Disney World

Claire Summers on 03 May 2010
In May 2010, I went on holiday to Orlando along with a few friends and family members.

We stayed in a good value for money hotel along International Drive, which had very big rooms, twin sinks, a fridge (which became a necessity for us to store cold drinks and make a few sandwiches!), 2 double beds and best of all it was attached to the YMCA Fitness centre with a massive gym and Olympic size swimming pool. We were in the middle of all the parks so it was in an ideal location.

We flew into Orlando airport which is only a 25 minute drive from I-Drive and collecting the car was easy from inside the terminal building.

I have been to Orlando before and knew that when travelling in a group it’s wise to plan your holiday in advance. Taking time to think about which parks to visit and on what days is essential to ensure you purchase the right attraction tickets beforehand – and you need to build in rest days, as it can be hard work walking around the parks all day.

With our previous knowledge we knew which parks were of interest to us and as we had a 4 year old with us, we made sure she met as many Disney characters as possible, this was her most memorable experience and she filled up her autograph book. She loved some rides such as Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom and ET at Universal Studios, as you can imagine there was plenty to keep her amused. My top tip for travelling to the parks with young kids is to have some sandwiches handy so they can eat on the go and keep their energy levels up – and yours.

We pre-purchased a ‘kids eat free’ card which can be redeemed at many places along I-Drive which provides amazing savings when part of a family. We ate at many different places along I-Drive and there is something for everyone. I am a vegetarian and Orlando doesn’t really cater for non meat-eaters, but you can find fish restaurants and there is plenty of Pasta on offer or even Chinese and Indian.

The parks are just amazing and if you’re thinking ‘I don’t enjoy roller coasters’, then think again as it’s not all about the big rides. Those that want to go thrill-seeking will certainly not be disappointed but there are more attractions and experiences in Orlando that the whole family can enjoy.

We had an absolutely brilliant time, and for me personally I have always been scared of the big rides, but I went on one against my better judgement and actually enjoyed it (whilst screaming all the way round). I got a taste for it and then finally become a thrill chaser – I can’t believe it – all those years I was too afraid and now you can’t stop me. As you can gather – Orlando is not just for kids!

May was an ideal time to visit Orlando as the parks are less busy and the amount of time queuing for the rides is minimal compared to school holiday times. Another tip is to check out when the American schools break up for holidays as this may differ slightly from the UK, this can make the parks very busy.

So what are you waiting for, get yourself a good pair of walking shoes and prepare to have some fun!