What to do in Orlando: 2 week Orlando trip plan

What to do in Orlando? Now that’s the million dollar question, eh? Grab a pen and paper because there is so much to do! Orlando, Florida is one of the most fun destinations on the planet. From theme parks to more theme parks and everything else around them, you could spend two months there and still not manage to do everything. From over 28 visits to the sunshine state, here at passportstamps.uk, we have become unofficial experts on all things Orlando! Our aim is to help you put together the perfect Orlando trip itinerary, and we have 30+ FREE guides on how to do just that. Read on!

Cover image: Joe Penniston1
This post contains affiliate links

What to do in Orlando: Where to start planning a 2-week trip?

Before you start planning your Orlando trip, it helps to decide on the type of holiday you have in mind. For some, heading directly to Walt Disney World and staying in the ‘Disney bubble‘ is the dream holiday. However, often first time visitors to Orlando want more than just the Disney parks and plan to take in other major attractions such as Universal Studios, SeaWorld and the (many) amazing local attractions in Orlando. Before you start looking at what to do in Orlando and putting together your Orlando itinerary, it’s worth deciding which type of trip you want.

If you are undecided on what type of Orlando itinerary is best for you, these QUICK LINKS are a good place to start.

If it’s ALL about Disney: See our popular Disney Trip Planner

How much does a trip to Orlando and Walt Disney World REALLY cost?

What to know before booking a villa in Orlando

Do you need a car in Orlando

For UK visitors: An easy guide to finding the best theme park ticket deals from the UK

For UK visitors: What is the cheapest way to book a Florida holiday from the UK?

What is there to do in Orlando OUTSIDE the theme parks

For a sample 2 week Orlando itinerary and some insider tips on what to do in Orlando: continue below

Just before the pandemic, we planned a big family trip for 2 weeks in Orlando, taking in the major parks and factoring in some essential days for relaxing, shopping and checking out Orlando’s smaller attractions. For some of our party, this was their first Orlando trip so we looked at what to do in Orlando and tried to see as much as possible during our holiday. The age-range of our group was from eight-months to 63, and a mix of friends and family. Suffice to say, we all had a brilliant time!

What to do in Orlando, 2-week ORLANDO itinerary:

A note for our readers: this post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase products after clicking a link from this site, at no cost to yourself. This is how I maintain my award-winning site and continue to provide up-to-date and trusted information.

Orlando trip plan: DAY ONE
TRAVEL DAY

Flights from the UK usually leave in the morning or early afternoon, arriving in Orlando between 3-7pm. We had a great flight on Virgin Atlantic and on this occasion were staying at Universal’s Sapphire Falls resort. For this trip we had rented a car through Hertz and the collection desk was in the terminal at Orlando International Airport and so the whole process was quick and speedy. (If you are not sure about renting a car in the USA you might find our post about driving, insurance and child car seats helpful).

We headed to Sapphire Falls, checking in early evening. There wasn’t much time to venture out and so we had dinner at our the hotel and then headed to bed.

TOP TIP: When you are collecting currency for your Orlando trip, ask for some coins! Some of the toll road exits from the airport have automatic coin booths and if you only have notes you won’t be able to pay and you might end up with a fine.

If you are not renting a car, our post on airport transfers from Orlando International might be helpful.

DAY TWO: What to do in Orlando
14-day Orlando itinerary, starting at WALT DISNEY WORLD

NOTE TO READERS: Park visits at Walt Disney World do need to be booked in advance. Find out more about this on the official Walt Disney World website.

Mickey ears at the ready, we kicked off our 14-day Orlando itinerary at Walt Disney World. With only 2 weeks in Orlando, our plan was to start off strong and do two Disney parks in one day. Since we were up early due to jet lag, we decided to seize the day and be at the resort for opening time, which at Animal Kingdom was 9am. Disney’s Animal Kingdom seemed the most obvious choice to visit first because we also wanted to visit Magic Kingdom on day one and the famous fireworks over Cinderella Castle, of course, take place in the dark… Therefore it made sense to go to Magic Kingdom after lunch and stay until evening.(Magic Kingdom closed at 10.30pm).

For this Orlando trip we bought Disney’s 14-day Ultimate Ticket with Memory Maker (£449 per adult) and got 14-days for the price of seven.

