I still remember the feeling when I booked my very first Florida trip back in 1991. I was 11 years old and my mum had just put the phone down after speaking to a travel agent — yes, an actual travel agent — and told me we were going to Florida. I didn't sleep for about three weeks. Thirty-five years later, the moment that confirmation email lands in my inbox still gives me almost exactly the same feeling. The flight is booked. The villa is booked. We're going back.
October half term 2026. Manchester to Orlando. Fourteen nights at Lake Berkley Resort. I've been grinning about it ever since.
This article is my way of sharing exactly what we're planning and why — the decisions we made, the parks we're targeting, the things I'm genuinely buzzing about seeing for the first time, and the honest cost of pulling a trip like this together in 2026. If you're planning Florida for October half term yourself, I hope this helps. And if you're just here to enjoy the vicarious excitement of someone who clearly loves Florida far too much — welcome. You're in the right place.
Why Lake Berkley Resort — And Why a Villa Always Wins for Us
I've stayed in hotels, I've stayed on International Drive, and I've stayed in villa resorts scattered across Kissimmee and Davenport. For a two-week trip with a family of five, there is genuinely no competition. A villa wins every single time.
Lake Berkley Resort specifically caught my eye because of the lake. Most villa resorts in the Orlando area are built on former citrus groves — they're perfectly pleasant but they can feel a bit flat. Lake Berkley is different. The resort wraps around a proper Florida lake, and a good number of the villas have direct lake views. There's something about sitting on your pool deck in the morning with a coffee watching the herons pick their way along the shoreline that makes Florida feel like Florida rather than just a theme park conveyor belt.
I've written honestly about our experience at Southern Dunes — a resort I genuinely like — but Lake Berkley offers something Southern Dunes doesn't, and that's the lakeside setting. The private pool is a given at this point. After a twelve-hour day at a theme park, getting back to your own pool rather than queuing for a shared hotel pool is one of those things that sounds like a luxury but quickly feels like a necessity.
For our family specifically — three kids who are now 15, 18 and 20 and absolutely do not want to share a hotel room with their parents — the space a villa provides is non-negotiable. We all love each other dearly. We just also need separate living space by day ten.
What Lake Berkley Resort Offers Families
- Private screened pools on most villas — essential in Florida's October heat
- Lake views and lakeside walking areas — genuinely peaceful after theme park days
- Fully equipped kitchens — saves a fortune on meals versus eating out every night
- Games rooms in many villas — brilliant for evenings when the kids don't want to go out
- Community clubhouse and pool for when you want a change of scene
- Location — close to US-192 and well-positioned for both Disney and Universal
- Quieter, more residential feel than some of the massive resort complexes
Flying from Manchester — Why It Works for Us
I know a lot of Florida travel content defaults to Heathrow, and if you're in London that makes obvious sense. But for anyone in the North of England or the Midlands, Manchester Airport is a serious contender — and for our family driving up from Gloucester, it's a straightforward run up the M5 and M6.
Manchester has direct flights to Orlando with both Virgin Atlantic and TUI, and we're flying Virgin for this trip. The direct flight takes around nine to nine and a half hours — no stopover, no dragging teenagers through a connection airport at 3am, no stress. We're departing on 24 October, which is the Saturday of UK October half term, so I'd recommend booking early if you're doing the same. Prices rise sharply as that week approaches.
If you're weighing up which UK airport to fly from, my full breakdown in my guide to Florida flights from the UK in 2026 covers the options in detail — but for anyone north of Birmingham, Manchester is genuinely worth considering.
The Park Plan for 14 Nights
Fourteen nights sounds like a lot until you start filling in the calendar. We're planning seven park days, with the other seven split between beach time, villa days, shopping, and the inevitable recovery day after Epic Universe.
Here's the rough plan as it stands:
- Magic Kingdom — 1 day. Non-negotiable. Always on the list.
- Hollywood Studios — 1 day. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land. My youngest still rates it as his favourite Disney park.
- Universal Studios Florida — 1 day. The new stuff in 2026 looks brilliant — my guide to Universal Studios Florida in 2026 covers everything that's new this year.
- Islands of Adventure — 1 day. Velocicoaster. That's the whole reason. My eldest is absolutely obsessed.
- Epic Universe — 2 days. Brand new park, opened May 2025. This is the big one. Two days feels right for a first visit.
- Halloween Horror Nights — under debate. More on this below.
October half term lines up perfectly with Halloween season at Universal, which is both exciting and slightly anxiety-inducing as a parent. Halloween Horror Nights 2026 runs through the end of October and I've been through the details in my honest guide — the short version is that my 18 and 20-year-old are very keen, my 15-year-old claims to be fine with it, and my wife is currently undecided. Watch this space.
What's New Since My Last Visit — And Why I'm Most Excited About Epic Universe
I've been visiting Florida for 35 years. I've seen the parks transform completely — multiple times. But I have never experienced the opening of an entirely new theme park gate, and Epic Universe genuinely is that. This isn't a land expansion or a new ride. This is a whole new park on a scale that hasn't happened since Islands of Adventure opened in 1999.
