Hundreds of thousands of individuals fly midway the world over to face in line at Magic Kingdom, trip a curler coaster, eat an overpriced burger, and go residence with a sunburn and a smile.
In the meantime, individuals stay simply 90 minutes away and haven’t booked a resort room in Orlando since… ever? That’s the factor about staycations, they’re typically neglected since you don’t should hop on a airplane to get there!
However belief me, after basing ourselves in lots of locations around the globe, and happening weekends away, I can say that they are often simply as enjoyable – and fewer aggravating – than a global vacation.
The sensation of being on trip has virtually nothing to do with distance and virtually every part to do with giving your self permission – to not examine emails, to sleep in, to sit down by the pool with a very good e book, and to simply fill the day at your individual tempo.
Orlando is likely one of the high visited locations within the USA and occurs to be an important place to staycation. And in the event you’re a Florida or Georgia resident, you will get it cheaper than virtually anybody else.
Right here’s plan an Orlando staycation that truly seems like a visit away.
Why Orlando Works Higher as a Staycation Than a Trip
Most guests to Orlando are on a clock. They’ve received 4 days, seven parks, a eating reservation at 8:15pm, and a return flight on Sunday. They’re not stress-free…they’re on a good schedule!
For Florida and Georgia residents, you don’t have that drawback. You possibly can drive in on a Friday afternoon, do precisely one factor per day, and drive residence Sunday evening with out that panic of “we flew all this fashion, we have to do the water park.”
That modifications every part about how you need to plan. As an alternative of making an attempt to see every part directly, you get to choose and select…as a result of you may merely come again subsequent month if you would like!
It additionally means you may journey in shoulder season, whereas vacationers usually go to when faculty’s out. You possibly can come the second week of September, or late January, or the primary half of Might – when the parks are quieter, the resort charges drop, and also you’re not lining up 80 minutes for a trip that lasts simply three.
Selecting the Proper Space to Keep In
That is one thing to contemplate whenever you simply have a couple of days to go to Orlando, and it’s additionally the place most staycations fail. Folks e book no matter’s least expensive close to the airport, spend the entire weekend on the I-4, and surprise why it didn’t really feel like a vacation.
Orlando is gigantic and sprawling, and the neighbourhood you choose determines what your weekend will truly be like. For most individuals doing a traditional Orlando staycation, it’s I-Drive or the Disney facet – these are the 2 areas constructed for it.
Worldwide Drive (I-Drive): that is the resort hall, it’s an extended strip working roughly parallel to I-4, filled with motels, eating places, outlet malls, mini golf, the conference centre, and Common a couple of minutes north. In order for you every part inside a brief drive, that is essentially the most handy base within the metropolis. It’s additionally the place you’ll discover the largest resort properties with the perfect facilities.
Lake Buena Vista and Freeway 192 (Kissimmee): that is Disney’s orbit. When you’re doing the parks with youngsters, staying on this facet saves you significant time and visitors each single day. It’s extra unfold out and fewer walkable than I-Drive, however the lodging choices are extra diversified. You’ll discover villas and multi-bedroom items somewhat than customary resort rooms – which is precisely what you need with a household.
Winter Park is the other finish of the spectrum. Right here you’ll discover leafy, historic, brick sidewalks, impartial retailers, boutique motels. There’s nothing theme-park about it. In case your staycation is a grown-up weekend with out the parks, that is the place to be.
Downtown Orlando works if you would like the town somewhat than the vacationer model of it. Try Lake Eola, Thornton Park, Mills 50, the Milk District. Right here you’ll discover nightlife, eating places, and precise native life.
The place to Keep: The Florida & Georgia Resident Low cost
Westgate Resorts have properties in each of the principle corridors – on Turkey Lake off I-Drive, and on the Disney facet close to Kissimmee, and Florida and Georgia residents get a reduced charge in any respect of them.
Their highly-rated villa-style items include full kitchens, and separate dwelling areas. To not point out, there are a number of onsite eating places, swimming pools and extra. Examine the Florida & Georgia resident charges right here.
