Planning & Logistics: Our Family Trip to Florida

🛫 Flights & Airport Life

We flew with Virgin Atlantic, why we chose to fly with Virgin Atlantic, simply because they’re our favourite long-haul airline — reliable service, great with families, and we’ve always had smooth flights with them.

We actually booked the flights as ODR (Out of Date Range), which means you secure the flights before the airline has officially released these. In simple terms, it lets you lock in seats and prices earlier than everyone else. For a family of seven, this was perfect. It meant we could budget much earlier, plan the rest of the trip around fixed dates, and spread the cost over a longer period. Instead of waiting for the normal 11-month release window, we had our flights confirmed well in advance — a total game-changer for big family travel and when it’s a big holiday like Florida, buying yourself saving time is essential.

We flew from Heathrow to Tampa — a slightly later flight at 1 p.m., which meant no one had to get up at the crack of dawn. Our taxi picked us up at 7:30 a.m., giving us plenty of time to get to the airport without stress.

We pre-booked our seats months in advance to make sure the boys could sit together, and security was a breeze — no need to get iPads or liquids out.

We also booked No.1 Lounge at Heathrow, and honestly, lounges are a must for us with five boys. Having a safe, enclosed space with food, drinks, and a little calm before the chaos of a long-haul flight is priceless. We even had a reserved quiet area, which made it feel like our own little sanctuary — champagne for us, endless snacks for the boys, and peace of mind all around.

The flight itself was great. Entertainment on Virgin kept all the kids occupied, and I pre-booked the children’s meals so they actually had something they’d eat (otherwise they’d be stuck with adult meals!). I even packed snack boxes, though they didn’t touch them — the lounge and in-flight food were more than enough.

🚗 Why We Chose Tampa

We chose to fly to and from Tampa instead of Orlando, mainly to avoid the huge immigration queues Orlando is infamous for. Tampa airport is much smaller and far more efficient, which was a lifesaver, especially since we were the last flight to land. By the time we arrived, everyone was tired, and the thought of standing in a massive queue with five boys was… well, daunting. Instead, it took no more than 15 minutes to get through immigration and collect our luggage. For our family, it worked perfectly — the boys could doze in the car during the 60–90 minute drive, which was far less stressful than waiting in a long line at Orlando.

The journey home was a bit more challenging — there had been an accident on the highway, and we moved just five miles in two hours! But once we dropped off the hire car, we were at the gate in under 20 minutes. I even had a little time for a few margaritas before boarding, which felt like a small victory after the slow crawl back.

In hindsight though I’d still choose Tampa every time. However, on the final day, I’d plan a little time to enjoy the area — maybe Clearwater Beach for the day to make the journey back to the airport less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.

🚙 Car Hire & The True American Experience

We hired the biggest car they had, and it was perfect — plenty of space for all seven of us and our luggage. L had his booster, this met with US regulations and was easy to travel with, and A’s car seat we’d hired was clean, wrapped, and ready to go in the car. We’d been a little anxious about car seats before the trip, we’d heard horror stories about hiring seats arriving dirty or worn. But everything was spotless and ready, which made life so much easier.

Booking everything in advance also meant we could skip the hire desk at the airport. We just headed straight to the car park, where a friendly staff member handed us the keys — quick, easy, and stress-free.

The boys loved having space to stretch out, and hubby absolutely soaked up the proper “American road trip” vibes — AC on, music on, everyone chatting and laughing. It felt like a real adventure from the moment we hit the road, and the whole family loved it. For us, it wasn’t just about getting from A to B; it really felt like the start of the holiday.

🏡 Villa Life: Space for Everyone

With a family of seven, a villa was the only realistic option — and Storey Lake in Kissimmee was absolutely perfect for us. The resort felt incredibly safe with its 24/7 security, and the grounds were spotless and beautifully kept. Our villa was huge, which made such a difference. Everyone could wake up at their own pace each morning, chill in their rooms, watch a bit of Netflix, or simply take their time getting ready without being on top of each other.

The villa had five bedrooms, so every boy had their own double bed. The little two shared the cutest Moana-inspired room, R had his Toy Story room, and M and G had proper “grown-up” bedrooms — which they absolutely loved. We also had our own private splash pool, plus a huge washer and dryer, which was a total lifesaver with five boys (and all the theme park clothes!).

One of the best things about Storey Lake is that it isn’t just villas — it has its own resort-style pool complex too. There’s a lazy river, waterslides, crazy golf, a splash zone, and plenty of space to relax. It was ideal for rest days when we didn’t want the chaos of a park but still wanted fun. The boys could burn off energy, we could chill out, and it felt like a whole bonus holiday within the holiday.

We stocked up at Target for breakfasts, drinks, and snacks. I will say, grocery prices surprised us — store-bought food in the US is very expensive — but it was still much cheaper (and easier!) than taking seven of us out for breakfast every morning. Having breakfast in the villa saved time, money, and everyone’s patience. Plus, the boys loved wandering around Target, choosing snacks and discovering all the American bits they’d only seen online.

