Orlando, Florida, is a place where adventures abound and dreams come to life. Orlando, sometimes called the “Theme Park Capital of the World,” is a fantasy for thrill-mongers, families, and anybody else looking to be enchanted by a magic spell. Tourism, significant events, and convention traffic make Orlando one of the most visited cities in the world.

Orlando is well known for its world-class theme parks, which are at the very heart of the city’s allure. Discover the magical realm of Walt Disney World Resort, where Disney’s animal kingdom anticipates your arrival with exciting animal adventures, Hollywood elegance shines in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and fairy tales spring to life in the Magic Kingdom. In close proximity, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure offer exhilarating rides and attractions influenced by megahit movies at Universal Florida and Harry Potter’s supernatural world at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Experience the electrifying International Drive, dotted with exquisite dining establishments, designer stores, and a bustling nightlife. Discover cultural gems like the historic Leu Gardens, the Dr. Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Orlando Museum of Art. Moreover, the Beautiful Lake Eola Park offers a tranquil haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with swan boat trips and pleasant walking pathways.

Orlando’s culinary culture is a remarkable melting pot of flavours, offering everything from food trucks and fine dining to international cuisine. Sports enthusiasts can also see an exciting Orlando City SC football match or an Orlando Magic basketball event.

Orlando promises a vibrant and unforgettable experience, whether you’re planning a solo trip, a romantic getaway, or a family holiday. Learn why every traveller’s must-see list includes visiting this splendid city.

Explore Orlando with Woking Travel!

Flights To Orlando Guide

Flying from the UK to Orlando is simple. Orlando International Airport (MCO), which has excellent links to principal UK cities, is the region’s primary airport. London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN), and minor airports like Glasgow (GLA) and Edinburgh (EDI) occasionally offer direct flights to Orlando from the United Kingdom. While Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is another option, it primarily caters to low-cost and charter carriers. 

When it comes to direct flights from the UK to Orlando, you can trust the major airlines. TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways all offer this service, ensuring a reliable and comfortable journey. Depending on your departure location and weather conditions, the typical flight time is between nine and ten hours.

Woking Travel also offers convenient transportation from the airport to your hotel, ensuring a smooth and trouble-free journey. Please check out Transfers – Woking Travel for more information. Book your trip with Woking Travel to ensure a seamless travel experience!

Woking Travel has everything that you need for your trip to San Francisco. If you are looking for hotels or vacation packages, check out Woking Travel Hotels and Woking Travel Packages to book the perfect hotel for your stay. Here is a list of the best hotels in the city, from deluxe five-star resorts to affordable yet cosy retreats, sorted according to affordability and star rating to cater to every budget.

  1. Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek: This 4-star resort is located near Walt Disney World and features high-end rooms and suites, a selection of dining outlets, a lagoon-style pool and a spa for a luxury experience. During peak seasons, it falls on the moderate to highly priced side.

  2. Hotel Monreale Express I-Drive Orlando: Located along International Drive, this 3-star hotel has modern rooms and a swimming pool and provides complimentary breakfast. It’s perfect for those who wish to stay near famous sights without breaking the bank on accommodation.

  3. The Grove Resort & Water Park: This 4-star, family-friendly resort has massive rooms featuring full kitchens, a water park, a lazy river, and on-site dining to make your holiday exciting. It provides a perfect balance between price and amenities, making it a great value for families and travel groups.

  4. Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando—Disney Springs Area: This 4-star hotel offers welcoming rooms, a fitness centre, complimentary breakfast, and evening snacks and drinks. Families visiting Disney Springs will find this hotel to have added value at a great mid-range price.

  5. Rosen Shingle Creek: Perfect for leisure or business travellers, this opulent resort offers posh guestrooms, multiple restaurants, and bars, the city’s top golf course, spa services, and substantial conference facilities. Prices are moderate to high, aligning with its 4-star rating.

  6. Hyatt Regency Orlando: Located in the heart of Orlando, the hotel offers current lodgings, several eating places, a rooftop pool, gymnastics, and nearby attractions. Being rated 4-star, it’s greater in cost and serves both leisure and business travellers.

  7. The Alfond Inn: This boutique hotel in Winter Park offers chic rooms, a farm-to-table restaurant, an outdoor pool, and meeting spaces. Even at a higher price point, this hotel has been rated five stars.

  8. Grand Bohemian Orlando, Autograph Collection: Downtown Orlando boasts a stylish boutique hotel famous for its lavish accommodation options, including an art gallery, a rooftop swimming pool, and spa treatments. With its premium services, it has been rated four stars and falls on the pricier side.

  9. Lake Nona Wave: Contemporary accommodation in Lake Nona features minimalist design rooms with a rooftop pool plus gym, among other entertainment joints around it. Priced highly, this 5-star hotel guarantees a contemporary luxury experience.

  10. JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes: This 5-star, all-inclusive resort has prolific surroundings and spacious rooms. It also has a championship golf course, while other amenities include various eateries, spa services, outdoor activities, and more. It’s among the pricier choices.

