The Ultimate 14 Day Orlando Itinerary for UK Families (2027)

📅 Last updated: August 2026. We regularly review this 14 Day Orlando Itinerary to keep park information, planning advice and recommendations accurate for UK families.

Planning two weeks in Orlando sounds like plenty of time — until you start trying to fit everything in. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Epic Universe, SeaWorld, water parks, shopping and rest days can quickly turn a relaxing holiday into an exhausting one.

That’s exactly why we’ve created this 14 Day Orlando Itinerary specifically for UK families.

Rather than trying to visit a theme park every single day, this itinerary balances the biggest Orlando attractions with water parks, quieter days and time to actually enjoy your hotel. After all, you’ve flown thousands of miles for a holiday — not a two-week endurance test!

This itinerary includes Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and a water park, while still leaving room to relax.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t underestimate jet lag on your first couple of days. Most UK visitors wake very early during the first few mornings, so we’ve deliberately used that to your advantage when planning the busiest parks.

Your Perfect 14-Day Orlando Itinerary at a Glance

Before You Follow This 14-Day Orlando Itinerary

This itinerary is designed as a flexible starting point rather than a strict schedule. Orlando park hours, crowd levels and weather can change throughout the year, so you may want to move individual days around to suit your travel dates.

Before you arrive, there are four things worth sorting out: where you’re staying, which theme park tickets you’re buying, how you’ll get around Orlando and which attractions matter most to your family.

Getting those decisions right first makes the rest of your Orlando holiday much easier to plan.

🏨 Where to Stay in Orlando

Where you stay can make a huge difference to this itinerary. Staying close to the parks you’ll visit most often can save hours of driving over a two-week holiday.

Disney resort hotels are particularly convenient if you’re spending several days at Walt Disney World, while Universal hotels can be a great choice for the Universal parks. Staying off-site often gives families more space and can offer better value, particularly if you’re hiring a car.

Not sure which area or hotel to choose? Read our Best Orlando Hotels for UK Families (2027) guide for our favourite options across different budgets and locations.

Compare Orlando Hotel Prices
Hotel prices can vary considerably depending on your dates, so it’s worth comparing current rates before deciding where to stay.

🎟️ Choose Your Orlando Theme Park Tickets

Theme park tickets will be one of the biggest costs of your Orlando holiday, so decide which parks you genuinely want to visit before buying.

This 14-day itinerary includes the four main Walt Disney World parks, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens and a water park. You don’t have to visit them all — use the itinerary as a template and swap days to suit your family.

Before buying anything, read our Orlando Theme Park Tickets for UK Travellers guide, where we explain the main ticket options and what to consider before booking.

🚗 Getting Around Orlando

Orlando is much more spread out than many first-time visitors expect. Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, shopping areas and your hotel can all be several miles apart, so it’s worth deciding how you’ll get around before you travel.

Hiring a car gives you the most flexibility, particularly with this itinerary because it includes Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as well as parks across Orlando. However, families staying mainly on-site at Disney or Universal may prefer to combine resort transport with Uber, Lyft or private transfers.

Not sure whether you need a car? Read our Orlando Car Hire for UK Travellers (2027) guide for insurance, driving tips, rental costs and what to expect when collecting your car.

Compare Orlando Car Hire Prices
If you’re planning to hire a car, compare prices before travelling and check what’s included in the rental rate rather than choosing on headline price alone.

🎢 Choosing Which Orlando Parks to Visit

Trying to fit every Orlando theme park into one holiday isn’t always the best approach. The right mix depends on your children’s ages, how much your family enjoys thrill rides and whether Disney magic or Universal’s faster-paced attractions appeal to you more.

Families with younger children may want to spend more time at Walt Disney World, while families with teenagers and thrill-seekers may prefer additional days at Universal Orlando. For many UK families, the ideal two-week holiday combines both.

Can’t decide how to split your time? Read our Disney vs Universal: Which Is Better for UK Families? (2027 Guide) for a full comparison of rides, hotels, dining and which resort suits different families.

Before you start: Your park ticket combination will determine how easily you can follow this itinerary. See our Orlando Theme Park Tickets for UK Travellers guide for help comparing Disney, Universal and other Orlando ticket options before you book.

Day 1 – Arrive in Orlando US

Plan: Arrive, check in and take it easy
Best for: Recovering from the flight and getting settled

After a long flight from the UK, resist the temptation to head straight to a theme park. By the time you’ve cleared immigration, collected your luggage, picked up a hire car or transfer and reached your hotel, you’ll probably be ready for a much easier evening.

