Every kid has dreamt about going to Orlando, (and quite a lot of them get their wish granted judging by the amount of them running around the place), but what about us adult adrenaline junkies?! With so many parks in one city, Orlando is a mecca for rollercoaster lovers just as much as it is for families. So here are my Orlando theme park tips for adult adventurers!
1) Don’t Wait to Go With Kids
Obviously this isn’t an option for everyone, but if you don’t have kids, there’s no need to wait to visit! If anything, experiencing Orlando kid-free is even better. No pushchairs, extra bags to carry, tantrums to deal with or waiting in lines for hours, and you can even have a cheeky pint at Moe’s Tavern in Universal Studios with the money you’ve saved from not buying toys that’ll get played with once!
2) Be Prepared for Rain
If you go to Orlando in the summer it WILL rain. And I don’t mean a few showers, I mean a tropical storm every day. Make sure you pack ponchos or raincoats as buying one there is stupidly expensive. Lucky enough to avoid the rain? You’ll get wet on a lot of the rides anyway.
3) The Temperature is Never Right
As you leave the hotel in the morning you’ll be greeted by temperatures of upward for 30 degrees, so naturally, you assume minimal clothing is a good way to go. However, the theme parks know it’s hot so provide lovely air conditioning in many of the queues, restaurants and shops. This is great for the first 10 seconds, until you realise you’re standing in a freezing cold room wearing very little. Also, the heat very rarely recovers back to its previous temperature after the rain storms so adding some light layers to your rucksack are a good way to go.
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4) Be Comfortable
Put those cute sandals away and swap your handbag for a rucksack as comfort is king for a day at the parks! You’ll be walking around 8-10 miles in a day and will be on your feet from dusk till dawn, so a comfy pair of trainers really will be your best friend.
5) Make a Plan
There are a lot of parks, a lot of rides, a lot of shows and a lot of restaurant to dive into across all of the resorts so it’s important to make a plan of action. Also, if you’re there for more than a few days, make sure you include some rest in your plans; some time to sit by the pool, take a nap or just have a casual lunch. Trust me, you’ll need it after all of those days of walking!
6) Arrive at Opening Time
Of all people, I know that waking up is hard. But in this case, it’s worth it. Getting there at opening time means you avoid the huge queues to get in and can jump on at least two big rides before the masses descend. Another tips would be to start from the back of the park in the morning as the queue times will be way shorter.
Looking for more American adventures? Why not check out my guide to Page, Arizona.
7) Hire a Car but Budget for Parking
Although shuttle buses are available from resort hotels, hiring a car is really the only feasible way of getting around if you’re looking to visit multiple resorts. The parking prices at both Disney and Universal are $17 a day so be sure to add that to your budget. Having a car also means you can head into downtown Orlando for a nice dinner and drinks if you fancy a break from the madness.
Do you have any Orlando theme park tips for adults? Share them in the comments below!
Katie x
Yeah we did Orlando for our honeymoon so I’ve done it without kids. Don’t think I could get away with going back without the girls though!
Oh my gosh yes the rainstorms!! We have plenty if photos of us standing in the rain in our shorts and best tops!
Author
I couldn’t agree more! And although I was there for a week (with friends, no kids ;)) I managed to escape the tropical rain!
Yes, the rainstorms in Summer. There was one almost every day, luckily not the day we went to a waterpark. And arriving at opening time is the best. It’s so much quiter.