Five worlds: Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Celestial Park, and Universal Monsters. My older two have been tracking every announcement like it's the World Cup draw. I've been trying to stay vague enough to preserve a few surprises, which is harder than it sounds when your kids are sending you news articles at midnight.
If you want to weigh up how Epic Universe compares to Disney before you decide how to split your park days, I've done a full head-to-head in my Epic Universe vs Disney World comparison for 2026.
The Planning Checklist — What's Done and What's Still To Do
Here's where we are right now:
- ✅ Flights booked — Manchester to Orlando, 24 October, Virgin Atlantic direct
- ✅ Villa booked — Lake Berkley Resort, 14 nights, private pool, lake view
- ⏳ Theme park tickets — buying through FloridaTix — waiting until closer to travel to confirm exact park days
- ⏳ Hire car — comparing options on Rentalcars.com — I'll book roughly 6 months out when prices are still reasonable
- ⏳ Travel insurance — sorting through Holiday Extras — this goes on the list the moment flights are confirmed
- ⏳ ESTA — easy to forget but critical — applying 6–8 weeks before departure for all five of us
- ⏳ Airport parking at Manchester — booking through Holiday Extras well in advance to get the best rate
- ⏳ Dining reservations — ADRs for any Disney table service restaurants open 60 days before arrival
If you're at the earlier stages of organising your trip, my full Florida holiday planning guide for UK families walks through the whole process from first search to boarding the plane.
Honest Budget: What 14 Nights in Florida Costs in 2026
I'm not going to pretend this is a cheap holiday. It isn't. But knowing the numbers upfront makes it manageable — and October half term, while expensive, is actually better value than peak summer.
Here's my honest ballpark for a family of five, 14 nights, October half term 2026:
- Return flights from Manchester — approximately £4,500–£5,500 for five people
- Villa rental (14 nights, Lake Berkley) — approximately £2,000–£3,000 depending on villa size and booking platform
- Hire car (14 days, 7-seater or large SUV) — approximately £600–£900 pre-paid
- Theme park tickets (7 park days, family of 5) — approximately £2,500–£3,500 depending on parks and ticket types
- Food, groceries and eating out — approximately £1,500–£2,000 for two weeks
- Spending money, shopping, extras — approximately £800–£1,500
- Travel insurance — approximately £250–£400 for a family of five, Florida cover
Total estimated cost: roughly £12,000–£16,300 for a family of five, 14 nights, October half term 2026. That's a significant number. I cover the breakdown in much more detail — including where to save and where not to cut corners — in my full guide to how much a Florida holiday costs from the UK in 2026. And if you're specifically trying to stretch the budget, my October half term 2026 guide has specific advice on keeping costs down during that particular week.
My Honest Pre-Trip Verdict
I'm 46 years old. I've been going to Florida since I was 11. I have visited more times than I can accurately count and I have never — not once — come home disappointed. Florida has this completely irrational hold on me that I can't fully explain and have long since stopped trying to.
But this trip feels genuinely different. Epic Universe is real. It's open. And in October 2026 I'm going to walk through its gates for the first time with my three kids and my wife, and I know — I absolutely know — that it's going to be one of those travel memories that sticks with us for the rest of our lives.
The countdown is ticking. I'm not ashamed to say I've already checked it three times today.
If you're also heading to Florida for October half term 2026, I'd genuinely love to hear about it. Drop a comment below, get in touch through the contact page, or come and find me on social. Share your plans, ask questions, tell me which parks you're hitting — this community is one of my favourite things about running this blog, and October half term conversations are always brilliant.
Florida, October 2026. I cannot wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is October half term a good time to visit Florida?
Yes — it's one of my favourite times to go. The summer heat has eased slightly, Halloween events are in full swing at the parks, and while it's still busy (especially with UK families), it's nowhere near the chaos of peak July and August. Flights and villas book up quickly for half term week, so booking early is essential.
How far in advance should I book for October half term 2026?
As soon as possible, honestly. Flights go on sale 11–12 months in advance and the best prices disappear fast for half term dates. I'd have flights and villa sorted at least 9–12 months out. Theme park tickets and hire car can wait a little longer — 6 months out is fine for both.
Is Lake Berkley Resort a good choice for UK families?
From everything I've researched and what drew me to book it, absolutely. The lakeside setting sets it apart from a lot of the villa resorts in the Kissimmee/Davenport area, and the private pool with lake views is exactly what we want for a two-week trip. I'll be sharing a full honest review after the trip itself.
Is Epic Universe worth visiting in its first year?
In my opinion, yes — if you can handle the fact that first-year queues may be longer than they'll be in three years' time. The scale of what Universal has built is genuinely extraordinary, and I'd rather experience it fresh than wait until the novelty has worn off. Two days is my plan for a first visit — one day feels too rushed for five worlds.