Check in, unpack the essentials and spend some time exploring your hotel. If everyone still has some energy, head out for an early dinner, pick up drinks and snacks for the room, or have a relaxed wander around your resort.

Disney Springs can work well for families staying near Walt Disney World, while Universal CityWalk is a good option if you’re based closer to Universal. But don’t feel you have to do anything — an early night can be one of the smartest decisions of the holiday.

UK visitors often wake ridiculously early on their first morning because of the five-hour time difference. Rather than fighting it, we’re going to use that jet lag to our advantage on Day 2 at Magic Kingdom.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Keep your first evening flexible. Flight delays, immigration queues and baggage collection can easily change your arrival time, so don’t make an expensive restaurant reservation or book anything you can’t cancel.

Arriving at Orlando International Airport? Our Orlando Airport Transfers for UK Travellers guide compares the main ways to get from MCO to your hotel.

Day 2 – Magic Kingdom 🏰

Plan: Full Disney park day
Best for: Classic Disney, first-time visitors and families

Thanks to jet lag, there’s a good chance you’ll be awake much earlier than usual this morning — which makes Day 2 the perfect time for Magic Kingdom.

Aim to arrive before the park officially opens so you’re ready to make the most of the quieter first part of the day. Magic Kingdom is packed with classic attractions, character experiences and some of Walt Disney World’s most recognisable rides, so don’t try to do absolutely everything in one visit.

Pick your family’s must-do attractions beforehand and concentrate on those first. As crowds and temperatures build during the afternoon, slow the pace down with indoor attractions, a longer lunch or even a break back at your hotel if you’re staying nearby.

If everyone still has the energy, stay into the evening. Magic Kingdom feels completely different after dark, and finishing your first full Orlando day with the nighttime entertainment is a brilliant way to properly start the holiday.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t use all your energy during the first few days. You’ve got another 12 days ahead of you, including some very big park days.

Planning your whole Orlando holiday? Our Planning an Orlando Holiday from the UK guide covers the key decisions UK families should make before travelling.

Day 3 – Universal Studios Florida 🎬

Plan: Full Universal park day
Best for: Movie fans, Harry Potter and families with older children

Day 3 switches things up with your first visit to Universal Orlando Resort, starting at Universal Studios Florida.

After a big Disney day, Universal offers a different atmosphere with more emphasis on movies, immersive themed areas and faster-paced attractions. Arrive early again, but don’t worry about trying to tick off every attraction — you’ve got another Universal day tomorrow.

One of the highlights is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Give yourself time to explore rather than simply rushing between rides; some of the best details are easy to miss when you’re concentrating on the next attraction.

If your ticket includes park-to-park access, you can ride the Hogwarts Express between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. However, I’d avoid spending too much time park-hopping today because tomorrow is dedicated to Islands of Adventure.

In the evening, Universal CityWalk makes an easy place for dinner because you’re already there and don’t need another journey across Orlando.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: If you’re staying at an eligible Universal hotel that includes Universal Express Unlimited, make the most of it on these Universal days. It can dramatically reduce the amount of time your family spends waiting in queues.

Wondering how Universal compares with Disney? Read our Disney vs Universal: Which Is Better for UK Families? (2027 Guide).

Day 4 – Islands of Adventure 🎢

Plan: Full Universal park day
Best for: Thrill rides, Harry Potter fans and older children

Day 4 continues your Universal adventure at Islands of Adventure, and for families who love thrill rides this could easily become one of the favourite days of the entire holiday.

Arrive early and prioritise the attractions that matter most to your family. Islands of Adventure is home to some of Universal Orlando’s biggest rides, including Jurassic World VelociCoaster and The Incredible Hulk Coaster, alongside attractions suitable for families who prefer something less intense.

You’ll also find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade here. Even if you explored Diagon Alley yesterday, Hogsmeade deserves plenty of time of its own. If you have park-to-park tickets, the Hogwarts Express connects the two Harry Potter areas.

After two consecutive Universal days, don’t feel you need to stay until closing if everyone is starting to tire. We’re deliberately making Day 5 at Animal Kingdom a slightly slower-paced park day before your first proper rest day.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: If VelociCoaster or another major attraction is essential for your family, prioritise it early rather than leaving it until the end of the day when weather or temporary ride closures could ruin your plans.

Day 5 – Animal Kingdom 🦁

Plan: Disney park day with a slightly slower pace
Best for: Animals, immersive theming and a break from the biggest thrill-ride days

After two busy days at Universal, Animal Kingdom is a good choice for Day 5. It’s still a full theme park day, but it can be easier to take at a more relaxed pace than some of Orlando’s other major parks.

