The Family Travel Club | Our Family's Florida Story
Florida, Together
We are Robert and Sally, and this is the story of the summer we explored Florida with our three children: Jayden, 15, Sophie, 9, and Ethan, 6. From 28 June to 4 September 2023, we spent more than nine weeks discovering Disney, Universal, family hotels, water parks and the beautiful Gulf Coast.
These are our actual family stays, honest experiences and memorable moments from 2023, with separately updated travel-planning links and offers for visitors today.
11Our Florida stays
13Attraction & area stories
2023Our family journey
OUR FAMILY'S UNFORGETTABLE 4 JULY 2023
We became Grand Marshals at Magic Kingdom.
What began with a military fly-over, Mickey Mouse and a little Irish dancing became a moment none of us could have planned. After Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, a Cast Member surprised us by inviting our family to lead the Festival of Fantasy parade. We travelled through Magic Kingdom in the parade car as Grand Marshals, with our names announced and the crowds cheering. We even came away with special Disney ears and a certificate. It is one of the reasons this trip will always mean so much to us.
Where We Stayed — Our Family's Honest Hotel Reviews
We stayed in 11 different Florida properties, from Disney hotels and spacious Orlando suites to the beaches of Anna Maria Island. Below are our actual experiences, the room types we booked, what we loved and what other families should know.
EPCOT Resort Area | 28–30 June 2023
Walt Disney World Dolphin
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our stay • 28–30 June 2023
Our Florida adventure began on 28 June 2023, when Sally, I and the children flew from Dublin via Manchester to Orlando. Jayden was 15, Sophie was 9 and Ethan was just 6. After the long journey, our first hotel was the Walt Disney World Dolphin — two nights right in the Disney resort area before the rest of our summer unfolded.
We booked a resort-view guest room with two double beds for all five of us. That is an important detail because not every hotel room comfortably or officially sleeps a family of five. For us, those first two nights were the starting point of more than two months of Florida hotels, theme parks and adventures.
By 30 June we were checking out and moving to the neighbouring Swan Reserve. Looking back, staying in two different resorts within the same Disney area gave us an unusually good opportunity to compare locations and accommodation styles during one trip.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our hosted family stay • 30 June–2 July 2023
Of all the places we experienced on this trip, Swan Reserve left one of the biggest impressions on us. We were hosted for two nights in a queen suite, and when I wrote to the team afterwards, I said the hotel had absolutely blown us away. At the time I even called it the best Walt Disney World resort we had ever stayed at.
What stayed with us was the feeling of the property: bright, beautifully decorated and full of energy. Our suite had breathtaking views towards EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom fireworks. We were genuinely impressed with the swimming pools, health club and choice of restaurants — and we told the team that we would return in a heartbeat.
Travelling with Jayden, Sophie and Ethan at three different ages made the balance between busy park days and comfortable family accommodation important. Swan Reserve was one of those resorts we were sad to leave, and it remains a personal highlight of our Florida story.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family holiday • 2–9 July 2023
We spent the next seven nights staying inside Walt Disney World at Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. It was our third Walt Disney World visit as a family, and by that point we already considered Disney our favourite family-holiday destination. For this stay we specifically booked a Woods View room with a fifth sleeper, so the five of us could stay together.
With Jayden at 15, Sophie at 9 and Ethan at 6, room capacity mattered just as much as the Disney theming. The fifth sleeper was a practical reason this particular room category suited our family. We also met a Disney Vacation Club representative at Riverside on 3 July before heading to EPCOT, one of several Disney days that filled our week.
One of the most extraordinary moments of our lives happened during this stay: on 4 July we were unexpectedly chosen to lead the Magic Kingdom's Festival of Fantasy parade as Grand Marshals. We tell that story in more detail in our Walt Disney World feature below.
Offer checked 14 October 2026: Disney is advertising up to 20% off select Resort rooms for select nights 4 October–24 December 2026; eligibility and room inventory vary.