🏨 Universal Stay for Express Passes

📅 Trip Planning & Park Days

I’d originally built in quite a few rest days, but because we’re not “rope droppers” (we never wake the boys early just to get to the parks), everyone actually coped far better than I expected. We headed out when we were ready — usually around 9/10 a.m. — and it worked perfectly for our family. No overtired mornings, no rushing, and no meltdowns before we’d even made it through the gates. Going at our own pace meant everyone woke up naturally, felt refreshed, and we still managed to fit in absolutely everything we wanted to do.

What made the biggest difference was being flexible. We knew we had enough time to do everything, so we didn’t feel pressured to cram. Some afternoons, both A and L would fall asleep in the buggy, so we’d take advantage of those naps. Those little recharges meant we could stay out later in the evenings to enjoy fireworks and nighttime shows without anyone being overtired or miserable. It honestly made the whole trip feel smoother and far more enjoyable.

Our so-called “rest days” quickly became we renamed to “non-park days”, because Orlando has so much to do beyond the theme parks. These days were often just as full in terms of activities — boat rides, shopping, exploring, swimming, resort hopping and pool time — but they were much easier on the legs because there wasn’t as much walking. It was the perfect balance.

Planning was a big part of making it all work. I used crowd calendar apps to decide which parks to visit on which days, and I always matched a late night with a slower morning or a rest day afterwards. If we planned to stay late in a park, the next day was automatically a quieter day so the little ones could recover and we didn’t burn out.

We planned late nights in:

Universal, which was really easy since we were staying on-site for that night

Magic Kingdom, because the fireworks are a must

EPCOT, for the nighttime show

Hollywood Studios, to enjoy the evening atmosphere and the amazing Fantasmic show.

Because it was Halloween season, we also had to work around Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, where parks close early on certain days. It took a bit of juggling, but with the flexibility built into our schedule, we could shift things around to make it all work seamlessly.

In the end, going at our own pace and building in that flexibility was the best decision — it kept everyone happy, rested, and still allowed us to experience everything on our list without ever feeling rushed.

---

⚡ Lightning Lane / Express Pass Tips

At Universal, the Express Passes were an absolute dream. I explained above how the system works, but honestly — it couldn’t be easier. We checked in around 9am, got passes that covered both our check-in and check-out days, and that was it. No time slots, no refreshing an app, no daily booking windows. You simply walk onto rides with minimal waiting. It gave us pure park freedom, which is exactly what you want with kids! Plus, they're unlimited, meaning we could ride the same ride (mostly Hagrid's) time and time again!

Disney, on the other hand… let’s just say their Lightning Lane system needs a bit more brain power.

With Disney you can pre-book your first three Lightning Lane rides three days before your first Disney park day — I had all of ours secured before we even left the UK. Then on the day, once you’ve tapped into one ride, another booking opens up, so in theory you can keep stacking rides throughout the day. It absolutely helps skip queues, but it’s definitely more fiddly than Universal. There’s checking the app, refreshing times, juggling windows — it takes more planning, especially with five boys in tow!

We originally planned to buy Lightning Lanes only once per Disney park. But after using them on the first day and seeing how much pressure it took off, it became a complete no-brainer to purchase them again for our second days in each of the parks. It meant we could secure the rides we’d missed the first time around, completely avoiding that “we HAVE to queue for this today” stress. It let us slow the pace right down and just enjoy the day, knowing we already had the big rides booked.

One limitation we found: you can only ride each Lightning Lane ride once per day. That was a bit disappointing on rides we loved and wanted to do again and again. Often, if the standby queue was low, we’d use that instead to ride a second (or third!) time.

Lightning Lane isn’t perfect. Not all rides are included — some require an additional individual purchase, which is pricey. We chose to queue for those select rides instead, waiting until the standby line dropped a bit (usually to 45–60 mins). One thing worth mentioning: using LL means you sometimes miss out on the incredible themed queues Disney has put so much effort into. For example, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has such a fun, immersive queue — the theming is brilliant — and if you go through LL, you skip almost all of it. Sometimes the experience of the queue itself is part of the ride for the kids.

Pro tip: Ear Scouts on YouTube has brilliant tips for maximizing Lightning Lane use — highly recommend it!

📸 Disney PhotoPass – Worth Its Weight in Gold

One thing I’d highly recommend adding to your Disney tickets is the Disney PhotoPass. It’s a professional photo service run by Disney, and honestly, it’s worth every penny.

There are photographers stationed all around the parks in the perfect photo spots, from iconic castle backdrops to character meet-and-greets. The queues are usually short, and the photographers are brilliant at getting everyone — yes, even five boys! — in the frame. You can ask them to take multiple shots, try different poses, or even use fun props, and then all the photos are automatically linked to your account.

