Join our Travel Consultant Lacey Kempthorne as she explores Florida’s landscapes and diverse attractions. Home to the enchanting realms of Disney World and Universal Studios, Florida beckons with endless adventures. Check out her insights, tips, and the magic of her experiences in this captivating destination.
“I had the opportunity to visit Florida, courtesy of Ocean Florida. This was my first time visiting Florida, and I had a fantastic time! We had a full week of activities and I got to experience some of Florida’s best attractions. Here is everything you need to know If you are thinking about visiting.
Trip Top Tip
When visiting Disney World, make sure to use the Disney Genie Service so you can bypass the Standard queue and use the Lightning Lane for rides in the park. The last thing you want to do is spend hours waiting for a ride in the Florida heat!
Tours and Excursions
Swimming with Manatees
We had an early morning start at the Plantation Resort on Crystal River to swim with Manatees. I won’t lie, I was apprehensive at first but once we got in the water it was so relaxing and calm. We saw two manatees whilst swimming which was amazing. The Plantation resort has an Adventure Centre where you can book boat tours to see the Manatees, Diving, Fishing, Kayaking and so much more. This is great for clients that are wanting to experience Florida but also have a relaxing holiday too.
VIP Treatment at Universal Studios: Rides, Shows, and More
We used the boat transfer within the hotel grounds to get to the entrance of Universal. We met up with our VIP guide Adam for the afternoon and we were lucky enough to get onto the rides through the back doors due to having the VIP tour and service. We started at Minion Land where we did the Illumination’s Villian-Con Minion Blast. We then carried on to Jurassic Park, followed by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As it started raining, we moved on to the Jason Bourne Stuntacular which was an inside show with stagecraft and film.
Disney's Magic Kingdom
On the hottest day of the week, it was time to go to Disney. I had never been to any Disney Park before and the excitement was real. We arrived at the park, and we used the Genie service to pre-book some rides, to give us access to the Lightning Lanes. This meant we didn’t have to queue as long as the standard queue. We started on one of the newest rides at Disney called Tron, then we moved on to see the iconic Disney Castle. We queued up for a picture with Minnie Mouse and then carried on outside on rides such as Space Mountain, It’s a Small World, Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. Our time at Disney was short but I would love to go back and visit all the parks.
The Kennedy Space Centre
visitor complex is operated by NASA and is entirely visitor-funded. It features exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, shows, two IMAX theatres and a range of bus tours of the spaceport. I love space and I have learnt so much from visiting just for the day. You can get tours that include transfers from Orlando which I highly recommend.
Where to stay in Florida
Hotels and Resorts at Universal Studios
We had tours of both the Endless Summer resorts, Surfside Inn and Dockside Inn. The Dockside Inn is a lot livelier than the Surfside. Both boast great accommodations and swimming pools. We then moved on to Cabana Bay, which is 1950s and 60s themed. They have a Universal gift shop in this hotel as well as a huge diner for customers staying in the hotel. We had the opportunity to go up to one of the Standard Rooms that overlooks Universal’s Volcano Bay. We then moved on to the Saphire Falls which is tropical island themed, where we had some lunch around the pool.
4-star Drury Inn and Drury Plaza Lake Buena Vista
Both hotels are owned by the same company and they are both great places to stay for a great price. They have rooms that will accommodate large families. The best part about staying at this hotel is that breakfast is included as well as ‘Kick Bick’ which is served for two hours from 17:30 pm and it includes dinner time snacks. This food changes every day and you can have a good meal for dinner included in the price of your stay.
12 Bedroom Villa in Solterra
This villa was incredible. It boasts 12 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a games room, a casino room, a cinema, an outdoor pool with a hot tub, BBQ, table tennis and so much more. We stayed here for two nights and we all had our own en-suites. The first night we stayed here we got to experience the villa facilities and have a BBQ. It was great to do this in the middle of the week so we could relax for the evening as we had been on the go nonstop for the first 3 days.
The 4-star Grove Resort and Waterpark Orlando
This is the perfect family resort for customers wanting to visit the Disney and Universal parks. They have a range of accommodations including two and three-bedroom suites which include kitchen facilities. There is a complimentary shuttle bus that will take you to the Disney Parks as well as an in-resort Water Park if you want a relaxing day instead of visiting the parks. They are currently building a new part of the hotel with modern suites.
A Perfect Blend of Relaxation and Adventure
Overall my time in Florida was amazing. I was so lucky to experience so many iconic attractions and hotels. I recommend not just families but everyone to visit Florida at some point whether it is for a relaxing break or to enjoy the fun-filled parks such as Universal and Disney. If you have been thinking about taking a trip to Florida, pop in and see me in Truro to start planning your dream escape.”
Lacey Kempthorne, Travel Consultant in Truro.
