🏖️ Orlando, FL Travel Guide
Orlando Vacation Guide
Welcome to NME’s Orlando travel guide. Theme parks and family resort corridors — Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, International Drive, and Kissimmee, all mapped out by category so you can plan your trip around what you actually want to do.
🏆 60 Attractions
🍲 69 Restaurants
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Hotels
78 verified hotels across Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, International Drive, Lake Buena Vista, and Kissimmee.
Things to Do
60 verified attractions — Disney and Universal theme parks, water parks, I-Drive, golf, and day trips.
Restaurants
69 verified restaurants — Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk dining, character meals, fine dining and steakhouses, and Winter Park favorites.
Getting to Know the Area
Universal Orlando
International Drive
Lake Buena Vista & Disney Springs
Kissimmee
Downtown Orlando & Winter Park
Orlando’s theme-park geography splits into a few distinct corridors: Walt Disney World sits southwest of the city with its own dedicated resort area, Universal Orlando is a few miles northeast near I-Drive, and Kissimmee anchors the vacation-home and villa market just south of Disney. International Drive strings together mid-size attractions and convention hotels between the two major resorts, while downtown Orlando and nearby Winter Park offer a quieter, more local change of pace from the parks.
Planning Tips
- Decide Disney vs. Universal vs. both before booking hotels. Staying on-site at either resort comes with real perks (Disney’s free transportation, Universal’s Express Pass access) but locks you into that resort’s ecosystem for the trip.
- Summer and major holidays are peak season. Expect the highest crowds and hotel rates around Christmas, spring break, and July.
- Rental cars are worth it if you’re splitting time between resorts. Disney and Universal are about 20-25 minutes apart by car, and neither resort’s transportation system easily crosses over to the other.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are a near-daily summer occurrence. Plan outdoor attractions and pool time for mornings when possible.
📅 2026 Theme Weeks
Orlando’s calendar is anchored by Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando’s rotating slate of ticketed festivals and race weekends, so the parks feel noticeably different depending on which month you visit.
❄️ Winter Focus Weeks (January – February)
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (January 7–11, 2026): runDisney’s four-day race weekend through the Walt Disney World parks, culminating in the full marathon on Sunday.
- EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (Jan 16–Feb 23, 2026): EPCOT fills with art galleries, Broadway-style concerts, and food studios celebrating visual, culinary, and performing arts.
🌸 Spring Theme Weeks (March – May)
- EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival (March 4–June 1, 2026): Elaborate character topiaries, display gardens, and outdoor food kitchens take over EPCOT for nearly three months.
☀️ Summer Peak Weeks (June – August)
- Fourth of July Fireworks (July 4, 2026): Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Universal Orlando each add extended fireworks and entertainment for one of the busiest days of summer.
🍁 Fall Focus Weeks (September – October)
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (Aug 7–Oct 31, 2026): Separately ticketed nighttime Halloween party at Magic Kingdom with trick-or-treating, a villains parade, and fireworks.
- Halloween Horror Nights (Aug 28–Nov 1, 2026): Universal Orlando’s after-hours haunted house event with elaborate scare zones based on horror franchises.
- EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival (Aug 27–Nov 21, 2026): Global marketplaces around EPCOT’s World Showcase serve small-plate dishes and drinks from dozens of countries.
🎄 Holiday Theme Weeks (November – December)
- EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Nov 27–Dec 30, 2026): EPCOT celebrates global holiday traditions with the Candlelight Processional and holiday kitchens.
- OUC Orlando Half Marathon Weekend (Dec 5–6, 2026): A half marathon and 5K weekend through downtown Orlando and Baldwin Park, marking its 50th running.
How many days should I plan for an Orlando trip?
A full Walt Disney World visit alone usually takes 4-5 days; add Universal Orlando’s three parks and you’re looking at 7-10 days for a trip that covers both resorts without rushing.
Should I stay on Disney or Universal property, or off-site?
On-site hotels come with real perks — Disney’s free resort transportation and Universal’s Express Pass access for many hotels — but off-site hotels on International Drive or in Kissimmee are often cheaper and still a short drive away.
What’s the best time of year to visit Orlando?
Late January through early February and September through early November tend to have lower crowds and better hotel rates, avoiding major holidays and summer break.