For help planning your own 2-week Orlando Itinerary, including how long you need in each park, this specific guide to Orlando Theme Park passes and how to find the best ones for your group. If you curious about what a ‘Memory Maker’ is at Walt Disney World, you might find this video handy!

9am or park opening time: Arrive and park at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

We absolutely loved Animal Kingdom – everything from the general feel of the park, to the fun attractions and the excellent shows. If you are heading to Animal Kingdom for opening time, my advice would be to go straight to Pandora – World of Avatar and ride Flight of Passage because the lines for this attraction build up really fast and usually remain over two hours long for the whole day. If you only have 2 weeks in Orlando, you don’t want to spend a whole day standing in line!

TOP TIP: When planning your Orlando itinerary, consider using Genie+ to skip the lines for this attraction.  This is HIGHLY recommended for the amazing Avatar Flight of Passage ride.  Find out more about Genie+ here. If you are staying at a Disney resort hotel, you may be able to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, where hotel guests are allowed into the parks an hour before the regular admission time.

Don’t miss: Avatar: Flight of Passage (4D ride) – possibly the best theme park ride ever, The Festival of the Lion King (show), Expedition Everest (rollercoaster) and the Kilimanjaro Safaris – we saw so many animals including a real lion actually sat on Pride rock!

Don’t bother with: Dinosaur. The line was slow and the ride not much to write home about.

Head straight to: Pandora – World of Avatar and work your way back toward the entrance.

2pm: LUNCH Harambe Marketplace, an atmospheric area with shaded outdoor seating. Think African glazed ribs and smoked chicken thighs. Look out for the ‘you are most beautiful’ wall and play the #wallsofWaltDisneyWorld game

3pm: Drive to Magic Kingdom.

TOP TIP: Parking at Walt Disney World covers the entire resort (all parks) and so if you move from one park to another you do not need to pay for parking again. The free Disney Transportation is also available to transport you between parks for free but since we planned to stay at Magic Kingdom until closing time we decided it made sense to have our car parked there ready to drive back to the hotel.

NOTE: You can park hop without a park reservation after 2pm, PROVIDING you have already visited your reserved Disney park.

MAGIC KINGDOM

I went on my first Orlando trip when I was eight and every time I come back I am filled with all the happy memories from that holiday – my first ever time abroad. We had our baby Finn with us and, even though he will be too young to remember it, I absolutely loved being at Walt Disney World with him (dressed as Mickey Mouse, of course). From the jolly music playing as you walk down Main Street USA, to the happy cast members waving at you and the iconic castle in the background, I think the walk into the park is my favourite part of Magic Kingdom. This park is all about absorbing the Disney magic so enjoy the atmosphere and don’t be in too much of a rush to head straight to the rides.

Don’t miss: Space Mountain (of course!), Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover from which you can get amazing pictures of Cinderella Castle. I have chosen Buzz and the People Mover because despite not being the most famous or high energy rides in the park, they are both suitable for all ages and so our whole group got to go on together and Buzz was Finn’s first ever theme park ride.

Don’t bother with: The Carousel of Progress. Maybe save that for a second (or third) visit…

Head straight to: Buzz Lightyear. Lines can build up here over the day and it’s a good one to do early on.

7pm: DINNER at the Columbia Harbour House table-service restaurant in Liberty Square. We probably would have walked straight past this restaurant if someone hadn’t recommended it but the food and service was great (I never expect either of these things at a theme park). There was a choice of healthy options (aka not just a plain Caesar salad as offered in the quick service restaurants) as well as nice seafood offerings such as grilled fish and lobster rolls.

9pm: FIREWORKS. The kids were getting sleepy by now but it’s definitely worth waiting for the Happily Ever After firework show over Cinderella Castle. If you’re asking what to do in Orlando, this pretty much takes the top spot. It’s going to be a busy 2 weeks in Orlando, so you don’t want to waste time coming back to the Magic Kingdom if you can manage to do the park and the fireworks in the same day. If you are travelling with younger children, this post about bringing a lightweight buggy (even if your kids are walking) might be of interest.

TOP TIP: Keep your eyes on the sky,  you may even see Tinkerbell flying over your head… Crowds start to build from around 7pm but unless you want the premium spots, we’ve always arrived around 8.30pm and never had a bad view. We got a spot on the garden patio in Front of the Plaza Restaurant where we could sit on the floor to wait for the show to start and stay with our pushchair (eight-month old Finn was sound asleep by now). It really is a show like no other.

