Orlando with kids
Florida, USA
The theme park capital of the world. Disney, Universal, and endless family fun in the Florida sun.
How Orlando grades for families
Four dimensions, scored the same for every family. Your overall fit depends on your kids' ages, budget, and what each parent wants, which you can personalize.
$2,432 total, exceptional value for a Disney family trip
1 stop, 4h 10m. Early 6am departure, plan for caffeine and snacks.
Disney Art of Animation themed rooms. Easy park transport. Kids will love it.
Theme parks are parent-exhausting; few adult off-ramps. Plan early bedtimes and a midweek rest day.
Best time to visit Orlando
Recommended months: Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov
Shoulder season Mostly. Fewer crowds and better prices, with weather that usually still delivers. Often the family sweet spot. Your dates span more than one season.
Best things to do in Orlando with kids
Orlando is the default big-win family trip for theme-park-aged kids, easy to reach and built end to end around families, from the resorts to the restaurants.
- Magic Kingdom at Disney WorldThe classic first park for younger kids, with the castle, parades, and gentle rides they will remember. Book park entry and any dining ahead, arrive at opening, and plan a midday break back at the hotel.
- Universal Studios and Islands of AdventureBetter for bigger kids and teens who want faster rides and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A multi-day or park-hopper ticket is worth it here if your crew is tall enough for the coasters.
- EPCOT for older kidsThe country pavilions and space-themed rides land better with kids 8 and up than with toddlers. It is a big-walking park, so pace it and pick a sit-down meal to break the day.
- A water park dayOrlando's water parks are the reset button after two or three theme-park days. Good for all ages with a shallow zone for little ones, and a slower, lower-stress pace than the big parks.
- Animal Kingdom safariThe safari ride and animal trails give younger kids a calmer, no-height-limit day inside the Disney machine. Go early when the animals are active and the Florida heat is lower.
- Kennedy Space Center day tripAbout an hour east on the coast, this is a strong non-park day for space-curious kids roughly 6 and up. Plan a full day and rent a car or book a tour, since it is a real drive from the resort area.
Orlando with little kids vs older kids
Toddlers do well at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, but full park days wreck naps, so plan a midday hotel break every day and use rider-swap for taller rides. Strollers are a must, and the parks are fully stroller-friendly.
Kids 6 to 12 and teens hit the sweet spot for Universal's coasters and the Harry Potter areas, and they can handle back-to-back park days better. Let teens help pick rides and get a mobile-ordering or ride-reservation strategy so they are not just standing in lines.
Know before you go to Orlando
- You can technically get by on resort shuttles, but a rental car makes Universal, water parks, and Kennedy Space Center far easier and cheaper for a family.
- Book park tickets, hotel, and popular table-service restaurants weeks ahead, and learn each park's app for mobile ordering and ride reservations before you go.
- This is a budget-heavy trip: multi-day and multi-park passes, resort stays, and in-park food add up fast, so set the ticket plan first.
- Summer is hot and stormy with afternoon downpours, which is why February, March, October, and November are the sweeter windows.
- Bring or rent a stroller even for kids who normally walk, since park days mean many miles on their feet.
How long to stay: Five to seven days is the sweet spot: enough for two or three park days plus a water-park or off-park day to recover. Build a midday break into every park day rather than pushing open to close.
Where families stay in Orlando
- Disney's Art of Animation ResortOn-property Disney magic with easy park transport.
- Hyatt Place Lake Buena VistaOff-site suite with free breakfast and a park shuttle for ~$450 less.
- Disney's Grand Floridian ResortFlagship monorail resort; the full Disney splurge.
- Comfort Suites Maingate EastCheapest near the parks; a suite and shuttle, money toward tickets.
- Universal's Cabana Bay Beach ResortRetro-fun resort with early Universal park entry.
Book any of these direct in the booking section below, so your loyalty points and elite perks stay yours, never an OTA markup.
What a Orlando family trip costs
A sample 6 nights runs about $608 per person, booked direct, before you apply points and perks.
Sample pricing for a family of four. Your real numbers depend on dates and who is coming.
Book your Orlando trip
Start from the flight and stay we'd grade for Orlando, or browse the whole market. Every link opens on the brand's own site so your points and perks stay yours, no markup, no middleman. Most families fly into MCO from SLC.
Opens a prefilled Google Flights search; pick Delta to book direct and keep your miles.
Opens Disney's Art of Animation Resort on Google Hotels; book the direct rate to keep your perks.
Or browse everything in Orlando
We never route you somewhere worse for a bigger commission. Prefer to plan the whole trip, points and all? Open the booking tool →
Some links above are affiliate links: Viagem may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. You still book brand-direct, so your points and perks stay yours.
Orlando family travel FAQ
How many days do you need in Orlando with kids?
Plan 5 to 7 days. That fits two or three theme-park days, a water-park or Kennedy Space Center day, and a slower day to recover, which matters when kids are walking miles in the heat. Trying to do Disney and Universal in fewer days burns everyone out.
Is Orlando expensive for a family?
It can be, and tickets are the biggest lever. Multi-day and multi-park passes, resort lodging, and in-park meals add up fast, so decide how many park days you actually need before booking. Staying slightly off-property with a kitchen and packing snacks into the parks are the two easiest ways to hold the budget down.
Best area to stay in Orlando for families?
Staying on Disney property is the most convenient if you are mostly doing Disney parks, with shuttles and early-entry perks. If you are splitting time between Disney and Universal, an off-property hotel or rental near International Drive with a rental car often costs less and keeps both parks in reach.
Best time to visit Orlando with kids?
February, March, October, and November give you milder weather and lighter crowds than summer or the winter holidays. You avoid the worst heat and afternoon storms, and shorter lines mean more rides per day. Just check the school calendar, since holiday weeks spike both crowds and prices.
Planning a trip to Orlando?
Get Orlandograded for your exact family, or book a free call and we'll map the whole trip, points and all.
Free first call, no obligation. We map the trip and your points; you book every piece direct and keep the perks.
Family travel guides & gear
More family destinations
Not ready to book Orlando yet?
Get family-fit destination picks and points-and-miles tips a couple times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.