Charlotte and Elaine's Orlando Trip

Disney & Universal Tips From a Top Fan ✨🎢

If there’s one thing we LOVE at Andersons Travel… it’s Orlando! Between the magic of Disney and the thrills of Universal, there’s honestly nowhere quite like it. After many trips (and many snacks!), we’ve picked up some top tips that genuinely make a huge difference when planning your holiday.

So here are some of our favourite Disney & Universal tips from true fans!

1. Don’t Try To Do EVERYTHING

This is probably our biggest piece of advice. Orlando can feel overwhelming because there is SO much to see and do. You do not need to conquer every ride, every park and every restaurant in one trip.

Leave time for:

• Pool days

• Wandering around resorts

• Shopping

• Nice meals

• Random magical moments

Sometimes the best memories aren’t the ones you planned.

2. Don’t YouTube ALL The Rides 🎢

This is a big one from us… try not to spoil everything before you go!

It’s so tempting to watch every ride POV beforehand, but part of the magic is discovering it on the day. Even if you’re not a big thrill seeker, there is genuinely something for everyone — and the queues themselves are often incredibly immersive and themed.

Half the fun is the surprise.

3. Book A Nice Meal To Recharge 🍴

One thing we’ve learnt over the years — booking a proper sit-down meal is not just about the food!

It gives everyone chance to:

• Relax

• Recharge

• Cool down in the air conditioning

• Take a break from the Florida heat and busy parks

We often ordered just one meal between two people at lunchtime too — it helped with both the budget and honestly… the appetite in the heat!

4. The Fantasmic Dining Package Is SO Worth It ✨

Even if it’s just a lunchtime reservation, the Fantasmic dining package is brilliant for getting great seats without the long queues before the show.

You can enjoy your meal earlier in the day and then turn up later knowing your spot is sorted.

5. Take Water Bottles & Electrolytes 💧

Florida heat is no joke.

We always recommend:

• Refillable water bottles (there are loads of refill points)

• Electrolyte sachets/tablets

• Cooling fans or towels

It makes such a difference to how you feel by mid-afternoon.

6. You CAN Take Your Own Snacks

We always pack breakfast bars and snacks so we can get up and go in the mornings.

It’s especially useful for early Disney Magic Hours — grab a quick bite and head straight into the parks to make the most of quieter times.

7. Splitting Your Days Works Brilliantly ☀️🌙

Instead of full-on park days every day, we often split things up.

For example:

• A lazy morning at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

• Then dinner and fireworks at EPCOT

It breaks the day up and makes everything feel far less overwhelming — especially for families.

8. Lightning Lane Really Does Help ⚡

We used Lightning Lane during our Disney days and found it absolutely worth it.

It helped us:

• Cut queue times massively

• Fit more into the day

• Feel less rushed and more flexible

9. Staying On Site At Disney Is A Game Changer 🏰

We love staying in Disney hotels.

Benefits include:

• Early park access (magic hours)

• Brilliant Disney transport (no stress with driving)

• Staying in the “Disney bubble” the whole trip

It just makes everything feel easier and more magical.

10. Universal Premier Hotels = Express Pass Bonus 🎢

We stayed at the amazing Loews Portofino Bay Hotel as part of a Premier Universal stay — and the Express Pass access was a huge bonus.

We only did 2 nights between Disney stays and travelled light with hand luggage, which made switching hotels really simple. Disney even moved our larger suitcases between hotels for us, which was a massive help.

11. Meals Are BIG — Share When You Can 🍔

Portions in Orlando can be huge.

We often shared lunch meals between two people, which helped:

• Keep costs down

• Avoid wasting food

• Leave room for snacks later!

12. PhotoPass Is a Must 📸

PhotoPass is brilliant.

It’s honestly so hard to get good family photos where everyone is actually in the picture — and this solves it completely. All your professional photos download straight to the app, plus you get some amazing ride photos and funny action shots you’d never capture yourself.

Some of our favourite holiday memories come from these photos.

Final Thoughts ✨

Every Orlando holiday is different, and that’s what makes it so special. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth, there’s always something new to discover.

And honestly? We’ll never stop being Disney & Universal fans.