Our Florida Family Adventure 2026: Bigger Kids, A Baby In Tow & A Brand New Park

We drove from Edinburgh down to Newcastle and flew from there to Melbourne with TUI. Our flight out was delayed by around three and a half hours, which was not ideal with three children, but once we were in the air things went smoothly. On arrival we picked up a hire car, which gave us the flexibility we needed with the boys and all the park days we had planned.

For this trip we stayed off‑site at The Grove Resort & Spa. Having an apartment‑style set‑up was a big help with three children, especially with a baby who still needed naps and early nights. It also meant we could be a bit more sensible with our budget and food, which I will come back to.

Over the course of the holiday we managed to fit in Gatorland, all four Disney parks, all the Universal parks including Epic Universe, plus SeaWorld. No waterparks this time, simply because there was so much else we wanted to do.

Gatorland & Ziplining Above The Alligators

One of the early highlights was Gatorland. Alex and Jack did the zipline over a lake of alligators and absolutely loved it. Watching them fly over the water with all those gators beneath them was definitely a “proud but slightly nervous mum” moment. It is the kind of experience they will be talking about for years.

Grae, of course, was too little for any of that, but there was plenty he could look at and enjoy from the pushchair.

Disney Days: Pandora, Slinky Dog & Fireworks

We visited all of the Disney parks this trip and they each gave us some brilliant memories.

At Animal Kingdom, Pandora was a stand‑out for all of us. Flight of Passage was incredible and is still one of my favourite rides anywhere. Na’vi River Journey was beautiful too and a lovely, gentler option that we could enjoy together. We also really liked Pizzafari here for a quick, easy meal that still felt tasty and good value.

Hollywood Studios gave us big smiles with Slinky Dog Dash, which was a huge hit with Alex and Jack. Being older now, they could do so much more and really make the most of the rides. We made good use of single rider where we could, and rider switch worked well for us so that Niall and I both still got to ride while taking turns with Grae.

We caught all of the fireworks shows across the Disney parks and every single one was fantastic in its own way. No matter how many times you see them, there is just something about Disney fireworks that never gets old.

Universal, Epic Universe & All Things Harry Potter

We did all the Universal parks on this trip, including Epic Universe, which was new for us. All of the Harry Potter rides were definite highlights and, with Alex and Jack being that bit older, they were able to enjoy more of the bigger attractions without any worries about height restrictions.

Epic Universe was amazing but the queues were huge, especially given how new it is. We found that single rider was absolutely worth using wherever possible as the normal lines were often just too long. Ministry of Magic was the worst for queues; we waited around three hours and it should really have been closer to 75 minutes. Definitely one we would plan more carefully around next time.

If we go back again, one change we would make is to spend at least one night at a premium Universal hotel to take advantage of the unlimited Express Pass for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It is a big investment but, with older children who want to ride as much as possible, it would be well worth it.

SeaWorld, Thrills & Those Florida Storms

We also visited SeaWorld this time, which offered a nice mix of rides and sea life. Infinity Falls was a stand‑out ride for us there. It is such good fun, but you do get absolutely soaked, which in 40‑degree heat is not necessarily a bad thing.

The weather overall was extremely hot. Temperatures were in the forties and the heat was intense, especially in the middle of the day. We also had a few classic Florida thunderstorms which, while impressive to watch, did cause some ride closures and delays. A few of our planned rides were temporarily down due to the weather, so we had to be flexible and move things around.

Eating Smart: Walmart Shops & Park Favourites

With three children, including a baby, and so many park days, we were very conscious of how quickly food costs can add up. Staying at The Grove meant we had a proper kitchen, so we did a big Walmart shop at the start of the trip. Having breakfast and some simple meals in the apartment made a huge difference to the budget.

In the parks we mainly used quick‑service options, which worked well for us. We found some real favourites along the way:

• The chocolate milkshakes at McDonald’s were a big hit with all of us.
• Pizza Moon at Epic Universe was fantastic and definitely one we would go back to.
• La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot served up brilliant Mexican food with a great atmosphere.
• Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom was another easy, reliable choice that everyone enjoyed.

This balance of self‑catering plus carefully chosen quick‑service meals meant we could still enjoy eating out without it running away with the budget.

Park Days With A Baby

Travelling with a 10‑month‑old in Orlando is definitely a different experience, but it was a really lovely one. The older two could head off with one of us to do the bigger rides, while the other stayed with Grae, and rider switch meant no one missed out.

One thing that really stood out was how the characters responded to the baby. So many of them made a real effort to come over to say hello to him, even if the main focus of the meet was supposed to be the older children. Those little moments made things feel extra special and were very much appreciated.

What We Would Do Differently Next Time

Looking back, we absolutely loved this trip, but it was full on. We crammed a huge amount into the time we had and, by the end, we were all feeling it.

If (or when) we go back, there are a few things we would change:

• Build in more rest days and probably make the holiday a bit longer to spread the park days out.
• Spend at least one night at a premium Universal hotel to get the unlimited Express Pass for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
• Make even more use of single rider at Epic Universe, as the standard queues are currently so long.

Overall though, it was an amazing holiday. Seeing Florida through the eyes of an 11‑year‑old, an 8‑year‑old and a 10‑month‑old all at once was a real privilege. The boys are already talking about what they want to do “next time”, and as someone who loves helping other families plan their own Florida adventures, it has given me even more up‑to‑date experience to share.

If reading this has you dreaming of your own Florida holiday, whether it is your first time or a long‑awaited return, I would love to help you put together a trip that works perfectly for your family.