As I have just recently returned from a trip to Orlando, I wanted to share a few details with you about getting there and where we stayed. As you can imagine visiting the Disney World is a long-term dream so I captured so much content that it may be the easiest to split this adventure into 2 posts. I wanted to cover as much information about visiting Orlando as possible so if you are in your research phase, you will be able to make a better decision.
Getting there
Orlando is located in Central Florida and it has a population of 2.8m. The City is so green and luscious and also known as “The Theme Park Capital of the World” with over 72m visitors in 2016. British Airways flies to Orlando all year around and a journey is on average 9 hours with a direct flight with a 5 hours time difference. Orlando is one of those places with a good weather all year around making it easier to plan your trips especially if you are planning for the entire family. BA offers hotel and a flight package that starts as little as £403pp per 7 nights making it suitable for any budget.
We flew BA business class with truly allowed us so much comfort and we entirely avoided the jet lag. Flying business class is an experience in itself and it was amazing to start our journey with a delicious breakfast the BA Business Lounge at the Gatwick Airport. We had some coffee, croissants and fruit whilst catching up on all the things that we planned to do in the upcoming week. Once on board, we were able to fully relax in a reclined seat that turned into a bed allowing me to pretty much sleep most of my flight. Well at least after I enjoyed a three-course meal paired with a couple of glasses of champagne and a favourite Disney films.
We landed fully rested and fresh and ready for our adventure.
Transportation
As we arrived at around 5 pm, it. took us about an hour to pass the immigration as Orlando is a really busy airport. The best way to get around the city is to hire a car. We picked ours at the airport where at the clerk at Avis upgraded us to a red Mustang for an extra $20 which was such a bargain. This really got us in a great mood as I always wanted to take photos in a Mustang especially as I’m obsessed with road trips.
Driving around Orlando is so easy and the roads and quite wide and seemed pretty much brand new. The traffic wasn’t much of an issue either as we never waited longer than 10 minutes in traffic. Everything is so well signposted and with a help of google maps, you can be set for the easiest drive ever especially if you come from London.
Stay
We stayed at the Four Seasons which is the largest Four Seasons resort in the world. Our hotel was an approx 30-minute drive from the airport and set in a gated community making it really secluded and perfect for families. Four Season Orlando is also knowns as the Walt Disney World Resort surrounded by a large pool complex and a lake. It’s so easy to relax by the pool which is split into the adult side and a larger side known as the Explorer Island specially designed for children.
There are quite a few restaurants in the complex but our favourite was the rooftop steakhouse Cappa which was a perfect spot to watch Dinsey World fireworks in the evening. The resort offers free bus rides to the Disney Wolrd resorts and it’s only a short 15 mins ride away. If you truly want to maximise on the time and really explore all the Disney World offerings in the most luxurious and comfortable setting then Four Seasons is the best choice.
We decided to dedicate some time to relax at their spa and have an hour-long deep tissue massage to help us truly reach another level of chill. We followed up with an hour in the hot tub and relaxation area that came with a cheeky glass of Prosecco.
Our stay at the Four Season Orlando was wonderful and the service was immaculate. You can find more information about the areas within the resort including the Explorer Island here. I have also taken quite a few photos to show you space and the atmosphere as much as possible.
Weather
The weather in Orlando is pretty much summer all year round with a subtropical climate. It was over 30C every day on our trip which was the middle of October. The temperature is on average 24C or 75F. I did feel it was quite humid with a very high chance of thunderstorms. I would also recommend checking for the hurricanes when planning your trip. The coolest month should be January.
I hope you find this post helpful and please feel free to let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Tania xxx
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