NOTE: Due to Covid-19, firework displays have been placed temporarily on hold. For details on when these presentations will restart, follow official Disney news. Despite the pandemic, there is LOTS happening in Orlando this year, find out what to look 2023 and 2024 and what Walt Disney World has planned for it’s 50th Anniversary party, starting in October 2021 and lasting for 18-months.

Get prepped for your Disney trip with our pick of the best Disney T-shirts you can buy before you fly right now. (opens in a new tab)

JUST FOR FUN: How high can you score our really hard Disney quiz?

YOU ARE READING OUR SUGGESTED ORLANDO ITINERARY FOR 2 WEEKS IN ORLANDO

DAY THREE: What to do in orlando
WALT DISNEY WORLD

Jet lag pretty much gone, we were buzzing when we woke up and couldn’t wait to get back to Walt Disney World and continue our dream Orlando itinerary. Today we indulged in a big breakfast at the Amatista Cookhouse at Sapphire Falls hotel before heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for opening time* at 9am (*opening times vary).

A must-visit on your Orlando trip – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This used to be called MGM Studios and has always been one of my favourite Orlando theme parks. Like at Magic Kingdom, I just love the entrance to this park with the Hollywood-style roadways and props. Being thrill-seekers, we headed straight to the high-energy rides, Rock n Roller Coaster with Aerosmith and the Hollywood Tower of Terror which are adjacent to one another. Both also have a single rider line which is perfect if you want to run on again and don’t mind sitting with a stranger – although, despite skipping a 35-min line, by fluke I was sat in the same car as my dad anyway! Toy Story Land also opened here in Summer 2018 and has been ridiculously popular! There are also some smaller attractions at this park, such as the 100 Years of Disney Magic gallery (which I LOVED).

Of course, the major attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the epic, new, 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land. Star Wars fans will be delighted by the immersive land, which has incredible attention to detail and two brand new Star Wars rides (Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance). These are also rides where reserving a Genie+ or boarding card by booking your tickets in advance is highly recommended. You can read our dedicated post to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge here.

Don’t miss: The surprisingly brilliant Toy Story Mania (I laughed hysterically the whole way around!) and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. 

Don’t bother with: Star Tours, which is a pretty dated simulator ride that will almost certainly close now Galaxy’s Edge is open.

Head straight to: Toy Story Land (if you arrive first thing) and ride Slinky Dog Dash. If you arrive after midday, save this section of the park until later in the afternoon when crowds reduce.

DISNEY SPRINGS

3pm: For a change of scenery in our Orlando itinerary, we decided to leave the park and head to Disney Springs, a huge shopping and restaurant complex that is part of the Walt Disney World resort. We had lunch at Frontera Cocina – an absolutely delicious Mexican restaurant owned by celebrity chef Rick Bayless – and then spent a few hours checking out shops that range from a huge The Disney Store (of course) to Zara, Superdry, MAC and Kate Spade.

7pm: Return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As the sun went down we headed back to Hollywood Studios to watch the incredible Fantasmic! show – my favourite of all the shows we saw on our Orlando trip. The epic production features boats, actors, special effects, fireworks and a few familiar characters. The auditorium is pretty big so get there with enough time to get a seat (it does get full to capacity at peak times) but don’t worry about sitting near the front or in priority seating, so much goes on during the show you’ll have a good view from wherever you sit. Following this, immediately head to the middle of the park for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular projection show that rolls at 9:15pm.

DAY FOUR
2-week Orlando itinerary planner – LESS THRILLS MORE CHILLS

By now, we were pretty tired from pounding the theme park pavements and decided a rest day chilling by the pool at our hotel was in order. When recommending a plan for 2 weeks in Orlando, I always suggest rest days. It’s easy to try and cram as much as possible into your Orlando itinerary but long days in the theme parks can be tiring and a pool day is just the medicine to recharge your batteries. As well as a huge pool with a slide, inflatables and ‘beach-style’ chill area, Sapphire Falls also has an outdoor restaurant bar, the Drhum Club Kantine, with full waiter service bringing drinks and snacks to your umbrella. We sampled more than a few colourful cocktails too!

We stayed at Universal Orlando’s Sapphire Falls hotel but find out which of Universal’s
EIGHT hotels is best for your family or group here.

RELATED: If you are considering renting a villa in Orlando, here are twelve things you need to know.

