Orlando is the perfect place for your next holiday. Jam-packed with activities for all ages, there’s no end to the fun and excitement that can be had in this wonderful location!

Often, people discover that there’s so much to do here that it’s tricky to fit it all in! Here at Debbie’s Villas, we’ve been helping people make the most of their Orlando break since 1999 and can help you to plan the perfect trip! If you’re looking for inspiration ahead of your holiday, check out our simple 10-day itinerary, covering all the biggest and best things to see and do during your stay.

Day 1

We have put together this itinerary on the assumption that you might be quite tired after the long journey to Orlando during your first day! Whether you arrive during the day or late in the evening, give yourself some time to drop off your bags and settle into your holiday accommodation.

If you’re staying with us, you’ll be able to enjoy a classic American villa that will have you feeling right at home in the Sunshine State. Many of our properties have extras like pools and games rooms, the perfect way to unwind after a day of travelling!

For your first evening in America, you may wish to take it easy and recharge ahead of an action-packed holiday. Head to the local supermarket and stock up your villa with all manner of goodies before enjoying a home-cooked meal in your luxury accommodation. Alternatively, you could discover a nice local restaurant to soak up the Orlando atmosphere – there are plenty of options within easy driving distance of our villas. Enjoy a night together before catching some sleep – you might need it!

Day 2

There’s no time to waste in Orlando! As soon as everyone is ready on your first morning, it’s time to head to one of the region’s biggest attractions: Disney World!

Disney World is a huge day out, in more ways than one. With four parks and two water parks, it’s impossible to see all of this family favourite in one day. Spend the first day exploring Disney’s primary location, the Magic Kingdom Park. Here you’ll find many of Disney’s well-known faces and enjoy a variety of its most iconic rides. Famous attractions include Space Mountain, “it’s a small world”, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, to name a few! Meanwhile, seeing for yourself the iconic Cinderella Castle is an absolute must. Book your FastPasses before your trip to ensure you can enjoy the rides that you want, as in Disney World, time gets away from you pretty quickly!

You can enjoy the whole day in the park, thanks to the wide range of dining experiences available. Enjoy dinner at the stunning Be Our Guest restaurant, or enjoy a casual meal at the classic Liberty Tree Tavern. From there, you can stay until the sun goes down to catch Disney’s famous Happily Ever After fireworks, a vibrant spectacle for young and old.

Day 3

Today is another day full of fun at Walt Disney World! In the morning, you may wish to head back to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, especially if there’s something that you missed out on yesterday.

Hopefully, you have purchased one of Disney’s Park Hopping tickets, which allows you to go from one park to the next in the same day! Don’t worry, you can purchase these here at Debbie’s Villas before you travel. That way, once everyone is satisfied with the Magic Kingdom, you can make the short trip to Disney’s Epcot using the Monorail (see our recent article Getting Around Walt Disney World).

Epcot, home of Disney’s iconic Spaceship Earth sphere, is a melting pot of some of the world’s most prominent cultures. While a little more low-key on the thrills, this is a vast park full of worldwide discoveries to be made. Spend your time globe-trotting from China and Japan, to Norway and France, indulging in local foods, history and traditions along the way. If you’re with younger children, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of Disney characters and exciting rides to keep them thoroughly entertained. What’s more, Epcot is a beautiful place to spend the evening, with lights and shows giving the park an even greater sense of wonder. Your day here wouldn't be complete without a visit to the dazzling nightly firework display, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, which ends its 20-year run on 30th September before being replaced by the brand-new show Epcot Forever!

Day 4

After two days of Disney, your legs have probably earned a quick break! Spend a relaxed morning enjoying your villa by making a classic American breakfast. Alternatively, this is a chance to discover the local area and maybe do some holiday shopping.

When you feel refreshed and recharged, head down to the much-loved International Drive and the ICON Park. While still a complex full of attractions, this is a much more laid-back affair than Disney, with a mix of bars, restaurants and shops to enjoy. An absolute must while you are here, though, is The Wheel. Standing 400ft over Orlando, a 23-minute trip on this landmark unlocks awe-inspiring views of the region.

Once you’ve experienced the views, take a trip into one of ICON Park’s other main attractions. Madame Tussauds Orlando is a popular location for our older guests, while the Sea Life Aquarium is much-loved by families, allowing you to come face-to-face with a whole host of exotic creatures! If you’re feeling brave enough, or foolish in the eyes of some people, you could always give the 450ft StarFlyer a ‘spin’! There are plenty of other things to do and discover along I-Drive (how the locals refer to International Drive), with the wacky science museum WonderWorks and the equally-outrageous Ripley’s Believe It or Not being two hugely popular venues. After that, you can enjoy one of the area’s many restaurants and watch as The Wheel dramatically lights the Orlando night skyline.

Day 5

After a relaxing breakfast in your villa, it’s time for a day in the sun at another of Orlando’s famous theme parks: SeaWorld. Continue your aquatic adventure from Sea Life Aquarium yesterday by discovering the park’s many reserves, such as Dolphin Cove and Wild Arctic, an ice-filled location with walruses and beluga whales. SeaWorld also hosts an array of shows throughout the day, showcasing the beautiful animals that they care for at the park.

Beyond the menagerie of exotic animals, SeaWorld has its fair share of exciting rides too. Infinity Falls is an all-new rapids ride, which sees groups of eight speed and bump through the water before heading down the steepest drop of its kind! This ride is very wet, but SeaWorld has large dryers available for a small fee. There are plenty of other rides here to suit all ages and tastes. From high-speed thrills such as Mako and Manta, to family favourites like Journey to Atlantis, there is plenty to keep everyone entertained here.

