
Orlando
Basics: Car rentals in Orlando can get booked up quickly, as it’s a popular international destination. Be sure to book your car in advance, and we recommend renting from an airport location rather than an offsite rental for convenience.
​
Minyan: Orlando offers many minyan options, especially during Sukkos, Pesach, and the winter months. Most resorts typically have their own minyan chat. You can also reach out to Chabad of Orlando for information about their minyan or others in the surrounding areas.
​
Kosher Food: Orlando has a variety of kosher food options. Winn Dixie, located on South Apopka Vineland Rd, has an extensive kosher section, including kosher wine, meat, dairy, frozen foods, fresh baked goods, and dry goods. They also feature a Kosher for Pesach section during the weeks before and during Pesach, separate from their regular kosher section. Additionally, they sell seasonal items like crockpots.
There are several kosher dining options, including Krembo, a delicious dairy restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and open on Motzei Shabbos for Melave Malka. Another great choice is Kosher Eatery, which has both meat and dairy menus. Additionally, Kosher Grill is a fantastic meat option, serving classic kosher grill dishes for lunch and dinner.
​
Weather: Orlando has mild to warm weather throughout the winter, with very hot and humid conditions in the spring, summer and fall. Be sure to bring plenty of water for outdoor activities, especially if you'll be spending the day at the theme parks, as the humidity can make it feel even warmer.
​
Hotels and Attractions: Many families opt to stay in one of the many resorts in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. These resorts offer single-family homes with private pools in enclosed backyard areas, along with clubhouses featuring large resort pools, water slides, splash pads, and lazy rivers. Many of the larger resorts have multiple clubhouse areas with different water activities.
Resorts often have official minyanim set up, in addition to several smaller, unofficial minyanim in guests' homes.
The resorts are located about 45 minutes from downtown Orlando, requiring a drive to kosher food establishments. However, Eden Gardens, a new Jewish resort near some popular larger resorts, plans to open kosher establishments in the near future.
There are numerous attractions throughout the Orlando area, and we’ve never found it necessary to book in advance. However, if you’re visiting Disney and planning to visit multiple parks, or SeaWorld and its related parks, it may be worthwhile to book tickets in advance as package deals often offer significant savings. Additionally, Chabad often offers discounted tickets for Chol Hamoed through their site.