7pm: DINNER: We headed to the entertainment hub at Sand Lake Drive and ate at Rocco’s Tacos Tequila Bar (it’s more family-friendly than it sounds but the bar does serve some lethal cocktails to the over-21s and non-drivers!). Here, they make fresh guacamole at your table to your specifications, which in my case is less onion and extra limes, and the atmosphere is buzzing. If you’re on an Orlando trip without kids, this is also a fun place for a night out with a choice of bars and lively patios to party on.

OUR TWO-WEEK ORLANDO ITINERARY CONTINUES BELOW

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FAMILY TRAVEL: First time flying with your baby or toddler? We answer questions about luggage, essential baby travel items, in-flight tips and how to have a stress-free flight here.

DAY FIVE
What to do in Orlando: DISNEY’S BLIZZARD BEACH WATER PARK

The weather was nice and so we decided to check out Disney’s Blizzard Beach waterpark. Of the two Disney waterparks, this one has the more exciting slides and a better mix of family attractions in my opinion. If you only have time on your 14-day Orlando itinerary to pick one Disney water park, this would be our recommendation. All the waterparks get pretty busy, especially when the weather is nice so here, more than anywhere else, is where I’d urge you to get to the big slides first as you may find wait times over 90 minutes after midday and there are no FastPass privileges at the waterparks. Crowds tend to reduce after 3pm so you do have the option to relax on the beach or lazy river first to build up the courage for the 120ft Summit Plummet…

TOP TIP: Parking is free at Disney’s waterparks and at Disney Springs.

7pm: Drive to Disney’s BoardWalk.

What to do in Orlando in the evening: DISNEY’S BOARDWALK

7pm: In the evening, taking the advice of our Florida expert Debs, we headed to Disney’s BoardWalk. Because it looked fancy and we were caught up in the holiday vibe, we decided to have dinner at the Flying Fish restaurant. The food (mostly seafood) was good but the meal was rather an expensive one. After, we wandered around taking in the happy atmosphere and Prohibition vibes.

For something fun to do, you can take a guided tour in a retro amphibious car, which begins on land and drives into the water, transforming into a boat for a cruise around the lake. Very James Bond! ($125 for three people).

DAY SIX
Get the most from your Orlando trip: GOING LOCAL IN KISSIMMEE

Today, the weather had clouded over a bit and we decided to take it easy. We headed out for a quick and cheap breakfast at buffet restaurant Golden Corral. Popped into my favourite mega supermarket, Target (brilliant for kids clothes) and then spent a few hours at the slick Mall of Millenia, a huge shopping centre with everything from high street shops (Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria’s Secret and Gap) to high end retailers like Jimmy Choo and Gucci.

2pm: LUNCH: We ate at my favourite US restaurant chain, P.F.Chang’s which is attached to the mall and has delicious Chinese small plates. Excitingly, we have just got a P.F.Chang’s in London, but if you’re asking what to do in Orlando, I always make it my mission to go at least once.

In the evening we stumbled across a cute tourist area called Old Town back along the 192 highway in Kissimmee. This was a strange mix of illuminated fairground rides and a bungee swing alongside a Western-style highstreet with funky shops and an imitation ‘small town America’ feel. There was also a car show with classic 1950s and 60s cars on when we were there. People were dressed up in vintage clothing and there was live music and line dancing (Saturday nights only). It was an unexpected but really fun evening! Read more about Old Town Kissimmee here, along with other fun Orlando attractions you can experience outside of the theme parks.

9pm: DINNER: Wanting a small snack before we went back to the hotel we grabbed a table at a small pizza restaurant in Old Town called Flippers and OH MY, this ended up being some really good pizza! Highly recommend for a cheap bite and they have a small outdoor terrace too. Pizzas start from $9.

DAY SEVEN
orlando itinerary planner: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO

Having been staying on its doorstep for a week, it was finally time to head to my favourite theme park – and most important stop on my Orlando itinerary – Universal Studios! I first went to Universal Studios the year it opened (1990) when I was still at school. Even though they took away my favourite ride – Jaws – to make way for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – I still think it’s the best theme park in Orlando. Of course, now the epic Harry Potter crew have moved in, the park is more popular than ever so during busy times a Universal Express pass is well worth the extra spend to skip a few lines. If you are staying at a premier Universal Resort Hotel (Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific or Loews Portofino Bay) you actually get this for free, meaning hardly waiting for any attractions, which is brilliant.

