Orlando International Airport (OIA) is the best airport to fly into, located approximately 22 miles from Disney World. Take the south exit road to SR 417 (Greenway) west and follow the signs to Disney World.
To get the most out of your visit, I definitely suggest spending a day at each park since there is so much to see and do. If you just want to hit the highlights of a few park attractions, then plan on spending at least two days. Disneyworld.disney.go.com has a great "plan and prepare" tool to help you make the most out of your visit.
There are so many great attractions and shows worth seeing, such as Sea World and Sea World's Discovery Cove. (Discovery Cove is definitely worth a visit, a one of a kind experience allowing you to swim with the dolphins, and interact with birds, fish and rays - my family had a wonderful experience!); Universal Studios; Gator Land; and Cirque du Soleil La Nuba.
If you are renting a local vacation home, I would definitely recommend that you rent a car or van. It gives you extra freedom to explore surrounding areas at your leisure. You will definitely enjoy your trip much more. If you would rather not rent a car, you can always hire a taxi/shuttle, but know that cab fares can get pricy.
Three great online resources for additional activities in and around the central Florida area are TripAdvisor, GoCityKids and Orlandoinfo.com. A personal favorite for my family is Sea World. We are annual pass holders, the park is clean, the employees are very friendly and the shows are fantastic. My toddler loves playing in Shamu's Happy Harbor, feeding the dolphins and checking out the penguins.
One of my favorite local restaurants is Boma's, an African-American family friendly restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. It has something for everyone, including a kid's corner for the little ones. It offers a morning and dinner buffet, reservations are highly recommended. Once my family is finished dining, we like to walk outside on the terrace and look for the wild animals roaming in the savannah. A great online resource for additional dining in Orlando is Orlando.info.com.
A truly great place to see baseball spring training is Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. The complex hosts the Atlanta Braves spring training, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and many others. Several other teams train in Central Florida; The Houston Astros, The Cleveland Indians, The Detroit Tigers and The Dodgers in Vero Beach. A great resource link to find detailed spring training schedules is at www.tickco.com/spring-training/grapefruit-league-stadiums.htm.
If you are looking to purchase advance attraction tickets, a great online resource is Orlando.info.com, the official web site for Orlando. This website has all a wealth of great information to help you plan your entire trip all in one place.
The most direct route to the Gulf of Mexico is to take I-4 West toward Tampa to I-275 South toward Clearwater. Travel time is approximately 2 hours.
The most direct route to the Atlantic Ocean is to take SR-528 East, known as the Beach Line. This will take you to Coca Beach and Daytona Beach, the two closest beaches to Orlando. Travel time is approximately 1 hour.
