There’s SO much to do in Florida, the key to making a successful trip is all in the planning.

If you have never visited the theme parks in Florida before, planning a trip can seem daunting with so much on offer and so many parks. However, with this guide, I will breakdown the elements and things to think of in advance to help you plan a successful trip.

Theme Parks

Ensure you work out which parks you want to cover. Bear in mind that there are:

4 Disney theme parks,
2 Disney water parks,
2 Universal theme parks,
1 Universal water park,

Plus SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove to name the major ones.

Number of Days

Ensure you have enough days to cover the parks you wish to visit. We typically allow one day per park especially if this will be your first visit.

Time of Year

Work out the time of year you want to visit. Obviously the school holidays are busier periods. We always tend to visit in November, the parks are quieter, however the weather is also variable. Florida can be very humid, so make sure you do your research before you go.

Park Tickets

My recommendation would be to prebook tickets in advance, this will save you time and means you avoid the ticket purchase queues which will give you more time in the parks.
Search around for the best deals - but make sure wherever you purchase from is a reputable seller. I brought ours from Florida Tix this time as they have combo tickets for multiple parks which worked out cheaper for my needs this time. Tickets were sent quickly in the post and can be used to enter the parks straight away (they don’t need to be exchanged before entering.)

My Disney Experience (App)

Once you have purchased your DisneyWorld tickets - you can link them to DisneyWorld’s new app called My Disney Experience. I highly recommend downloading it and planning your trip on it 30 days before you leave. Its key feature is, it allows you to prebook fast passes for available attractions and create dining reservations well in advance. If your tickets also include Disney’s Memory Maker, it also stores photos captured from around the park (for example character meet and greets) ready for you to download later.

Hotels

Different hotels and resorts offer different packages and options. For example, for this vacation we chose to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel in Universal’s Resort. This is because, by staying there (there are two other premium Universal hotels which offer this), you receive unlimited Express passes for everyday of your stay at both parks. As we tend to spend a lot of time at Universal, this option provided the most benefit to us as it allows us to skip the queues. Others with families may benefit from Disney Dining Plans or other available offers. It is always best to compare offers and choose whichever has the best deal to suit you.

Transport / Car Hire

If you stay off resort and do not hire a car, make sure you can easily access the parks. Some hotels offer transport options - so make sure you check these out before you book.

Disney offers various transport methods around their resorts, free of charge for all visitors.

Universal also offer shuttle buses around their resorts free of charge.

If you do choose to hire a car, remember to factor in parking charges.

If you are planning a trip to DisneyWorld and have any questions, please let us know in the comments below.