What extras might I need when visiting Orlando?

So, you’re planning the trip of a lifetime to Orlando. You’ve thought about your travel and accommodation, but what else do you need to know to plan the perfect trip?

This article covers all those little extras that you might not have thought of yet. From fast passes to park hoppers and everything in between, we’ll go through the all the things you might need when you visit Florida to ensure you have the best holiday ever!

Fast passes for the theme parks

Fast passes are a great way to bypass the standby lines and head to what should be a shorter queue, allowing you to ride attractions more quickly. It’s a good option if you’re short on time, have specific attractions that you definitely want to tick off, or want to ride your favourites more than once.

Each resort has its own version of a queue-jump pass.

Top tip: If you stay at selected Universal Signature Hotels, you will get a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass for each guest for every day of your stay, including the days you check in and check out. That means you can get two days’ worth of Universal Express Unlimited Passes with just a one-night stay!

Participating hotels:

• Hard Rock Hotel®
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Do I need a park hopper ticket?

If you’re planning to visit multiple theme parks on the same day, or you like to have a bit of flexibility with your plans, then a park hopper ticket is a great idea. Having park hopper access is great value, and it means you can visit multiple theme parks in one day, flitting between them as much as you like. 

Park hopper tickets:

Best-value theme park tickets

If you’re planning on visiting a variety of Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, LEGOLAND, and SeaWorld theme parks, then a combination ticket package might work out to be the best value for you. 

Park hopper combination tickets:

Dining during your Orlando holiday

There are so many wonderful options when it comes to food during your trip to Florida. Dining plans and Character Dining are two options that are worth considering.

Dining plans at Walt Disney World Resort

Eating out every day while you’re away on holiday can get expensive, especially if your brood has big appetites. One of the most cost-effective ways to eat during your holiday is to add a dining plan to your hotel booking. These are available when you book a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. 

There are two Disney Dining Plans available:

Of course, if you decide not to go for a dining plan, there are plenty of other ways to eat during your holiday in Orlando. Check out our food guides for more information:

• What to do about food at Walt Disney World

Character dining at the theme parks

Walt Disney World Resort has a whole host of Character Dining experiences available, from enjoying breakfast with Mickey and friends to fine dining with the Disney Princesses. And they’re not the only ones. 

At Universal Orlando Resort, you can meet the MARVEL super heroes, while at SeaWorld Orlando, you can have breakfast with Elmo and friends.

Character dining is one of the most relaxed ways to meet your favourite characters, as well as being an extra special experience that you and your family will never forget. 

Should I rent a car in Orlando?

Hiring a car can be a fantastic way to get around during your trip to Florida. It means you can easily get from the airport to your accommodation without needing to wait for transfers, and you can also explore more of the wider area at your leisure.

It’s completely up to you whether you choose to rent a car in Orlando or not. We believe you can have an incredible trip to Orlando either way. We’ve put together a couple of key points to help you decide.

Renting a car is for you if:

• You want to explore more of Orlando and beyond
• You’re a confident driver who doesn’t mind driving abroad

Renting a car is not for you if:

• You’re a nervous driver
• You’re looking forward to having alcoholic drinks during your holiday
• You prefer to travel more sustainably
• You don’t want to pay for parking 

If you choose not to rent a car, basing yourself at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels or Universal Orlando Resort hotels is an excellent option. These hotels offer free transport between the hotels and the theme parks by monorail, boat, and bus, making getting around a breeze. Uber and Lyft are also good options for getting around.

Some of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels are within walking distance of the theme parks. For example, Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, which actually has its own dedicated entrance to Universal Epic Universe.

Tickets for other attractions

We always recommend that you schedule in some time in your holiday away from the theme parks to relax or to explore more of what Florida has to offer. If you want to plan ahead, you can buy tickets for these attractions in advance from AttractionTickets.com. 

Other attractions include:

• Gatorland
• Airboat rides
• The Orlando Eye
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
• Clearwater Beach
• Swimming with manatees

Now you’ve got everything you need to plan your dream trip to Orlando, it’s time to get booking! We’ve got hotel and ticket packages available to make booking your holiday simple.