As the end of the year approaches, I often feel an intense urge to travel. This time of year reminds me of family, which feels even stronger now that I live so far from mine. To soothe my longing for both family and travel, I’ll share my first vacation experience in the U.S.: a summer trip to Orlando with kids.

This journey took place in the blazing heat of July, and it was a dream I had planned long before knowing we’d move to the U.S. The goal was simple: visit Disney parks, which held a special place in my heart after growing up watching countless fairy tales.

Despite the initial decision to postpone the trip after our move, my cousin, who had found great flight deals, encouraged us to join her. After a bit of financial planning and taking advantage of my kids’ school break, we set out on an adventure.

Orlando offers an overwhelming variety of theme parks, and narrowing down the options for our limited schedule was challenging. We settled on:

• LEGOLAND Florida Resort: A favorite of my younger kids and my brother.
• Magic Kingdom: A must-see for Disney magic.
• Hollywood Studios: For its Star Wars and Toy Story areas.
• Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure: To please my teen and husband.

With only five days to explore, I knew it would be intense, but I love planning trips, so I dived right in.

Packing for Orlando with Kids

Traveling light but efficiently is my specialty. For this trip, I focused on essentials to combat the July heat and ensure comfort:

• Lightweight clothing, hats, sunglasses, and good thermal bottles for water.
• Cooling gadgets like neck fans and cooling sprays (though the spray was underwhelming).
• A portable cooler with snacks, toys, and even AirTags for added safety.
• Rain ponchos, sunscreen, and power banks were lifesavers.
• Finally, a few extras: Band-Aids, over-the-counter pain relievers, and wet wipes.

We managed to fit everything into two medium bags, which my youngest’s stroller made easy to carry around the parks.

Highlights of the Parks: What Worked and What Didn’t

LEGOLAND: Perfect for Younger Kids

LEGOLAND Florida Resort, located in Winter Haven near Orlando, is a theme park designed with families in mind, especially those with kids aged 2 to 12. The park is inspired by the iconic LEGO bricks and offers a blend of fun, creativity, and hands-on learning.

Parking at all the parks ranges from $25 to $50, and my tip is to arrive early. The later you get there, the farther you’ll have to park. That can be particularly inconvenient during rainy weather when finding your car might take extra time.

To be honest, I didn’t find LEGOLAND to be a must-visit destination. However, my son and I really enjoyed the Miniland USA area, which features incredible LEGO recreations of famous U.S. landmarks, complete with interactive elements for kids.

When we visited, some rides were closed, including a roller coaster, and outdoor attractions were canceled due to an afternoon thunderstorm. Another minor downside to LEGOLAND compared to other parks is the terrain—it has gentle inclines that made walking more tiring than in other, flatter parks.

One big advantage of LEGOLAND, though, is the free chilled water available at multiple drink stations throughout the park. Different of Disney, where you can get free ice water, but only if you ask for it at restaurants.

During summer, LEGOLAND features a water park, which we didn’t visit because the tickets were more expensive. Instead, we decided to cool off on a ride called Battle of Bricksburg. We expected a relaxing water ride, but to our surprise, we got absolutely soaked! It was hilarious and fun, but if you’re planning to go, make sure to bring a change of clothes. The ride involves a boat equipped with water guns to splash people outside and they can splash you back, but the surprise water cannons were the real drenchers!

My son’s favorite attractions were the interactive rides. One of example is the Ninjago Ride and the shooting adventure in the Land of Adventure.

It’s possible to enjoy many rides in a single day, as most of the lines were short and moved quickly. If your child loves LEGO, it’s definitely a worthwhile experience.

Magic Kingdom: Disney Dreams Come True

Magic Kingdom was the first Disney park I visited on this trip, and it was my very first impression of Disney—and it did not disappoint. For families planning Orlando with Kids adventures, this park is a must-see, offering magical moments for visitors of all ages.

Starting with some tips: the parking lot is enormous, and just like other parks, the later you arrive, the farther you’ll have to park. This park does offer a tram that takes you from the parking lot to the entrance, but if you have a stroller or other bulky items, it can be a bit challenging. Finding your car later can also be tricky. My advice? Take a photo of the parking area sign or place an AirTag in your car to make things easier.

When it came to snacks, I prepared in advance. I’m not a big fan of American park food, and my youngest is quite picky as well. I packed chips, cookies, candy, and homemade snacks in a thermal bag, along with water bottles and a thermos with ice. I brought everything in with a stroller, and no one even checked the bags, so it was hassle-free.

One thing I hadn’t realized beforehand is that after the security check, you still need to take additional transportation to reach the park’s main entrance. You can choose between a ferry or a monorail. We opted for the ferry since it was quicker that day, but just getting from the parking lot to the entrance took about 30 minutes.

Once inside, we rushed to our first scheduled attraction: Tron. This indoor roller coaster is incredible. The queue itself sets the mood with its dark environment and neon blue lights. You ride on a motorbike, and you can’t bring anything with you. There are lockers near the entrance for storing items like phones, glasses, or hats. The coaster is fast, thrilling, and has an external loop that’s absolutely amazing. It’s totally worth it, but we had to join a virtual queue at 7 a.m. via the app to secure our spot.

