I have been to Florida many times before, but this trip was a first for me as I would only spend a couple of nights in Orlando before heading to Greater Fort Lauderdale – a destination packed with tons of attractions and 24 miles of beautiful beaches, making it perfect for a tailor made Florida holiday that combines theme parks and coastal charm.
Orlando – If you’re wanting to stay onsite at Disney then check out the Swan & Dolphin Resort! These hotels are the closest to the parks, you can walk to Epcot or Hollywood Studios you are that close! But you can also use the complimentary transfers to any of the parks. These hotels aren’t actually owned by Disney so they are not included in the Dining programme, but you will pay a lot less to stay here and be in a prime position with added perks of extended park hours… you can also see the fireworks from 2 of the parks! I loved it I want to go back!
The Grove Resort & Waterpark offers big spacious apartments with resort facilities so a perfect alternative to villa accommodation. You have your own waterpark on site, Flip Flop a family fun arcade with glow in the dark mini golf and lots of outdoor activities including canoeing and kayaking! Plus you're only a few miles from Disney! And the resort offers complimentary transfers to Disney, SeaWorld and Universal.
Resorts Fees and Parking Charges – These can add hundreds of $ to your holiday so make sure you check what’s included before booking! Imagine arriving in resort and you go to check into your hotel to be told you need a payment of $600 to cover the resort fee. We will always advise you if you have anything locally to pay, on some properties we get the resort fee included when booking with us and some of our rates offer the resort fees capped at 5 days! The same goes for parking, some hotels charge $25 plus a day to park, again this can add hundreds to your stay. Speak to us, we can advise you of hotels that don’t charge a parking fee and some hotels will waiver when booking with us!
Visiting the parks - Make sure to download the apps – these will give you ride wait times and maps to help you navigate your way around! Look out for any meal or drink deals – When visiting SeaWorld we booked the dining voucher which allowed us to eat all day for $49 per adult and $29 per child – this meant we could go and grab food and a drink every 90 minutes perfect if you’re spending the whole day in the park!
Fort Lauderdale – I felt like I was in real Florida here, the beaches stretch for 24 miles and they have so many attractions you will be able to keep all family members happy! My favourite suburbs had to be Lauderdale by the sea with its low-rise motel type accommodation and retro feel and Pompano Beach where you experience Florida’s warmest welcome! It boasts 3 miles of golden sand, and you can take a stroll along the iconic pier, do some fishing or indulge in some fresh seafood and live music.
If you prefer to be in the water then visit Shipwreck Park – 16 wrecks are located off the shores, perfect if you like to snorkel or scuba dive. Wreck Trek provides 3 options to dive down to around 68 feet, where you will find a tug boat, an oil rig supply boat and the Mercy Jesus where you can encounter various marine life, including southern stingrays and barracudas. Shipwreck Park is located only 1 and half miles from the shore, ideal for families it features 16 wrecks with the centrepiece being Lady Luck a 324 foot tanker that was sunk in July 2016 the park is designed as an artificial reef and includes underwater art exhibits and they have one that’s just 1 mile from the shore so perfect for families too. Check out the underwater cameras on the pier you can see all the fishes swimming around!
Use the FREE circuit shuttle to get around, just download the Ride Circuit App.
These insider tips will help customise your Florida holiday experience to your exact preferences.
This destination is packed with something for everyone – split your time between the parks and the beach, remember there is more to Florida than the parks in Orlando, it’s so easy to get around and the beaches are beautiful!
I loved using the Brightline, it was so easy and quick – the trains were spacious offering big seats, WiFi and refreshments.
Fort Lauderdale really is a great place to visit, but did you know it’s known as the Venice of America! Take a trip on the famous Water Taxis you won’t be disappointed! Our narrator provided historical insights and fun facts about the city’s attractions, mansions and mega yachts! I was fascinated at how much some of the properties were worth particularly along “Millionaires Row” and how unique they were… one property we saw was designed by universal and comes with hidden passageways and the air conditioning and lights are controlled with magic wands! Crazy! The service features 11 stops throughout Fort Lauderdale and you can hop on at off as many times as you like, if you choose to do the whole circuit allow around 3 hours! They do have a bar onboard, so you can enjoy the journey with a soft drink, beer or cocktail!
Las Olas Boulevard - This vibrant street is known for its shopping, dining & nightlife. It’s a great place to explore but the highlight of my trip was visiting Room 901! A speakeasy located within the Hyatt Centric, this exclusive venue offers a personal swanky experience that transports you back to the 1920s! The guest room with no view has been transformed to a stylish space with velvet stools, oriental rugs and a wooden bar offering the most intriguing cocktails – perfect for a special date or marriage proposal!
When planning your tailor made Florida holiday, consider that hurricane season does run from June to November, otherwise it is a year-round destination.
If you’re looking for it to be less busy and cheaper, then October to mid-December would be the best time to visit, for the parks in Orlando I would recommend families visit in May or from end of August. The first week in December is perfect if you want low crowds but all the Christmas decorations 😊
Flights operate daily from the UK to Orlando International – this would be my first-choice airport if I was visiting the parks. Alternative options are Melbourne & Tampa, but these are much further out. To get from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale I took the Brightline, a high-speed train which took 2 hours 50 minutes. This train continues its journey onto Miami and is very popular with the locals as the traffic can be unpredictable! I was really impressed with the Brightline and we also used this to get to Miami Airport for our Journey home. The journey from Fort Lauderdale was less than 40 minutes! Brightline also offer a transfer service from the Station to the Airport this is charged at $10 for the first person and $5 for any further passengers in your group.
