11 plan Updated September 23, 2026

Plan your Orlando trip

Tickets, timing and transport, checked on dated calendars

Tickets, Lightning Lane, Express, parking, timing and transport, each page checked against the official calendars on the date it shows.

Victorian Main Street train station with clock tower at the Magic Kingdom entrance

Walt Disney World tickets

The "from $119" is Animal Kingdom on a slow day. Here is what 1-, 3- and 5-day tickets actually cost on two real date ranges, with and without Park Hopper.

1-day $179 to $209 (Oct/Dec) Priced by start date Buy direct from Disney
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The Universal globe lit up blue at night in fog, with guests gathered around it at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando tickets

A 1-day park-to-park ticket does not include Epic Universe. Most 3-day and longer tickets do. Here are the ticket types, the real October 2026 prices and the traps.

1-day from $124.99 before tax Epic Universe priced separately Prices vary by date
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A bright hotel room with two queen beds and an open balcony door onto palm trees and a pool

Where to stay in Orlando

Decide which parks you are doing first. Then the choice between Lake Buena Vista, the Universal area, International Drive, Kissimmee and the city mostly makes itself.

Six bases, one decision 12.5% room tax in Orange County Car optional only on-site
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Lake Buena Vista and Disney SpringsUniversal Orlando Resort areaInternational Drive
Dark afternoon thunderclouds building over palm trees and a lake

Best time to visit Orlando

The parks tell you when they are busy: they charge more. Pair their price calendars with NOAA's climate normals and the answer is early November or mid-January.

July average high 92.0F Hurricane season Jun 1 to Nov 30 Priciest: Dec 19 to 31
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How many days in OrlandoWalt Disney World ticketsUniversal Orlando tickets
A blank calendar with days circled in red, beside sunglasses, a water bottle and a folded map

How many days in Orlando

Count the parks you want, give each its own day, then add a rest day for every three park days. Extra ticket days are cheap; extra hotel nights are not.

5 to 7 days for both resorts Longer tickets cost less a day One rest day per three
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Orlando in 5 daysOrlando in 7 daysWalt Disney World in 4 days
An airplane wing over flat green countryside dotted with small lakes

Getting to Orlando

Fly into MCO unless a fare to Sanford saves real money. Then it is a $38 to $68 taxi, a $16 shared shuttle to Disney hotels or a rental car. Brightline reaches Miami in about 3 hours 30 minutes.

MCO: Terminals A, B and C Taxi to Disney $52 to $68 Brightline to Miami 3h30
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A plain white shuttle bus on a palm-lined road under a blue sky

Getting around Orlando

Orlando is built for cars, and the tolls are cashless. Disney and Universal move their own hotel guests for free; the I-Ride Trolley covers International Drive; SunRail is for commuters.

Theme park parking $35 a day I-Ride Trolley $2 a ride SunRail runs Monday to Friday
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The Millennium Falcon beneath the rock spires of Black Spire Outpost in Galaxy's Edge, Hollywood Studios

Disney Lightning Lane explained

Multi Pass is the $19 to $35 add-on most people buy. Single Pass sells one headline ride. Premier Pass skips every line once, for $179 to $399 a day.

Three passes, all per person Book 7 or 3 days ahead Multi Pass $19 to $35 a day
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The Incredible Hulk Coaster entrance at night, a Hulk statue holding a ride car under green-lit track

Universal Express Pass explained

Express Unlimited works only at Studios and Islands. Epic Universe sells a one-ride-each Express from $199.99. Three Universal hotels include Unlimited, but not for Epic.

From $124.99 a day, 2 parks Park admission not included Free at 3 Universal hotels
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Rows of parked cars in a sunny open-air lot lined with palm trees

Theme park parking fees

Standard parking is $35 a day at Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. Disney hotel guests park free, Disney Springs is free, and Universal's garages are free after 6 p.m. on most nights.

Standard parking $35 a day Preferred $50 to $60 Disney Springs is free
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Disney SpringsUniversal CityWalkSeaWorld Orlando
The colorful clock-tower facade of it's a small world's loading area in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom

Orlando with kids

Under 3 is free. At 38 inches Disney's family coasters open up; at 48 inches almost everything at both resorts does. Plan around the heat, not the ride list.

Under 3 free at Disney Key heights: 38, 40, 44, 48 in June to Aug highs above 90F
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Magic KingdomLEGOLAND FloridaBest time to visit Orlando

Build the rest of the trip

Everything else on the site, with what is in it.

Theme parks 14 Attractions 10 Experiences 9 Events 9 Day trips 6 Walks 4 Areas 6 Hotels 14 Restaurants 16 Local food 8 Bars 5 Itineraries 6 Worth it? 8 Guides 5 Articles 3