First time in Orlando with kids

Your first family trip to Orlando is exciting, and it can feel like a lot to plan. We've been there with our own family, so here's the honest, practical advice we'd give a friend: pace yourselves, plan the big things and leave room for the pool.

Don't try to do everything

Orlando has more theme parks, water parks and attractions than you can fit into one holiday, even a long one. Pick the handful that matter most to your family and build the trip around them. A typical rhythm that works well for children is:

• A park day, then a lighter day (pool, shopping or a slow morning)
• Early starts on park days, with a mid-afternoon break if the little ones are flagging
• No more than two or three big park days in a row

Rest days aren't wasted days. Some of our guests' favourite memories are afternoons in the villa pool and evenings round the table, not just the rides.

Plan the big things early, the rest loosely

Some things are worth sorting before you fly:

• Park tickets. Buy them from the official Disney, Universal, SeaWorld or LEGOLAND websites, or from an authorised seller. Ticket types and prices change, so check the official sites when you're ready to buy.
• The park apps. Download the official apps before you travel and link your tickets. They show maps, wait times and, at some parks, ways to book ride times or join virtual queues.
• Height requirements. Look up minimum heights for the rides your children are keen on, so nobody gets a surprise at the entrance.
• Character dining or special meals. If there's one meal you really want, book it as soon as the restaurant opens reservations.

Everything else, like which day you do the outlets or a lazy morning, can be decided once you're there.

Rider Switch and Child Swap

If one of your children is too small, or too nervous, for a ride, you don't have to queue twice. Disney has Rider Switch, and Universal has a similar Child Swap arrangement: one adult rides while the other waits with the child, then you swap. The details vary by park and can change, so check the official guest-services pages before your visit.

Heat, sun and water

Florida sunshine is a different league from a Scottish summer, even in spring and autumn.

• Use high-factor sun cream and reapply it, especially after swimming.
• Pack hats, sunglasses and refillable water bottles.
• Plan indoor shows and air-conditioned attractions for the hottest part of the day.
• Summer often brings afternoon thunderstorms. Pack light ponchos, and don't be surprised when outdoor rides pause until the lightning passes.
• Always supervise children in and around the pool, at your villa and at the resort.

Getting about: car seats and driving

Most families staying around Champions Gate hire a car. Florida law requires young children to travel in a suitable child restraint. Children aged five and under must be secured in an approved car seat or booster, and there are rules on when an older child can use a seat belt. Check the current Florida rules and either book seats with your hire company or bring your own. Our airport guide covers car hire and tolls in more detail.

Why a villa helps with kids

Staying in a holiday home rather than a hotel room makes a real difference with children:

• Space to spread out. Separate bedrooms mean earlier bedtimes for the little ones, while the grown-ups can still sit up and chat.
• A kitchen. Breakfast in your pyjamas, packed snacks for the park and easy tea when nobody fancies another restaurant.
• Your own pool and jacuzzi at the Champions Gate villas, or a shared pool, jacuzzi and kids' pool area at Tuscan Terrace, for those all-important rest afternoons.
• Laundry. A washing machine means you can pack lighter.

Our largest villa has themed kids' bedrooms (Star Wars, Frozen, Harry Potter and more), a games room and a home cinema, so the fun doesn't stop when you get home.

Food shopping on arrival

Plan a supermarket stop on your first afternoon or the next morning. There's a Publix in Champions Gate itself, so it's easy to stock up on breakfast things, snacks and water. Our supermarkets guide has the details.

Jet lag and the first day

Coming from the UK, you'll probably wake early for the first few days. Use it. Early starts are perfect for being first through the park gates. Keep your arrival day gentle: pick up the car, do a food shop, swim and get an early night.

A simple first-timer checklist

• Passports, ESTA approvals and travel insurance sorted
• Park tickets linked in the official apps
• Car hire booked, car seats arranged and toll option understood
• Sun cream, hats, ponchos and refillable bottles packed
• A loose plan: big park days spaced out with rest days between

If you're staying with us and have a question about planning, just get in touch. We love helping families make the most of their first Orlando holiday.