first time trip to Orlando

[DeathStarCanteenGal]

Help me please!
Am in the very early stages of planning a trip to Orlando for October 2024
DD 12 is a Harry Pitter fanatic, so keen to stay at Universal Studios - thinking perhaps of one of the hotels where you get fast passes
but I don't think we'd just want to do Universal, so was thinking maybe a week in a villa/apartment somewhere so we could do a couple of days at Disney, do Cspe Kennedy and then have 3 days at Universal
but really I don't have a clue - and everything seems to suggest this is the sort of holiday you need to plan for to get the most out of
So tell me wise ones of Mumsnet, what do I need to know?

We stayed for 8 days in Orlando, spending five days at Disney World (2 at Magic Kingdom, 1 at Hollywood Studios, 1 at Animal kingdom and 1 at Epcot). We also travelled to Kennedy Space Center (takes about an hour from Orlando in a car). We had also intended to go to Universal (DS also huge Harry Potter fan) but the combination of price tickets and the fact that we aren't massively keen on roller coasters deterred us.
Having 8 days was good as we were able to break up our times in the parks as it can be exhausting. After looking at various ticket options we ended up buying from Disney World - this was the most flexible ticket in terms of the number of days, access to water parks and the option to park hop.
Once you have bought your tickets you need to download the Disney World App and link your tickets. You can then start booking things. The best advice we were given was to buy the Genie + and individual lightening lane tickets, we didn't on our first day (seemed ridiculous to have to pay even more) but we quickly realised queuing for 90 minutes plus was not going to be fun. The best two rides we went on were both ones we had paid extra for via the lightening lane ticket option, Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios and Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom (both absolutely amazing!!!)
In the end we didn't book any restaurants in the park, just used the quick service walk in ones. The food is all expensive and not particularly great. One thing is you can get free cups of iced water in the quick service restaurants but you have to ask, its not advertised.
It's a really good idea to plan which rides you want to go on each day. This means less walking in the park! If you use the Genie + option it also means you can stack your rides, essentially you can book your rides on the app every 2 hours, so very little queue time. We didn't stay in the park so we could only do this from the time the park opened (but if you stay on site its from 7am).
We stayed at Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, Lake Buena Vista which was great - had mini golf, amusement arcades, 6 swimming pools and on site shop and restaurants. Short drive to all the Disney parks.

“and everything seems to suggest this is the sort of holiday you need to plan for to get the most out.”

yup. I’m planning for 25 and have spent so much time trying to work out what is right for us. Have a look at some of the Facebook groups to get recommendations. We’re probably just doing Disney and space centre rather than universal as mine are younger. What I thought I wanted has changed massively. Transport is our main priority now for example as is a nice pool. It seems like whatever you pick you’ll compromise on something so you need to try and work out what is most important to you.

I’ve been to Florida 3 times with the family and yes, planning is key!
I have a friend who has just returned from Florida and said she wouldn’t consider going back because of the queuing but she’d done very little planning.

On day 2 of us being on our first Florida holiday we decided we wanted to come back.Just a warning, it’s addictive!

I recommend the website The Dibb. Loads of info on there and you can post questions.

Good luck, you will LOVE it!

We always stay at the Hard Rock in Universal. It’s the closest, walking distance, has a fun theme and more than pays for itself with express passes. Staying onsite has big advantages but it really depends on your budget.
I’d recommend Attraction Tickets, they were doing 10% off 2024 tix recently so hang on for another offer. I saw them recommended on the Dibb and bought mine on there - immediately I was sent both Universal and WDW tickets and the Disney ones have linked in with My Disney Experience and I’ve been able to start reserving etc.
We like to stay onsite at Disney (if you might be even for just a night or two then browse the website using a US VPN as they will offer a much wider choice than the default uK site). Being onsite or at select “partner hotels” will give you some perks of parking, early/late access to parks, and earlier access to reserve lightning lanes if you decide to buy Genie + (the new fast pass system). But accommodation wise you can definitely find better value looking outside WDW.
Also for October be wary you will get kicked out early from Magic Kingdom and USF on quite a few nights if you don’t opt to pay big money for the separate Halloween parties.
I have learnt quite a bit browsing the Dibb but (even as someone just trying to update my knowledge since I last visited in 2019) they aren’t always super responsive especially to a long list of questions!