The United States officially became the 19th country we’ve visited, and we were super excited to explore it together. Technically, it was my daughter’s first time in the US. I had been many years ago, and I mean many years ago, back when you could still buy plane tickets at the airport counter. Obviously, you can’t do that anymore.
We flew from Heathrow Terminal 3 with Virgin Atlantic, and as always, they didn’t disappoint. It’s honestly my favourite airline. The staff were lovely and made the journey really enjoyable. The kids were given a free activity bag that included an activity book, colouring pencils, a pop toy, and sunglasses. It was such a thoughtful touch and really helped keep my daughter happy throughout the long nine-hour flight. The entertainment bag made a real difference on what was quite a lengthy journey.
That said, despite booking well in advance, the flights weren’t any cheaper than usual. I did use my Virgin Red Points to bring the cost down a little, but it was still quite pricey. Interestingly, I noticed that a few weeks before our departure, flight prices dropped significantly. It’s a bit frustrating to see, but at the same time, if I had waited, the flights might have sold out or become even more expensive. You really can’t win in these situations, and it’s always a bit of a gamble when booking flights this far ahead.
We were also given blankets, headphones and pillows at no extra charge. Meals and snacks were included throughout the flight, including a mini afternoon tea. The food wasn’t amazing, but it was edible, which is more than I can say for a lot of airline meals. There was also in-flight entertainment which helped pass the time.
Once we landed at Orlando International Airport, passport control took some time but not as long as I had expected. The process was thorough but smooth. We had to give fingerprints and speak with a border officer, but everyone we dealt with was polite and professional. Make sure you have your ESTA visa sorted before flying, along with any other required documents.
We used Uber to get to our hotel, though I later found out that Lyft is often cheaper in the Orlando area. Finding the rideshare pick-up area at the airport was simple. The signs were clear and easy to follow.
We arrived at our hotel fairly early in the day, which meant we had quite a few hours to fill. My original plan was to go straight to Disney World, and looking back now, I realise how ridiculous that would have been. We were far too tired for something so full-on. Instead, we went to Target. I had seen so many videos and shows about it, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I picked up loads of bits I’d always wanted but never been able to get in the UK. I would genuinely come back to America just to shop, and next time I’ll probably bring an extra suitcase.
As someone who loves beauty and haircare, I also had to visit Ulta. It was everything I hoped for and more. It reminded me of a bigger, better version of Boots, packed with American brands I can’t get at home. I left with a full basket and zero regrets.
The first hotel we stayed at was Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection and you can read my full review here.
The second hotel we stayed at was Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek and you can read my full review here.
The third hotel we stayed at was The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando and you can read my full review here.
Orlando is full of family fun, and it’s genuinely fantastic for kids of all ages. One of the highlights from our trip was visiting the Crayola Experience at Florida Mall. It’s colourful, creative and packed with hands-on activities that kept us entertained for hours – even as a 31-year-old adult, I had a great time.
The Crayola Experience offers more than 20 interactive stations designed to inspire creativity. One of our favourites was the wax art section, where you use melted crayons to create neon spin art or drip paintings. It’s fun, a little messy, and completely unique. There was also a Crayola-themed soft play area which was perfect for little ones to burn off some energy, plus a station where you could design and print your own Crayola label to wrap around a personalised crayon – a cute keepsake that makes the experience feel more special.
Another fun activity was the digital art station, where kids can colour in a character and see it come to life on a big screen. There’s also a modelling clay section where you can sculpt and take home your own colourful creation, and an area where you melt crayons into custom shapes you get to keep.
Entry is around $28 (roughly £21) when booked online in advance, and everyone aged two and over needs a ticket. Children under two go free. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something creative and hands-on that’s different from the usual theme parks.
One thing I will say is that the staff could have been a little friendlier, which might have added to the overall experience. But that aside, it was well worth the visit.
Another big plus is that it’s all indoors, which makes it an ideal way to beat the Florida heat. Orlando can get extremely hot, especially in the summer, so having an air-conditioned activity that the whole family can enjoy is a real win.
The whole reason we visited Orlando was to do our second Disney Cruise, which I’ll talk about later, but because of that, we didn’t have much time to explore the theme parks. This means another trip is definitely on the cards for us in the future.
I booked our Walt Disney World tickets through GetYourGuide, and it’s really important to shop around when buying Disney World or other attraction tickets. Don’t just buy directly from the official website—compare prices with other trusted sellers like GetYourGuide, Attraction Tickets, or other authorised resellers to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Since we only had one day to visit one park, my plan was to spend it at Magic Kingdom. But silly me, I accidentally booked tickets for Animal Kingdom instead. While Animal Kingdom is essentially a zoo with a few good rides, it wasn’t quite what I expected for a one-day visit. That said, I really enjoyed the rides and attractions there—it’s just not the classic Disney experience I’d planned. Since it was my mistake, I can’t really complain, but it definitely means I’ll be back to explore the rest of Disney World properly.
