About Florida Family Holiday
I was 11 years old the first time I set foot in Florida. It was 1991, and my mum and dad had saved up for what felt like forever to take us on the holiday of a lifetime. We stayed in a slightly dodgy motel on Highway 192 in Kissimmee — nothing fancy, nothing glamorous — and I thought it was the greatest place on earth.
The heat hit me the moment we stepped off the plane at Orlando International. Coming from Cheshire in the middle of summer, where a good day meant it didn't actually rain, it felt extraordinary. The palm trees. The theme parks. The food portions. The fact that you could swim outdoors and the water was warm. I was completely, utterly blown away.
Thirty-five years later, I still get that same feeling every single time I land at MCO.
A Florida Obsession That Never Went Away
My name is Lewis. I'm 46, originally from Cheshire, now living in Gloucester with my wife and our three children aged 15, 18 and 20. I've been visiting Florida regularly since that first trip in 1991, and since 2009 I've been taking my own family over as often as we can manage.
Over the years I've done Florida on a shoestring and on a more comfortable budget. I've done it with toddlers who fell asleep on rides and with teenagers who had strong opinions about everything. I've done it in scorching August heat and in the quieter magic of September. I've queued for Space Mountain at 7am and watched fireworks over Cinderella's Castle at midnight. I've driven every inch of the 192, eaten at more diners than I can count, and discovered beaches that most tourists drive straight past.
Florida isn't just a holiday destination to me. It's the place that made me fall in love with travel in the first place.
Why I Started This Blog
If you've ever tried to research a Florida holiday as a UK family, you'll know the problem. Most of the content online is written by Americans, for Americans. It assumes you already know what Interstate 4 looks like, that you have a credit card that works everywhere, that you understand the difference between value, moderate and deluxe Disney resorts in a US context. It doesn't tell you about the ESTA, or what a Wise card is, or whether Bristol Airport does direct flights, or how to survive a theme park in 35-degree heat with children who haven't quite adjusted to the time difference.
That's the gap I'm trying to fill.
Florida Family Holiday is written specifically for UK families planning a Florida holiday — from first-timers who don't know where to start, to regulars who want to make sure they're getting the best out of every trip. Everything here is based on real experience, real budgets, and the kind of honest advice I wish someone had given me before my first family trip in 2009.
No fluff. No press trips. No pretending everything is brilliant when it isn't. Just straightforward advice from a UK dad who genuinely loves Florida and wants your family to have the best possible time there.
What You'll Find Here
This blog covers everything a UK family needs to plan and enjoy a Florida holiday — from the big decisions like choosing between Disney and Universal, to the practical stuff like car hire, currency, ESTA applications, and travel insurance. I write about theme parks, beaches, budget planning, where to stay, when to go, and all the things that American travel blogs simply don't cover for British visitors.
Every article is written with UK families in mind. Prices are given in both pounds and dollars. Advice is tailored to families flying from the UK, navigating school holiday windows, and trying to get the best value from a significant investment.
A Note on How This Blog Works
Some links on this site are affiliate links — mainly to booking platforms, ticket sites and travel services I genuinely use and recommend. If you book through one of those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the blog running and means I can keep writing. I only ever recommend things I'd actually use myself.
I don't accept press trips or paid reviews. Everything you read here is my honest opinion, which is worth more to you than any sponsored post could ever be.
Get in Touch
If you've got a question about planning your Florida holiday, feel free to reach out. I can't promise I'll answer every message, but I do read them all — and if you ask something I haven't written about yet, there's a good chance it'll turn into a future article.
You can also follow along on X / Twitter at @FloridaForUK where I share tips, updates and the occasional Florida photo that makes everyone in the office jealous.
Thanks for reading. I hope this blog helps your family have the Florida holiday of a lifetime — because trust me, it really is worth every penny.
Lewis
Florida Family Holiday
Gloucester, UK