I also got to experience many other attractions, including Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Under the Sea, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Pirates of the Caribbean. We watched the parade featuring the Disney princesses under the scorching midday sun.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the nighttime fireworks. I can’t even put into words what it felt like to witness that show, standing there with the soundtrack playing. It felt as though my entire childhood was flashing before my eyes, leading into adulthood. I was covered in goosebumps, and it brought tears to my eyes—it was that moving. Without a doubt, it was the highlight of the day and an unforgettable experience for anyone planning to explore Orlando with Kids.

Hollywood Studios: Star Wars and Thrills

What made us decide to visit Hollywood Studios was the Star Wars area. My husband and I are big fans, and I thought my youngest son would absolutely love the Toy Story section as well. If you’re planning a trip to Orlando with Kids, this park offers a perfect mix of thrilling adventures and family-friendly fun.

Since we went as a family, we were able to split up a bit. My younger kids stayed with my cousin, enjoying shows and rides geared toward little ones, while the older kids joined us for attractions like the Aerosmith Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. These are fantastic rides for adults and teens, though they can be a bit intimidating for younger kids.

After that, we headed straight to the Star Wars area, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. We all went together on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run simulator, and it was incredible. The experience begins in the queue, which sets the stage perfectly, and the feeling of piloting the ship was truly thrilling. It was well worth the 40-minute wait.

Afterwards, we grabbed lunch. As in other parks, we had packed snacks, so we managed to eat quickly and comfortably before heading to the queue for Rise of the Resistance. It started raining at that point, but we covered the strollers with rain covers and joined the line, which is fully indoors and adds to the immersive experience. Although the app estimated a 70-minute wait, we only waited around 40 minutes. The queue itself is fascinating, with lots to look at, so the time passed quickly. Once inside, we saw an army of Stormtroopers, walked through the “spacecraft,” and entered the ride, which felt like we were escaping and battling enemies. Out of all the attractions we visited, this was by far the most immersive.

Later, we managed to hop on another Star Wars simulator and the Slinky Dog Dash Roller Coaster in Toy Story Land. Unfortunately, due to unstable weather, some attractions began to close. So, we decided to enjoy indoor shows like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast.

We had hoped to stay for the Fantasmic nighttime show, but by then, we were all pretty tired, especially the kids, so we decided to leave it for another visit. It was a great day overall! This park is definitely worth visiting when planning a trip to Orlando with Kids. We picked up some souvenirs on our way out and headed home by 6 p.m.

Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure: Action-Packed Fun

Our last park day was nothing short of thrilling. The day started with heavy rain, although the weather was still humid. It was our Universal day, and we had to make the most of it because we only had one day to explore both parks.

We arrived at the park in the middle of a downpour, with many rides temporarily closed. I was especially eager to try the roller coasters, but unfortunately, they don’t operate in rainy conditions for safety reasons.

We began in the Islands of Adventure section, enjoying simulators like Spider-Man, King Kong, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park. When the rain finally eased and the sun peeked out, the roller coasters reopened. We quickly made our way to the VelociCoaster, managing to snag a 15-minute wait time—much better than the usual 70 minutes! Right after that, we hopped on the Hulk Coaster. With both of my main goals checked off, I was thrilled.

My husband, a huge Harry Potter fan, spent a lot of time exploring the Wizarding World area. We also attempted to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, but the ride kept experiencing issues. After waiting for a while, we decided to give up and move on.

While my brother took the kids to Seuss Landing, we explored other areas before heading to Universal Studios. There, we visited Diagon Alley and enjoyed more simulators, which were generally simpler than those at Islands of Adventure. We also stopped to watch the parade, which felt wonderfully nostalgic with characters like E.T., Ghostbusters, and Back to the Future.

Towards the end of the day, we went on two Minions-themed rides that the younger kids really enjoyed. Of course, we couldn’t leave without stopping at the gift shop to pick up some souvenirs.

Overall, I thought the park was fantastic, offering something for all ages. Personally, I prefer Disney for its nostalgic charm, but Universal undoubtedly takes the lead when it comes to sheer fun and excitement.

Budgeting is crucial for a trip like this. For our family of four:

• Accommodation: Since we were traveling as a family, we rented a house through Booking and split the cost, which was very affordable. For 5 days, we paid $560 for our family.
• Car Rental: We spent $50 per day on the car rental, with an additional $50 for a stroller (4 days total).
• Flights: Round-trip flights from Dallas to Orlando cost around $1,000.
• Food and Souvenirs: We spent approximately $700 on meals, snacks, and keepsakes.
• Park Tickets: Park tickets were the most expensive part of the trip. We spent $2,100 on two Disney parks and Universal Studios.

Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home

One of my favorite things about traveling is bringing a piece of the experience back home. There’s something magical about turning your house into a treasure trove of memories, filled with little reminders of those special moments. Travel feels so wonderful that, if I could, I’d bottle it up to relive forever. Since that’s not possible, collecting meaningful souvenirs is the next best thing. They’re tangible pieces of a story.

On this trip, we made it a point to grab something unique from each place we visited. My husband might have gone a little overboard at Universal with all the Harry Potter merchandise (can you blame him?), but overall, we stuck to one special item per park. Each keepsake feels like a portal, instantly taking us back to those magical moments.

Would I Recommend Orlando with Kids? Absolutely!

Despite the heat, long lines, and occasional rain, our trip to Orlando was magical. It’s a destination that truly offers something for everyone. From the Disney charm to Universal’s thrills and LEGOLAND’s creativity, Orlando with kids is a vacation you’ll never forget.

What are your favorite tips for family vacations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!