And as always, make sure you download the official Disney app before you go. You’ll find an interactive map, wait times for rides, show schedules, and all the important info you need to get the most out of your visit.
Before you head to the parks, especially during the hotter months, I highly recommend bringing an umbrella. Even if it’s not raining, it can help shield you from the intense Florida sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen, stay hydrated throughout the day, and wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be doing a lot of walking!
Now let’s talk about Universal Studios, which is literally the best theme park we have ever been to. I’m super excited about the new Universal Studios opening in the UK in a couple of years. I went into this trip with no real plan whatsoever. Again, I booked our tickets through GetYourGuide, but as always, it’s important to shop around to find the best deal.
As I mentioned, we were in Orlando mainly for the Disney Cruise, so we only had time to visit two parks in two days. Unfortunately, that didn’t include the brand-new Epic Universe park in Orlando, which looks absolutely insane. But anyway, let’s focus on the two parks we did visit.
We started with Islands of Adventure and were amazed by the theming, the rides, and even the food — which is saying a lot since I normally dislike theme park food. We downloaded the Universal app to check wait times and navigate the park easily.
My favourite part was definitely the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan since I was a kid, so finally seeing this was truly incredible—almost brought me to tears. It sounds ridiculous, but the Harry Potter universe is so magical and really makes you feel like a child again. That’s what I love about it.
We queued almost two hours for the Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride. Normally, I wouldn’t wait that long, but since we probably wouldn’t be back any time soon, we decided to do it. And it was incredible. The ride goes so fast, and we were right at the front. We loved every minute. Apart from Hagrid’s ride, the queues for other attractions were quite short, especially compared to some UK theme parks. The parks are just much bigger, so the crowd feels less cramped. We loved every single theme park we visited.
On our second day, we visited Universal Studios Florida. This park also had a Harry Potter section and a fun Simpsons-themed area. We even tried a “Krusty Burger,” which tasted really good. As a Simpsons fan, this was a nice touch. There was also a Men in Black ride, one of my favourite movie franchises, and it was fantastic. The Minions ride was great too—no complaints at all.
It was a really hot day, though, and we found ourselves constantly needing water. At Universal, you can save money by simply asking for a cup of ice water instead of buying multiple bottles. I’m not sure if Walt Disney World offers the same, but it’s definitely good to know that Universal does.
I also bought one of those Coca-Cola Freestyle refillable cups. Normally, I wouldn’t spend the money, but given how hot it was, it was totally worth it. You can refill it all day with water, slushies, and other drinks. I think I paid around £17 for the cup, which seemed pricey at first but was great value in the end.
One tip: when I bought the refillable cup the first day, I didn’t realise you could buy a multi-day version at a slightly cheaper rate. I only noticed this on the second day when I went to buy another cup, so I ended up paying full price again. If you’re visiting for multiple days, definitely double-check for multi-day refill deals to save money.
Overall, Universal Studios was fantastic, and I can’t wait to go back and finally check out Epic Universe!
Let’s talk about one of the absolute highlights of our Orlando trip, the Disney Cruise. We sailed aboard the Disney Magic for five nights to the Bahamas, and honestly, it was even better than our first one. One of the reasons we saved a bit this time was because on our previous cruise (which you can read about here), I booked a placeholder. This costs $250 and gives you up to two years to book another cruise, with 10% off most sailings. It’s a great little saving if you already know you’ll want to cruise again.
This time we departed from Port Canaveral, which is about an hour’s drive from Orlando International Airport. As always, taxi prices will vary but we paid around £50 one way. When we arrived, Disney staff were ready and waiting to help with our luggage and show us exactly where to go. They were friendly and helpful, which really set the tone for the whole trip. Make sure you’ve got all your documents ready, including ESTA visas, passports, and anything else required, to avoid any issues at check-in.
Our check-in time was 1pm and everything went really smoothly. Unlike our last cruise from Southampton, this time my daughter had to collect her kids’ club wristband onboard instead of being given it straight away. These wristbands are important as they’re used to check children in and out of the kids’ clubs and help you know where they are at all times. Before your trip, Disney will send you your luggage tags in the post. Once you arrive, you hand your tagged suitcases over and they’ll be delivered to your room for you. It’s a good idea to keep anything essential in a carry-on bag, especially things like swimwear, medication or chargers, as your main luggage might not arrive until later.