For Universal Orlando, we went for the Three-park Explorer ticket (£284 per adult). Some of the ticket recommendations in this guide contain affiliate links so if you were to book your tickets by returning to my site and clicking through on these links I will receive a small monetary benefit at no cost to yourself. If you found this Orlando 14-day itinerary handy, please consider using this post to click through and buy your Orlando passes. I was not paid to write this feature and, like all my posts on passportstamps.uk, this article is based on my true and honest experience.

Don’t miss: Diagon Alley (and my favourite ride, Hagrid’s Amazing Creatures Motorcycle Adventure), Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts) and Revenge of The Mummy, which is a very underrated ghost train-style rollercoaster. All of these rides have a child swap.

Don’t bother with: I’ll probably get in trouble for saying this, but ET Adventure. The ride, which is the only one to survive from when the park opened in 1990, is tediously slow and in dire need of an upgrade. Shrek 3D is another time-consuming one I wouldn’t bother with again.

Head straight to: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley. So cliche but if you are in the park early it is best to dash straight there and get a look at the colourful streets before they become packed with tourists. Of course, staying at a Universal Orlando hotel also means you can take advantage of Early Park Admission and be inside the park an hour before regular guests. Don’t go straight on Gringotts but, instead, head inside Ollivanders and during an interactive experience a wand might ‘choose you’. Then, after that go immediately to Gringotts, of course.

TOP TIP: Muggles can buy interactive wands to use in both Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. By following a specific sequence of wand-waving detailed on gold plaques around the park, you can make magical things happen. Wands start from $47 and can only be purchased within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

2pm: LUNCH: We ate at Mo’s Tavern in Springfield (The Simpsons area), which inside is a mini food court serving different options, ideal for a big group. There are lots of indoor and outdoor seating areas but the aircon was gratefully accepted as we were so hot! I made sure to save room as there was no way I was going to miss out on a giant Lard Lad Doughnut for dessert.

TOP TIP: We had a 14-day unlimited ticket which meant we were able to move between Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure free of charge on the Hogwarts Express train attraction. This is explained in my which theme park tickets to buy post. After taking the train from Kings Cross to Hogsmeade, we could have easily dashed off into the adjacent theme park (Islands of Adventure) but since we had set aside a whole day for that later in our two-week Orlando itinerary, we just stopped for a quick Butterbeer at Hogsmeade before heading back to Universal Studios for the rest of the afternoon.

Planning an Orlando trip with family? Read our honest review of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and our experience staying in a Florida villa at Magic Village Yards

While you are at Universal Orlando – have you heard of the ‘Walls of Universal’ game? Find out more and how to play here.

Orlando Florida Itinerary: what to do after dark.

Universal CityWalk

8pm: DINNER: Before heading back to our hotel we had a wander around Universal CityWalk which is walking distance from the park entrances and an easy water taxi ride from our hotel. We found CityWalk really lively and it has a younger, more ‘party’ vibe than Disney Springs. We ate at the delicious The Cow Fish – as recommended by Florida expert Kate on our INSIDER TIPS post. It’s a strange mix of burgers and sushi but somehow it works and the quality of food is top notch.

Another good hangout is the Pat O’Brians Piano Bar, which is actually a replica of an Irish pub in New Orleans, famous for inventing the Hurricane cocktail. Throw a couple of dollars in the jar and these guys will play any song you want – although most nights it’s the usual Ed Sheeran or Billy Joel (Piano Man) that people end up asking for. Note that after 9pm, the bar becomes over-21s only and so younger guests have to go home to bed.

Speaking of Hurricanes – if you are worried your Orlando trip might clash with one of Florida’s hurricane season, don’t worry. Reading about our Orlando hurricane experience might put your mind at rest.

Orlando trip: DAY EIGHT
UNIVERSAL’S ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE

This was a great day because Universal’s Islands of Adventure is my dad’s favourite theme park. If you like a thrill ride, this park does have the most scream-tastic ones – starting with the revamped Hulk Coaster, of course! This park has so many great attractions, including some of my favourites – The Adventures of Spiderman and Jurrasic Park River Adventure. Plus, Harry Potter fans can of course make the pilgrimage to Hogsmeade and the dramatic Hogwarts castle to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure.

Don’t miss: Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (but BEWARE you get absolutely drenched), The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, which is ideal for the whole family.

