How to plan a trip to Disney and UNIVERSAL in Orlando

Planning a trip to Disney can seem impossible for those who don't know anything about Disney. Magic land.

Between finding out which parks are there, what to do in each one, deciding whether it's better to stay in a house or hotel, hotel “normal” or inside Disney and whether or not it is better to rent a car, you may feel a little disoriented.

With that in mind, I wrote this guide with everything you need to know to have fun in Orlando's parks. I will talk about some topics in more detail in other posts, such as accommodation, but from here you can already have an idea of ​​what is needed for the trip and can do your own research.

How much does a trip to Disney cost?

Traveling to Disney isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be either. So expensive like that. You can save on practically everything, with the exception of park tickets and documentation. In general, prices for a 10-day trip would be would be the following:

There are many factors that can influence the price of your trip, such as the type of accommodation (more economical, luxurious, within Disney resorts), the types of restaurants you intend to visit, whether you will get a ticket promotion, whether you will rent a car …

Here on the blog there is a complete post explaining how much it costs to go to Disney, where I showed this table item by item, explained where the prices came from and how you can save on each of them.

How to plan a trip to Disney

When to go?

If you are unsure about the best time to go to Disney, you need to consider the following:

Temperatures in Orlando vary between too hot to cold. It's not that cold with snow and negative temperatures, and many people prefer to visit the parks in winter because the milder temperature is pleasant. Therefore, in terms of seasons, I would only avoid summer (which in the northern hemisphere is between June and August) as it is really very hot.

The biggest concern you should have is with holidays, especially those that we don't consider in Brazil, such as Spring Break (between March and early April), Halloween (end of October) and Thanksgiving (end of November). At these times the parks tend to be crowded, so I would avoid planning your trip during these times. Christmas and New Year are also super busy dates, and the parks usually reach maximum capacity in the morning. If you want to see the Christmas decorations, November is ideal.

My recommendation is to plan your trip for the end of April, May, September and beginning of October.

Documentation

The first step in planning a trip to Disney is getting the documentation right. To visit the United States you need a passport that is valid during the period of your stay and a visa.

The passport must be requested on the Federal Police website. The current cost is R$257,25 valid for 10 years. It's something very simple and, after paying the fee, just schedule a day to go to one of the police units to hand over the necessary documents and take your photo.

The visa must be applied for at the American embassy. Normally Brazilians who are going to visit Disney choose the B2 category visa, for tourism. To begin the procedures, you must fill out form DS-160 online and pay the fee of US$160. Next, you need to schedule a visit to the CASV (Visa Applicant Service Center), where they will take your photo and fingerprints, and then an interview at the consulate if necessary. All information about the visa is available in Portuguese on the embassy's website.

Vaccination

Despite now being open again to tourists, the United States has implemented new rules for entry into the country. Now it is necessary complete vaccination against COVID-19, with the last dose having been taken at least 2 weeks before travel. All vaccines administered in Brazil are accepted, but you need to issue the certificate in English available in the ConnectSUS app.

In addition, a PCR test with a negative result taken 3 days (or less) before boarding is also required.

If you are going to connect in countries like Panama or Colombia, it is also a good idea to get the yellow fever vaccine and issue your international certificate through the Anvisa website. It is not necessary to take this vaccine to enter the United States, but to these connecting countries, and so if your flight is delayed or canceled in one of these places, you will be able to go through immigration and go to rest in a hotel.

Airline tickets

With your passport and visa in hand, it's time to look for airline tickets. Orlando airport is called Orlando International Airport (MCO), and there are currently direct flights from Brazil to the city through LATAM, Gol, Azul, American Airlines and Delta.

Additionally, it is also possible to fly to nearby cities, such as Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Miami (MIA), and then drive to Orlando. Normally this option is cheaper, but it takes almost four hours to drive and you “loses” a day trip. The last times I chose to do this route I spent a few days in Miami getting to know the region, so I thought it was worth it!

To make your trip even cheaper, I suggest looking for connecting flights.. I've been to the United States several times with Copa Airlines, stopping in Panama and I really liked it. The company is simple but the price is usually unbeatable!

You can buy tickets directly from the airline, on specialized websites or even from travel agencies. I like to use Passagens Promo to find the best fares, as they often offer up to 35% off regular prices.

You might also like: 8 Sites to Find Cheap Airline Tickets

Accomodation

You'll notice that one of the hardest parts of planning a trip to Disney is choosing where to stay. There are countless options such as staying within the Disney complex, within Universal, in nearby neighborhoods, in hotels, houses, apartments... I made a very complete post talking about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of accommodation in Orlando, but I'll explain a little here too.

First I suggest deciding whether you will stay inside or outside the complexes. Despite being a more expensive option, there are some advantages that only guests at official resorts are entitled to, such as Enter the park 30 minutes before opening to the general public. Additionally, Disney changed the official “skip the line” system in 2021 to Genie+, which allows you to buy a package for several attractions for US$15, and pay extra (Lightning Lane) for more popular attractions. Lightning Lane for these attractions tends to sell out early, however guests of the complex's hotels have the right to reserve them from 7 am, while other visitors can only make a reservation when the park opens.

