Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and Kennedy Space Center all within reach of one base, plus real TUI hotels, weather by month and what a proper Orlando holiday actually costs.
Orlando is the one holiday that almost every family asks me about at some point, because there simply is not another destination that packs in this many theme parks, water parks and big days out within one short drive. TUI is currently the only one of my three operators, TUI, Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays, that sells it as a proper flight inclusive package. Neither Jet2holidays nor easyJet holidays flies long haul at all at the moment, so for anyone who wants their flights and hotel booked together under ATOL protection, TUI is the one I book this through.
It is also a holiday that rewards a bit of planning. Which theme park group you stay closest to, how many park days you actually need, and when you travel all change the trip quite a lot, so I always talk clients through the real choices rather than just picking the first hotel that comes up.
I always ask how many theme park days a client actually wants before booking anything. Two weeks sounds like a lot until you add up Disney's four parks, Universal's two, a water park day and at least one rest day by the pool.
Flights take around 9 hours each way, so most of my clients do 10 to 14 nights to make the long flight worthwhile, and two weeks is genuinely common given how much there is to see. It suits families with children of any age, since Disney in particular is built around very young children as much as teenagers, multi generational groups travelling together, honeymooners who want a livelier trip than a beach week, and groups of friends after big rides and late nights. It is less suited to anyone wanting a purely relaxing holiday, since even the pool days tend to be at a busy resort hotel rather than a quiet retreat.
TUI flies direct from several UK airports, including Gatwick and Manchester, to Melbourne Orlando International Airport on Florida's Space Coast, a switch TUI made a few years ago from the older Orlando Sanford Airport. It is about an hour's transfer from Melbourne to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and International Drive, and the Space Coast location is genuinely handy if a client also wants to add on Kennedy Space Center. Flight time is around 9 hours outbound. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also fly direct into Orlando International Airport itself, closer to the main resort area, for anyone who would rather book flights independently of a TUI package.
All transfers between Melbourne Airport and your hotel are included in a TUI package. Hiring a car instead is also very popular for this trip, since it gives total flexibility over which park you visit and when.
Orlando has a subtropical climate: hot and humid for a long stretch of the year, with a distinct wetter summer season and a drier, milder winter.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C | 11°C | Mild, dry and one of the quietest months in the parks |
| February | 23°C | 12°C | Still mild and dry, a good value month |
| March | 26°C | 14°C | Warming up fast, spring break crowds begin |
| April | 28°C | 17°C | Hot and dry, spring break still running into early April |
| May | 31°C | 20°C | Very hot, humidity building, a decent value shoulder month |
| June | 32°C | 23°C | Wet season begins, daily afternoon thunderstorms typical |
| July | 32°C | 23°C | Hot, humid and the busiest school holiday month |
| August | 32°C | 24°C | Hottest, most humid month, afternoon storms continue |
| September | 31°C | 23°C | Still hot and wet, hurricane season risk at its highest |
| October | 28°C | 19°C | Cooling slightly, still some hurricane season risk |
| November | 26°C | 16°C | Drier and milder, Christmas decorations start going up |
| December | 23°C | 13°C | Mild and dry, extremely busy over the Christmas and New Year week |
Average high and low temperatures for Orlando, converted from data via weatherspark.com (long term averages).
Florida's hurricane season officially runs from June through to November, with the highest risk in August, September and October. It is worth taking out proper travel insurance for any trip in this window and keeping an eye on the forecast close to departure, though direct hits on the Orlando area itself are far less common than on the coast.
The afternoon thunderstorms from June to September are usually short and predictable, often clearing within an hour, but they do mean outdoor rides pause for safety. I always suggest a late morning start and an evening finish in the parks during these months.
January and February are generally the quietest and best value months, with mild, dry weather, though some rides do close for scheduled refurbishment in this slower period. Spring break, roughly mid March to mid April, brings a noticeable jump in crowds and prices. May is a good value shoulder month before the summer holidays hit. June to August is the busiest school holiday stretch, hot, humid and prone to afternoon storms, but also when most UK families are actually able to travel. September and October are quieter after the US Labor Day holiday, with Halloween Horror Nights at Universal and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney running through this period, alongside the highest hurricane season risk. November and December bring out the Christmas decorations and are genuinely beautiful, but Thanksgiving week and the Christmas to New Year fortnight are among the busiest and most expensive of the entire year.
Orlando splits into a few distinct areas, and which one suits a client depends on which parks matter most to them and how much they want to spend.
Staying on Disney property means free transport around all four Disney parks, Disney's own theming carried right through to the hotel, and early entry to the parks for on site guests. TUI sells 31 named Walt Disney World hotels, from the value All Star resorts right up to the flagship Grand Floridian.
