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All the parks are packed during school breaks (late Jun–late Aug; late Dec–early Jan; mid-Feb, and Easter), since that’s when locals hit the parks with their kids. Summer is the worst, since not only is it crowded, but it’s also brutally hot. The least crowded months are November plus early and late February.

Don’t spend every waking minute in Orlando’s theme parks, because burn-out is inevitable. Make sure you take time to see Central Florida’s natural attractions (see Day Trips West), Smaller Attractions, and Museums.

It might seem smart to hit the theme parks as soon as they open, but it is not always the best plan. Kids who arrive early tend to collapse by 2pm and are a mess the rest of the day. Instead, take it easy in the morning and head for the parks in the afternoons and evenings. Temperatures are cooler and the parks take on a magical glow under the lights.

Relax. It’s a vacation. There are no prizes for those who joylessly cram every single ride at their chosen theme park into one day. Make plans, but be flexible. Don’t attempt to do everything on your list, and maybe save a few things for the next visit.

In general, theme-park food is bland and overpriced, so don’t waste your main meal of the day on it. Instead, at Universal, check out the eateries on Citywalk (see NBA City); while at Disney, visit one of the excellent resort dining options, where you’ll find that high-end restaurants offer great value. Parks allow same-day re-entry on single tickets – just be sure to get your hand stamped before leaving.

There are a lot of offers floating around Orlando that sound too good to be true. If someone promises free or heavily discounted tickets, ask “What’s the catch?”, especially if they’re promising a Disney ticket. Most are timeshare salespeople trying to get you to “buy” a week’s holiday for the next 20 years. In some cases they have legitimate tickets, but most of the time you have to endure hours of sales pitches. Usually, such properties are overpriced.

Ladies should consider one-piece suits at water parks since most of the best rides can quickly rip off a bikini top. Alternatively, wear a T-shirt over the bikini for added protection. Guys, for reasons not necessary to elaborate upon here, should avoid Speedos altogether.

Lynx buses might appear to be everywhere, but don't set your schedule by them, especially for longer trips. They stop frequently, are notoriously slow, and are generally ignored by locals.

The area of Downtown south of Colonial Drive and west of I-4 is not a particularly safe place to wander around. Avoid it. But if you are going to a destination here, including the Greyhound Bus station, call a cab.

Sometimes called “Orlando’s Parking Lot”, I-4 can get very congested, particularly during evening rush hour (3–6:30pm), as attraction employees head home. Disney-generated traffic on I-4, between Lake Buena Vista and US Hwy 192, has a life of its own. Traffic jams there can occur around the clock.