After your day at SeaWorld, head back to your villa and treat yourselves to a bit of classic American cooking! If the weather’s good, which it often is in Orlando, why not try your hand at a barbecue by your private pool?

Day 6

After what may feel like a whirlwind start to the holiday, give yourselves a slightly quieter day to rest and recharge before the last few days of your trip.

Besides being the theme park capital of the world, Orlando is also a region full of fantastic shopping destinations, the cornerstone of any holiday! The Florida Mall is Orlando’s premier shopping location, with millions of people visiting the centre’s 250 shops every year. Another of the most popular shopping centres is Orlando Premium Outlets, with their Vineland Avenue location closest to our villas. A true shopper’s haven, each site has over 160 stores including all your American favourites such as Calvin Klein, DKNY, Converse and Nike. What’s more, there are often large discounts to be found in these huge locations, so treat yourself to some retail therapy!

If shopping is not your thing, you could use this relaxed day to travel further afield. Florida is world-famous for its beaches, and a day-trip from Orlando is an excellent option for those hoping to feel some sand between their toes. Our tip would be to visit the supermarket and stock up on picnic and drink items before you go. Iconic locations, such as Daytona and Clearwater Beach, are less than two hour’s drive from Orlando.

Day 7

Today, our itinerary will be taking you to another of Orlando’s must-see locations: Universal Orlando Resort! A sprawling theme park full of rides and entertainment; laughs are guaranteed here!

Similar to Disney World, Universal Orlando is divided into two parks and a water resort. However, at Universal both parks are closely linked – you can walk from one to the other, or travel between them via the Hogwarts Express – so a multi-park ticket is always the best choice.

Spend the day enjoying all the sights here before heading to Universal’s CityWalk for a night of entertainment. Universal’s free-to-enter district is a bustling hive of restaurants and live shows and is regularly recommended as one of the best places to spend the evening in Orlando! That being said, many establishments here only allow over 21s after a particular time, so it’s worth checking to see what policy your favourite location operates.

Day 8

If you didn’t manage to see and do everything you wanted to during your first day at Universal, then now is the perfect chance! Head back there for another day and, who knows, maybe you’ll find something new!

If you purchased a three-park ticket, you might also want to visit Universal Resort’s Volcano Bay. This water park is a popular choice for visitors on hot days. With plenty of attractions to discover - such as Krakatau, the mighty 200ft volcano that gives the park its name - this tropical destination could be the perfect little escape!

After you have said your last goodbyes to Universal Studios, head past CityWalk and towards Old Town Kissimmee, located about 30 minutes south of the resort. This classic American district comes to life at night with a mix of traditional restaurants and bright, lively entertainment. Friday and Saturdays are the best days to experience this area at its most vibrant, thanks to the motorbike and car cruises that bring incredible noise through its main strip. Our blog on Old Town USA is a useful read if you want to know more.

Day 9

The last full day of the holiday! Before the blues get a chance to set in, pick yourselves up and head back to the fun-filled world of Walt Disney World to explore their two smaller parks. Animal Kingdom is a natural extravaganza, perfect for those with a love for the outdoors. With this being Disney, there is also plenty of magic in the air and the Pandora: The World of Avatar region is a must-see spectacle, complete with some exciting rides.

The final Walt Disney park is Hollywood Studios, the perfect homage to Disney’s incredible movie history. Similarly to Animal Kingdom, this park doesn’t have the same scale in terms of rides as the Magic Kingdom, but is still worth the visit for the energy and excitement these places contain! Discover Toy Story Land or ride the famous Tower of Terror for thrills like no other.

For your final night, you may wish to visit your favourite restaurant once again, or maybe enjoy one last night together in your beautiful villa! If you’re stuck for ideas, then a good choice is to stay in the area and enjoy Disney Springs. Similar to Universal CityWalk, Disney Springs is a free-to-enter entertainment district full of restaurants and attractions. Enjoy an old-school night of fun at The Edison, a 1920s gothic-industrial building full of charm, or discover all manner of exciting delights at the district’s countless other venues. As the sun begins to set on your break, take a ride on the Aerophile, a giant helium balloon that will give you stunning views from 400ft in the air, the perfect opportunity for some final pictures!

Day 10

Depending on your flight, you may have time left to squeeze another activity into your itinerary. Alternatively, you may wish to relax at your villa until it’s time to head to the airport.

A popular last-day excursion is Gatorland, a small adventure theme park located close to the airport. As you might expect, this park is full of exciting wild animals, including plenty of alligators for you to marvel at! Along with some zip-line rides and a new off-road tour, there are also plenty of hands-on experiences available for those with a daring side!

Once you’ve ticked off all that you can and have already begun planning your next trip (because it’s almost impossible to fit everything into one go!), it’s time to head to the airport and sign-off on an unforgettable adventure.

Hopefully, this itinerary will inspire you to come up with one that’s perfect for your break! Here at Debbie’s Villas, we’ve been helping holidaymakers enjoy their Orlando villa holidays to the full for many years and are happy to assist you in creating your dream trip. We offer a range of stunning holiday villas situated near to Orlando’s biggest attractions and hotspots! If you would like to know more about our properties or the region itself, give us a call – we’ll be happy to help!