About transportation modes available in Orlando:

  1. Car Rentals: The ease of car hire is highly recommended when discovering this place’s attractions at your own pace.
  2. Public Transportation: Lynx bus service covers all parts of the city, including the outskirts, and is thus an economical way to travel within and around the city.
  3. Hotel Shuttles:  If you’re staying near tourist attractions like International Drive, take advantage of the hotel shuttles. Many hotels offer these services for free or at a nominal rate, providing a cost-effective and convenient way to explore Orlando.
  4. Taxis and Ride-Sharing: Taxi cabs, Uber, and Lyft are always available, making them convenient for those who do not prefer public transport or driving.
  5. Walking: Embrace the unique experience of exploring Orlando on foot. Walking can be an enjoyable exercise for tourists visiting specific parts of Orlando, such as areas with many attractions in one place and pedestrian-friendly paths.
  6. Bike and Scooter Sharing: They are great for short-distance travelling within the town. This mode allows you to visit all the major sights while saving the environment quickly.
  7. Specialised Transport: Various tour operators provide shuttle services to the Kennedy Space Centre, beaches, and other popular locations outside Orlando.
  8. I-Ride Trolley Facility: This service travels to significant landmarks, lodging facilities, and retail districts, mostly along International Drive. It is reasonably priced, with options for single tickets, day passes, and multi-day passes.

Orlando is renowned for its many tourist spots, especially its globally recognised theme parks. These are the top ten tourist destinations In Orlando, Florida:

  1. Walt Disney World: This vast resort houses four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These parks provide limitless sources of amusement for individuals across all age brackets.

  2. Universal Studios Florida: Get lost in the movie-make movie-making Universal Stu Studios, where thrilling rides and iconic movie sets await you.

  3. SeaWorld Orlando: People visiting this marine zoological park can spend time with aquatic animals, either riding thrilling rides or watching spectacular shows involving them.

  4. Discovery Cove: Swim with dolphins while interacting with other marine animals, and enjoy a day of relaxation in paradise.

  5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: This theme park is a large wildlife conservation area dedicated to exotic animals and thrilling adventures.

  6. Wheel at ICON Park: Ride on this massive observation wheel heightens your gaze over the skyline of Orlando, extending far off.

  7. WonderWorks: It is a topsy-turvy attraction with interactive science museums and brain-breaking encounters for all age groups.

  8. SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium: This aquarium’s underwater tunnel extends 360 degrees, allowing visitors to dive into the wonders of sea life.

  9. Gatorland: Visit this wildlife preserve and theme park, known as the “Alligator Capital of the World, to see thousands of alligators and crocodiles.”

  10. International Drive: The International Drive offers an experience of a vibrant street full of attractions, restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues catering to everyone’s tastes.

The following ten restaurants in Orlando are all highly recommended and pledge to provide a distinctive eating experience:

  1. Victoria and Albert’s: This AAA Five Diamond restaurant, which is part of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, serves a delicious, multi-course tasting menu, focusing on American fine dining, along with exceptional service and an extensive wine variety.

     

  2. The Ravenous Pig: An upscale location in Winter Park famous for its inventive cuisine featuring the best local products, seasonal menus, craft brews, and farm-to-table mechanism.

     

  3. Kadence: Kadence is a small, intimate place that particularly specialises in omakase sushi (the chef’s suggestion) and it’s well-known for its wonderfully presented, fresh fish.

     

  4. Prato: Prato, located in Winter Park, fuses modern methods with classic Italian flavours. It is famed for its wood-fired pizzas, homemade pasta, and lively ambiance.

     

  5. Se7en Bites: Se7en Bites is a locally cherished restaurant in the Milk District that offers Southern-inspired breakfast, brunch, and lunch fare, including their popular buttermilk garlic biscuits.

     

  6. Norman’s: Directed by Chef Norman Van Aken, this Ritz-Carlton Orlando restaurant offers a distinctive and tasteful dining experience by fusing the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America palate.

     

  7. Hillstone: With stunning lakeside dining and an expertise in steaks and fresh seafood, Hillstone, a classic American steakhouse, is based in Winter Park and overlooks Lake Killarney.

     

  8. The Boathouse: The Boathouse, a nautical themed eatery with a menu that mainly consists of fresh seafood, steaks, and waterfront views, is situated in Disney Springs.

     

  9. Chatham’s Place: Chatham’s Place is an elegant dining establishment with a delightful ambiance that is known for its appetising food, top-tier service, and farm-fresh vegetables harvested straight from the chef’s own garden.

  10. Enzo’s On The Lake: This quaint Italian eatery is tucked away beside Lake Fairy in Longwood. It has a menu that features traditional Italian dishes made with fresh, high quality ingredients, served in a stunning location.
  1. Walt Disney World Resort: This world-class resort comprises four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which cater to all ages.

  2. Universal Orlando Resort: Universal Studios Florida immerses you in the world of movies, while Islands of Adventure offers thrilling rides. Not to mention The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, indulging you in a magical universe.

