5 Things to Know About an Orlando Holiday

There are a thousand good reasons to take an Orlando holiday, and every one of them would be enough on its own. From the theme parks to the native wildlife, this is a truly amazing destination.

But how much do you KNOW about Orlando beforehand? Are you fully prepared for all the excitement, and challenges, of the world’s favourite vacation playground?

We ask because we still hear people talking about “the things we wished we’d known” before tackling two weeks in the Theme Park Capital of the World.

So, with that in mind, we thought we’d set out our very own 5 Things You Need to Know About an Orlando Holiday. And, in many cases they are not quite what you’d think.

The Geography of the Orlando Area

Yes, this is central Florida and yes it’s easy to find on a map. But are you aware of the full geographic extent of this place we call “Orlando”? Because it is bigger than you imagine. Much bigger.

In fact, if we include the area from Sanford in the north (or “North Orlando” as it calls itself) to Haines City in the south, and from Clermont in the west to the Kennedy Space Center in the east, you have an area larger than Yorkshire, all 4,596 square miles on it.

That means you need to be ready for much longer distances between places than you’d expect. For instance, it is 20 miles from Haines City just to the edge of Walt Disney World, which is itself 43 square miles. Universal Orlando is another 11 miles further on, and downtown Orlando eight more.

Yes, that’s right, the actual city of Orlando is nowhere near the theme parks and, while there IS a bus service around the main areas, you really need a car to get around efficiently.

The International Drive area, which encompasses both Universal and SeaWorld, is just about manageable on foot and by the I-Ride Trolley, but Disney is a different story completely, virtually a city in its own right.

So, if you’re going to walk anywhere, it’s going to take a while (and it’s way too hot for that – see Weather below).

Most of our villas are in the south and south-west quadrants of the Orlando “area” we described above, and having a car is essential. We’d like to say you could also take the train, but the Sunrail commuter service doesn’t visit any of the main tourist areas. And it doesn’t run at weekends. Yes, seriously.

The Weather in Orlando

If all that geographic detail doesn’t surprise you, the weather surely will. Because it has some serious extremes that, if you’re not prepared for them, can absolutely knock you sideways.

That’s because there are only two real “seasons” in Orlando. Summer and Not Summer. And the former lasts WAY longer than the latter. We’d go as far to say that the full heat of summer lasts from late April to early November and, while there can be some cool moments at either end, you can still be overheated for much of the time.

Let’s take April 2022 for example. The official “average” temperature for April is 82.2F (27.5C), and the brochures describe it as “pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze.” And then along comes Climate Change, saying, “Hold my beer!” Last year, there were just SIX days below that supposed average while there were fully SEVENTEEN above average, including three that hit a sweltering 90F/32C. In April.

By mid-May, we were consistently in the 90sF, with a monthly high of 95F/35C. That’s hot by anyone’s standards, and then the “official” summer kicks in! From June to August, the mercury hit 96/35.5 consistently, and the temps didn’t drop back below 90 on a daily basis until October. In November, it was still reaching 86/30.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Until you are out in the theme parks, queueing up in the sun for a ride with a posted wait time of 60 minutes. It’s hard work!

Weather in Orlando Part 2

But it’s not just the heat that gets you. This is the sub-tropics, where the atmosphere has a high moisture content from May to October, and that means humidity. Or we should say, HUMIDITY. If you’ve ever wondered what a wet rag feels like, stand in the shade in Orlando in July. The humidity is inescapable, and it takes the Heat Index – the “real feel” of the temperature – over 100F/38C consistently.

That kind of weather isn’t to be taken lightly. You need to cover up as much as possible; use high-factor sun creams where you can’t cover up; drink twice the usual amount of water; and take breaks in the air-conditioned cool regularly.

The good news is that Florida does air-conditioning as well as it does outdoor heat, which means it’s easy to cool down as soon as you step indoors. Every villa has a high-quality A/C system and, if you set it at around 76F/24C, you will feel perfectly comfortable (don’t be tempted to set it below 70/21, though, as you might freeze the unit solid).

