Since I live in Orlando and I’m a huge fan of the theme parks here, some of my friends have been asking me for advice when planning their vacations. I’ve got lots of info and advice to share, but for now, here are some answers to the most common questions people ask me.
Q: How many parks are there?
- Walt Disney World has 4 main theme parks:
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Universal Orlando Resort has 2 main theme parks:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure
That’s 6 major theme parks. That doesn’t include a bunch of other stuff, such as:
- Universal’s new water park, Volcano Bay
- Disney’s 2 water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach
- SeaWorld and its parks
- Disney and Universal’s shopping/entertainment districts, including miniature golf, Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, etc.
- Lots of other entertainment options in Orlando.
For most people from out of town, the main Orlando draws are Disney’s 4 parks and Universal’s 2 parks.
Q: How many days should I visit for?
Well, that depends on what’s important to you and how much you want to spend.
For me, the ideal Orlando vacation is about a week. That gives you a day at each of the major theme parks plus an extra day for travel, shopping, rest, or whatever else you need. Planning rest into your trip is important!
Overseas visitors often take more time than that to give themselves plenty of time to relax, recover from jet lag, and not feel rushed on their vacations. It’s not uncommon for international guests to take two weeks in Orlando.
On the other hand, not everyone can afford to take a week in Orlando because of time off work, hotel costs, etc. For a shorter vacation, you can choose not to visit all the parks, or you might choose to visit more than one park on the same day. (I don’t recommend visiting any more than 2 parks in one day, though, or you’ll wind up spending more time traveling between the parks than enjoying them.) Choose based on your budget and how much you want to see.
Q: When should I go?
If at all possible, avoid the times when kids are out of school, such as summer, spring break, and major holidays. These times are REALLY crowded. The summer is miserably hot, and major holidays (especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s) are so ridiculously crowded that you’ll spend a lot of time waiting in long lines. If there’s no other option, crowds at Disney are still better than not being at Disney, but you’ll have a MUCH better time if you avoid the crowds. My favorite times of year for Disney are in the fall and winter.
Q: If I don’t have time to do all the parks, which ones should I do?
That’s up to you, but here are my suggestions.
If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you’ll want to do both of Universal’s parks. Each has a Harry Potter section, connected by the Hogwarts Express. Ideally, you’ll want two days at Universal to have time to see the majority of what Universal has to offer, but if your focus is just on Harry Potter, you can get a one-day park-to-park ticket, skip the rest of Universal, and just focus your day on Harry Potter. (However many days you do at Universal, you’ll need a “park-to-park” ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express.)
Universal is also home to some of the most intense thrill rides in the area.
If you want the “classic” Disney experience, you’ll want to visit the Magic Kingdom. That’s where you’ll find the castle, the best fireworks show you’ve ever seen, and a lot of the famous, classic Disney attractions like the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and so forth. Most of the Magic Kingdom’s attractions can be described as immersive and family-friendly; the thrill rides here are much tamer than the thrill rides at the other parks.
If you’ve been to Disneyland in California, you should know that Florida’s Magic Kingdom is very similar to Disneyland, but larger and with its own unique touches.
If you enjoy science, technology, and world culture, you’ll want to visit Epcot. This is where you’ll find an intense spaceflight simulator, a design-your-own-car experience, and other more adult-oriented attractions themed to technological advances through time. (There’s plenty of kids’ stuff too, of course.) Pavilions representing various countries allow you to “walk around the world,” sampling food, drinks, and entertainment as you go—especially during the annual Food & Wine and Flower & Garden festivals.
As of August 29, 2019, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be the place to be for Star Wars fans. There’s already a fantastic Star Wars ride with random experiences, but a brand new immersive Star Wars land is opening on that date. Until then, a lot is under construction, leaving this feeling more like a half-day park, but there are also Toy Story rides, a stunt show, and other movie-themed attractions here, including two of Disney’s best thrill rides, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
If you’re in love with animals and nature, you should visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are also great thrill rides here, including Dinosaur, Expedition Everest (my favorite Disney coaster), and the Avatar-themed Flight of Passage, but the bulk of this park features lush greenery and live animal exhibits in addition to more traditional Disney experiences. This is probably the most beautiful theme park in Orlando, with winding paths and both real and alien landscapes.
You should also know that Disney’s parks aren’t very close to each other, so allow at least an hour or so to get between parks if you plan to do more than one on the same day.
Universal’s two parks are right next to each other, so you can walk between them or take the Hogwarts Express.
Q: What should I bring to the parks?
That depends on your needs; I may write an article about this sometime to go into more depth. Personally, I always make sure to lather up on sunscreen in advance (this is Florida), but I try to avoid carrying much with me into the parks. If you bring a bag, you’ll have to go through an additional security line to get into Disney, and Universal will require you to stow your bag in special lockers for a number of attractions. If you need one, you can bring it, but just be aware that it’s an extra hassle.
That said, I do like to bring two things with me in my pockets: a cheap disposable poncho (in case it rains or I don’t want to get wet on water rides) and a foldable electric fan for when I get hot waiting in the Florida sun. And of course, don’t forget your ID and credit card!
Q: How much does it cost?
Prices fluctuate throughout the year, so you’ll find the most recent prices on Disney’s and Universal’s websites. Also check the unofficial site MouseSavers.com for info on any discounts that might be available.
As a general rule, the tickets get cheaper per day as you add more days. For example, a single-day ticket to one Disney park might be well over $100, where a 10-day Disney ticket might be something like $50 a day.
For both Disney and Universal, you can choose whether your ticket allows you to get into multiple parks per day (the “park hopper” or “park-to-park” option) or whether it only allows you to get into one park per day. At Universal, you need the park-to-park option if you plan to ride the Hogwarts Express. At Disney, it really depends on how you plan to spend your time.
