By Sally Tippett Rains
Orlando, Florida is one of the most-visited cities in the world and it is also a very popular place for meetings and conventions and family vacations. It is the third-most visited city in the U.S. after New York City and Miami, with over 2.9 million visitors as of 2022.
Cardinals fans may want to check out Orlando when they are planning their trip to Spring Training. No matter what time of year you go to Orlando there is something for everyone.
For those who happen upon this article after January, there are still a lot of take-aways for planning your trip.
As Christmas approaches, along with selecting and wrapping presents, there will be a large number of people planning their Orlando vacation.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day are typically one of the busiest times of the year for Walt Disney World.
It was easy to see why the park is so popular during the holidays as they have it decked out with trees, wreaths and anything you can think of to bring a holiday glow to its visitors.
At any given time a marching band might assemble and begin playing or even start marching down the street. There is always something happening at Disney.
Besides the holidays, the other very busy time is March through April– the time people take Spring Break trips, or in the case of Cardinals fans– Spring Training.
According to FloridaToday.com:the times with the highest attendance rates are:
- Dec. 25-Jan. 1
- Presidents’ Day week (the third week in February)
- Spring Break period, from mid-March through to late April
- Memorial Day weekend
- Summer (mid-June through Labor Day)
- Thanksgiving week
One way to have a great trip to Disney is to plan ahead and the new Drury Plaza Hotel, located in Disney Springs Area should be your first start. Since Drury Hotels are a sponsor of STLSportsPage.com we thought we should check it out since Orlando is a popular stop-off for people coming or going to Spring Training. The Drury brand is a great hotel for all but the new one at Disney Springs (in the area referred to as Lake Buena Vista) feels like an upscale resort yet it has a family appeal. (And don’t forget, our readers get a special discount when they use the promo code SPORTS as they make their reservations. That promo code applies to all Dury Hotels including this one.)
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando on Disney Property
There are some great tips for planning your Orlando trip which will be discussed later in this article but after staying there we suggest you make your reservations as soon as you know you will be going. The hotel is actually on Disney property and it’s very exciting to see the Mouse as soon as you turn onto the street for the hotel.
An Official Walt Disney World® Hotel, the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – located in the Disney Springs® Area is just half a mile from Disney Springs® and offers free shuttle service to all four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.
It’s been in the works for a while and the photos make it look exciting, but nothing can prepare you for being on the newest Drury Hotel property in Orlando. It stil maintains the charm of a Drury Hotel, but adds so many extras.
The lobby is spacious, and the team members are friendly.
When checking in we were greeted by Karla whose Disney pins and big smile were topped off with her Mickey Mouse ears inspired hairstyle. She could not have been more fun to work with.
The entire hotel staff seemed to be ready to help in any way. There were plenty of people to steer you towards the pool, office area, in-hotel store, the arcade, work-out room and all the other areas of the hotel people were looking to find.
The hotel has a massive resort-style saltwater pool and an arcade – all with no resort fee.
The pool is right off the lobby, and as with most Drury Hotels, there is a hot tub. It is a huge pool in an inviting setting.
Imagine a hotel that not only delivers the magic of Disney, but enhances it… and without breaking the bank.
Keeping the Drury tradition– every morning, there is a free, hot breakfast prepared, setting you up for an unforgettable Disney day. They will even make your waffles in a Mickey Mouse mold.
Whatever food restrictions you may have, the Drury Plaza Hotel breakfast has you covered.
The large dining room is fun for people watching. On any given day you will see families dressed in Disney clothes and many, like the family shown in the photo wear matching outfits.
This family had matching Christmas pajamas and actually there were about 10 of them with these same pajamas. Elsewhere were groups of people in matching Disney clothes or just various types of Mickey Mouse or other Disney clothes.
If you plan your trip out you can get to the theme park of your choice and spend the day, but return to the hotel in time for the free 5:30 Kickback® with evening snacks and cold beverages, saving you from paying Disney prices. The Drury Plaza Hotel Disney Springs is a place where hot, Kickback dinnertime snacks (as they call the full dinner) and cold beverages await your return to comfortably refresh and ready you for what the next day may bring.
