Once upon a time, Orlando, Florida was little more than a small town in the middle of a swamp in the middle of nowhere. Then one day, a man named Walt Disney showed up and decided he was going to build a sprawling theme park complex there. Similar projects soon followed and before long, Orlando became one of the most popular vacation destinations on the planet.

For the majority of families with the financial means to do so, a trip to Orlando is all but guaranteed. Most of us can say we’ve been there at least once in our lives, and it was usually part of a family trip. With this in mind, we figured it was a good idea to discuss planning a family trip to Orlando before the vacation season kicks into high gear.

So without further ado, here are some key things to keep in mind while preparing to take your family on a trip to Orlando:

Theme park packing

Families headed to Orlando are undoubtedly drawn to one or all of the theme parks located there. Whether it’s the Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, or one of the other half-dozen or so different parks in the area, families need to come prepared. This starts with packing.

First off, there will be lots of walking, so make sure everyone has comfortable footwear. Secondly, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd, so look at wholesale clothing options to buy multiple t-shirt sizes in identical colors. Having everyone wearing the same colored shirt each day will make it a lot easier to keep track of kids in a busy theme park. Finally, make sure to bring cooling towels, neck fans, and ponchos (see below.)

Park ticket options

Don’t make the mistake of waiting until you’re at the parks to buy the tickets. Not only is this going to take time away from your trip, but it might end up costing more money in the end.

Disney World and Universal Studios consist of several different parks, all of which require their own ticket for entry. Families can opt for a “park hopper” option, which enables them to go from one park to another in a single day without having to buy a separate ticket. More days means less money spent on tickets per day; a single day trip to Disney World will be about $100 per person, but if they’re going four days in a row, the price will be more like $50 per person or less.

Beach drive time

When we think of Florida, we tend to think of sunny beaches. Visitors in Orlando should know ahead of time that the city is located inland. The closest beach to Orlando is about an hour drive away. Those who want to sneak away to see the ocean will need to plan accordingly.

Weather patterns

Florida is referred to as the sunshine state and lives up to that reputation. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t get bad weather sometimes. While hurricanes are less of a problem for Orlando than they are for coastal regions due to it being almost 100 miles inland, the city is no stranger to severe rainstorms. Fortunately, when bad weather comes to town, it doesn’t tend to stay for very long.

Orlando is one of the most popular vacation destinations for families in the entire world. Men and women from all over the globe bring their kids there to see Cinderella Castle and Hogwarts. If you’re about to embark on a family trip to Orlando, good planning will be the key to a great time.