  3. SeaWorld Orlando: At this place, visitors can meet marine animals face-to-face, along with other experiences like exhilarating rides and live shows featuring dolphins, whales, and more.

  4. Kennedy Space Center Exploration Journey through space at Kennedy Space Center, where you can see real space shuttles and meet astronauts during interactive exhibits on NASA’s success story, among other things.

  5. Wheel at ICON Park Ride: This iconic observation wheel within ICON Park offers panoramic city views. It is the perfect spot to capture city scenes from above.

  6. WonderWorks Visit: With various interactive exhibits, WonderWorks is a centre of attractions integrating entertainment and learning. It also comprises optical illusions for children to enjoy.

  7. Gatorland Experience: Gatorland, also known as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” allows you to get up close and personal with Florida’s native alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles. 

  8. Eating And Shopping: Visitors will find diverse restaurants, shops, and entertainment in areas such as Disney Springs International Drive and downtown Orlando.

  9. Lake Eola Park: This beautiful park with a magnificent lake in the heart of downtown Orlando is a great place to unwind and enjoy outdoor activities like paddle boating, picnicking, and the monthly farmer’s market.

  10. Orlando Museum of Art: Explore a diverse range of artwork at this esteemed cultural institution, with American, African, and contemporary masterpieces from a variety of eras and designs.

Experience Orlando’s allure all year round! Visit indoor attractions or water parks to escape the hot and humid summer. For family vacations, look for inexpensive flights. Enjoy outdoor activities like golfing or theme park exploration without the crowds during the milder winters. Cheap flights are available from Orlando for getaways in any season. Here is a breakdown of Orlando’s periodic seasons:

  • Hot and Humid Summer(May-September): Orlando experiences hot summers with extreme humidity, frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and high temperatures. Due to the school holidays, it’s the busiest time of year in regards to tourism, so anticipate additional charges for hotels and bustling sites.
  • Mild and Dry Winter( October-March): Orlando encounters mild winters with chilly temps and sporadic cold fronts that bring relatively lower temperatures. Even while the weather is typically nice for outdoor activities in winter, there may be several frosty days and nights.

Follow up with Orlando’s weather at 10-Day Weather Forecast for Orlando, FL.

The time difference between the United Kingdom (UK) and Orlando, Florida, varies during different times of the year due to changes in the daylight-saving period. 

  • GMT: Orlando lags behind the UK by 5 hours,
  • BST: Orlando is 4 hours behind UK

However, specific time zone adjustments must be confirmed before travelling between these two places or communicating one area with another.

Currency:

  • The monetary unit used in Orlando, Florida, is the US Dollar (USD), with many ATMs and foreign exchange facilities due to its popularity as a tourist hotspot. Most businesses in Orlando use cash and credit/debit cards as forms of payment.

 

Language:

  • English is the primary and official language spoken in the United States, including Orlando. In Orlando, 75% of the population uses it as their first language, although other languages are spoken due to the cultural diversity. If you visit this city, you will be fine moving around because most people here can communicate in English. 

Local Customs: 

Here are several customs specific to Orlando that would be helpful to know about:

  1. Lunch is often perceived as a vacation among indigenous individuals who occasionally stretch out leisurely speaking breaks.
  2. It’s common to tip anywhere between 15% and 20%, particularly in restaurants and cabs.
  3. It’s respectful to keep a reasonable distance since Americans respect their personal space.
  4. Moreover, given the multicultural population of the city, respect for diversity is crucial here.
  5. Being on time is valued in both professional and social contexts and because of the laid-back vibe of the city, casual clothing is appropriate for most events.
  6. Furthermore, when driving in Orlando, abide by the traffic laws in the area and show consideration for other drivers.
  7. To have a worthwhile time at attractions like Walt Disney World, abide by the laws and regulations of the theme parks.
  8. Take in Orlando’s natural beauty and practise conservation and eco-friendly acts of environmentalism.

Local Laws:

  1. Advice for British visitors to Florida – GOV.UK/ Travelling to the USA – GOV.UK
  2. About Visit Orlando | Our Vision, Mission & Community

For many reasons, Orlando is popularly recognised as a destination. Orlando has well-known theme parks, such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. The city has a warm subtropical climate most of the year, allowing outdoor activities and leisure. Orlando has an expansive culinary scene, providing diverse dining options for everyone’s taste. Malls, outlets, and unique boutiques define shopping districts in Orlando. With bars, clubs and entertainment spots that cater to different groups even at night, the nightlife in Orlando always stays exciting. Central Florida’s location enables easy access to other sites one may want to visit while in Florida, like beaches, natural parks, or historical areas. Orlando offers boundless opportunities for exploration and adventure, whether it is by travelling to renowned theme parks, indulging in delectable meals, or simply immersing oneself in the city’s multiple amenities. 

Discover Orlando magic! Book your flights to Orlando now with Woking Travel. Don’t miss out!