By Juliana Octavini
Orlando is a dream destination for many people. Whether to discover Disney and Universal parks, explore the city’s countless attractions or simply enjoy Florida’s magic, a trip there needs to be Well planned.
Unfortunately, many tourists make mistakes that can spoil the experience and generate losses. And the worst? They're completely avoidable mistakes!
If you're organizing your trip to Orlando, be aware of these 5 common errors and see what to do not fall into those traps!
Do not buy tickets in advance
If there's anything that could put your trip in jail and cause a headache, it's... leave to buy tickets in the last hour.
Disney parks, Universal and others in the city use dynamic prices, which means that the value varies according to demand. If you leave to buy on time, you can pay much more than you need.
In addition, some dates quickly run out – especially when there are seasonal events in the parks. You can get to the park and you just can't get in!
Another disadvantage is that by buying on time, you do not have the option to split on the credit card, will pay in dollar (and with the variation of exchange may be unfavorable on the day) and also with the charge of IOF (if done on the card).
What to do to avoid it?
✅ Buy tickets in advancePreferably as soon as you set the travel dates.
Use trusted websites or specialized agencies to get good prices or buy from official websites (Disney and Universal).
Keep an eye out, because sporadically, parks launch promotions where you buy, for example, two days of park and earn two more.
Do not book restaurants in advance
Who ever dreamed of having dinner at Cinderella's castle or having a theme milkshake at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium? But if you don't plan, you might end up eating just fast food for lack of option.
Disney and Universal's most famous restaurants Exhaust quickly. Cinderella’s Royal Table, for example, may run out of space months before the desired date.
Very popular restaurants, even outside the parks, may have queues of hours to get a table without reservation.
What to do to avoid it?
✅ At Disney, reservations open 60 days earlier. Schedule and make your reservation via My Disney Experience app.
For Universal (CityWalk) restaurants, you can make your reservations on the official website by clicking HERE.
If you can't make a reservation, try going to alternative times, such as close to the restaurant opening or closing.
To think you can know everything in one day
Orlando has so many parks and attractions that It's impossible to see everything in a single day. Trying to do that will only make you exhausted and frustrated.
The parks are hugeI'm sorry. Magic Kingdom, for example, has more than 40 attractions and requires a whole day – or even more – to be well-used.
Without planning, you can waste time in long queues and end up leaving amazing attractions out. Lack of breaks can make the experience tiresome and stressful.
And not just the parks. Outlets, shopping malls and supermarkets are quite large and the variety of products is so great that, it goes for me, you will waste hours in a single location. So plan, but don't try to do everything in one day!
What to do to avoid it?
✅ Set your prioritiesI'm sorry. Choose the most important attractions for you and organize your day around them.
Use apps like My Disney Experience (Disney) and Universal Orlando Resort App to monitor queue times and optimize your script.
If possible, divide the parks into more than a day, especially the biggest ones, such as Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios.
Prioritise the main and main stores.
Ignore travel insurance
Many people think that travel insurance is an unnecessary expense – until they need it. The truth is, Any medical emergency in the United States can cost a fortune!
In the United States, a simple consultation can cost between $300 and $500..
More serious cases, such as hospitalization or emergency surgery, may overcome $10,000..
Any unforeseen event – food poisoning, fall, toothache – can turn into an uninsured nightmare.
What to do to avoid it?
✅ Always hire a travel insurance! Pick one you have minimum coverage of $50,000 for medical expenses.
Make sure it covers Expenditure on health, loss of baggage and cancellation of flight.
I did a full post with everything you need to know about Travel Insurance HERE.
5. Underestimate the Florida climate
Many people think Orlando is always warm and sunny, but the truth is that the Florida climate may surprise. Depending on the time of year, you can face extreme heat or unexpected cold – and being unprepared for this can disrupt your trip.
Overall, Orlando is hot all year long. Especially during the summer, i.e. from June to September, temperatures may exceed 40°C of thermal sensation, and the high humidity of the air makes the experience even more exhausting. Many queues and attractions are outdoorsWithout shadow, dehydration is a real risk.
In addition, in summer, heavy rain strokes and even hurricanes (there is a full post on hurricanes HERE) are common in the middle of the afternoon. If you don't have a plan, you can waste time and even attractions because of bad weather.
But the cold in Orlando can also be intense. Especially during winter, between December and February, where the minimums vary between 5°C and 10°C. For years the temperature reaches 0°CCatching unprepared tourists.
What to do to avoid it?
✅ If it's summer:
- Take a reusable bottle and refuel in the water fountains of the parks.
- Use sunscreen and reapply throughout the day.
- Wear light and comfortable clothesBesides hat or hat.
- Have a raincoat in the backpack for the summer knocks.
✅ If it's winter:
- Follow the weather forecast before the trip and bring proper clothes.
- Dress in layers: morning and evening may be cold, but during the day temperatures may rise.
- Don't underestimate the wind: even with moderate temperatures, the wind can intensify the feeling of cold.
- Avoid buying cold clothes at Disney or Universal, because the prices are very high – bring yours from Brazil or buy in stores like Walmart and Ross.
You know what? What's the best time to travel to Orlando? Check this out. post here!
Planning a trip to Orlando can be exciting, but Can't ignore important details. Small mistakes can turn a dream trip into a nightmare, so get organized for avoid unpleasant surprises.