Don’t bother with: Storm Force Acceleration, a pretty basic spinning ride.

Head straight to: Again, if you are in the park early doors (or, even better with Early Park Admission) it’s best to head straight to Hogsmeade before the legions of Harry Potter fans descend. Here, you can ride the BRAND NEW Harry Potter roller coaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Then, work your way back through the park, starting in the Jurassic Park area and walking toward Kong and Marvel Island.

1pm: LUNCH: This park is too big to have time for a table-service lunch so stop to refuel at The Burger Digs in Jurassic Park. A quick-service restaurant but lots of seats and an educational area for any dinosaur fans in the group. The chicken burger and fresh salad bar were above average for theme park food.

TOP TIP: Don’t miss the incredible Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle on selected evenings at Universal Islands of Adventure.

9pm: Absolutely knackered from our two-day Universal adventure (clocking up over 30,000 steps), we headed back to the hotel for room service and an early night.

JUST FOR FUN: Try our Harry Potter Family Quiz (opens in a new tab)

DAY NINE: What to do in Orlando:
WILD RIDES

Before it became the theme park capital of the planet, Orlando was really just marshland and orange trees. To get an idea of what that must have been like, we took an (unexpededly thrilling) ride on an airboat across the Everglades with Boggy Creek adventures. This specific tour had been recommended by a friend and so we had booked our tickets before arriving in Florida. The one-hour Scenic Tour is £35 per person. This post on alternative Orlando trip attractions outside the theme parks has a more detailed review of Boggy Creek Airboat Rides.

This video from one of our Florida adventures has some of Orlando and Miami’s highlights, including our brilliant airboat ride with Boggy Creek Adventures.

Alternatively, you could check out Gatorland- an Orlando attraction that has been in operation since 1943. As well as over 10,000 alligators, Gatorland is a huge wildlife park with a variety of animals and experiences. This is also where you can Zipline Orlando – right over the alligator enclosure! We had a brilliant day here and it was one of the highlights of our Orlando trip.

Then it was back to the hotel for some essential sunbathing and pool time. When planning your 14 day Orlando itinerary, don’t underestimate how much rest time you will need. Trust me, the weather in Florida can be hot and humid and you will do a lot of walking and travelling between the hotels and parks. Taking days to relax might seem like a waste of precious holiday time when you are at home creating your Orlando Florida itinerary, but once you get there you will be grateful for a few breaks. According to our FitBit, we were averaging around 15,000 steps a day. If you do get restless sitting around, the 14-day unlimited tickets mean you can head back to the parks for a few hours whenever you feel like it.

International Drive (I Drive)

In the evening, head to International Drive, an entertainment area with restaurants, amusement attractions and bars. Aim to arrive just before sunset at take a Champagne Flight (£28) on the epic Icon Wheel, a 400ft Ferris Wheel that offers panoramic views across Orlando. During the day, you can see across Walt Disney World and all the way to the coast, but I loved it at sunset when Orlando was bathed in a beautiful orange glow. Kids under three travel for free. Read a more detailed description of our trip on the Icon Orlando here.

For some revved up fun, also check out the I Drive NASCAR Experience, indoor go karts on International Drive, (£14). There is no age limit but children do need to be at least 55 inches in height to drive.

If you are looking for ideas on where to stay outside the theme parks? How about this cool complex?

DAY 10
UNIVERSAL’S VOLCANO BAY WATERPARK

Since we could see the towering Volcano from our hotel room, heading to the brand new Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park was extra exciting from all the anticipation. The park, which is the newest waterpark in Orlando, has a colourful tiki theme with 14 slides, two lazy rivers, a splash zone for kids and a huge wave pool and beach. Dare you to try the Ko’okiri Body Plunge, a 125ft drop after a floor gives way beneath you. Terrifying. My favourite slide was probably the Krakatau Water Coaster (a boat ride) because I had never been on anything like that before. And as always, I loved the lazy river.

Volcano Bay has a type of Express Pass called the TapuTapu, which is in the form of a waterproof watch you are given for your day at the park. The advertising says you can link this with your bank card and use it to pay for food and merchandise throughout the day, leaving your valuables secure in a locker. But apparently some overseas cards won’t connect with their system so, being from the UK, we weren’t able to do this. You can also use the TapuTapu to scan in for an express pass entry to some slides but we didn’t quite manage to get it to work at the right times and so to be honest, we didn’t utilise it much.

