Visiting Orlando is undoubtedly one of the most exciting holiday experiences available. The sheer amount of activities, events and sights available in the region is enough to satisfy even the most active of adventurers! The incredible theme parks, mouth-watering restaurants, grand shows, bright lights and everything in-between make a trip to Orlando an unforgettable experience.

Sometimes, planning your dream holiday is the most fun part! However, if you’ve never visited Orlando before, the number of options can be overwhelming. We’ve been helping people make the most of their stay in the Sunshine State for many years, and we frequently get asked questions by people visiting for the first time. Here, we go over some of the key things we recommend to everyone visiting Orlando for the first time.

Buy Tickets in Advance

Almost every visitor to the region will, at one point, pay a visit to one of Orlando’s many fantastic theme parks. These places are full of wonder and excitement and attract visitors from all across the world! That is one of the reasons why we always recommend buying theme park tickets in advance.

Whether you’re planning on visiting Disney World for only a couple of days or your whole stay, you will save money by purchasing your tickets in advance. Here at Debbie’s Villas, we offer a range of combination tickets so you can get the most value out of your theme park adventures.

If you’re planning a day at one of the main theme parks – Universal Studios and Disney World, in particular – you may also want to book restaurant dining. The character dining experiences can be popular, so booking in advance will avoid disappointment. Such experiences can be booked on the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando websites and they will be automatically linked to the park tickets you buy with us. Get in contact with us if you need any assistance regarding this!

Arrange Your ESTAs

As you may already know, travelling from the UK means that you will need certain documents to enter the United States of America. Thankfully, the process is much more straightforward than it can appear at first glance.

For travel from the UK to the USA for a holiday, you only need to apply for an ESTA. Standing for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, you can apply for it online through a simple process involving your passport. If granted, you can travel to the USA as many times as you like in the next two years, so long as each stay is for no longer than 90 days.

If you are, for whatever reason, unsuccessful with your ESTA application, you will need to go through the process of gaining a US Visa. This process can take a few months to complete, so make sure you apply for the necessary papers well in advance.

Hire A Car

You may think that, with Orlando being such a tourist destination, public transport will be enough for your stay here. The truth is that, because Orlando is so large, if you are planning on visiting more than one location, you will likely need a vehicle.

Yes, Orlando has public transport systems that you can use. However, the convenience of a private vehicle will mean that you can go where you want, when you want. Driving in Orlando is not particularly difficult, either, so don’t be afraid of hiring a car for your stay! Here at Debbie’s Villas, we can help you find the right hire car for you.

Anticipate Jet Lag

While everyone is excited to get straight into the action when visiting Orlando, bear in mind that clock changes will have a noticeable effect on your energy. America’s East Coast is five hours behind the UK – in practice, that means at 8am in the UK, it’s 3am in Orlando. A direct flight to Florida will take between nine and ten hours, but with the time zone change, the reality is different.

While it can seem confusing, the truth is that you will likely be exhausted on your first day, and maybe even on the second. Jet lag can have a particularly big effect on children, so ensure you leave time to recover on your break before heading to Orlando’s biggest attractions. If you’re staying with us, we would recommend spending the first day relaxing in your villa!

Don’t Over-Plan

When there’s so much to do, it can be tempting to try and follow a strict schedule to see all of Orlando’s attractions. However, it’s pretty much impossible to see and do everything in the region during one stay. Yes, you should have a schedule in mind so you can see the things you’re most looking forward to seeing. Beyond that, though, we recommend giving yourself some flexibility to explore!

There are so many things to discover in Orlando that you may surprise even yourself! Keep some days open so you can re-discover a new favourite, visit that shop you passed or explore a recommendation from the locals. It’s also essential that you give yourself some free time to unwind during your break, as Orlando can become quite overwhelming!

Arrive At the Parks Early

As you can probably imagine, Orlando’s theme parks can become extremely busy, especially during the holiday season. These crowds can lead to a lot of queues for the main attractions. If you want to make the most of your day, it is recommended that you arrive as early as possible.

You can check the opening times of all the theme park’s on their respective websites. It’s best to check in advance, particularly outside the holiday season as opening and closing times can change. Get there for its opening and head to the attractions you want to visit the most before the waiting times increase throughout the day. After that, you can enjoy the park knowing that you’ve done what you wanted to do already!

