5 Things to Consider When Planning an Orlando & Kissimmee Vacation
Feeling stressed about planning your Orlando/Kissimmee vacation? Consider these 5 things in order to knock it out of the park!
Planning a trip to Orlando and Kissimmee can be exciting (and a little overwhelming). With Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, water parks, restaurants, shopping, and countless other attractions nearby, there are a lot of decisions to make before you arrive.
A little planning can make a big difference. Here are five things to consider when organizing your Central Florida vacation.
1. Decide Which Theme Parks You Actually Want to Visit
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to do everything in one trip.
Walt Disney World alone has four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Universal Orlando adds even more options, including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe.
Before booking your trip, decide which parks are most important to your family. Then leave some room in your schedule to relax.
You don’t necessarily need to visit a theme park every day. A slower day between park visits can be especially helpful when traveling with young children. It also gives you time to enjoy your vacation outside of the parks.
2. Think About Location Before Booking a Place to Stay
Orlando is much bigger than many first-time visitors realize. Two properties can both advertise themselves as being “near Disney” while offering very different drive times to the parks.
If Disney World is a major part of your trip, staying in the Orlando/Kissimmee area can put you close to the action without requiring you to stay at a Disney resort.
The Nettle, for example, is located about 15 to 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. Universal Orlando is also within driving distance, making the townhome a convenient home base if your vacation includes multiple theme parks.
When comparing places to stay, look beyond the nightly rate. Consider how long you'll spend driving each day and how easy it will be to return to your rental when everyone is ready for a break.
3. Consider How Much Space Your Family Really Needs
The Nettle’s 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom space is ideal for an Orlando vacation with family and friends.
A hotel room might work for a couple or a quick weekend trip. For a family vacation lasting several days, extra space can completely change the experience.
Think about what happens after you leave the parks. The kids may be exhausted while the adults aren't ready for bed. Someone might want to watch TV while someone else needs a quiet room to sleep. You may want to sit down for breakfast in the morning instead of getting everyone ready and immediately heading out.
That's where a vacation rental can have an advantage.
The Nettle is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome with a dedicated kids' room, giving families space to spread out while still staying under one roof. Instead of everyone sharing a single hotel room, parents and kids can have their own spaces to relax and recharge.
That can be especially valuable after spending 10 hours walking around a theme park!
4. Budget for More Than Theme Park Tickets
Park tickets will probably be one of the biggest expenses of your Orlando vacation, but they're far from the only one.
Meals, snacks, parking, souvenirs, transportation, special experiences, and other expenses can add up quickly.
One way to control your spending is to decide which experiences are worth splurging on before you arrive. Maybe your family wants one special character meal or a memorable dinner at Disney Springs. Budget for it ahead of time rather than trying to make every meal a special event.
Your accommodations can help here, too. Staying somewhere with a kitchen allows you to keep drinks and snacks on hand and prepare some meals at home. Even something as simple as eating breakfast before leaving for the parks can save money over the course of a week.
And after several days of theme park food, having the option to enjoy a quiet meal at home can be a welcome change.
5. Give Yourself Time Away From the Parks
It's tempting to fill every day of an Orlando vacation from morning until night. But you don't have to spend every minute inside a theme park to have a great trip.
Build some downtime into your itinerary.
Sleep in after a late night watching fireworks. Spend an afternoon relaxing. Visit Disney Springs. Explore Kissimmee. Go shopping. Have a nice dinner. Or simply give the kids a chance to recharge before another big park day.
This is another reason choosing the right place to stay matters. If your accommodations are only somewhere to sleep, a rest day might not sound very exciting. A spacious vacation rental gives the whole family room to slow down and actually enjoy being on vacation.
Find Your Home Away From Home at The Nettle
The best Orlando vacations aren't necessarily the ones where you squeeze in the most attractions. They're the ones where you find the right balance between experiencing the parks and actually enjoying your time away.
That's exactly what The Nettle is designed for.
Located in the Orlando/Kissimmee area, this spacious four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome gives families a comfortable place to call home while exploring Central Florida. A dedicated kids' room makes it especially convenient for families, while the extra bedrooms and bathrooms provide plenty of space for larger groups.
Best of all, you're only about 15 to 20 minutes from Walt Disney World, making it easy to get to the magic without giving up the space and comfort of a vacation home.
Whether you're planning your family's first Disney vacation, splitting your time between Disney and Universal, or simply looking for a relaxing place to stay while exploring Orlando and Kissimmee, The Nettle can be your home base for the adventure.
