7 Mistakes Orlando First Timers Make...
Planning your first Orlando holiday is so exciting, but it's easy to make mistakes that can cost time, money and could even ruin your dream holiday. Even an over planner like myself made some of these mistakes myself. Here are the number 1 mistakes every first timer makes.
1. Trying to Do Too Much
One of the biggest mistakes first-time visitors make is trying to fit absolutely everything into one holiday. I LOVE planning and I wanted to make sure I could do everything my first time but you need to have some downtime. Between Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, water parks, shopping, dining experiences and attractions on International Drive, there's far more to see and do than most people realise. Trying to squeeze everything into a 14-night trip often leads to exhausted parents and overwhelmed children.
Our tip: Prioritise your must-do attractions and build downtime into your itinerary. Go early on a morning, midday when it's hottest go back for a swim or a nap then go back out.
2. Underestimating Walking Distances
Many people assume Orlando's theme parks are similar to a local amusement park. The reality is very different. A typical day at Disney or Universal can involve walking 15,000 to 25,000 steps or more. By day three or four, tired feet can seriously affect your enjoyment. Everything in America is bigger, I looked at maps before I went and thought that doesn't look far we can walk that. Somewhere that looked a 10 min walk away was in fact 40/50 mins or inaccessible on foot.
Our tip: Wear comfortable footwear from day one and schedule occasional pool or rest days. I highly recommend Skechers.
3. Not Booking Dining in Advance
Some of Orlando's most popular restaurants and character dining experiences can book up quickly. Families often arrive expecting to simply walk into their preferred restaurants, only to discover there are no available reservations. With Disney the most popular ones booking opens 60 days in advance. Honestly we only booked one sit down meal on our first trip which was our wedding day, and we booked Oga's Cantina for my husbands birthday. We found we couldn't really handle hot and heavy meals in the heat, we just had a lot of snacks rather than meals.
Our tip: Think about what you really want and what is important to your party. You could book meals in advance but if you're like me and my husband when you're in the Florida heat it might not be appealing.
Top Tip 2: Oga's Cantina you get one 60 min window, we knew that wouldn't be enough so I booked one in my name, and one in my husbands name. The cast members were confused but we just had to walk out and back in. We got 120 mins to enjoy our drinks and we got sat next to the nicest cast members who queue jumped us whenever we saw them.
4. Ignoring the Florida Weather
Many first-time visitors focus on the sunshine and forget about Florida's heat, humidity and afternoon rain showers. Even during the cooler months, temperatures can feel much warmer than visitors from the UK are used to. People can also be put off but things like hurricane season, we went in September and we loved the weather. It averaged around 32 degrees and the random showers actually cooled us down. I bought ponchos before we went and didn't use them. Don't worry about getting wet you'll be dry sooner than you think. Disney World is also the safest place to be if there is a hurricane.
Our tip: Stay hydrated, spare socks/shoes and plan indoor attractions or go back to the resort during the hottest parts of the day. I make sure we have hydration tablets daily, a good handheld fan and constantly have free water from around the parks.
5. Leaving Shopping Until the minute
Orlando is famous for its outlet malls and shopping opportunities. However, leaving all your shopping until the day before departure can create unnecessary stress and disappointment if you run out of time. Disney World and Universal for their merchandise going viral and can sell out in seconds, if you see something you like in your size... get it. But if you have children a good tip is to stock up on silly bits and pieces when at home so when you say no to an overpriced bubble wand for the fireworks you have a second hand or poundland one to give them instead.
Our tip: Spread shopping trips throughout your holiday and leave room in your luggage for purchases.
6. Not Allowing for Rest Days
I know I keep banging on about it but I can't stress enough how important it is, plan for rest days or leave flexibility in the schedule for change. Many families plan a theme park every single day, all day. While it sounds great on paper, the reality is that constant early starts, queues and walking can quickly become tiring and can cause burnout. A rest day often becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of the holiday. We always plan for at least 2 rest days and part days, and we have still caught a Disney flu or felt burnt out.
Our tip: Being at the parks all day can sound productive and do-able but I would highly advise doing half days or breaks going back to resort for a little break.
7. Thinking Orlando Is Just About Theme Parks
Disney and Universal may be the stars of the show, but Orlando offers so much more. From airboat rides and wildlife encounters to world-class shopping, dining and nearby beaches, there are plenty of experiences beyond the parks. There is so much to do and so many places in the surrounding areas to see and do. If you are staying close to I-Drive there is a trolley pass you can get that is so cheap and you can jump on and off visiting different malls, shops, restaurants and bars.
Our tip: Consider adding a few different activities to create a more balanced holiday. Here at Magic Bound we have so many partnerships we get really good deals on tickets from Kennedy Space Station to Gatorland.
Final Thoughts
Orlando remains one of the world's most popular family holiday destinations for good reason, but a little planning goes a long way. Avoiding these common mistakes can help you save money, reduce stress and enjoy a much smoother holiday from start to finish.
If you're planning your first Orlando adventure, our bespoke planning service can help create an itinerary tailored to your family, budget and travel style, ensuring you make the most of every day.