Hello there, my wander friends 👋
If you’ve ever tackled Orlando during the holidays, you already know—it’s not for the faint of heart. But with a little planning, a lot of patience, and very comfortable shoes, it can be absolute magic. This trip clocked in at New Year’s week (Dec 26–Jan 2), and today I’m sharing Part 1: pre‑travel planning, travel day, and arrival day. Spoiler alert: we earned those steps before even stepping into a park.
Pre‑Travel Planning: Plan Early, Wander Happy
Planning a holiday trip to Orlando is not something you want to do last minute. I booked this adventure a full year in advance, and honestly—best decision ever. Flights, hotels, park tickets, dining… they all disappear quickly during peak season.
Tickets: Undercover Tourist
I purchased all of our park tickets through Undercover Tourist (www.undercovertourist.com). They are an authorized ticket seller offering discounted, tax‑inclusive prices—so what you see is what you pay. Tickets are delivered electronically, which makes linking them to your apps a breeze. Bonus: their customer service is solid, and during busy travel seasons, that peace of mind matters.
Universal Orlando Tickets
For Universal, I booked:
3‑Day Park‑to‑Park ticket (Universal Studios Florida + Islands of Adventure)
1 Day at Universal Epic Universe
2‑Day Express Pass usable across those parks
Yes, Express Passes are expensive—but during the holidays, they are 100% worth it. Some waits can stretch past three hours without them, and I’d much rather be sipping butterbeer than standing in line.
Walt Disney World Tickets & Lightning Lane
I also booked 2 days at Walt Disney World for Dec 30 and 31:
EPCOT
New Year’s Eve at Hollywood Studios 🎉
Three days before your park visit, you can purchase Lightning Lane Multi‑Pass. This allows you to reserve return windows for select attractions, minimizing standby wait times. You’ll make your first 3 selections, then book additional rides as you use them throughout the day—all directly through the Disney app. If you stay at a Disney resort, you can book 1 week in advance, but if you are staying off-site, make sure to purchase as soon as the window opens at 7am because they do sell out. In fact, I couldn't purchase one for Epcot as they were already gone by the time the window opened for off site purchase.
Apps You Must Download
Do not skip this step:
Universal Orlando App
My Disney Experience App
You’ll upload your tickets and Express Passes using the barcodes from Undercover Tourist. These apps are essential for:
Ride wait times
Mobile food ordering
Dining reservations
Lightning Lane selections
They are basically your survival guide.
Where We Stayed: Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort – West Village
8505 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee, FL 34747
📞 407‑477‑7025
This resort was a fantastic home base. Our villa was spacious, super comfortable, and included a full kitchen plus washer and dryer—a lifesaver after long park days. The beds? Genuinely some of the comfiest I’ve slept in while traveling. Highly recommend if you want space and flexibility. It is about a 20 minute drive to the parks with low traffic.
Dining Reservations: Book Early or Eat Snacks
Holiday travel rule #1: book restaurants as early as possible.
Universal Orlando allows dining reservations up to 180 days in advance.
Disney World and Disney Resorts open dining reservations 60 days out.
I booked as many meals as I could ahead of time—it saved us from long waits and last‑minute stress. As I go into each day, I will tell you about our favorite experiences.
Travel Day (Home Plan): A Little Self‑Care Goes a Long Way
My flight wasn’t until the evening January 2nd, and knowing I’d be exhausted after six park‑packed days, I scheduled a massage at:
Mandara Spa – Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels
1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Mandara Spa offers relaxing, high‑quality treatments, and you don’t need to be staying onsite to book. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel or via ResortPass, which sometimes offers great deals. The spa is very comfortable, you have access to the pools and hot tubs, and they offer snacks and beverages. It was a really nice way to end the trip.
Highly recommend starting a long travel day with a little calm.
Packing: Florida Is a Weather Wildcard
Check the forecast—and then pack for everything.
We experienced:
Highs in the 80s ☀️
Highs in the 50s
Lows in the 30s (yes, really!)
I ended up buying a couple of new sweatshirts 😉. Because of the temperature swings, I checked a bag and brought my favorite travel backpack. I highly recommend packing cubes, and this is my very favorite travel pillow -- Sleeper Hold. It connects your head to the headrest, has eye mask and a little pillow to support your neck - I actually get some sleep on planes as a result!
Universal meant full Harry Potter vibes—scarf included—while Disney meant brunches, character dining, and yes… my favorite Mickey outfits had to come along too.
Travel Day: Delays, Lounges, and Rolling with It
Holiday travel = give yourself extra time.
I flew United using miles and thought I was being clever by routing through San Francisco to avoid winter storms… only to run into flooding that shut the airport down. Stuff happens.
Always check your flights 24 hours before departure.
I re‑routed through Chicago with a long overnight layover. Not ideal—but having saved United Lounge passes made all the difference.
United Lounge – Terminal 2, San Diego: Comfortable seating, large windows, and great airport. Snacks and full bar.
Chicago O’Hare United Lounge: HUGE. Coffee, snacks, space to relax after a very early arrival. Also a full bar - some people like to get the party started early.
By the time I landed in Orlando, I was tired—but happy to be there. My friends picked me up in a rental car, which I highly recommend unless you’re staying onsite.
Parking around the parks runs about $35 per day, and while Uber/Lyft is available, having a car gives you flexibility.
Arrival Day: Disney Springs & Dinner Magic
We dropped our bags at the hotel (room wasn’t ready yet) and headed to Disney Springs—a lively outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Think World of Disney, boutique shops, bakeries, coffee spots, and plenty of places to wander while soaking in that Disney energy.
After freshening up, we headed to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for a character dinner.
1900 Park Fare – Grand Floridian
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
The food was genuinely very good, and we had time with four characters:
Aladdin
Cinderella
Mirabel
Tiana
One of the most special moments was the Wish Ceremony, where cast members invite guests to share wishes and celebrate the joy of the season. It was sweet, heartfelt, and a lovely way to kick off the trip.
A Very Important Holiday Tip
During peak holiday weeks, parks can reach capacity. If that happens, guests may be denied entry—or re‑entry.
Plan to:
Arrive early [at least 30 minutes before parks open, because parking and getting to the front gate takes time]
Stay for the day [plan for a sit-down lunch and dinner to give those legs a rest]
Think twice before leaving mid‑day [you might be denied re-entry if parks are at capacity]
Trust me, it matters.
After a long day, we headed back to the resort, settled in, and crashed hard. Those beds? Still thinking about them. 😴
That’s Part 1 of our Orlando adventure. Day 1 in the parks is coming up next, and let me just say… the steps really start to add up, so don’t forget your comfy shoes. I bring two different pairs to trade off between the days to ensure I don't get sore feet. It helps!
Until then,
Eat well. Move well. Wander well.
💫 WanderLyn
Check us out on social media @wanderlyntravel
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