Winter Garden / Disney gateway | July and August 2023 — repeat visits
Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando at Flamingo Crossings
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our repeat family stays • July and August 2023
Home2 Suites at Flamingo Crossings became one of our genuine family favourites — so much so that we returned several times during the summer. We were travelling around Florida and staying in different properties, but this was somewhere we were very happy to come back to.
I wrote directly to the hotel's general manager about how impressed we were with the location, amenities, breakfast and staff. We also had a brilliant bonus from our room: a view of the Disney fireworks. The July reservation included a queen studio with two queen beds and breakfast for two adults and three children, making it a practical family base.
For us, the appeal was not just being near Disney. Spending over two months in Florida meant that everyday details such as breakfast, room layouts and helpful staff mattered more and more as the weeks went on.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family media stay • July 2023
Our stay at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Orlando at SeaWorld gave us one of the loveliest surprises of the trip: an incredible fireworks view from our suite. We filmed the view, sent the video to the hotel team and described it at the time as a hidden gem of Orlando.
We were genuinely enjoying the suite, and we arranged to create more content showing the breakfast, swimming pool, gym and location near SeaWorld. This was particularly useful during a stretch of our holiday when we were exploring the SeaWorld-area attractions as a family of five.
Hotels around Orlando can sometimes feel like places to sleep between park visits, but the room view gave us a memorable experience of its own. It is exactly the sort of detail we like sharing with other families planning where to stay.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our themed family stay • 20–21 July 2023
We spent a night at LEGOLAND Beach Retreat in Winter Haven as part of our LEGOLAND Florida adventure. Our booking confirms a beach-themed room for the five of us, and the resort team arranged breakfast and two-day access to the LEGOLAND Florida, LEGOLAND Water Park and Peppa Pig Theme Park attractions.
The children were 15, 9 and 6, so this was a great example of why we were interested in experiencing a destination with activities designed for different ages. We wrote to the LEGOLAND team afterwards to say that we had absolutely loved our visit.
An important detail for anyone reading our review: our actual accommodation was LEGOLAND Beach Retreat. You may also see Pirate Island Hotel in other Florida travel content, but that was not the resort named in our stay confirmation.
Offer checked 14 October 2026: Current official packages include book two nights/get a third free on selected dates and hotel/ticket bundles. Check eligible dates and minimum stay.
Bradenton Beach / Anna Maria Island | 27 July–1 August 2023
Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our Gulf Coast family stay • 27 July–1 August 2023
After so many busy Orlando days, our Florida story took us west to Anna Maria Island and Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort. I still have the email I sent the team during our stay telling them how much we loved the resort and how incredibly beautiful its private beach was.
We wanted our coverage to show families more than just another theme park: the bright accommodation, swimming pool, beach and the free trolley stop outside were all part of the appeal. We spent time exploring Anna Maria Island and enjoyed the change of scenery that the Gulf Coast brought to our holiday.
The resort also put us in touch with several local companies offering water sports, dolphin-spotting trips and beach treatments. Those introductions were helpful to our planning, although we would rather distinguish an activity we were invited to try from one we can positively confirm we completed.
Offer checked 14 October 2026: The official advance-payment promotion advertises 18% off stays of five or more nights, booked 14+ days ahead, for eligible dates through 11 February 2027 excluding holidays.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our hosted and media-rate stay • August 2023
We arrived at The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando on 4 August for a six-night stay, with a three-bedroom suite arranged as part of a collaboration. Having that amount of accommodation space for Robert, Sally, Jayden, Sophie and Ethan was particularly relevant to the way we travelled as a family of five.
The resort organised three hosted nights and three additional nights at a media rate. A cabana was also arranged for part of the visit. Towards the end of the stay we emailed the team to say we were loving The Grove: the resort was beautiful, and the staff had been very helpful throughout.
The Grove's appeal for families is how much can be done within the resort itself, especially with Surfari Water Park on-site. During a long Orlando holiday that is worth considering alongside the convenience of travelling out to the big theme parks every day.