The right choice for anyone prioritising Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Every Universal on site hotel gets free transport to the parks and Early Park Admission, and TUI sells several of Universal's own hotels, including the retro styled Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
The best value base for bigger family groups, roughly 20 to 25 minutes from both Disney and Universal. TUI sells a range of named villa communities around Davenport, Haines City, Clermont and Kissimmee, several with their own private pools, which can work out cheaper per head than a hotel room for larger families.
Disney no longer runs its old free Magical Express airport shuttle, so I always check current transfer arrangements when booking a Disney hotel directly rather than assuming it is still included.
Hiring a car is very popular for an Orlando trip and often the easiest way to move between theme park groups, remembering that Florida drives on the right. Disney and Universal each run their own free internal transport, buses, monorail and boats at Disney, and buses and water taxis at Universal, between their on site hotels and their own parks, so clients staying on property rarely need a car just for park days. International Drive also has its own free I-Ride Trolley running the length of the strip, which is handy for anyone based around I-Drive without a hire car.
Beyond the big two theme park groups themselves, these are some of the best rated extra days out around Orlando.
One hotel across three budgets, all bookable through TUI.
Disney's own value tier, themed around classic Disney films, with the usual free transport to all four Disney parks and Disney's theming running right through the resort. The one I point budget conscious Disney first timers towards. Bookable through TUI.
A large, retro 1950s and 60s styled hotel on Universal property, with its own lazy river and bowling alley, free transport to Universal's parks and Early Park Admission. A strong value pick for anyone prioritising Universal over Disney. Bookable through TUI.
Disney's flagship Victorian style resort on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop, with a private beach, spa and some of the best dining on Disney property. The one I book for honeymoons and special occasion trips. Bookable through TUI.
Hotel availability, board basis and pricing change regularly, always confirm the live details with Jake before booking.
About an hour east of Orlando on the Space Coast, genuinely handy if flying via TUI's Melbourne route. Rocket garden, the Atlantis shuttle exhibit and, with the right timing, a real rocket launch visible from the grounds.
A different side of Florida entirely, with airboat rides through the wetlands and a good chance of spotting alligators. A popular half day add on, usually with transport from an Orlando hotel included.
A huge entertainment strip with its own 400 foot observation wheel, mini golf, an aquarium and a long run of restaurants. A good evening out without needing a theme park ticket.
A world away from the theme parks, this lakeside park in downtown Orlando has swan shaped paddle boats, a farmers market on Sundays and a proper city skyline view. Worth a half day for anyone wanting a break from the parks.
The USA uses the US Dollar. Flights, transfers and accommodation are already covered in a TUI package price, but theme park tickets, meals out and extras add up fast in Orlando, so these are typical costs for everyday items, converted to pounds sterling at a rate of roughly £1 to $1.34.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Meal for one at an inexpensive restaurant | £15.67 (about $21.00) |
| Cappuccino | £3.94 (about $5.28) |
| Domestic draught beer, a pint | £4.48 (about $6.00) |
| Bottled water, small | £2.14 (about $2.87) |
| Taxi, start tariff | £2.16 (about $2.90) |
Sources: crowd-sourced averages via Numbeo (Orlando), checked at time of writing. Dollar to pound sterling conversion is approximate and moves around day to day, so treat these as a guide rather than an exact figure. On top of this, a one park, one day Disney or Universal ticket typically runs well over £100 per person, with multi day and multi park tickets working out better value.
The essentials, at a glance.
| Currency | US Dollar (USD) |
| Plug type | Type A and Type B, different from the UK's Type G, so you will need a travel adaptor, and some appliances also need a voltage converter since the US runs on 120V against the UK's 230V |
| Language | English |
| Flight time from the UK | Around 9 hours direct from Gatwick, Manchester and other UK airports to Melbourne Orlando International Airport or Orlando International Airport |
| Time difference | Typically 5 hours behind the UK, though this can be 4 or 6 hours for a week or two each spring and autumn, since the UK and US change their clocks on different dates |
| Entry requirements | UK passport holders travel to the USA under the ESTA scheme rather than a full visa, applied for online in advance of travel. See my full ESTA fee guide for current costs and how to apply through the official site only |
| Driving | Right hand side, the opposite of the UK |
Photos: Kitera Dent, Itai Aarons, Jose Mizrahi, Brian McGowan, Ryan DeWerff, Celeste Mc, Mark Fischer, Greyy John, Sean Nyatsine, Thor Schroeder, AK, Richard Sagredo and Mick Haupt via Unsplash.
I can build a trip around Disney, Universal, a value base on International Drive or Kissimmee, or a mix of all three, around what you're after.
