What you pack for Orlando depends heavily on which kind of trip you’re taking — a walkable downtown stay near Lake Eola, or a theme-park-focused trip out of one of our Family & Group Homes. Here’s the practical packing list for both, from two decades of watching guests over- and under-pack for this city.
For everyone, year-round: sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and a compact umbrella or light rain jacket — Florida’s afternoon storms don’t care what season it is. Breathable, moisture-wicking clothing beats heavier fabrics almost every month of the year here, since humidity is a bigger factor than raw temperature.
Staying downtown? Pack for walking. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else on this list, since you’ll likely be covering Lake Eola, Thornton Park, and nearby restaurants on foot. A light layer for evenings is worth it too — restaurants and bars run the AC cold even in summer. Since our Downtown Collection homes include free parking and self check-in, you don’t need to overthink logistics; just bring what you’d pack for a walkable city trip anywhere else.
Headed to the parks from a Family & Group Home? Swimsuits are non-negotiable — most of these homes have a private pool, and you’ll want it after a long park day. Pack a small backpack for park days (water bottle, sunscreen, a phone charger), and bring sandals or slides for lounging around the house between outings. If your home has a full kitchen, which most do, packing a few groceries on arrival saves real money over a week–long stay.
A quick itinerary framework that works well for most guests: two to three days downtown for the walkable, restaurant-and-park-of-a-different-kind experience, then two to three days closer to the theme parks if that’s part of your trip. Splitting your stay across both of our collections — or picking whichever fits your trip best — is one of the advantages of booking with a host who runs both.
Once you know your itinerary shape, packing gets a lot easier to plan around. Browse our properties to see which collection fits your trip, or check availability for your dates.