Offer checked 14 October 2026: The Grove is advertising up to 35% off stays of three or more nights, with Surfari Water Park access; rates start from $169 USD, subject to dates and conditions.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our booked family stay • 10–13 August 2023
After our stay at The Grove, we moved to Buena Vista Suites Orlando in August 2023. We booked a one-bedroom queen suite for all five of us: two queen beds in the bedroom plus a sofa bed in a separate living area. The hotel later confirmed that we checked out on 13 August.
With a 15-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old, our family needed accommodation that could properly sleep five without relying on assumptions about room capacity. The separate sitting area, microwave and mini-fridge were all features listed on our booking, and breakfast was included in our 2023 rate.
This was a booking we made ourselves, rather than a stay we can describe as a confirmed hosted partnership. We don't have a detailed personal review of the service or pool to draw upon, so our recommendation focuses on the practical room layout and the exact booking terms.
Current offer checked 14 October 2026: Official autumn promotion offers 10% off stays of at least three nights booked by 30 November 2026; the hotel's offers section also lists 17% off stays of five or more nights. Occupancy and other conditions apply: compare the full rate for a family of five.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our historic family accommodation • August 2023
During August 2023 we also spent time staying at Sonder Cirrus around Celebration and Kissimmee. Our emails include several consecutive reservations and check-in messages, including a one-bedroom booking and rooms with two queen beds.
This was part of the practical side of travelling around Florida for more than two months: we moved between hotels and made further bookings as our itinerary developed. Rather than invent stories about the rooms or staff, we want to be clear that the records establish where we stayed but do not preserve the same detailed personal review that we have for Swan Reserve or Home2 Suites.
This is a historical chapter of our 2023 family holiday. The old Sonder operating business changed after our trip, so we are deliberately not presenting an old reservation link as a valid current hotel booking.
Offer checked 14 October 2026: Historical property only — current operator and bookability are unverified. No booking offer should be shown.
Celebration | 27 August–4 September 2023
Meliá Orlando Celebration
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our final-week family stay • 27 August–4 September 2023
For the final part of our Florida adventure we stayed in a two-bedroom suite at Meliá Orlando Celebration. By then we had been in Florida for weeks, and our holiday was still busy with visits to Universal Orlando before our flight back to Ireland.
We were very happy with the property and genuinely enjoying our stay. There was a room issue at check-in, which the team — particularly Brandy — helped put right. I mentioned that in a message to the hotel, because a balanced review should recognise when something needs fixing as well as when staff handle it well.
Travelling with a teenager and two younger children, we always looked carefully at how a room or suite would work for all five of us. A two-bedroom layout is a very different proposition from squeezing everyone into a standard hotel room.
Some of our favourite family memories happened inside the parks — including a completely unexpected Disney parade appearance. These are our own visits and honest impressions, along with clearly labelled tickets and experiences we arranged but cannot yet confirm we completed.
Walt Disney World
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family's third Walt Disney World trip • summer 2023
Walt Disney World has always held a special place in our family, and our 2023 Florida summer was our third visit. With Jayden 15, Sophie 9 and Ethan 6, we had the chance to experience Disney with three very different ages. Our stay at Port Orleans – Riverside gave us a Disney resort base for an extraordinary week.
Our most unforgettable moment happened on 4 July at Magic Kingdom. We watched an American military fly-over above Cinderella Castle, met Mickey Mouse and even persuaded him to try a little Irish dancing. After riding Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, a Disney Cast Member surprised us by inviting our family to be Grand Marshals of the Festival of Fantasy parade. Suddenly we were backstage, travelling through Magic Kingdom in the parade car with our names announced, representing Ireland and waving to the crowds. We received a Grand Marshal certificate and special Disney 100 ears, then finished the day watching the Fourth of July fireworks. We will never forget it.