Along with the free food that you always get at a Drury Hotel, the Drury Springs location helps families who can’t get out to a restaurant for lunch by offering other eating places on the site.
When you want to sit back and relax, they offer a number of dining and beverage choices. Indoor, outdoor, by the pool, or in-room, you’ll find just the thing to feed your appetite.
The Kitchen + Bar
For a cozier dining experience, The Kitchen + Bar is conveniently located within the hotel lobby and open daily. Enjoy a casual indoor meal, or a quick bite, with handcrafted cocktails, carefully selected wines, spirits, and locally sourced craft beers. Or take things outside to our covered dining area and take in the sights and sounds of our resort style pool and breathtaking lakeside views. Hours: Monday – Saturday: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am, Sunday: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm View Menu & Order To go.
Lakeside Bar & Grill
When making a splash, be sure to stop by the poolside restaurant and full-service bar for an enchanting outdoor meal. Choose from a wide variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and wraps, or items from the kids’ menu. Or simply quench your thirst with a beverage from the full-service bar, featuring beer and wine, mixed drinks, frozen alcoholic, and non-alcoholic beverages. Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm daily View Menu & Order To-Go
Pizza Hut Express®
Every night is pizza night! Our on-site Pizza Hut Express offers made to order pizza and bread bites. Best of all, you can order ahead using the mobile app! From your room or to grab-and-go after you return from a day of fun at the Walt Disney World® Parks, your pizza will be ready for you to enjoy poolside, your room, or wherever. Hours: 11:00 am – 12:00 am View Menu & Order To-Go
The Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando -located in the Disney Springs® Area is truly a place to stay enchanted, entertained, and eventful. If requested, you might be able to get one of the rooms that faces Disney World so you can watch the fireworks from your room.
This stunning new hotel offers exciting amenities for both the young and young-at-heart. As always they have easily accessed free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. There are views of Lake Buena Vista and the nightly views of fireworks from Walt Disney World® Resort. We can’t say enough about this hotel and the personnel who work there.
As mentioned, this Drury Plaza Hotel is eligible for the STLSportsPage.com discount. As with any Drury Hotel, when you make your reservations use the promocode: SPORTS. For more information on the hotel: CLICK HERE.
Another great thing about the fact that the Drury Hotel located in the Disney Springs area is an official Disney property is the “Early Entry” privilege. Early theme park entry is a benefit for registered guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotel.
The excitement is just moments away, with complimentary shuttle service every hour to all four Walt Disney World® theme parks: Magic Kingdom® park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, EPCOT® and Disney’s Animal Kingdom®. You can either make a reservation for the bus or just show up in front of the hotel. Be sure to check with the driver as to the schedule for the ride home because they don’t pick up as regularly as they drop off. It’s a very convenient way to get to the ballpark but as with anything else, planning is the key.
Walt Disney World
Generally if you want to visit one of the Disney World Parks on the least busy day, choose Tuesday and Wednesday because people who plan to spend a week on a Disney vacation typically arrive on Saturday or Sunday, so the weekends and Mondays are normally the busiest.
There are Four Parks as part of Walt Disney World:
The Magic Kingdom is the first theme park most people think of when they think of Disney World. It is the one with Cinderella’s Castle and Main Street USA. It features classic attractions, enchanting fireworks, musical parades and Disney Characters.
When entering the Magic Kingdom, most people expect to take the monorail to get into the park. Be sure you check into the parking situation, it can be a long walk for someone who has trouble walking.
You will go from the bus that drops you off– or your parking spot if you drove– to the transportation that will get you to the park. The monorail is very popular but they also have a ferry boat which is relaxing. It seemed to be less crowded.
The monorail is closest to the parking lot trams and ticket booths, while the ferryboat lies farther away– but not that much further. You can see signs to both as you approach, so it’s an easy option and the choice is up to you.
