The last time I visited Florida was 18 years ago with my family and all the amazing things we did then have never left me. I even got to see the legend Tony Bennet sing live at the Hard Rock Café at Universal Orlando Resort. Such is the magic of this state in the US; every day is different and you can be guaranteed that lifetime memories will be made.
I was recently back there with my twins and our base was Kissimmee, a city just 30 minutes from Orlando International Airport and one of the most popular places for families visiting theme parks. We stayed in a holiday home with Jeeves by Casago, located within a secure gated resort complete with its own hotel, water park and restaurants.
Known as the vacation home capital of the world, Kissimmee offers everything from cosy two-bedroom apartments to luxury villas and mansions, making it an ideal choice for families of all sizes. As well as being within easy reach of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, there are excellent shopping and dining options nearby, along with beautiful parks and outdoor adventures.
On pulling up outside our home for the next seven days, we noticed a pink light coming from the garage; little did we know it was a games room, which my twins were very happy about. This particular home has five good-sized bedrooms (would easily sleep up to 10 people), bathrooms in three of them and separate bathrooms too, a movie room, a huge dining and lounge area, a private pool and jacuzzi complete with sun loungers. Our first meal was delivered from locally-owned Palma Italian Kitchen, a perfect combo of pizza under the palm trees.
Things to do close to Kissimmee: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
A 30-minute drive from Kissimmee and we were walking along the infamous CityWalk to the entrance of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Theme Parks. Universal has four theme parks in Orlando, including both mentioned as well as Epic Universe and one water park called Volcano Bay. I would highly recommend a two-day pass for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and it is well worth paying extra for a Fast Pass. It means you won’t be waiting 1-2 hours to go on a ride; with children, this pass is essential. Comfortable walking shoes are a must, as we did over 18,000 steps that day and bring your water bottle, as there are plenty of refill stations around the parks.
Between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, there are 16 themed lands to explore, each feeling like you’ve stepped into a completely different world, from Harry Potter and Jurassic Park to Marvel superheroes, The Simpsons and Dr Seuss. There are simulator rides, rollercoasters, immersive shows and rides, and movie-style experiences; we met ‘Marilyn Monroe’ on the street and saw characters from well-known movies. You can bring a picnic, but we had lunch at Moe’s Tavern in Simpsons World, where the portions are big and perfect for sharing. Make sure to go on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride, though my eyes were closed for most of it.
After nine hours, my feet made the decision for me that it was time to go home.
The following day, we visited another of Orlando’s iconic attractions, SeaWorld, which has been welcoming visitors for more than 50 years. It’s just 20 minutes’ drive from Kissimmee and if you’re hiring a car, there’s plenty of parking on site. We really enjoyed the relaxed layout of the park, which felt less hectic than some of Orlando’s attractions. It’s renowned for adrenaline-fuelled rollercoasters like Mako, Kraken, Pipeline, The Surf Coaster and Ice Breaker and you’ll also come across dolphins, sea lions, penguins, sharks, rays and flamingos, along with live shows and interactive animal presentations.
Like the other theme parks, you will do plenty of walking, so comfortable shoes are a must, along with sunscreen and water.
One of the most surprising aspects of our trip was Gatorland, where I found myself ziplining over hundreds of alligators in a freshwater lake – the highest zip line was 75 feet – guided along each section by Jade and Albert. Founded in 1949, director of media productions Brandon Fisher shared the history behind the oldest theme park in Central Florida. It is home to many rescue alligators, who are expertly looked after and live in a natural habitat. One of the most popular inhabitants is Mystic the Leucistic, the rarest alligator in the world because of its albino-type coloured skin and Mayhem (Mystic’s brother) is a regular-looking alligator. You can do a behind-the-scenes tour, have up-close encounters, feed the gators, or take a monster truck adventure through the Florida wetlands. There is also a train ride, splash park, playground, snake area and cheeky parrot Harley, flamingos, a giant tortoise, a rock wall and a restaurant. This park is a unique full day out that children will love.
Back in Kissimmee, Island H20 Waterpark is an island-themed, family-friendly water park, with water rides like ‘Hashtag Heights’, ‘Profile Plunge’ and ‘Follow Me Falls’. You can bounce on top of the waves at the lagoon wave pool or relax bobbing along Chat Creek Lazy River. The kids can have loads of fun in the splash areas ‘Pelican’s Paradise’ and ‘Candy Stripe Cove.’ There are plenty of seating areas and the water park also hosts unique events like Glow Foam parties. You can also dine outside the park and walk around the Margaritaville area; there are lots of restaurants and bars here.
Just a short 10-minute drive is a charming town called Celebration. Built in 1994 by Walt Disney, the residents moved in in 1996 and it is like stepping onto a movie set – white picket fences, tree-lined streets, shaded quiet seating areas, spotless streets, all built around a lake. We had great fun getting lost around the town, pretending we were residents and stopping for lunch at the Downtown Diner, much of which we took home in takeaway bags.
Medieval Dinner & Tournament Show
One evening, we swapped the theme parks for something completely different – a Medieval Dinner and Tournament. Just a 20-minute drive from Kissimmee, we arrived at a castle with families and groups eagerly waiting to step back in time. Inside, everything is themed around medieval life. On arrival, you’re assigned a colour, which determines where you will sit in the grand arena. Long wooden benches surround the central stage where the action unfolds and dinner is served the old-fashioned way – in bowls and on plates, with no cutlery in sight.
Once the show begins, the atmosphere is electric. Each section cheers on its own knight as they compete in thrilling jousting tournaments, sword fights and displays of horsemanship. As all the action takes place, you are served a medieval feast of roast chicken, sweetcorn, potato skins and cake. It’s a fun, interactive evening and ideal for families.
Another 20-minute drive will take you to the Disney Springs area, part of the Walt Disney World Resort. We had a show booked – Cirque du Soleil and Disney’s Drawn to Life and like any Cirque du Soleil show, it was truly unique. We had dinner by the lake in a relatively new restaurant called Summerhouse by the Lake – I would recommend booking or you may have to wait a while for a seating. If you do have to wait, pop into the House of Blues, visit the World of Disney, the world’s largest Disney store, or go into Raglan Road Irish Pub, which has authentic live music and dancing.
Sitting by the pool in our holiday home, all I could think was that a week wasn’t enough, a true sign of a great trip. I hope it won’t be another 18 years before I return to Kissimmee, as there is so much more to explore here and in the surrounding areas.
Published in the Irish Daily Mail on 29/8/2026
Travel Facts
Flights direct with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Orlando International Airport (MCO) start from €650 pp
The Elegant Villa from €200 per night *Price varies by season
Universal Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios one-day, two-park ticket €157 pp
SeaWorld one-day ticket €130 pp
Gatorland entry €30 pp (zip lining is an additional €70 pp)
Island H2O water park €44 *price varies by season
Medieval Dinner & Tournament €67 pp
Cirque du Soleil tickets starting at €62 pp
Celebration Bike Company bike hire from €35pp
Guided Bike tour from €69 per adult
For further information on Kissimmee, visit www.experiencekissimmee.com
