Universal Studios Orlando, SeaWorld, and Legoland as a Family - 9 Days in Florida for the Holidays: Our Honest Guide
The year before, we had done Disney World. The children were 6 and 8 years old, we had fallen in love with Florida, and we had promised ourselves to come back. This time, we wanted to discover something else: Universal Studios Orlando, SeaWorld, and Legoland Florida. And we resumed our best logistical trick from the previous year: leaving from Plattsburgh.
We found flights for around $250 $ per person round trip from Plattsburgh, New York. This isn't always the price you'll find, but in our case, it was a real bargain. With 9 days ahead of us, children aged 7 and 9, and a fairly ambitious itinerary, we were hoping for a great trip. We had an excellent trip. The flights from Plattsburgh to Orlando can sometimes be very competitive, especially when compared to departures from Montreal during more popular periods.
This guide is exactly what we would have liked to read before leaving: the truth about skipping the lines at Universal during the holidays, the pleasant surprise that was Legoland, and the decisions we would make exactly the same way again.
The Plattsburgh thing
If you live in Montreal or the surrounding area, always compare Plattsburgh before booking your flights. The airport is small, simple, easy to manage, and in some cases much cheaper than YUL. Prices vary enormously depending on the dates, but there are indeed very low-cost options on certain routes to Orlando.
Why do people like Plattsburgh :
- Small airport, so much less stress.
- Simple and generally more affordable parking.
- Fast security and a relaxed atmosphere.
- Reasonable driving distance from Montreal.
💡 Practical tip: Always check the final price including luggage, parking, and gas before concluding that Plattsburgh is cheaper. However, in many cases, the difference remains very advantageous. Comparison sites show that flights to Orlando can vary greatly between Montreal and Plattsburgh depending on the time of year.
Our 9-day program — Universal, SeaWorld, Legoland
We settled in Kissimmee, like the previous year. Same winning strategy: a small off-site family resort with a pool, arcade, and restaurant for backup. The location was good for getting around to the different parks.
Here's how we organized our trip:
- Day 1 arrival
- Day 2 Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure
- Day 3 Islands of Adventure
- Day 4 SeaWorld Orlando
- Day 5 Legoland Florida
- Day 6 : return to Universal to do the missed attractions and redo our favorites
- Day 7 Legoland Florida
- Day 8 Back to Universal to enjoy our favorite attractions one last time
- Day 9 quieter day — resort pool and rest before heading back
Honestly, 9 days is a very good minimum to comfortably enjoy these three parks without feeling like you're always rushing. The pace was well-balanced, with enough time for the major parks, an unexpected weather event, and a truly more relaxed day at the end.
Universal Studios — why is the Universal Express Unlimited not optional during the holidays
During the holidays, Universal Orlando is extremely busy. Wait times climb quickly, especially in the most popular areas. Universal sells different versions of its skip-the-line passes, called Universal Express or Universal Express Unlimited, and this is where our opinion becomes very clear: during a peak period, with young children, it is no longer a luxury. It's the difference between a pleasant day and one spent waiting.
Why the fast pass changes everything
Our children were 7 and 9 years old. The youngest was not yet comfortable or tall enough for all the more intense attractions. The older one was, but not consistently. As a result, in several cases, we used the Rider Switch system.
The problem is that even with Rider Switch, if a parent has to wait 75 minutes in line, the day melts away before your eyes. With Universal Express, these waits were drastically reduced, and all the family logistics became easier. Instead of experiencing three long waits in a day, we experienced many more attractions, much more calmly. Universal strongly promotes its skip-the-line options as the main tool for avoiding long queues.
Our verdict
Yes, it's expensive. But if you're already traveling during the holidays, you're already on a costly trip. At that point, investing in skip-the-line can completely transform the experience. For us, at Christmas or during spring break, Universal Express goes from an «interesting option» to an «almost essential expense.».
If this supplement doesn't fit your budget, I would sincerely advise you to aim for a less crowded period rather than experiencing Universal at its most crowded. Universal sells different packages and prices depending on the dates, parks, and level of access.
SeaWorld
Honestly, we were going to SeaWorld with pretty modest expectations. We told ourselves it would be just another good day on the trip, nothing more.
Ultimately, it was one of the best days of the trip.
What surprised us
SeaWorld's strength for us lies in its shows and pacing. It's a park that can be experienced differently. If you plan your day well around the show schedules, you'll enjoy much more than you think.
Our children were captivated from beginning to end. And for parents or older children, there are also very big rides. It's this mix of family-friendly content, polished shows, and thrills that surprised us the most.
Pick up schedules at the entrance or check the app before you arrive. Structure your day around the shows, then fit in the rides between them. It's really the best way to enjoy it.
One full day was enough for us, but a real day, arriving early.
Legoland — the underrated park that stole the show
Before this trip, if you had asked me what I was least looking forward to, I would have said Legoland. Two adults, we found it a bit juvenile as a concept. A Lego park, well, okay...
Legoland Florida gave us two of the most enjoyable days of the trip. This is probably the most underrated park in the Orlando area.
