I haven’t done a Views from the Passenger Side post for this series, mainly because this wasn’t really a traditional road trip in the way we usually travel.
So instead, this final post is a bit of a catch-all — a place to share a few random photos from various days of the holiday and to try and sum up my thoughts on renting a villa in Orlando and spending two weeks in Florida as a family.
Firstly, I think it’s fair to say that we all loved the two weeks we spent in Florida.
As annoying as parents can be — and I’m sure Oscar would say exactly the same thing about us — it was genuinely great having my parents come along for the ride.
It’s left us with memories that will last a lifetime. From the look on Dad’s face when he tried his first Root Beer, to Mum proudly sporting Mickey Mouse ears, and everything in between.
Theme Parks and Personal Preferences
Oscar was absolutely in his element in the theme parks. While they aren’t really my thing, it was still nice to see him enjoying them so much.
For me, the highlights were elsewhere — the Old Town Kissimmee Car Cruise, the wildlife days, the quieter trips away from Orlando, and those moments where Florida felt more like a place and less like a product.
We managed to pack a lot into two weeks without it ever feeling completely overwhelming, and somehow kept everyone happy — which is no small achievement on a family holiday.
Villa Life: Would We Do It Again?
Staying in a villa worked really well.
The space, the pool, the ability to come and go as we pleased, and not having to live out of hotel rooms made a big difference — especially with three generations under one roof.
It gave the holiday a rhythm that hotels rarely manage, and allowed us to slow things down between the bigger days out.
Would I Visit Orlando Again?
In all honesty? Probably not.
The USA is an incredible country, with vast natural landscapes, stunning national parks, and endlessly fascinating cities. For us, Orlando represents the worst side of America — too false, too crowded, and not really us.
Give me rock ’n’ roll in Memphis or the calm of Monument Valley any day of the week.
And anyway, America is a big enough country that there’s no need to repeat places when there are still so many states, parks and destinations left on our bucket list.
A Holiday Worth Having
That said, I don’t regret this trip for a second.
It was the right holiday at the right time, it worked for the whole family, and it gave us memories we’ll always look back on — especially during those cold, dark winter months.
Would we do it again? No.
Are we glad we did it? Absolutely.
Florida Westgate Saturday Night Rodeo: A Very American Evening
Florida Theme Parks & Beyond: Our Orlando & Florida Holiday