We also explored EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Hollywood Studios was a wonderful crossover between generations: I grew up loving Toy Story, and by this trip Ethan absolutely loved it too. We recommended the two major Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge rides in our original posts, and our family created content from Pandora at Animal Kingdom. It is those real family moments — not simply a list of rides — that make Disney such a big part of our story.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family visits • August and September 2023
Universal Orlando was a major part of the last weeks of our Florida trip. We bought multi-park tickets and spent time there while staying in the Orlando and Celebration area. We were still visiting Universal towards the end of August, just before flying home.
One reason we love covering the parks as a family is that we see them through different eyes: Jayden was a teenager who loved more intense Halloween experiences, while Sophie and Ethan were still 9 and 6. The same day or evening can feel completely different depending on which child you are planning for.
We also finally fulfilled a longstanding wish to attend Halloween Horror Nights on opening night, 1 September 2023. That experience deserved its own honest chapter because it showed us why an attraction that works brilliantly for a 15-year-old can be completely unsuitable for younger children. Epic Universe was not open during our 2023 trip, so it is a newer option for readers rather than something we can claim to have visited then.
PHOTO 5/5 · RIGHTS CHECKEpic Universe (new for readers)
Current ticket/booking information: Official three-parks-in-three-days offer from $99 per day plus tax (minimum $297 total); days and restrictions apply.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · We attended opening night • 1 September 2023
Universal's Halloween Horror Nights had been on our bucket list for years. We had watched videos by theme-park creators and finally booked tickets for opening night on 1 September 2023. But we had a big question: would it actually work for a family with children aged 15, 9 and 6?
We took all three children after seeking reassurance from the park team. The immersive sets and themed scare zones were incredible, but this is where we learnt that the same experience can be completely different for each child. Jayden, at 15, absolutely loved the haunted houses. For Sophie, 9, and Ethan, 6, the houses were far too scary and gruesome. We could still share some of the atmosphere in the scare zones, where the children even had playful interactions with scare actors, but the houses themselves were not right for the youngest two.
We still described it afterwards as a very fun night together as a family, with remarkable theming and plenty of jump scares. Our experience is also why we want to be careful about recommending it to families: something we were happy to try together is not automatically suitable for children of every age.
2026 information, separate from our 2023 visit: Halloween Horror Nights is separately ticketed. Universal advertises select nights from 28 August to 1 November 2026 and officially warns that the event is not recommended for children under 13. Check exact date pricing and conditions.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our visited family attraction • summer 2023
SeaWorld Orlando was one of the parks we experienced with the children during our summer in Florida, and we absolutely loved it. We worked with the team on family admission and were provided with tickets that included All-Day Dining and Quick Queue for our visit.
When I wrote to the team afterwards I specifically said we had loved both SeaWorld and Aquatica, and we had plenty of content from the visits. With three children of different ages, this was the sort of day where planning the attractions, food and breaks around everyone mattered.
SeaWorld is a different kind of day from Magic Kingdom or LEGOLAND. We would encourage families to look at the full range of experiences and decide together what each person wants to prioritise, rather than assuming every child is interested in the same rides or shows.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our visited family water park • summer 2023
Aquatica was another Florida experience we really enjoyed. In our email to the SeaWorld team I said we absolutely loved SeaWorld and Aquatica, and we were working on family content from both parks. Aquatica added a water-park day to a trip otherwise filled with Orlando theme parks.
Being away with a 15-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old meant we looked at attractions differently. At a water park especially, we would always plan around swimming confidence, appropriate slide heights, the younger children's energy levels and time to cool off.
Our family's admission was arranged through a collaboration with the wider SeaWorld group. It's useful to know what is actually included, because the regular public tickets may not match a media or bundled package from a previous season.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Family tickets arranged • 2023 visit not conclusively documented
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was part of the Florida theme-park programme we planned during our 2023 adventure. We had admission organised for five of us, including All-Day Dining, Quick Queue and parking, and spent time coordinating possible visit dates with the attractions team.