When entering the Magic Kingdom one of the first things you will see is Main Street, U.S.A., where Walt Disney hoped to create a small town feeling. It was made to look like many small towns around the country and in specific his own hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
Walt Disney said, “For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather’s youth.”
Children of all ages love Magic Kingdom but it can become a headache for the parents if you don’t plan ahead. Become familiar with all aspects of the park and set boundaries as far as what you envision your trip to be. It’s best to get the whole family together and discuss everyone’s expectations. There are thrill rides, roller coasters and scary daredevil rides that some may choose not to do; and then there are also just traditional fun rides that can be enjoyed by all.
And it’s crowded. A day at any of the Disney World parks is not for the faint-hearted or those who lose their temper if they have to wait. Just know ahead of time there is a lot of waiting because a lot of other people got the same idea that you got.
Planning ahead can make your trip so much more enjoyable by all. First off, the decision must be made as to will you go to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom? There are “Park Hopper” passes that can be used to go from park to park. It’s possible to visit more than one park in one day.
Did you know you can get discounts of up to 30% on Disney World Tickets through AAA Tickets?
Here are a few theme parks that AAA Members can get discounts at: Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Sea World
Discovery Cove. For more on the AAA discounts: CLICK HERE.
There is a lot to know when making reservations for any of te Disney Parks so be sure to download the Disney World App when you get started. Through January 8, 2024, to enter a theme park, both a theme park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for Guests ages 3 and older. The 4-Park Magic Ticket does not require a theme park reservation to enter the parks.There are so many helpful things on the Walt Disney App including show times. There are also special passes and rates you can pay to get to the park early and avoid the peak lines.
Early Entry: During the early entry period, select attractions, merchandise and food and beverage locations will be operating. Many feel this is worth it as the ride waits are much shorter. Not all rides and attractions are open but many favorites are. It helps that the QuickStart breakfast at the Drury starts at 6 a.m. so there’s time to grab some breakfast and get to the park for the early entry period.
Sea World
Sea World has undergone many changes over the years and it has combined the sea animal shows with the progressive theme park look to make it a must-see when visiting Orlando.
SeaWorld Orlando is a renowned marine-themed amusement park where visitors can enjoy exhilarating rides, mesmerizing live shows, and interactive experiences with marine life.
From thrilling roller coasters to up-close encounters with dolphins, penguins and more, it offers a captivating blend of entertainment, education, and conservation
In the past they got a bad rap about their animal shows so they have worked very hard to change them, while letting the fans still see the animals.
The thrill rides and roller coasters seem to be one of the biggest changes if you have not been to Sea World in years. They have rides to rival any theme park, if rides are your thing.
If you make the effort to go to Sea World, be sure you look at the show schedules so you can see them. They are what make Sea World unique to other theme parks. They have porpoise show, walrus, seals and orca.
The anchor of Sea World has always been the Orcas. In the past they have done tricks with them but nowadays they make a point to let park-goers know that they are just watching the trainers take care of the animals. There are “tricks” they teach the orcas in order to get them to allow for daily examinations and any medical treatments, so they show that.
SeaWorld invites us to connect in an inspiring way with the ocean’s most powerful predator, the killer whale. The trainers show the importance of play for orcas and dive deeper into their masterful hunting techniques. They talk about SeaWorld’s commitment to the killer whales. They hope the Orca Encounter will leave you with a deeper understanding of these magnificent animals and “inspire you to care even more profoundly for the wonders of our natural world.”
The holidays are a fun time to visit Sea World as the park is full of decorations from Thanksgiving through New Years.
There was a huge Christmas tree which was a big highlight for picture-taking as it was next to a lighthouse with the words “Sea World” on it.
Depending on what time of year it is, Sea World has special shows– other than the sea animals. Of course there is a holiday show in December.
Sea World also has an app to download on your phone and the tickets are mobile. To find out about tickets CLICK HERE.
Sea World offers discounts at various times and during the holidays are offering “Flash Sales.” AAA Travel can also help with discounts to Sea World.
There are so many other theme parks in the Orlando Area– all in the vicinity of the Drury Hotel so if for no other reason it’s a great location and easy to get everywhere.
