From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. Orlando is spread out, so work out how you will get around before you land.Details
From the airport
Orlando International Airport sits southeast of the main sights. Rental cars, taxis, rideshares and many resort shuttles meet you there, and a day-one ride to your hotel is usually the longest of the trip.
Getting around
The parks, the lake towns and the space coast are far apart, and the city is built around its roads. A rental car makes the space and spring days simple. The big resorts also run their own buses and boats, so ask your hotel what it offers.
Tickets and plans
Each big park sets its own tickets, hours and booking rules, and they change. Read them on the park's own pages before you go, and decide which park suits your group instead of trying to see two in one day.
First evening
Keep it light after the flight. Eat near the hotel, drink plenty of water and go to bed early, because Day 1 is a big one.
Day 1. Winter Park and downtown Orlando
4 stops · 2.2 mi
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth the time
Park Avenue
The main street of Winter Park, a few blocks of brick sidewalks, cafes and small shops under big old trees. Walk it slowly and sit down wherever you like.
Go whenMorning, before the cafes fill up.
Local tip Walk one side down and the other side back, and duck into the side courtyards where the tables sit under the trees.
A chain of lakes joined by narrow canals in the middle of town, lined with big houses and old trees. A scenic boat tour runs on them. Check ahead for the current schedule.
Go whenAfternoon, on a clear day when the water is calm.
Local tip Sit on the shady side of the boat. The narrow canals between the lakes are the best part of the ride.
Downtown Orlando has many restaurants within a short walk of the lake. Choose by the menu and the crowd.
Local tip Walk the lake path before dinner, so you eat after the sunset light.
If it rains. Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is covered, so keep it. Move Park Avenue, Winter Park lakes and Harry P. Leu Gardens to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Downtown Orlando and Universal and International Drive
3 stops · 24.5 mi
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Harry P. Leu GardensAbout 31 min by car or transit10.0 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
MorningA whole day
Universal Orlando Resort
Two big theme parks and a dining and walking area side by side. Choose what suits your group and take a long break in the middle. Check each park's own schedule and tickets ahead.
Go whenMorning, with a long break in the middle of the day.
Local tip Choose one park for the day and read its own schedule ahead. A swim or a rest at the hotel at midday makes the evening better.
The neighborhoods near the lakes have small cafes and diners. A simple lunch before the garden suits the pace.
About 11 min by car or transit2.0 mi
3
EveningWorth the time
Lake Eola Park
The round lake at the heart of downtown Orlando, with a fountain, a path to walk and swan boats to watch. A gentle end to the day, with the city lit behind it.
Go whenAround sunset (about 7:33 PM), when the water turns gold and the fountain is lit.
Local tip Walk the full loop around the lake, which is an easy stroll, and stop to watch the swans and the fountain.
If it rains. Orlando Science Center is covered, so keep it. Move Universal Orlando Resort and Lake Eola Park to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. Walt Disney World and Universal and International Drive
3 stops · 30.1 mi
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Lake Eola ParkAbout 38 min by car15.3 mi
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MorningA whole day
Magic Kingdom
The Walt Disney World park with a castle at the end of a main street. Pick a few things that matter to your group and leave the rest. Check the park's own schedule and tickets ahead.
Go whenMorning, then a long midday break away from the crowds before you come back.
Local tip Pick two or three things that matter most and do those first. A big park day goes better when you stop for a rest before anyone is tired.
A road lined with restaurants of every kind, so there is a table for every taste in your group.
Local tip Pick a place close to your hotel so the last night stays easy.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 4. The space coast and the springs north of town
2 stops · 97.2 mi
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from ICON ParkAbout 1 h 17 min by car48.2 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MorningA big day
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The public home of the space center, with rockets, spacecraft and exhibits on the history of spaceflight. Plan a good part of the day for it. Check tickets and the day's schedule ahead.
Go whenMorning, and start early, because the drive is the first part of the day.
Local tip Read the park's own plan before you leave. Pick the exhibits that matter to your group and leave time to sit, eat and look up.
A state park around a spring that stays cool all year, with a swimming area, a river for paddling and shaded trails. Check the park's own rules and any limits on visitors before you go.
Go whenMorning, before the day gets hot.
Local tip The water stays cool all year, so bring a towel even in the warm months. Check the park's own rules before you go, because they can change.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. Leave extra time on the road to the airport and the final morning stays easy.Details
Your last night
Pack the night before and keep one bag ready for the morning. After Universal and a late return, a calm start the next day is worth more than one more stop.
Returning the car
Rental offices at the airport can have queues at the start and end of the day. Fill the tank the evening before, and ask your rental company what its return rules are.
To the airport
Roads around Orlando fill at the school run and at the end of the working day, and park traffic adds to it on busy dates. Leave earlier than you think you need to.
If you have a few hours
Stay close to the hotel: a slow breakfast, a swim if there is a pool, then head out. Leave long drives for another trip.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Orlando?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to March and October to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Orlando. This plan is built for early March, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 4 days in Orlando, planned for early March. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 2.2 to 49.1 miles between its stops, and 80.6 miles in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.