Why Legoland Is Magical for Kids Aged 5 to 12
Before we left, if we had been asked which park excited us the least, we probably would have said Legoland. We thought it would be nice, but nothing more.
We were completely wrong.
Legoland Florida was one of the trip's best surprises, and probably the most underestimated park in the area for families with elementary school-aged children.
Why does it work so well
Legoland is designed for children aged 5 to 12. This is exactly where the magic happens. The rides are accessible, the atmosphere is relaxed, and children can do much more without constantly being turned away due to height or intensity restrictions.
The big favorite for us was Miniland USA. The reproductions of American cities in LEGO bricks are impressive, lively, full of detail, and captivating even for adults. We had a great time just looking everywhere.
How many days should I plan for?
For us, two days were perfect. One day would have been too short. With two days, we were able to enjoy the park without rushing, re-ride our favorite attractions, and take in the park at our own pace.
💡 If your children are approaching adolescence, don't wait too long. In my opinion, the ideal window for Legoland is around 6 to 12 years old.
Legoland Florida is located in Winter Haven, so it's farther from Universal and SeaWorld. It's best to group your days well to avoid unnecessary back and forth trips.
Eating without breaking the bank — the same system that works
Just like for our trip to Disney the previous year, we used the exact same food strategy. And it worked very well again.
Lunches
Grocery shopping upon arrival, headed to Walmart. We bought everything we needed for the week's breakfasts: cereal, fruit, yogurt, bars, juice. It's fast, economical, and most importantly, it allowed us to be in the parks at opening.
Midi
We ate in the parks, usually at a counter-service restaurant. It's not cheap, but it saves time on going out, coming back, or looking elsewhere. On a park day, time counts almost as much as money.
Soups
In the evening, we would go to supper in the Kissimmee area. That is where we found several simple and very decent family-run restaurants, far from the more standardized atmosphere of the ultra-touristy areas. It was also our time to slow down, talk about the day again, and recharge for the next one.
With this strategy, we kept a reasonable food budget for 12 days without feeling like we were depriving ourselves.
The budget for 9 days — Universal, SeaWorld, and Legoland for the family
Let's be frank: this trip is cheaper than a big Disney holiday stay, but it's not a small budget either. Universal can quickly add up, especially if you add the express pass, whereas SeaWorld and Legoland are often more affordable in comparison. Ticket prices in Orlando vary greatly depending on the dates, but we see that Universal starts around $119 $ per day, SeaWorld around $67 $ and Legoland around $54 $ depending on offers and periods.
Approximate budget for 9 days — family of 4
- Flights from Plattsburgh : ~1,000 to 2,200 $ CA for 4 people round trip
- Hotel in Kissimmee (8 nights) : ~1,000 to 1,800 $ US
- Universal Tickets (4-day or equivalent promo) : ~1,200 to 2,000 $ US for 4 people according to the chosen formula
- Universal Express / Skip-the-line : ~800 to 2,000 $ US if purchased separately for several days, depending on the dates and type of access
- SeaWorld Tickets (1 Day) : ~250 to 500 $ US for 4 people according to current promotions
- Legoland Tickets (2 Days) : ~350 to 700 $ US for 4 people according to tickets and options
- Car rental (9 to 10 days) : ~450 to 900 $ US
- Food : ~1,500 to 2,500 $ US for 9 days
- Extras and souvenirs : ~400 to 1,000 $ US
Completely realistic
In total, we're talking about a realistic budget of around 8,500 to 13,500 $ CA For a family of 4, depending on flights, tickets found, hotel level, and especially on your decision to purchase or not purchase the skip-the-line pass at Universal. The real budget-busting item is Universal Express. Prices displayed for Express start around $99.99 $ for some dates and go up more during busy periods.
If you want to estimate what it would cost for your family, our calculator can help you get a clearer picture.
What we would do again, what we would do differently
There are some trips where you come back with a long list of regrets. This one was not among them.
✅ What we would do exactly the same
- Compare flights to Plattsburgh.
- Sleeping off-site in Kissimmee.
- Arrive early at the parks.
- Using Universal Express during the holidays.
- Plan for two full days at Legoland.
- Keep a quieter day mid-trip.
- Grocery shopping for lunches.
Those choices really improved the overall travel experience.
What we would do differently
Even on a great trip, there are always a few adjustments to be made.
- Group the days even better by the geography of the parks.
- Download and master park apps before departure.
- Plan for a clearer souvenir budget from the start.
- Add an extra day off if the schedule allows.
With 9 days, we had a very nice trip. With one or two more real moments of pause, we probably would have ended up even more rested.
In conclusion
Universal, SeaWorld, and Legoland in 9 days from Kissimmee is a program we wholeheartedly recommend for a family with children aged 6 to 12. The whole experience is varied, complementary, and truly suitable for this age group. Orlando remains an expensive destination, but with good planning, it can offer excellent memories and fun for a family.
If we look objectively at what contributed most to the trip's success, three decisions clearly stand out: comparing Plattsburgh for flights, investing in Universal Express during the holidays, and allocating two full days to Legoland. It's not often you come back from a trip saying you'd do almost everything the same way. This one was like that.
