchase the paid-for version or Individual Lightning Lane selections to spend less time waiting in line for attractions. With young children, it’s most helpful at Magic Kingdom, but can be skipped for, say, Epcot,” says Veness. 

Related: The Best Rides at Disney World 

Best Restaurants

Norigami 

Orlando may not be the first place you think of for world-class sushi, but Norigami is one of the city’s several fantastic Japanese restaurants. The eight-seat sushi counter is in the middle of Winter Gardens Plant Street Market. I recommend making reservations early as the restaurant was named on the 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand list and the waitlist can get lengthy. Dishes include popcorn hamachi with popcorn cream, toro carpaccio with truffle sauce, and an a la carte selection of different cuts of fish served as nigiri, sashimi, aburi, or temaki. For those overwhelmed by choice, the ten-piece omakase menu is the perfect decision. 

Susuru

Susuru is a Japanese izakaya with a retro theme, serving up eats like chicken karaage, okonomiyaki, and king salmon tataki. The real star is the selection of yakitori, with skewers of every part of chicken imaginable, short ribs, pork belly, and more. The menu also has a selection of ramen, rice bowls, and an unforgettable matcha tiramisu for dessert. The cocktail menu is great; get the Godzilla, a yuzu-forward drink served in a Godzilla toy. Reservations aren’t accepted, and they don’t offer takeout, so be prepared to get here right at opening or wait for a table.

Domu

Domu has two locations in Orlando, one near Dr. Phillips and one in the East End Market in Winter Park. The spot is a dream come true for ramen lovers, serving up house-made noodles in savory broths. The appetizer list features two standouts, the Domu Wings coated with kimchi butter sauce and the Cheezus, a roasted corn and cheese skillet that you’ll be dreaming about long after going home. 

Capa

Located on the top floor of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World, Capa offers the best of both worlds — the Spanish steakhouse is a Michelin-starred restaurant within eyeshot of Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks. Helmed by Chef Malyna Si, the menu features a selection of Spanish meats, cheeses, and tapas, including some of the best pan con tomate that I’ve ever had. The real showstoppers are the steaks, most notably the selection of wagyu, served by the ounce or as a flight of selections from around the world. This is the perfect place to grab a cocktail, like the Capa Gin and Tonic, and watch the fireworks from both Epcot and Magic Kingdom from the outdoor patio. 

Strong Water Tavern Orlando

Strong Water Tavern Orlando is a Caribbean and Latin American-influenced restaurant located in the lobby at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. The food isn’t just outstanding food for a theme park or a hotel — it’s outstanding in general. The menu has a selection of Cuban, Jamaican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, and U.S.V.I. dishes. Billed as a “rum lover’s paradise,” Strong Water has one of the best mai tais in town, as well as an impressive selection of rums from around the world. Chef Carlos Castano and his team also serve up some of the best hospitality in town, making you feel truly at home in their restaurant. 

Best Time to Visit

Winter and early spring are the best times to plan a trip to the area. Orlando can become extremely busy during popular times to travel, such as school holidays and summer breaks. Note that the Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June through November, often bringing afternoon thunderstorms along with it. Be sure to protect your trip with travel insurance, especially when making plans during that time of year. “The best weather is generally between November and March, with daytime highs between 75 and 80 degrees,” says Testa. My favorite time to visit is the week after Thanksgiving: School is still in session, which means lower crowds, and the parks are decorated for the holidays. The weather can be slightly cool, which is a welcome change from the blazing hot summer temperatures. 

Related: The Best Times to Visit Disney World 

How to Get There

The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the best airport to fly into, serving a wide range of carriers and routes. The airport opened its brand new Terminal C in 2022, and it’s an absolute delight to fly into and out of, with culinary outposts from beloved Disney Springs restaurateurs Art Smith and George Miliotes. The Brightline high-speed railway now offers an easy way to travel between Orlando and other destinations in the state, like Miami and West Palm Beach. 

Neighborhoods to Visit 

Winter Garden

Located about 20 minutes west of Orlando, Winter Garden is a former citrus town complete with a historic downtown that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town has a theater, art museums, and a weekly farmers market each Saturday. Plant Street Market is Winter Garden’s food hall featuring Crooked Can Brewing Company and more than 20 food vendors. 

Winter Park

While Winter Park is a short drive north of downtown Orlando, it’s a destination all its own. Founded in 1887 as a winter escape for Northerners, the picturesque area has opportunities for antique shopping, an hour-long Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour that winds through historic canals, and The East End Market for legendary Gideon’s Bakehouse Cookies (without the long waits you’ll find at the company's Disney Springs location). Stationary fans, take note: Cult-favorite Rifle Paper Co. is headquartered in Winter Park, and with any luck, you’ll be in town for one of their legendary sidewalk sales. 

Mills 50

Mills 50, located north of downtown Orlando, got its name from its location at the intersection of Mills Avenue and State Road 50. The community tagline is “The Intersection of Creativity and Culture,” and it’s home to several large murals and more Michelin Guide-recommended restaurants than any other district in Orlando, including Hawkers Asian Street Fare and Sticky Rice. 

Lake Nona

Lake Nona is located southeast of the airport and is one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. Inside the Lake Nona Wave Hotel is BACÁN, a Michelin Guide-recommended Latin American restaurant. Boxi Park is Central Florida’s first outdoor food hall constructed with shipping containers. The Lake Nona Sculpture Garden is a 50,000-square-foot space with free admission, featuring a selection from one of the world’s largest private art collections, The Lewis Collection. 

How to Get Around

While it’s possible to get around Orlando without a car, it isn’t easy — or cheap. Rideshare services are all quickly available, however pricing does fluctuate drastically depending on the traffic conditions and time of day. Renting a car can be the most convenient option, however, parking fees can add up if they’re not included in nightly resort rates.

The SunRail is the city's commuter rail, originating north of Sanford and taking passengers southbound, all the way to Kissimmee. The train runs Monday-Friday, every half-hour during peak travel times and less frequently at times throughout the day. One-way fares start at $2 with weekly, monthly, and annual passes available as well. 

LYNX bus service provides transportation throughout Orlando and Orange County. The bus does travel near popular tourist destinations, so travelers with a limited budget can find this option much more economical if they’re willing to follow the sometimes limited schedules certain routes have. Single ride fares are $2 and an all-day pass is $4.50, with 7-day and 30-day passes available as well.