Be Prepared for A Lot of Walking

Of course, visiting Orlando’s theme parks involves a lot of time on your feet, walking around exploring the themed areas and exciting attractions. However, new visitors sometimes don’t realise just how much walking can be involved in a day at Disney World or other parks.

The entirety of Walt Disney World, including all of its parks, is over 40 square miles! While there are transport options between parks, the majority of your time will be spent walking, so make sure you’re prepared, especially with the right footwear! Acknowledge that little legs may need a break once in a while so it might be an idea to bring a buggy, while in the summer, you will eventually need to get out of the heat anyway. Thankfully, most parks have water fountains and sheltered areas, as well as air-con within the indoor attractions.

Electric Mobility scooters are also available for hire from Debbie's Villas; they're a great way of getting around the parks, for those worried about being on their feet all day.

Take Advantage of Park Extras

Along with your ticket, places like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios provide a range of extras, some free and some paid for. Take a look at what is on offer and consider taking advantage of these perks to make your time at the theme parks run more smoothly!

Walt Disney World offers FastPass+ and Memory Maker, both of which are free with the park tickets on our website. FastPass+ allows you to reserve access to faster queues on select attractions up to 30 days in advance of your visit, meaning you do not have to wait as long for your favourite rides. With Memory Maker you can enjoy unlimited photo opportunities during your time at the park - these photos are then linked to your Disney account for you to download later on.

At Universal Orlando, guests have the option of adding the Express Pass to their ticket, which allows you to skip the lines on participating rides. Unlike Disney, their version has to be purchased separately (either at the park or through the Universal website) with varying prices throughout the year. Universal’s Express Pass only works on specific rides, although the majority of major attractions are included. Also, certain versions only allow one use per ride, so plan your day before deciding if this is right for you. Here at Debbie’s Villas, we’ve reviewed the Universal Studios Express Pass to help you make your decision.

Explore Dining Options

Beyond being a place full of exciting attractions, Orlando is also a food-lover’s haven with many exciting eateries to discover! There is genuinely something for everyone here, so don’t be afraid to look around and perhaps try a variety of cuisines throughout your trip.

Why not start your day with a traditional American breakfast of pancakes and bacon? IHOP is a popular breakfast chain with multiple places in Orlando, including one on the US27 in Davenport. Looking to pick up something quick on your adventures? There are plenty of restaurants along US192 leading towards the theme parks, perfect after a day of excitement. Also, American portions tend to be bigger than those in the UK, so you’re very unlikely to go hungry! If you visit a restaurant and can’t finish your meal, most places will put the leftovers in a box for you to take to your villa – perfect for a late-night snack!

Shop at the Outlets

As with its food, Orlando is also full of shopping destinations that offer a little bit of everything. From high-end luxury at The Mall at Millenia to small neighbourhood boutiques in Winter Park, we would definitely recommend allocating time to enjoy some retail therapy.

One reason you should consider shopping is that there are multiple places here for you to make savings too. Orlando’s Premium Outlets, such as Orlando Vineland and Orlando International, offer year-round discounts on well-known brands. Furthermore, advantageous exchange rates can sometimes mean you’re getting more for your money in America than you would in the UK.

Prepare For All Weathers

The Sunshine State is renowned for its great weather, but this can sometimes be inconsistent. During the summer months, Orlando has its rainy season. This climate means that sudden downpours are relatively frequent during the hottest period of the year, leading to some extraordinary weather.

Don’t be alarmed, though. While periods of rain are common during the summer, they often pass as quickly as they arrive. A sudden downpour for an hour or so can be followed by more baking sunshine, so don’t let it put you off. Take a small raincoat that you can access if rain does arrive and continue with your holiday!

Orlando is a truly magical place to visit, and we sincerely hope you enjoy your first trip to the max! If you’re looking for the perfect place to stay, we offer a range of Orlando holiday villas to rent that are suited to all needs. Our guests also receive a booklet with their booking, packed with useful information and visitor’s tips to help you make the most of your stay. If you want to know more about the region or our properties, why not get in contact with us? We’re more than happy to help!