Start with the attractions highest on your family’s list. Pandora – The World of Avatar is one of the park’s highlights, while Kilimanjaro Safaris is particularly good earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler and the animals may be more active.

Don’t make the mistake of treating Animal Kingdom as simply a collection of rides. Take time to explore the animal trails, themed areas and entertainment between attractions. This is one park where slowing down can actually make the day better.

You also don’t necessarily need to stay from opening until closing. If you’ve achieved everything you wanted by late afternoon or early evening, head back to the hotel, have a swim and recharge.

That’s particularly worthwhile because Day 6 is our first proper rest day — and by this point in the holiday, you’ll probably be ready for it.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Animal Kingdom involves more walking than it can appear on a map. Comfortable shoes, plenty of water and a slower afternoon can make a big difference.

Day 6 – Rest, Pool & Shopping 😎

Plan: No theme parks
Best for: Recharging, swimming, shopping and a slower Orlando day

After four consecutive theme park days, Day 6 is deliberately park-free. It can be tempting to squeeze another attraction into every available day, but a proper break now can make the second week of your holiday much more enjoyable.

Have a lie-in, enjoy breakfast without watching the clock and spend the morning around the pool. If you’re staying somewhere with a particularly good resort pool, this is the day to actually enjoy something you’ve already paid for!

Later, you could head to Disney Springs for shopping, food and entertainment, visit one of Orlando’s outlet centres, or simply stay at the hotel and do very little.

This is also a good opportunity to catch up on laundry, reorganise the suitcase and stock up on drinks and snacks for the room. It might not sound exciting now, but halfway through a two-week Florida holiday it can be surprisingly welcome.

Try not to turn the “rest day” into another 12-hour sightseeing day. Tomorrow is Epic Universe, so keeping some energy in reserve is definitely worthwhile.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: If everyone is exhausted before Day 6 arrives, move the rest day forward. A good Orlando itinerary should work around your family — not the other way around.

Looking for somewhere good to eat? See our Best Restaurants in Orlando for Families guide for more family-friendly dining ideas.

Day 7 – Epic Universe 🌌

Plan: Full Epic Universe day
Best for: New attractions, immersive themed worlds and thrill-seekers

After yesterday’s rest day, you’re ready for one of the biggest days of the holiday — Universal Epic Universe.

Give Epic Universe a full day rather than trying to combine it with another park. With multiple themed worlds to explore, this is somewhere you’ll want time to take in the surroundings as well as experience the headline attractions.

Decide on your family’s must-do attractions before you arrive and prioritise those early. Don’t spend the entire day racing from ride to ride, though — much of Epic Universe’s appeal comes from exploring the individual worlds and their details.

Build some downtime into the afternoon for food, drinks and indoor attractions, particularly during the hotter months. After your Day 6 rest, you should have enough energy to stay into the evening if you want to experience the park after dark.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t leave your number-one Epic Universe attraction until the final hour of the day. Weather, technical delays or long queues can interfere with even the best-planned itinerary.

Visiting Epic Universe in 2027? Read our Epic Universe Complete Guide for UK Travellers before you go, including the themed worlds, rides and our planning tips.

Day 8 – EPCOT 🌐

Plan: Full Disney park day with a later-paced evening
Best for: Big attractions, food, World Showcase and families who enjoy exploring

Day 8 takes you back to Walt Disney World for EPCOT, which offers a very different experience from Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.

Start with the attractions that matter most to your family, then allow plenty of time later in the day to explore World Showcase. One of EPCOT’s strengths is that you don’t need to spend the entire day rushing between rides — wandering through the different country pavilions, trying different food and simply taking in the atmosphere is a big part of the experience.

Because EPCOT generally works particularly well later in the day and into the evening, don’t feel you have to attack this one at full speed from opening until closing. Take a proper lunch break and slow things down during the hottest part of the afternoon.

If your family enjoys trying different food, this can also be one of the best days of the itinerary for eating somewhere a little different rather than relying entirely on standard theme park meals.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: EPCOT is huge. Try to plan your route around the park rather than repeatedly walking from one side to the other — your feet will thank you by the evening.

Day 9 – Water Park Day 💦

Plan: Water park and a more relaxed evening
Best for: Cooling off, family fun and giving your feet a break

After another full Disney day, Day 9 changes the pace with a water park day. For this itinerary, our first choice would be Universal Volcano Bay, particularly if your Universal tickets already include access.

Volcano Bay combines big water slides with wave pools, lazy-river-style attractions and plenty of opportunities to slow things down. You can still have an action-packed day if you want one, but it feels very different from spending another full day walking around a traditional theme park.