Did you know you can walk to Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park from the brand new Aventura Hotel? There is also a pretty epic roof top bar!

UNIVERSAL CITYWALK

We headed back to the hotel to freshen up and took the free water taxi from our hotel to Universal CityWalk. Arriving by boat into the dock, surrounded by neon signs, palm trees and music playing feels very glamorous.  After only snacking on pool snacks and fast food at the waterpark, we had worked up a huge appetite and so headed to Vivo Italian Kitchen for some really delicious food. Considering the restaurant is inside the theme park bounds, I wasn’t expecting such a good quality meal. Portions were generous (as always with the USA) but the squid ink pasta and chicken marsala were the highlights.

DAY 11
We suggesting adding SEAWORLD to your orlando florida itinerary

This is the other of my dad’s favourite parks and with a young baby in tow we were really looking forward to visiting SeaWorld where Finn (and the non-rollercoaster fans) of our group could all enjoy the park together. Of course there is the much-talked about (and often controversial) Killer Whale show, One Ocean, but we were actually more excited to see the smaller animals such as the turtles, stingray (which Finn could touch) and sea lions. There is also a Manatee rescue centre where vets at the park take in injured or sick manatees from around Florida and rehabilitate them before releasing them back into the wild. There are a lot of educational aspects to SeaWorld, which is great for kids. Exhibits showing the effect of dumped plastic in the oceans were pretty thought-provoking. Still unsure about the SeaWorld parks? Watch our video here.

The highlight of the day was in the afternoon. Finn loves penguins and so we had pre-booked a Penguin Up-Close experience where he got to meet one of the little guys face to face ($60/£50 per person). He loved it but I think my dad and I were the most excited!

Thrill riders wont be disappointed either as SeaWorld is surprisingly home to the fastest, tallest and longest rollercoasters in Orlando. Mako, which I reviewed on opening day in 2016, was a favourite and my dad also made us ride Manta at least seven times.

Don’t miss: Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Facility, the Empire of the penguins area, Mako and The dolphin nursery (to see playful baby dolphins interacting with trainers).

Don’t bother with: Wild Arctic (Just another simulator ride and the real animal areas are much more fun for families).

Head straight to: Infinity Falls. I have to admit, water rides are never my favourite but this is a brand new water coaster with a serious drop and it was a brilliant experience. Start here as lines do build up over the day. Plus, it is in the corner of the park so you can work your way back to the gate (and Mako) when most of the crowds will be heading the other way.

5pm: DINNER: As we were celebrating my dad’s birthday at SeaWorld, we booked in advance to have dinner at the Shark’s Underwater Grill, a table-service restaurant that is actually inside the aquarium. Food was good but the setting is the best part with the kids thrilled to be having tea ‘underwater’.

If you want a break from the theme park resort restaurants and bars, try the Crooked Can Brewery at Plant Street Market. This locals haunt in Winter Garden has craft beers and a friendly atmosphere. Read more about non-theme park Orlando attractions here.

DAY 12
WALT DISNEY WORLD – EPCOT

Day 12 of our Orlando 14-day itinerary and we still had a few days left on our 14-day Walt Disney World ticket and so today we headed back to explore Epcot. This is such a fun and eclectic park with something for everyone. It’s a strange mix of sci-fi rides and a celebration of different countries all replicated around a huge lake in the World Showcase. Plus, this park is also home to many of the famous ‘Walls’ of Walt Disney World – find out more about that here.

Epcot is currently undergoing a huge renovation in anticipation for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021 and its own 40th anniversary in 2022. After this, there will be so much to do at the park that we might need to allow extra time on our Orlando itinerary planner! For a glimpse on what is going on, check out our Disney in 2021 post.

Don’t miss: Test Track – a car ride which I really loved. Turtle Talk with Crush (this is excellent for kids). Soarin’ (a breezy cinema 360″ flying experience)

Don’t bother with: Mission: Space – gave me headache.

Head straight to: Test Track (if you haven’t pre-booked a FassPass+)

3pm: LUNCH: Based on a heap of recommendations, we ate at Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion, which is probably the most beautiful of all the ‘countries’ at Epcot. Morocco’s King Hassan II actually sponsored the building of the pavilion and sent workers from Morocco to create it in 1984. The food didn’t disappoint either but picky eaters might struggle to find something.

