Take the stress out of vacation planning with this ready-to-go guide to spending a week in Orlando, Florida. Strike the perfect balance between downtime and “go” time with our day-by-day itinerary, followed by a directory in the back.
Day 1: Arrival & Relaxation
4:00pm: Check into your vacation rental home! Check out the resort map on our home page. Head to Publix or Walmart to stock your fridge for the week.
6:00pm: Head to a Local restaurant introduce your taste buds to the local fare. Let the kids sing a Disney tune before they turn in!
8:00pm: Return to your home-away-from-home for an early night – tomorrow, the real fun begins!
Day 2: Magic Kingdom Adventure
7:00am: Whip up a family breakfast in your full kitchen and gather in the dining room or on the patio to chart your course for your first day of theme park fun.
8:00am: Head out to your first day at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Insider Tip: Don’t forget to pack a small cooler with sandwiches, snacks and bottles of water, great to snack on while you’re waiting for the parades. The cooler size is 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high; no wheeled coolers are allowed. If you don’t want to carry your cooler, it will easily fit in the lockers under the train station at the Magic Kingdom.
2:00pm: The Orlando sun can be hot during the summer. Head back to the rental to cool down in the pool and put the kids down for a nap. Mom and Dad, you may want a nap as well.
5:00pm: Create a tasty dinner in your condo before heading back to the park. You’ll see how much money you’ll save by eating in your condo a few meals during your vacation.
6:30pm: Head back over to the parks to enjoy some more rides. Don’t forget to grab a good spot for the night parade and the fireworks show over the castle. If you’re not a fireworks fan, this is a great time to jump on Space Mountain or any of your favorite rides since the lines are shorter.
Day 3: Explore Orlando Beyond Disney
8:00am: Set the alarms a bit later today since you are probably tired from your late night at the theme park. Visit a local diner for breakfast and enjoy a large cup of coffee to get your day started.
9:30am: Explore Orlando outside of the theme parks today. If you have small children, visit the Crayola Experience or Legoland for creative fun.
12:00pm: Head to International Drive, and grab lunch at Shake Shack. Enjoy a custom burger and milk shake at this I-Drive 360 Favorite.
1:00pm: Explore the area around I-Drive 360 – go on the Orlando Eye Observation Wheel; take photos with your favorite celebrity at Madame Tussauds or learn about dinosaurs at Skeletons.
4:00pm: Grab a custom sundae at the Sugar Factory before you head back to the condo.
6:00pm: After eating out all day, whip up a simple meal for dinner. Build-your-own-tacos are easy to make. Afterwards, plan for a family game night.
Day 4: Epcot & World Showcase
7:00am: Enjoy a character breakfast at one of the parks. Our favorites are Mickey and Friends at Chef Mickeys or Pooh and Friends at Crystal Palace. Insider Tip: Reservations can be made 120 days in advance at Disney Dining.
10:00am: Take the monorail over to Epcot. The countries in Epcot open later than Future World, so Epcot is a great choice when starting your day later. Don’t miss Soaring while you’re there for a hang glider view around the world.
1:00pm: Grab lunch in one of the countries around World Showcase. Chow down on some fish and chips in England or go out the International Gateway exit in the back of World Showcase to visit Disney’s Boardwalk. You can sit in the air conditioning and catch a game at the ESPN Zone, or sit by the lake and have a slice of New York Style pizza.
3:00pm: Head back over to finish the loop around World Showcase. Stop by France and grab some fresh macarons from the patisserie or a cocktail from the bar at Morocco. Don’t miss the drum show in Japan; Voices of Liberty in the U.S. or the story tellers in Italy. As you pass by Germany, the sweet smell of caramel will fill the air. Stop and see the Werther’s caramel shop and pick up some popcorn to snack on as you peruse the shops.
6:00pm: Mexico is a great place to stop for dinner. A quick-serve restaurant offers tacos on the edge of the lake.
7:00pm: Head back over to Future World for some exploration of The Land and The Living Sea. Check the time for the nightly fireworks show, IllumiNations-Reflections of Earth, over the lagoon.
Day 5: Universal Studios & Harry Potter
7:00am: Make use of your kitchen with an early breakfast at “home.”
8:30am: Head over to Universal Studios when it opens! Hit Universal’s Islands of Adventure in the morning to get a jump on some of those pesky lines. Depending on how old your kids are, you might skip some of the bigger roller coasters.
Insider Tip: If you’re a Harry Potter fan, head to the opposite side of the park to hit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter first and then work your way counterclockwise around the park.
1:00pm: It’s lunchtime! Mythos Restaurant is an award-winning, full-service restaurant with a cavernous interior. Dine outside for a spectacular view of the park’s inland sea and colorful lands.
2:00pm: Hop on the Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade Station, which will bring you to King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios. Similar to the Islands of Adventure park, some rides are not for the little ones. Once you get off the train, hop on line for whichever rides are fit for your group.
6:30pm: Tonight is a great night to order pizza or other favorite delivery food. If you’re staying at Bahama Bay, order from Tradewinds!
*Insider Tip: Head to the rear of the resort, walk down the pier for a gorgeous sunset. Then later, If everyone is up for it, head over to Twistee Treat for some amazing ice cream.
Day 6: Animal Kingdom + Hollywood Studios
7:30am: Get up early and have a quick bite to eat. Keep it simple before heading out for another Disney Park day!
8:30am For the animal lovers, head to Animal Kingdom! You’ll want to get there early and head to the exhibits and rides that feature animals like the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and Kilimanjaro Safaris. New is Pandora – The World of Avator.
Insider Tip: Lines are sure to be long for this new part of the park so planning your FastPass is key. You’ll want to plan to do non-animal related rides mid-day, as this is when most of the animals are laying low in the southern heat.
12:00pm: This is also a good time to hit DINOSAUR and Finding Nemo shows for some time to sit back and relax. For lunch, visit one of the stations throughout the park like Flame Tree Barbecue or Harambe Market.
1:00pm: For movie fans, especially those into Star Wars, head to Hollywood Studios. With all the new additions in 2016, there’s plenty to do from the Path of the Jedi to Star Tours – The Adventure Continues.
6:00pm: To celebrate your last night of a wonderful vacation, go to Disney Springs. Sit down to a beautiful dinner at The BOATHOUSE®, waterfront dining complete with retro boats. Once your meal is complete, wander around the area for shopping, entertainment and more.
Day 7: Departure
8:00am Sadly, your stay in Orlando has come to an end. Now is the time to cook any leftover breakfast food and finish up any last-minute packing. If the kids are antsy, head down to the pool after breakfast so they can burn off any excess energy before a long car or plane ride.
10:00am It’s time to clean up, pack up and head out of your rental. We hope your stay was amazing dont forget to visit TripAdvisor to write a quick review of your experience!
