Orlando is Springing into Holiday Mood!

For anyone still wondering about whether Orlando is the place for your 2022 holiday, we have some good news – our favourite destination is currently in boom mode.

Our local news here in The City Beautiful had two reports this week that really caught our attention:

1. Traffic at Orlando International Airport is fully back to pre-pandemic levels, with some days even busier than they were at this stage in 2019.
2. Florida in general is enjoying a Spring Break bonanza this year, with record numbers visiting the Sunshine State from other parts of the US.

With the added bonus that there are new attractions to see in all of the theme parks, and beyond (the Kennedy Space Center is also undergoing something of a renaissance, for example), we are definitely bullish about the prospects for enjoying Orlando to the full once again.

What Is Spring Break?

With apologies to our American readers, the whole concept of Spring Break may seem a bit odd to British visitors, but it is very much a nationwide phenomenon at this time of year.

While the UK’s main holiday time tends to be the summer, here in the US the period from late February to Easter is peak vacation opportunity for many, as the first school and university holidays of the year provide a veritable Great Escape from most parts of the country.

That’s not to say people get extended time off for this annual pilgrimage, but, with the fact that different states have different spring holiday dates, it means there’s an extended period when parts of the country are looking for their big holiday getaway.

And, with the fact that much of the country is still shivering from the winter blues (parts of the north-east US have had a foot or more of snow this month!), it makes anywhere warm seem ultra-inviting.

Florida, of course, excels in providing that essential year-round sun and warmth, hence it is hugely popular for the rest of the country, and it becomes America’s Party Central for more than a month.

What’s To Do?

It stands to reason that if people are heading here en masse just now, there will be even more for them to enjoy when they get here.

It is one of the reasons all the theme parks now add the extra entertainment of what we call ‘the Festival Season,’ with things like the Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot, Food & Wine Festivals at both Busch Gardens and SeaWorld, and the prolonged Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Orlando.

Many attractions have extended hours to provide more time to enjoy their various fun and games, while all the water parks are back in full operation, including the new Island H2O Live at the expansive Margaritaville Orlando resort on Highway 192 (close to the ever-popular Windsor Palms and other Kissimmee resorts).

This is also the time of year when many attractions unveil their latest rides or shows and, in one case, a whole new theme park. Yes, the world’s first Peppa Pig theme park is now open next door to LEGOLAND Florida, and it is a wonderful choice for families with pre-school children.

The Right Time To Book?

While we will never say there is a bad time to visit, the fact Orlando is enjoying a boom year so far suggests this is not the time to leave your booking until the last minute.

Things are obviously still in a slight state of flux in the travel world, with changes in Covid-19 regulations still happening on a regular basis, but, with such strong US demand for this part of the country – especially for villas – we would definitely urge customers to book sooner rather than later, especially for this year.

The bottom line is that the “secret” of having a holiday villa has finally got out into the mainstream, largely as a result of the pandemic.

Increasingly, visitors are looking for their own private space, and their own way to “socially distance” while on vacation and, whereas Americans tended to make up only a small percentage of villa customers, now they are a distinct majority.

Happily, as a UK specialist, we do have extra capacity for our clients, but we are seeing strong indicators that this will be an extremely busy year.

Give us a Call!

Perhaps more than ever before, 2022 will be the year to travel just out of peak season in order to make the most of Orlando’s many attractions while also avoiding the worst of the crowds.

If you can book for mid-April (after Easter) through to the end of May, or September to early November, you will find the best current choice of accommodations and still with plenty of elbow room in and around the parks.

As ever, our specialist agents are only a phone call away – 01892 936822 – and we are always happy to offer plenty of advice, as well as make sure whatever you book is the right choice for YOU.

And that should really put some spring in your break!

What is your favourite time to be in Florida? Feel free to give us your thoughts and experiences on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.