DAY 13: what to do in Orlando
AQUATICA

The sunny weather was just screaming ‘waterpark’ and so we were up early and headed to Aquatica, the brilliant park that was included in our SeaWorld Discovery Cove Package. (£167 per adult). I loved Aquatica which has a young vibe, pop music playing throughout the park and lots of quiet areas to set up base for your group. Probably the most anticipated slide was the Dolphin Plunge, where your tube actually goes through the Dolphin pool in a glass slide. My favourite area was the Walkabout Waters kids zone which had every hose / fountain / bucket feature and waterfall you could think of and kept the kids busy for hours! Watch our Aquatica video here

2pm: LUNCH: To make life easy, we got the All Day Dine package at Aquatica which meant we could eat for free whenever we felt peckish and the different tastes and meal times for our group were all catered for.

TOP TIP: Invest in the Quick Queue ticket at Aquatica. It’s the cheapest one we found in Orlando ($19) and was well worth it. We didn’t stand in line for anything all day.

Orlando 2-week itinerary: RETAIL THERAPY

Even though the pound isn’t quite as strong against the dollar, shopping is still a big deal for Brit tourists on an Orlando trip – us included. It goes without saying a good look around a shopping mall had to squeeze into Orlando itinerary two weeks plan. Our favourite discount shopping outlet was the Orlando Premium Outlets at Vineland. We left Aquatica and headed here for the early evening (it is open until 10pm). Shops range from Nike, Sunglasses Hut, Levi’s, Kate Spade and Coach.

TOP TIP: Extra discounts are available from Guest Services if you sign up in advance on the website and there are some really good deals. Just remember your suitcase – taking it all home must weigh less than 23kg!

If you would rather check out a more authentic Florida town and shopping area, head to Park Avenue in Winter Park. A classic and pretty American town with boutique stores and local businesses as well as some great dining and nightlife options.

LOOKING FOR PACKING ADVICE? This is the definitive guide to packing for a holiday in Orlando

DAY 14. One of our favourite things to do in Orlando
DISCOVERY COVE

We saved Discovery Cove until the end of our Orlando trip as it’s one of my favourite things to do in Orlando. The gorgeous water park is decorated with lush green gardens, tropical beaches and surrounded by waters that are home to dolphins, fish and tropical birds. We also got the chance to swim with dolphins which was a major bucket list item. The price of the park can sometimes seem expensive when you have already spent so much but it is a truly unique experience and I think worth the extra spend for a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip. The ticket bundle we purchased, which was the Discovery Cove Package (£167 per person), not only includes the Dolphin Swim, but food and drink (including alcohol) is all-inclusive all day at Discovery Cove. Plus, the package also included our entry to SeaWorld and Aquatica, making it much more attractive as a bundle. Find out more in my detailed post on Discovery Cove here

TOP TIP: You do not have to be able to swim to take part in a Discovery Cove Dolphin Interaction. You can request that your whole experience takes place in shallow water. The minimum age is three years old.

8pm: DINNER. It was our last evening so we celebrated with a fancy dinner at Emerils Orlando at CityWalk. This restaurant is owned by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and mimics the award-winning cuisine from his restaurant in New Orleans. Creole cooking is his specialty but the steak was fantastic too. If you are staying at a Universal Orlando Premier resort then guests actually get priority seating here and at a number of other restaurants at CityWalk and the parks.  Then, for the adults in our group there was time for a bit of super karaoke at the Rising Star bar, where some of the singers genuinely have American Idol-level voices.

DAY 15: 2-week orlando trip

LAST DAY BLUES

Our 2 weeks in Orlando has flown by. It was almost time to go home and it felt like we were just getting started. We took the morning to chill out by the pool and then couldn’t resist popping back into Universal Studios for a few more extra rides on Hollywood’s Rip Ride Rocket…

4pm: DINNER: To go out in true Yankee style we had lunch at the Hotdog Hall of Fame at Universal CityWalk. My favourite was the relish-covered Boston dog. Then, it was literally ‘go hard before we go home’ so we stopped for dessert at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, a crazy ice cream factory with ‘eccentric’ and slightly annoying servers, but delicious sweet treats! Then, even though it felt as though we had just arrived, we had to squeeze the last of our souvenirs into the case and head to the airport for our flight home.

I hope you enjoyed our 14-day Orlando Itinerary. Tweet us and let us know what you think and of course, SHARE our guide with your friends and family.

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Click HERE to return to our Complete Guide To Orlando