When staying inside Disney, you can also reserve restaurants for every day of your trip when there are 60 days left before it starts (unlike other guests, who have to wait to give 60 days for each day of the trip). You have free transport to all the parks and, if you have a car, you don't have to pay for parking twice (you only pay for the hotel parking, not the parking in the parks).

Staying at official resorts is usually the most expensive option, but there are resorts economic category such as All Star, Pop Century and Art of Animation.

Staying at Universal, in addition to being a great location close to International Drive, guests who book hotels in the Premier category also get the Express Pass (skip the line ticket) for free. There are boats that leave from all hotels to City Walk, saving you from having to deal with parking, and special times are offered to visit the Harry Potter areas.

For a cheaper option, the ideal is to look for hotels that are outside the complexes. The best location is in the International Dr. region, close to several shops, restaurants and outlets. I've stayed at the Rosen Inn at Pointe and really enjoyed it! It was simple but clean and ideal for those who only used the room to sleep and shower.

Other cool options in this category are:

• Celebration Suites: With rooms for families, the accommodations also have a full kitchen for those who want to cook and save money. The place also has a games room, sports courts and 3 swimming pools, and is just over 3km from Walt Disney World. Room rates for up to 6 people start at R$500 per day. Booking score: 8,1.
• Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista: With transfers to Orlando's main parks, the property also has two swimming pools and two restaurants, as well as a children's playground and video games room. The rooms have a microwave, refrigerator, television and air conditioning. The price for a room for four people is an average of R$330 per day. Booking score: 8,2.

If you are in a group of four or more people, I also recommend taking a look at the houses in the area. They usually have a great price, three to four bedrooms and a full kitchen, ideal for those who want to save even more and cook dinner or breakfast in a few days.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is an essential item on any trip, but especially for anyone visiting the United States. The truth is that, in the country, health services are So expensive, whatever you need pay between US$400 and US$600 just for an ambulance! I've also told you here on the blog about the person who cut himself while cutting an avocado and had to pay more than US$3000 for it. five points. Seriously, the prices are insane.

With travel insurance, however, your medical expenses are covered by the insurance company, and you do not need to pay NO extra in case of any emergency or unforeseen event. And let's agree, spending the whole day walking in the parks, eating fast food and sleeping little, there are high chances of an accident or lowering your immunity and getting sick, right?

The best place to buy your Travel Insurance is on Seguros Promo, a website that compares prices between the main insurance companies on the market. Furthermore, so that you can travel with peace of mind and not have to worry about anything, Seguros Promo also has a team specialized in Portuguese, to help you if anything happens on your trip and you need to activate your insurance. Only advantages for a sensational price!

Transport

Orlando's public transportation is horrible, there is no way to put it any other way. If you follow the blog, you know that I've already shown you how to visit Miami and even Los Angeles without a car, but for city ​​of magic this option is unfeasible.

In general, there are two ways to get around Orlando: renting a car or using private transportation like transfers, taxis, Uber or Lyft.

I consider the first alternative to be the best of all. With a car you are free to visit several places in a single day, you can arrive and leave whenever you want and you don't have to worry about dynamic fares. Prices for the city are usually great, and with Rentcars you can still pay in 12 installments in reais, without the IOF fee. Just remember to include parking costs in your budget, which cost an average of US$25 per day in parks and can have an extra value depending on the hotel.

Uber or Lyft are also good options as you don't have to worry about driving, and there are bus stops. pickup e drop off (pick up and drop off) in all parks. I used it a few times when part of our group left early and I didn't have any problems either.

If you are on International Drive, there is a trolley which costs US$2 and passes through the main points of the avenue such as Aquatica, Sea World, Premium Outlet da Vineland and close to Premium Outlet International and Universal Studios.

Some hotels also offer free transportation to the main theme parks. It's a great way to save on transport, and you just need to pay attention to the schedules. When booking through sites like Booking, you can see in the description whether the property offers this benefit.

Industrial

The most important part when planning a trip to Disney is deciding which parks you want to visit. The main parks in Orlando are:

Walt Disney World

• MagicKingdom: Where is Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Train Mine, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Main Street? ” (Main Street). This is also where the best parades and the Happily Ever Afte fireworks show take place.r.
• EPCOT: Divided into two areas, Epcot has futuristic toys such as the Space Mission space simulator and the Soarin' around-the-world hang gliding ride. At World Showcase, there are pavilions from 11 countries, where you can try the local cuisine and learn about their cultures.
• Animal Kingdom: This is where the Avatar area is, with the Flight of Passage flight simulator. This park is also home to the Everest roller coaster (Everest Expedition), the safari with real animals (Kilimanjaro Safaris) and the Lion King show.
• Hollywood Studios: With the Aerosmith roller coaster and the Tower of Terror, this is the Disney park for those who like extreme shows and attractions. It is also the park with the biggest new features, as in recent years the Toy Story area was built and the Star Wars area was expanded, which currently has one of the most popular rides, Rise of Resistance.
• Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach: These are Disney's water parks. During the winter only one of them works, and in the summer both are a great option to withstand the heat. Both have slides, wave pools and “rivers” with buoys for relaxing.