Florida is also the Lightning Capital of the World and, if you here between April and November, you will likely see some magnificent electrical storms. They typically kick off in the afternoon but rarely last more than an hour, and the evenings are usually storm-free.

You MUST seek shelter when lightning is within five miles, though. The local phrase is “When thunder roars, go indoors,” and this isn’t something you ignore.

The Shopping in Orlando

OK, if all that sounds a bit sobering, don’t worry. You’ve just read the most important lesson on being in Florida in Summer (as opposed to Not Summer, which is usually idyllic), so you are ready for the challenges it presents.

The other factor in your favour is Orlando’s shopping. This is World Class. Shopping is easy and plentiful, and you will absolutely LOVE the local retail vibe, whether it is just popping in to the nearest supermarket (and there is guaranteed to be one within a few miles these days) or spending the whole day at one of the magnificent malls or outlet centres.

We’d go as far as to say the shopping is almost as big an attraction as the theme parks, and you will get tremendous value from visiting any of the big-name stores like Walmart, Target, Publix and Winn-Dixie. There are even a host of new Aldi shops in Florida these days, along with specialist supermarkets like Whole Foods, Sprouts and Fresh Market.

These are all built on a super-size basis, with easy, convenient parking, wide aisles and plenty of check-outs. No trying to fit into that tiny last parking space at the local Tesco’s!

Need a few groceries in a hurry? Don’t be afraid to dive into the nearest Walgreens or CVS shop (which seem to be on every corner). These are technically the equivalent of our Boots, with full pharmacy facilities, but they also carry a surprising array of basic groceries, as well as other products, including sun creams.

The range of products will also astound you. From bakeries to the cereal aisle, and pizzas to ice cream, there are a baffling variety of types and flavours on offer, so don’t be afraid to investigate and sample different brands.

And, if you need some “home comforts,” look for the International Aisle in most supermarkets, which all carry a decent array of typical British goods.

The Roads in Orlando

Finally, when it comes to driving in Florida, do be aware of some basic differences, over and above the obvious one of driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

Orlando is the biggest car hire market in the world, so there are dozens of rental companies and thousands of cars on offer. The area is made for driving. It also benefits from American differences like being able to turn right on a red light (as long as you stop and check that it’s clear first) and having wider lanes in most places. Car parks are also plentiful and easy to navigate.

Cars are also (nearly) all automatics, so you need to get used to having no clutch pedal to use, and make sure you keep your foot on the brake when you come to a stop, as the car will creep forward otherwise.

Roads are all well marked, and the highways have lower speed limits than in Europe. You will also find that the exits can be on either side of the carriageway, not just on the right, as you’d expect.

GPS is also a vital aid to navigation, as well as learning directions via road numbers rather than names in many instances.

The main route through the heart of Orlando is motorway I-4, which has speed limits from 55 to 70mph (and always mph, never kilometres). All the main attractions can be found and are signposted off I-4. It is also the busiest road in Central Florida, with regular traffic jams at peak periods.

From the airport, you’ll need to navigate via the Beachline Expressway (or 528) or Central Florida Greeneway (417). There is also the handy Western Beltway (429) and the essential route into and out of Disney, the 192 (or Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, as it is also known).

When leaving the theme parks it is wise to know if you need I-4 east or west, or the 192, or the 429. It sounds a bit daunting, but we promise you will soon get the hang of it.

There are also toll roads (like the 528, 417 and 417). to be aware of, where you need to pull into the toll booths at regular intervals (and it’s handy to always have some change to hand for the auto-tolls). The best thing to have, though, is the Visitor Toll Pass, which enables you to use the toll roads without stopping (you just go through the express lane). It saves time and money, and you can check out our blog about it for all the details.

We can’t stress this enough. Visitor Toll Pass will save you time. And money!

So, those are our five essential Things To Know before you arrive in Orlando for the holiday of a lifetime. You WILL have a great time. As long as you do your “homework” first.

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