Our room was ready not long after we boarded and our Key to the World cards were waiting outside the door. I highly recommend downloading the Disney Cruise Line app before your trip. You can use it to find your room, check the daily activity schedule, see where you’re eating each night and keep up with any entertainment or character meet-and-greet times. It really helps you make the most of the cruise.
On this sailing, we visited three incredible destinations. First was Nassau in the Bahamas, which was absolutely stunning with crystal-clear blue waters, soft white sand, and the friendliest locals. Then we visited both of Disney’s private islands — Castaway Cay and their newest one, Lighthouse Point. Both were breathtaking and offered different experiences, from beach lounging and water play to exploring the local Bahamian culture. I highly recommend this specific itinerary for those stops alone.
The cruise itself was amazing. There are kids’ clubs available for all age groups, from toddlers to teens, and the activities are so well thought out. Adults get their own relaxing spaces too, with lounges, bars, and even spa areas if you fancy treating yourself. Pirate Night was one of our highlights. Everyone dressed up, there were live performances, photo ops and even fireworks at sea. It really did feel magical.
This time I went for one of the cheaper inside rooms with no window or veranda to keep our overall costs down. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I said there’s no way to do Orlando and a Disney Cruise on a tight budget. You can find cheaper options like I did, but this kind of trip is still going to be pricey, especially if you’re adding a cruise to your holiday. Our five-night sailing cost around $1,741 per person, which is roughly £1,340 per person, excluding flights. And honestly, it was worth every penny.
That price included all food, soft drinks, shows, and entertainment. There are extras you can pay for such as alcoholic drinks, spa treatments, excursions and special dining experiences, but if you’re on a budget, there’s plenty to enjoy without spending anything extra. One of my favourite parts was ordering room service every night and watching classic Disney films from the comfort of our cabin. The TV is packed with everything from The Parent Trap to newer releases, and it was such a cosy way to end each day.
We also got to see the live musical of Tangled, which is exclusive to the Disney Magic. You won’t see it anywhere else unless they bring it to the West End or Broadway, and it really added to the magic of the trip. As much as I loved our first cruise on the Disney Dream, this one was a thousand times better. I’m already tempted to book a third.
Now, as I’ve mentioned, Orlando is incredibly family-friendly. If you’re looking for even more fun things to do with your children, why not visit the world’s largest McDonald’s or try something like SeaWorld or the Crayola Experience? I also recommend checking GetYourGuide or the Fever app for other family activities in Orlando. Just make sure you change your location to Orlando in the Fever app to see everything nearby.
GetYourGuide discount code: KIDDOADVENTURES5
When it comes to booking Walt Disney World or Universal Studios tickets, definitely shop around. Look at websites like AttractionTickets.com, Klook, Viator, Tiqets and GetYourGuide. See who’s offering the best deals, whether that’s an extra day free, a memory maker package, or bonus extras like gift cards. It’s worth comparing everything side by side — even just making a quick table to figure out who offers the best value.
The flight from the UK to Orlando is long — around nine hours — so comfort is key, especially for children. I used a Seat to Sleep travel pillow on the plane and highly recommend it if you want to help your little ones rest. You can read my full review here and I’ve got a discount code too if you want to try it for your next trip.
For spending money while abroad, I mainly used my Monzo card and only took out a small amount of cash. I’ve used Monzo for years now and it’s brilliant for travel — no fees to use your card abroad, everything’s tracked in the app, and it’s just so convenient. If you’d like to sign up, here’s my referral link.
Getting around Orlando is very different from somewhere like London. Public transport is limited, so unless you’re staying at a hotel with shuttle services, you’ll likely need to drive or use a ride-sharing app. If you’re confident driving on the other side of the road, hiring a car is a great option. I personally used Lyft, which worked well but definitely added up — something to keep in mind when budgeting. Orlando is very spread out, so transport is essential.
You’ll probably spend more than expected on food too, especially at the parks. I recommend budgeting extra for snacks, meals, and drinks, especially as the heat means you’ll need to stay hydrated. Bring a reusable water bottle and ask for cups of ice at theme parks — it’s an easy way to save instead of buying multiple bottles.
A few more tips before I wrap up: pack ponchos for those random Florida downpours, bring a portable charger for your phone, use packing cubes to stay organised, and try to book your airport or cruise transfers in advance — it just saves a lot of hassle.
Orlando is not a cheap holiday, so take your time and save up. Whether it takes you a few months or a few years to plan the trip, it’s so worth it. I’ve done budget trips all over Europe, but Orlando — especially when combined with something like a Disney Cruise — is in a different league. Just make sure you plan, prepare and enjoy every single minute of it.
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