Issues to Do in Orlando That Aren’t Theme Parks
In case you’re not planning on visiting Disney World, there are many different issues to do in Orlando to maintain you busy. The town is likely one of the greatest locations to go in Florida for a cause!
The Chocolate Kingdom Manufacturing unit. This tour walks you thru the entire bean-to-bar course of. How cacao is grown, roasted, floor, and was the chocolate you truly eat. It’s a guided tour with numerous tasting alongside the way in which, and also you end by making your individual customized bar. Click on right here for particulars.
Benefit from the view from the Florida Eye. One in all Orlando’s most recognizable sights is The Orlando Eye at ICON Park, the 400-foot commentary wheel on Worldwide Drive. The trip takes about 20 minutes, and on a transparent day you may see all the way in which to the Kennedy Area Heart
Do the downtown factor. Lake Eola with its swan boats is the postcard shot, however the surrounding neighbourhoods are the place the precise metropolis lives. Try Thornton Park space which is walkable and an important place to eat. On the primary Thursday of each month, the neighbourhood’s galleries open their doorways for a night of artwork and stay music – which has a extra native vibe.
Kennedy Area Heart. An hour east, and probably the most spectacular day journeys from Orlando you are able to do. Visiting this NASA facility is well worth the drive. Click on right here for a extremely rated tour, together with transport.
Doing the Theme Parks Like a Native (Not a Vacationer)
When you do need parks, do them in a different way than the individuals who flew in.
Purchase an annual go in the event you’ll go greater than twice. Florida residents get considerably decreased annual go charges at each Disney and Common, typically with month-to-month cost choices. When you’re going to go to two or 3 times a yr, the go beats particular person tickets and removes the “we now have to get our cash’s price at this time” stress, which is the other of what a relaxed staycation is about.
Go for half days. The vacationer mindset is: arrive when the rope drops, and keep to the fireworks. The native mindset is: arrive at 4pm, trip 4 issues, eat dinner, watch the present, depart. The evenings are cooler, crowds skinny after the day-trippers depart, and also you go residence pleased as an alternative of exhausted.
Use the resident-only ticket affords. Each main park operators run Florida resident promotions all year long, significantly within the autumn and late winter. These are regularly the most cost effective park admission out there anyplace.
Skip the park completely and do Disney Springs or CityWalk. There’s no ticket required. You get free entry, entry to eating places, stay music, purchasing, and a cinema. It scratches the theme-park itch for the value of parking.
Cash-Saving Suggestions for an Orlando Staycation
The entire level of a staycation is that it ought to price meaningfully lower than a “actual” journey. Right here’s how one can avoid wasting cash.
Use the resident charges – all of them. Resort resident reductions like with Westgate Resorts, Florida resident park tickets, resident charges at sights like Kennedy Area Heart and the aquariums. A shocking variety of locations will honour it in the event you merely ask. Be certain to carry your ID.
Guide lodging with a kitchen. Breakfast at residence, pack a lunch, and revel in dinner out. That’s one restaurant meal a day as an alternative of three. A household of 4 consuming three meals a day in Orlando eating places can simply clear $200/day.
Drive, clearly. The beauty of a Florida staycation is you don’t should pay for dear flights, baggage charges, and there’s no rental automotive wanted! You possibly can carry a cooler, a few of your individual meals, a case of water, your favourite espresso machine, no matter you want! Even issues like seashore chairs – and no matter else you’d in any other case be shopping for or renting at resort costs…simply toss it within the automotive.
Journey midweek. Sunday-to-Thursday charges in Orlando are regularly a fraction of Friday-Saturday charges. In case your schedule has any flexibility in any respect, you’ll be capable of save fairly a bit.
Keep away from peak weeks. Spring break, Christmas week, Easter, and the July 4th stretch are the most costly and most crowded occasions to be anyplace in central Florida. The greatest time to journey round Florida is September, early December, and late January – decrease charges, fewer crowds, and higher climate than July.
Pre-book parking or use resort shuttles. Theme park parking runs $30+ per day. In case your resort runs a shuttle, use it.
