Getting To, From And Around Orlando

Many of the top airlines fly direct from the UK to Orlando International Airport (MCO) including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and TUI. During peak holiday season, they often add on charter flights once or twice a week to cater for the increase in demand to Florida. Direct is the best option but sometimes, especially during high season like Christmas and school holidays, it can be cheaper to fly indirect via other US airports like New York JFK or Atlanta.

Once you've arrived in Orlando, one of the best ways to get around is by car. Many of the attractions are spread out in this part of Florida, so if you're staying in Kissimmee, and want to visit areas like Disney and International Drive, car hire can be very affordable and can often be included within the cost of your package.

Top Areas Of Orlando

International Drive

If you want to be close to a lot of the action, International Drive contains all you need. A short drive to the Universal Orlando Resort, a range of hotel accommodation, plus plenty of restaurants and shopping make this area a very popular area. It can also come at a cost too. Being so close to everything, you'll find that Orlando holiday prices here can be higher than that of other areas. Check out our 10 best hotels on International Drive, Orlando

Lake Buena Vista

Further south you'll find the area of Lake Buena Vista and where the Disney parks are, along with Disney's resort hotels. It's a bit more spread out here but you'll still be able to enjoy shopping and dining at Disney Springs. Again holiday costs can be a bit higher here due to the proximity of Walt Disney World Resort and Epcot.

Kissimmee

Many families choose to stay in Kissimmee, a town south of Orlando airport where you'll find a lot of holiday villas around Orlando, with holiday complexes, perfect for a 2 week holiday. Being a further drive from the parks, package prices can be much cheaper here, giving you lots of space in your holiday home. There are lots of restaurant options dotted around here too for when you don't fancy cooking. The drive from Kissimmee to Disney can take around 25-30 minutes by car.

Holiday Types

Theme Parks & Attractions

Of course, if you've booked a holiday to Orlando, you'll no doubt have plenty of the theme parks on your to do list. When you book, you may find that you can book your park tickets at the same time, often saving you a fortune depending on the tour operator you book with and the offers available at the time. But it's not just the typical parks on offer. Here you've got the water slides of Blizzard Beach for cooling off in the sunshine state, or more educational parks like Animal Kingdom and the Kennedy Space Center.

Shopping

Another great reason to visit Orlando is for the shopping. There are lots of shopping centres and, better still, outlet malls, offering huge discounts off lots of your favourite brands, including premium brands and clothing stores only found in the US. Just keep an eye on your luggage allowance on the return flight home!

When To Go

You might think that the summer is the best time to go to Orlando, but it really isn't. Even though this is great for families with kids in school, this is the hottest part of the year, with high humidity in July and August making it prone to sweltering heat and thunderstorms. Winters are warm here and it's easy to see why many American's choose to spend the winter months of December to February here, escape the colder north.

Instead, opt for the spring and autumn months when the weather is still warm but not too hot, so spending time outside at the parks is much more enjoyable.

Holiday Companies To Orlando

Virgin Holidays

Virgin Holidays are well known for their US holidays, and Florida is no different. They can package up an ATOL protected holiday, including flights, accommodation (hotel or villa), plus park tickets and car hire, meaning you don't have to worry about a thing. They can help advise on the best accommodation options for your group, whether you're a couple looking to enjoy your honeymoon here, or taking a large family for a once in a lifetime trip to see your favourite Disney characters.

TUI

More known for it's European holidays, TUI Holidays also offers family holidays in Orlando, with scheduled and charter flights from across the UK into Orlando International, you can book your hotel or villa, car hire and theme park tickets all in one go. If booking far enough in advance, you can also take advantage of their deposit scheme, paying off the balance of your holiday over a period of months.