Arrive reasonably early if the most popular slides are important to your family, then let the afternoon become more relaxed. There’s no need to turn this into another opening-to-closing marathon.

Once you’ve finished, head back to the hotel, shower and have an easy dinner. Keeping the evening relatively quiet is worthwhile because tomorrow takes you back to Walt Disney World for Hollywood Studios.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Florida sunshine can catch you out particularly quickly around water. Reapply high-factor sunscreen regularly, stay hydrated and use shaded areas during the hottest part of the day.

Day 10 – Hollywood Studios 🎬

Plan: Full Disney park day
Best for: Star Wars fans, thrill rides and movie-themed attractions

Day 10 takes you to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and although it’s smaller than some of Walt Disney World’s other parks, there’s plenty here to fill a full day.

This is another park where deciding on your must-do attractions beforehand really helps. Families looking for bigger rides have plenty to choose from, while Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge deserves time to explore rather than simply walking through on the way to the next attraction.

By this stage of the holiday, you may also find that everyone naturally wants to slow down a little. Take advantage of the shows and indoor attractions to give your legs a break, particularly during the hottest part of the afternoon.

If you’re staying for the evening entertainment, consider having a proper sit-down meal or longer afternoon break rather than trying to keep going at full speed all day.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t judge Hollywood Studios by its size. Some of its headline attractions can attract significant queues, so prioritise the rides your family would be most disappointed to miss.

Day 11 – SeaWorld Orlando 🎢

Plan: Full SeaWorld day
Best for: Roller coasters, marine life and families wanting something different

Day 11 gives you a change from Disney and Universal with a visit to SeaWorld Orlando. For families with older children and thrill-seekers, this can be one of the surprise highlights of the holiday thanks to its increasingly strong line-up of roller coasters.

Arrive early and prioritise the major attractions your family wants to experience most, then mix the bigger rides with animal exhibits, presentations and quieter areas throughout the day.

SeaWorld can also feel easier to navigate than some of Orlando’s larger resorts because you’re concentrating on a single park rather than moving between multiple parks, hotels and transport systems.

Don’t feel you have to stay until closing if you’ve achieved everything on your list. Tomorrow involves travelling outside Orlando to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, so a reasonably early finish tonight isn’t a bad idea.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Check the day’s presentation and show times when you arrive. Planning a few rides around them is much easier than realising later that you’ve missed something your family wanted to see.

Day 12 – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 🎢

Plan: Full-day trip from Orlando
Best for: Roller coasters, animals and families with older children

Day 12 takes you outside Orlando for a trip to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It’s roughly 70–80 miles from the main Orlando tourist areas, so this is one day where it’s worth planning your transport in advance.

Busch Gardens is particularly good for families who enjoy thrill rides, with some of Florida’s biggest roller coasters alongside animal attractions and quieter areas. Arrive as early as reasonably possible so the journey doesn’t eat too far into your park day.

If you’re driving, allow extra time for traffic in both directions and don’t plan anything important for the evening. After a full park day followed by the journey back to Orlando, you’ll probably appreciate getting back to the hotel and doing very little.

Families who aren’t interested in big roller coasters could easily swap this day for another Disney or Universal park, a second water-park day, Kennedy Space Center or simply another rest day.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t underestimate the drive back after a long theme park day. If nobody in your family particularly wants to visit Busch Gardens, there’s no reason to include it simply because it’s on this itinerary

Planning to drive in Florida? Our Orlando Car Hire for UK Travellers (2027) and Florida Tolls for UK Drivers guides cover car hire, insurance, toll roads and what to expect when driving around Florida.

Day 13 – Favourite Park / Flex Day 🔄

Plan: Repeat a favourite park, catch up on anything you missed or simply relax
Best for: Flexibility and taking the pressure off the rest of your holiday

Day 13 is deliberately left flexible — and it’s actually one of the most useful days in this 14 Day Orlando Itinerary.

By now, your family will almost certainly have a favourite park or an attraction you’d love to experience again. This is your opportunity to return without having to sacrifice something else earlier in the holiday.

You could head back to Magic Kingdom, spend another day at Universal, revisit Epic Universe, or use the day to catch anything you missed because of bad weather, ride closures or simply running out of time.

Alternatively, if everyone is exhausted, forget the theme parks completely. Have a late breakfast, spend the day around the pool, visit the outlets or enjoy a relaxed afternoon at Disney Springs.