The PhotoPass also comes with those magical “Disney Magic Shots” — these are pictures where Disney adds characters or fun effects digitally afterward. Our boys absolutely loved spotting the surprise characters and effects in our photos when we checked the app later. It’s such a little thrill each time!

Another huge bonus: all ride photos are included automatically. You don’t have to fumble with cameras, worry about capturing the moment, or miss out while juggling children and bags. It means you can actually enjoy the ride, laugh and scream along with the kids, and know that the memory is captured professionally.

For us, having the PhotoPass made such a difference. It freed us from the stress of trying to take decent photos ourselves and for having us all in the photo rather than one of us being behind the camera. We came home with beautiful, professional-quality family shots we’ll treasure forever. Honestly, it feels like one of the best investments you can make for a Disney trip — especially with a big family.

✅ Travel Mum Tips

Over the years and all the planning for this trip, I’ve learned that the little things can make a huge difference when travelling with a large family. Between packing, park days, flights, and everything in between, these are the practical tips and tricks that kept our trip running smoothly — and saved our sanity more than once. From avoiding meltdowns to making sure everyone stayed happy, healthy, and comfortable, here’s everything I’d recommend for families tackling Orlando with kids of all ages:

Ear defenders are a game-changer – We didn’t think about them at first, and L got completely overwhelmed by fireworks, rides, and crowded streets. Once we grabbed a pair from Target, it was like magic. Suddenly he could enjoy rides he’d been avoiding and cope with the noise without a meltdown. Even kids who aren’t usually sensitive can benefit.

Be ready for sick days – 4 out of 5 of our kids got sick at some point. Hot weather, long days, and ice-cold drinks didn’t help. Swapping to room-temperature drinks made a huge difference. I also kept strong sick bags in the buggy and backpack, plus a mini first aid kit with plasters, anti-itch cream, blister pads, and pain relief. For the little ones, we used a lot of Calpol—it helped them manage the fever or aches enough to still enjoy the parks. On those rough days, we slowed down, took breaks, and kept snacks and water handy.

Book the airport lounge – Calm space, full tummies, and champagne for the grown-ups. Seriously, it’s like a mini holiday before the holiday. The kids can spread out, snack, and burn off a little energy, while you can relax for a moment of sanity!

Pre-book kids’ meals on flights – Virgin flights give adult meals otherwise, which are usually too big or unappealing for younger ones. Booking in advance means the kids get exactly what they want, and you avoid the hangry meltdown mid-flight.

Fly into Tampa instead of Orlando – Smaller airport, quieter, faster through immigration, and far less stressful with a large family. We saved at least an hour just by choosing Tampa, which meant we got to the villa faster.

Stay in a villa if you have a large family – Space, privacy, and a kitchen for snacks or simple meals make a huge difference. With five kids, having our own rooms and a living area meant everything was smoother.

Don’t stress about “rope dropping” – Start the day when the kids are ready. We let everyone wake up at their pace—stress-free mornings made happier days and we managed to still do everything we wanted without exhausting everyone and letting them get the rest they needed.

Use Universal’s Express Pass – Fewer queues mean more rides, less whining, and more smiles. One day we skipped 90 minutes of queue time at a single ride, and the kids were ecstatic. Totally worth it.

Add Disney’s PhotoPass – You’ll treasure these photos forever. We got shots of the whole family on rides, with characters, and even in silly moments—no awkward selfie arms required. For once mum and dad were in all the photos!!

Bring Ziplock bags – Snacks, leftover chicken strips, small souvenirs, or wet items—these were lifesavers. I never thought a zip bag could save my sanity until A didn’t want to eat anything on the menu so outcome the leftover chicken strips from luchtime!

Use AirTags – Attach them to bags, buggies, or even older kids’ pockets. Knowing exactly where your things (or kids!) are in a crowded park is priceless.

Pack reusable water bottles – Staying hydrated is essential, and it saves a fortune on drinks. We kept topping up ours all day and avoided fizzy drinks that upset tummies. Water fill stations are plentiful around all the parks.

Bring a buggy (even for bigger kids!) – Everyone ends up in it eventually. Even I did!! If you think your kids are too old, trust me they’re not! Who doesn’t want a quick sit down after doing 20,000 steps!

Attach handle straps to the buggy – Older kids can hold on in crowds, keeping everyone safe. In the thick of a parade crowd, G loved this, made him feel very safe. What I didn’t realise in all my planning is that as much as I was worried about losing the boys at some point, they were just as worried about getting lost as well.

Comfort items make a difference – Hoodie’s for all the freezing AC in the restaurant!! A favourite toy can calm children during rides, queues, or downtime.

Portable phone chargers are essential – For photos, park apps, and keeping kids entertained on travel days. One day our phones were almost dead, and having a portable charger was a lifesaver when trying to navigate the park map and planning lightening lanes.

Weather-proof gear matters – Ponchos, hats, sunscreen, and a change of clothes for sudden rain or water rides. We forgot our ponchos one day on a water ride, by 8pm my shorts were still wet! Never forget those again!