As a family we were interested in having days that offered something for Jayden, then 15, without forgetting that Sophie was 9 and Ethan was only 6. Busch Gardens has a different mix of thrill rides and animal experiences from the Orlando parks, so it belonged on our planning list.
We don't have the same conclusive, first-hand post-visit record for Busch Gardens as we do for SeaWorld or LEGOLAND. Rather than invent favourite rides or claim a confirmed visit, we are including it as a park we had planned to experience and a practical option for other families.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family reservation was rescheduled • 2023 visit not confirmed
Discovery Cove was another part of our 2023 Florida plans, with admission arranged through the SeaWorld group. Our family itinerary changed and the team helped us rearrange the reservation — a reminder that even a carefully planned long holiday sometimes needs flexibility.
Unlike our confirmed SeaWorld and Aquatica visits, we haven't found a reliable post-visit account in the surviving emails for Discovery Cove. We don't want to invent a dolphin-swim memory or claim we tried a particular experience without knowing that we did.
For families planning their own trip, it is still worth comparing the available Discovery Cove packages, because activities and inclusions vary widely. What matters is understanding exactly what you are buying before arriving.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family visit • 20–21 July 2023
We travelled to Winter Haven for LEGOLAND Florida during July 2023 and had an absolutely fantastic time. I emailed the team afterwards to say that we loved our visit. We combined it with an overnight stay at LEGOLAND Beach Retreat and two-day, three-park admission arranged for our family of five.
This was a holiday with a 15-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old, so we were very aware that a theme park needs to offer enough variety to justify travelling away from Orlando. LEGOLAND was one of the reasons we wanted to showcase a wider range of Florida attractions rather than focusing on Disney and Universal alone.
Having accommodation in Winter Haven allowed us to look at LEGOLAND as more than a hurried day trip. The resort experience, family accommodation and nearby water park and Peppa Pig options are all worth considering when deciding whether to make it an overnight adventure.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Included in our 2023 LEGOLAND family ticket package
Our two-day tickets for the July 2023 LEGOLAND trip included access to LEGOLAND Water Park as well as the main LEGOLAND park and Peppa Pig Theme Park. We were travelling in the height of the Florida summer, so having water-park options in the same overall trip was an important part of the plan.
With Sophie 9 and Ethan 6, we particularly wanted to think about how much time a younger child can spend moving between rides and water attractions. Jayden was 15, which made it equally important to compare age-appropriate attractions rather than thinking of the entire resort as suitable for just one age bracket.
Our records confirm the three-park access and our overall enjoyment of LEGOLAND, but they do not identify the individual water slides we used. We prefer sharing practical planning information rather than claiming specific slide experiences we cannot verify.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Part of our 2023 three-park ticket arrangement
When we organised our family's LEGOLAND Florida visit, the package also included entry to Peppa Pig Theme Park. As parents of Jayden 15, Sophie 9 and Ethan 6, we were interested in the contrast between the main theme park and an experience designed with younger children in mind.
The Peppa Pig option showed how the Winter Haven resort can serve families with children at very different stages. For visitors with little ones, the rides and play areas can be a reason to allow more time around LEGOLAND instead of treating everything as a single park day.
We can confirm that Peppa Pig was included in our admission arrangement. We cannot, from the records we have recovered, honestly describe a particular ride as one Ethan or Sophie rode, so we've kept that distinction clear in this feature.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our arranged family visit • 7 July 2023
Kennedy Space Center added something completely different to our Florida summer. While much of the trip was centred on theme parks and resorts, we had a family media visit planned for 7 July and received a suggested itinerary, parking arrangements and tickets to collect at the Visitor Complex.
One question we specifically asked before travelling was whether there was transport from the Disney area. We wanted the day to be manageable as a family of five and were told to research coach and tour operators rather than rely on a straightforward Disney-area shuttle.