Having this day available also takes some of the pressure off the previous 12 days. If something doesn’t go according to plan earlier in the holiday, you know you’ve got some breathing room near the end.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Don’t decide what you’re doing on Day 13 before you travel. Keep it genuinely flexible and make the decision once you’re in Orlando based on what your family wants most.

Day 14 – Relax, Shop & Final Evening 🌴

Plan: Slow final day and enjoy your last evening
Best for: Shopping, relaxing and finishing the holiday without rushing

After nearly two weeks of theme parks and attractions, keep Day 14 deliberately relaxed.

Have a slower morning, enjoy the hotel pool, finish any last-minute shopping or head back to Disney Springs or Universal CityWalk for anything you missed earlier in the holiday.

It’s also worth leaving some time to pack properly rather than spending your final night trying to squeeze everything into suitcases after another exhausting park day.

For your final evening, choose something your family has particularly enjoyed during the holiday. That might be a favourite restaurant, a relaxed walk around Disney Springs or CityWalk, or simply dinner and a drink back at the hotel.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Leave some room in your suitcases when you fly out from the UK. Two weeks of Orlando shopping has a habit of filling it! 😄

How to Adapt This 14-Day Orlando Itinerary

No two Orlando holidays are exactly the same, so don’t be afraid to change this 14 Day Orlando Itinerary to suit your family.

Families travelling with younger children may want to add an extra rest or pool day and reduce the number of full theme park days. If you’re travelling with teenagers or serious thrill-seekers, you might prefer another day at Universal, Epic Universe or one of the coaster-heavy parks.

Busch Gardens is also completely optional. If the journey to Tampa doesn’t appeal, use Day 12 for another Disney or Universal park, Kennedy Space Center, a second water park or simply another day by the pool.

Your Day 13 flex day is particularly useful. Keep it unplanned until you’re actually in Orlando so you can revisit your favourite park, catch an attraction you missed or recover if bad weather changes your plans earlier in the holiday.

Most importantly, don’t judge the success of your holiday by how many attractions you’ve managed to squeeze in. A slightly slower itinerary where everyone is enjoying themselves will almost always beat 14 days of rushing from one reservation to the next.

⭐ Holiday Blueprint Tip: Before travelling, choose each family member’s three must-do attractions. Make those the priority and treat everything else as a bonus.

14-Day Orlando Itinerary FAQs

Is 14 Days Enough for Orlando?

Yes. Two weeks gives UK families enough time to experience the major Orlando theme parks while still including rest days. You won’t see absolutely everything — and you shouldn’t try to — but 14 days is an excellent length for a first Orlando holiday.

How Many Rest Days Should You Have in a Two-Week Orlando Holiday?

I’d aim for at least two lower-intensity days during a 14-day trip. In this itinerary, Day 6 is a proper rest day, Day 9 is a water park day and Day 13 can become another rest day if your family needs it.

How Many Days Do You Need at Walt Disney World?

For a first visit, four to five days works well for most families. That allows one day for each of Disney’s four main theme parks, with an optional extra day to revisit your favourite.

How Many Days Do You Need at Universal Orlando?

I’d allow at least three days if you want to experience Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe properly. Families particularly interested in Universal may want four or more.

Do You Need a Car for This 14 Day Orlando Itinerary?

Not necessarily, but a car gives you considerably more flexibility — particularly for the Busch Gardens day trip. Families staying mainly at Disney or Universal can use resort transport, rideshares and private transfers for much of their holiday.

See our Orlando Car Hire for UK Travellers (2027) guide if you’re deciding whether hiring a car makes sense for your trip.

Should We Visit Disney or Universal First?

There’s no single correct order. We’ve started with Disney because UK visitors often wake early during the first few days, making that early start useful at Magic Kingdom. The best order for your family may depend on park hours, ticket restrictions, weather and where you’re staying.

Final Thoughts – Planning the Perfect 14-Day Orlando Holiday

A two-week Orlando holiday gives UK families enough time to experience an incredible amount without needing to spend every waking hour in a theme park.

The key is balance. Mixing the major Disney and Universal parks with SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, a water park and — importantly — some downtime makes the whole holiday much more enjoyable.

Use this 14 Day Orlando Itinerary as a starting point rather than a rulebook. Swap days around, remove parks that don’t interest your family and add extra time at the places you love most.

Orlando holidays are expensive and often planned months in advance, but you don’t need every minute scheduled before you leave home. Some of the best days can be the ones where you change the plan completely.

Ready to plan the rest of your trip? Head to our Planning an Orlando Holiday from the UK – Complete 2027 Guide for everything from when to visit and where to stay to transport, theme parks and practical planning advice.

Plan better. Travel smarter. Enjoy Orlando. ✈️🌴