Now your dream holiday in Orlando is drawing near, some people start to stress as to what they may need to take with them if they have never been stayed in a villa, or in Florida, before. Never fear! Calling on our years of travelling to and from the Sunshine State, we impart our knowledge and make some recommendations for when packing for your holiday in Orlando.

First things first – The Basics!

Documents

These may not all relate to everyone, but to those it does relate, make sure you have the following with you when going away:

• Passport – you are literally going nowhere without this!
• Driving licence – you will need this for both picking up your hire car in Florida, and also for proof of age if you are intending on having anything alcoholic whilst away!
• Plane tickets – as per the passport, you will be going nowhere without these! If you have digital tickets, ensure your phone is charged.
• Proof of insurance – of both the car and travel variety. You need to be insured to drive a car in Florida. When hiring a car through Debbie’s Villas, your insurance is included in your package – print out a copy to keep and refer to in case the worst happens. The same applies for those who have travel insurance.
• Copy of your completed ESTA – you will need to have completed this at least three days before you travel – providing you are staying for less than 90 days. Print out your completed copy and bring this with you – just in case a computer malfunction causes a delay to your entry to the US.
• Your theme park tickets – here at Debbie’s Villas we send your theme park tickets as e-tickets. We always recommend printing them off to show at the parks, when redeeming the actual tickets. And if you do end up losing them, you’ve still got the digital version!
• Letter from your doctor – for those that require prescription drugs etc, it makes sense to bring a letter from your GP to clarify why you have certain medicines with you.

Clothes

Unsurprisingly enough, you will need to bring sufficient clothes for your trip! Although, be advised you don’t need two-weeks’ worth of clothes for a two-week holiday. All of our properties at Debbie’s Villas have facilities for you to wash your clothes, so you can over-pack or under-pack as you please! If you are lucky, a previous guest may have left behind their unwanted washing detergent etc, but generally this is something you will need to add to the list of things to get from a local supermarket. A few things to consider when packing clothes – you will need lighter fabrics due to the climate here. Cargo pants are also very handy for those visiting the theme parks, as phones, wallets and keys can slip out of pockets when you are being thrown about on a roller coaster. Beach goers should bring at least two sets of swimwear – so you don’t have to wait for one to be dry before donning your next cossie! Avoid bringing jeans between May and September as the weather is just too humid.

Shoes

The footwear you’ll need will largely depend on how much, if any, time you are spending in the theme parks – the longer you are going to be on your feet or in queues, the more comfortable you’ll need to go.

• Trainers/closed-toe shoes – you won’t want to be on your feet all day in the parks with uncomfortable or unsuitable shoes. If your trainers have waterproof properties this is even better, as Florida is prone to afternoon rain showers. Also remember to wear lace-up shoes around the theme parks where possible – slip-ons are prone to falling off on the rides.
• Flip-flops – you can probably pick up a pair of-flip flops pretty easily while you are in Florida, but if you already have some and have room in your bags, pack a pair to take to the beach, or wear around the pool.

Important non-clothing items

You may not be wearing these, but they are just as essential:

• Mobile phone – very important in modern society, most people can’t live without them! They can be very helpful in getting around Orlando and the parks, as well as taking photos of your trip.
• US 2-pin plug adaptor – more devices require charging than ever before, don’t get caught out – aim to bring one per traveller.
• Device chargers – this includes for your mobile, tablet, laptop and anything else you might need.
• Medicines† – aim to bring an extra week’s supply with you, (especially during hurricane season, as otherwise you could end up without essential medication when flights are delayed or cancelled).

• Cash/credit cards – it might not make the world go round, but it certainly helps the holiday go off without a hitch! Also remember cash for tipping your servers.
• Water bottle – dehydration can be a big thing for people holidaying in Orlando, with long periods spent on your feet in hot weather. So stay hydrated by either bringing a sports bottle with you, or buy a cheap one whilst you are in Florida – and make sure you refill it at the fountains around the parks.

Other items to consider bringing with you include:

• Sunhat/baseball cap – you’ll want to keep the sun off your face and head!
• Poncho – to easily cope with the afternoon storms as well as staying dry on the water rides. If you don’t have one, get one soon after arriving in the US; these are available in shops inside or outside the parks.
• Umbrella – if you don’t like ponchos, compact umbrellas are a handy alternative for dealing with Florida’s rain.
• Camera – if you have a better camera than is on your mobile, then bring this to capture the memories!
• Beach/pool towel – if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time round the pool or are wanting to head to the beach or water parks, then this is an essential for your case. Some of our villas already include pool towels, which we will let you know before if it does.
• Drawstring bag – for carrying your wares around, or for bringing wet clothes back to the villa from the water parks.
• Sarong – for lazing about the pool or on the beach.
• Sewing kit – in case you have a button fall off.
• First-aid kit – to help you easily cope with minor cuts and scrapes.

Toiletries

As essential to everyday life and hygiene as toiletries are, you don’t have to get overly concerned with bringing everything – most things in the UK are also available for a similar price in the US (when going like-for-like and allowing for currency rate fluctuations). Do a little bit of research before you go to compare, which should help you decide what to bring. The Wal-Mart website is available to view in the UK, and many of their supermarkets are within a five-minute drive from the communities in Orlando. Publix are another supermarket with stores in the US located near many of our villas. Things to look out for include:

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Suncream
• Aftersun
• Bug spray
• Anti-frizz hairspray
• Sanitary products
• Soap

As you can see, there is plenty to consider when cramming 23kg†† of stuff into your suitcases! Think about what you need to bring with you, and see if you can get anything that is perhaps quite heavy, or too big, when you are out in Florida.

If you’re also wondering what to pack for a day at the theme parks, check out our latest blog, Essentials for a Day at Orlando’s Theme Parks.

We hope this guide helps take some of the stress out of packing your bags before you go! How do you think we did? Did we miss out anything important to you? Do you have any tips for any other fellow travellers? Get in touch using our usual social media channels!

† Check with your airline as to the rules around any prescription medication, you may also need to get a doctor’s letter. If you plan to take Paracetamol and non-prescription painkillers, or even travel sickness remedies, it’s worth clarifying your airline’s policy before you pack your bags!

†† At the time of publishing in December 2019, the major airlines flying into the USA allowed 23kg of luggage per adult. Please check your own airline’s allowance before travelling – Debbie’s Villas is not responsible for any changes made by airlines.