We also received a photo album from the Kennedy Space Center visit. It is a lovely reminder of why we wanted this guide to include more than roller coasters: Florida has some fascinating places for families to discover beyond the major theme parks.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our family evening out • 19 July 2023
We went to Pirates Dinner Adventure in Orlando on the evening of 19 July 2023, with tickets arranged for all five of us. It gave us a different type of family night after so many park-focused days: dinner and a live pirate-themed show rather than another full day of rides.
I wrote to the organisers afterwards to tell them that we loved it. The evening was booked for 7:30pm, and the team had explained that we should arrive early for the pre-show and check-in. It is one of the experiences we were genuinely glad to have fitted into our Orlando itinerary.
Travelling with Jayden, Sophie and Ethan, we liked being able to mix a major theme-park itinerary with experiences that made an evening out feel special in its own right.
OUR 2023 FAMILY EXPERIENCE · Our Gulf Coast chapter • late July and early August 2023
One of the best decisions during our long Florida summer was to spend time around Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach rather than stay in Orlando for the entire trip. We explored the island while staying at Silver Surf Gulf Beach Resort, and I told the team how much we loved the private beach.
Here we found a different rhythm from Disney and Universal. Our accommodation gave us a base near the beach, and we planned to show our audience the beach, resort pool, accommodation, local free trolley and what was available around the island.
We were introduced to local operators offering boat tours, watersports and beachside experiences, and we looked into what might work for our family. Some invitations and suggestions never become confirmed activities, so we won't present each of them as something we personally did.
Make sure the room really sleeps five. With Jayden 15, Sophie 9 and Ethan 6, we regularly needed either a genuine five-sleeper, a sofa bed or a larger suite. We stayed everywhere from a fifth-sleeper room at Disney's Port Orleans – Riverside to three bedrooms at The Grove and a two-bedroom suite at Meliá.
Don't spend every day in a theme park. We were in Florida for more than nine weeks, so there was room for on-site resort time, water parks, a Gulf Coast escape and family attractions beyond Disney and Universal. We would plan another long trip with that same variety.
Think of your children's different ages. Ethan's love for Toy Story made Hollywood Studios special to us. And at Halloween Horror Nights, Jayden loved the houses while they were far too intense for Sophie and Ethan. That is why an honest family guide needs to discuss suitability rather than simply list the biggest attractions.
Booking packages can change dramatically. During our 2023 trip some visits were hosted or supplied with extra perks and others were paid bookings. Our quoted media experiences are not current public prices. Always compare today's hotel and attraction bundles for your actual travel dates and family size.
Plan travel between areas. We moved among the Disney area, SeaWorld, Winter Haven and Anna Maria Island. Allow enough time for journeys, check transport arrangements separately and don't assume every hotel shuttle will take you to every park.
A Note on Our Personal Experiences & 2026 Offers
We are Robert and Sally, founders of The Family Travel Club. This guide tells our actual 2023 family holiday, with Jayden aged 15, Sophie aged 9 and Ethan aged 6. Details were rebuilt from our own 2023 booking confirmations, hotel correspondence, partnership emails and original family travel content. Where we received hosted or discounted media stays, we say so. We have been careful not to claim an attraction visit, a particular ride or a reaction from one of the children unless our records support it.
Current offers and booking links are provided separately and were last researched on 14 October 2026. Promotions can change or expire; eligible dates, occupancy rules, additional charges and availability must be verified directly before making a purchase. The rates originally offered to us in 2023 do not represent today's prices.
Photographs: Each feature has five image positions. Temporary source-attributed reference photos require commercial-use approval before public publication; remaining slots are reserved for our personal family photography or licensed supplier photos. Where we have not yet obtained a photo or permission, the placement is clearly identified.
Sonder Cirrus is a historical stay only; its original booking links are not represented as a current bookable hotel. Some older places, attractions and services may have changed since our visit.
Some booking links may earn a commission when eligible affiliate relationships are enabled. Any such relationship will be disclosed.
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