Set a day by day “one good factor” funds. Moderately than monitoring each greenback, choose one factor per day that you just’ll spend correctly on. Perhaps a very good dinner, the spa, a particular ticket – and maintain the remaining low-cost. It feels indulgent with out the hefty invoice on the finish.
Easy methods to Truly Make It Really feel Like a Trip
That is the distinction between a staycation that feels such as you went overseas, and one the place you simply…slept someplace else.
Pack an actual bag. Not a gymnasium bag with a toothbrush. Pack a suitcase such as you’re going someplace. The act of correctly packing makes it really feel such as you’re truly happening vacation.
Set an precise departure time and keep on with it. The issue with the staycation mentality is leaving at 4pm on Friday since you “simply needed to end one factor.” Depart at midday in the event you can and take the half day. The additional 4 hours is 1 / 4 of your weekend.
Flip off notifications. All of them. Faux such as you’ve gone away on vacation to Europe. Don’t reply your emails, texts or something – you’re offline!
Don’t plan each hour. The enjoyment of the staycation is you don’t should jam every part in…since you may simply return a month later in the event you needed! Choose two major actions for a weekend, and ensure to carve out some pool / chill out time as nicely.
Eat someplace you wouldn’t usually. Vacationers eat on the resort, and locals eat on the identical six locations on rotation. Break each patterns and go someplace new! Ask your resort for suggestions, or examine Google Maps or Yelp.
Pattern Orlando Staycation Itineraries
The Two-Evening Reset (no parks)
Friday: Arrive noon, examine in, pool time, spa therapy, dinner on I-Drive, and end with a sundown trip on The Florida Eye at ICON Park, which is a five-minute stroll from a lot of the eating places there.
Saturday: Winter Park morning, benefit from the Morse Museum and the Scenic Boat Tour, adopted by an extended lunch on Park Avenue. Again to the resort for the afternoon, adopted by a meals tour within the Milk District for dinner.
Sunday: Wekiwa Springs early, drive residence by mid-afternoon. Day-use entry is $6 per automobile and it is advisable reserve a slot upfront now, so e book it earlier than you go.
The Household Lengthy Weekend
Thursday: Arrive, fill up on groceries, settle into the villa, resort pool time.
Friday: Sleep in and benefit from the resort, have a gradual breakfast within the villa, pool till lunch, then head to the park rested round 3pm. Half-day park visits work nicely since you’re not exhausted by 3pm…being lazy within the morning within the level.
Saturday: Chocolate Kingdom within the morning, resort waterpark all afternoon, no person drives anyplace else. Dinner on the resort.
Sunday: Disney Springs or CityWalk, earlier than heading residence within the afternoon.
The Area and Metropolis Weekend
Friday: Arrive, settle in, dinner and a wander round downtown. Saturday: Kennedy Area Heart – it’s an hour every approach and deserves a full day, so depart early and don’t attempt to pair it with something. Again for a late dinner.
Sunday: The Historic Districts strolling tour downtown, brunch in Thornton Park, residence mid-afternoon.
The Low cost Weekend
Friday evening arrival, cook dinner all of your meals within the villa besides one. Saturday at Wekiwa Springs, which is $6 per automobile, then Lake Eola and wandering across the downtown within the afternoon, which prices nothing in any respect.
Sunday morning spent on the resort pool, then head residence. Cooking your individual meals, getting the resident lodging charges, and doing free actions will actually prevent a number of money in your staycation.
Last Ideas
A number of the greatest journeys we’ve taken weren’t the most costly or farthest away. They’ve been those the place we truly slowed down, the place the schedule was relaxed and we had a ton of time to be spontaneous.
Orlando is unusually well-equipped for that. It’s constructed for guests, it’s stacked with issues to do at each worth level, and in the event you’re a Florida or Georgia resident, you might have entry to charges that individuals flying in from every other state (or overseas) would like to get their palms on.
You don’t want a passport. You don’t want a two week vacation. You simply want a weekend, a tank of fuel, and a room that isn’t yours.
