When we first started going to Florida, it was all about the parks. We’ve done it properly before, staying on site and spending around 14 days just doing Disney and Universal.
But now, that doesn’t really work for us anymore.
We still love the parks, but we like a bit of relaxation as well. So now, we do Florida differently, and honestly, it’s made the trips even better.
Why We Changed How We Do Florida
Because we’ve been so many times, we don’t feel like we have to do everything in one go anymore.
Before, it was constant parks. Now, we plan it so we’ve got a mix. We’ll still do Disney and Universal, but we also make time to relax and do other things.
It just feels more like a holiday now, not just a theme park trip.
Where to stay in Florida
We usually stay on International Drive. The main reason is location. You can walk to bars, restaurants and things to do in the evening, which makes it really easy, especially with a group.
This time, we stayed at Avanti on International Drive. When we first went into the room, I knew straight away it wasn’t for us. I went back to reception and asked about upgrading.
We ended up moving to a top floor, pool-view room, and it made such a difference. The rooms were renovated, the bathroom was much bigger, and because we were on the top floor, there was no noise from above. I’d always say now, upgrade when you get there if you can, it made such a difference to our experience.
Doing Universal Differently
We also did two nights at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal. The main reason for that is the fast passes. If you stay there, you get fast passes for the parks, and for us, that’s a game changer.
We stayed two nights and got three days of fast passes, which was enough to get around everything we wanted. Now we’ve done that, I don’t think we could go without it.
We also really liked the hotel itself. They had things like movies by the pool at night, so it felt like a break from the parks as well.
Halloween Horror Nights
We went in October this time so we also took the older boys to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. That was one of the highlights for them. They absolutely loved it, and we did too. If you’re going around that time of year, I’d definitely recommend it.
Adding Something Different: A Cruise
This time, we did something completely different and added a mini cruise. We went on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas and visited CocoCay in the Bahamas.
The weather wasn’t great at times, but we still had an amazing time. When the weather turned, they just put on pool parties and kept everyone entertained.
We went as a group of 17, and it was only my family that had cruised before. The rest were new to it, and they all loved it. My honest take – a 3-night cruise is good as a taster, but it did feel rushed. I wouldn’t say no to doing it again, but next time I’d definitely go for longer.
A Different Way to Do Disney
We also stayed at the Drury at Disney Springs. We asked for a balcony room so we could see the fireworks, and it was so worth it.
After being in the parks all day with younger kids, instead of standing around waiting for fireworks, we went back to the room, got room service and watched them from there. It was so much easier, especially with little ones who don’t want to wait around.
If we did it again, I’d try and get a front-facing room, but even with a side view, we still saw two sets of fireworks.
It’s Not Just About the Parks
That’s the biggest thing for us now, it’s not just about Disney and Universal. We spend more time doing things on International Drive, like WonderWorks and mini golf, especially for a more relaxed day.
We’ve also done things like:
- Legoland, which was brilliant when the boys were younger
- Gatorland for something different
- Even just going out in the evenings to places like Senor Frog’s
It’s good as well because not everyone loves rides. Some of the adults we travel with don’t, and even a couple of the kids this time didn’t either. So having other things to do makes a big difference.
The Little Traditions
We’re definitely creatures of habit when it comes to Florida. We always go back to the same restaurants like Olive Garden, LongHorn and The Cheesecake Factory. Before we go, we’ll actually plan where we’re going to eat.
And one of my favourite things we’ve done is recreate the same photo at Universal over the years. The boys were tiny the first time, and now they barely fit in the same spot.
When is Best to Go to Florida?
We usually go in September or October.
For us, it’s a good time with the kids. It’s not as hot as peak summer, and the parks aren’t as busy as times like Easter. You do have to be aware of hurricane season, and we’ve had trips moved before, but we’ve always been lucky. The weather can be a bit mixed, you might get heavy rain, but it usually only lasts a short time and then clears.
Final Thoughts
We just love Florida. No matter how many times we go, it always has something new to offer.
Even as the kids have gotten older, it still works because there’s so much to do, both in and out of the parks. It’s not just about the rides anymore, it’s everything else that comes with it as well.
That mix is what makes it such an amazing experience every time we go, and why it’s somewhere we always come back to.
Florida FAQs
No, we prefer staying on International Drive and travelling into the parks. It gives you more flexibility and access to other things to do.
For us, yes. Staying at a hotel like Hard Rock that includes them made a huge difference to our experience.
It’s great as a taster, especially if you’ve never cruised before, but it can feel rushed over just a few nights.
We prefer September or October as it’s a bit quieter and not as hot as peak times.
Definitely. We now spend more time doing things on International Drive and trying different attractions, not just the theme parks.