Universal Studios

• Universal Studios: Universal's first park is full of attractions that will please children and adults alike. For the calmer, shows, parades and even the 4D Shrek cinema are good options. The more radical will enjoy the Rockit roller coaster, Revenge of the Mummy and the Simpsons, Minions and Jimmy Fallon simulators. Harry Potter lovers will have fun entering Diagon Alley, buying their wand, doing magic in the shop windows and escaping from Gringotts in this mix of a roller coaster and a simulator.
• Islands of Adventures: Islands is THE park for those who like adrenaline. Starting with the Hulk roller coaster, passing through the Spider-Man and King Kong simulator, and ending with an escape from the dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park River Adventure. This is also where Hogwarts, Hogsmead and the Harry Potter simulator inside the castle are located.
• Volcano bay: Recently opened water park, it is the first to use the virtual queue system, where you can enjoy the pool while waiting for your turn at an attraction. It offers a “water roller coaster” and even an artificial beach.

In addition, there are also Sea World (I don't recommend visiting due to the numerous reports of animal abuse, but I suggest you do your own research), Busch gardens (it is in Tampa, a nearby city, and is known as the roller coaster park), Aquatica e LegoLand.

There is a post here on the blog with itinerary tips for those who are going to spend 7, 10 and 15 days in Orlando, with tips on what to do in each park! To make sure you don't leave anything out, I also suggest reading the post 10 things to do on your first trip to Orlando.

Tickets

You need to leave Brazil with your tickets already purchased and decided which park you will visit each day.

The first reason for this is that, when purchasing in Brazil through official Disney partners, you can pay in installments. Prices per park start at around US$100, so you can already imagine the cost for a family trip. Paying in installments is the best option, especially when tickets have the same benefit as if purchased at the Disney box office..

The main reason, however, to buy your tickets in advance is that you need to reserve your visit to the park in the Disney system. Since the reopening of the parks after the pandemic, the company has become stricter regarding the capacity of each park, which is why it is now necessary to make a reservation through the app or the official website, to guarantee that you will be able to enter the park. Imagine arriving in Orlando only to find out that, even with tickets, the parks are full and you won't be able to enter?

Before purchasing your ticket, check park availability through this calendar on the official website. If the parks are available on your dates, buy tickets and then go make your reservation as explained on this page.

Other attractions

In addition to the parks, Orlando offers several attractions for tourists. In the International Drive area, one of the most famous streets in the region, is the Orlando Eye, the iconic ferris wheel. It is also in this area that the Madame Tussauds and the Sea Life aquarium.

For those who like nature, the tip is to enjoy the parks of Winter Park or even the beaches of Clearwater or Cocoa Beach. If you have a car, it is also worth visiting the famous Kennedy Space Center, with simulators, shows and everything else that will make your children (and even you) want to be an astronaut.

If you want to continue within the magic of the parks, you can visit the Disney springs or the CityWalk, sort of “center” of the Disney and Universal complexes, respectively. Both offer countless gastronomic options, shops and entertainment such as cinemas, bowling and even clubs like the House of Blues.

Purchases

It’s impossible to plan a trip to Disney without mentioning shopping. The tax rate on purchases is 6,5% in Florida, which means that in addition to the sticker price, you need to add another six percent to the value when paying. Here on the blog there is a complete post about the best places to shop in Orlando, with stores, malls and more. Anyway, here's a summary:

There are two types of shopping malls in Orlando, the outlets, which have out-of-stock stores with discounted products, and those with normal stores with current collections. Of the first type, the most famous are the Premium Outlets, both in Vineland Ave. as in international drive. If you need to choose one, International is larger and has a greater variety of stores.

The shopping malls in the region are the Florida Mall and Millenia Mall, the latter ideal for those who like to shop for designer brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. The Florida Mall is a favorite among Brazilians, and there you can find stores such as Apple, Disney Store, Forever XXI, H&M, Abercrombie, Michael Kors, Aeropostale and Sephora.

Another great option to save money are stores like Ross – Dress for Less and TJ Maxx. There you can find items from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Sketchers and more for even cheaper prices than in the US. outlets. I paid $10 for gym shorts, $8 for tank tops, and even $4 for sneakers!

If you have little time to shop, I suggest buying from Amazon.com and have it delivered to your hotel or home. The internet giant sells practically EVERYTHING, and you can try your account for free for 30 days Prime with free two-day delivery!

Don't know what to buy in the United States? Here on the blog there is a post with the best products and brands to buy in the USA, with options from all categories, including electronics, beauty, clothing, sports, accessories, vitamins, baby layette, toys and much more!

And there you have it, everything you need to know to plan a trip to Disney!

Do you have any questions? Just ask here in the comments 🙂

Have a nice trip and take the opportunity to give Mickey a hug for me!

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