Many folks plan a visit to Orlando to go to its world-famous theme parks, however there are a lot of issues to do in Orlando to complement a Disney trip. Orlando has been our household’s go-to vacation spot for many years. We Canadians can’t get sufficient of this central Florida metropolis’s sunshine and theme parks, and belief me, we’ve finished all of it. From procuring at flea markets to exploring International Drive, Orlando is a incredible all-round trip vacation spot for the entire household.
Best Things to Do in Orlando, Florida
It’s no secret that Orlando is the theme park capital of the world. The metropolis is an entire leisure vacation spot for households and {couples} with sights galor. From museums to out of doors adventures, Orlando has a stunning variety of issues to do exterior the same old theme parks. However, they’re fairly nice, too! So let’s go on a tour of all of the issues to do in Orlando.
1. Walt Disney World Resort
We gained’t spend too lengthy on Orlando’s theme parks since everyone knows about most of them, however let’s break down what you’ll be able to see and do at every of them, beginning with Walt Disney World Resort. It was this resort that made Orlando well-known and whenever you go to Orlando, you will need to cease right here at the very least as soon as in your life.
Walt Disney World Resort is the final word household escape, encompassing 4 theme parks and two water parks. You may go to Orlando repeatedly and nonetheless not see all of Disney World. Walt Disney World Resort is continually altering and including to it to hold folks coming again many times. Let’s break all of the theme parks down.
2. Magic Kingdom
The authentic Magic Kingdom is the basic Disney theme park constructed across the fairytale citadel (modeled after Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany). It’s right here that youngsters love seeing Mickey Mouse, the Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean, whereas dad and mom love the joys of Space Mountain. It’s a basic theme park and one of many prime issues to do in Orlando for first-time guests. Read extra Top 10 Roller Coasters in Florida.
TRON Lightcycle Run is the most recent attraction at Magic Kingdom Park. Based on the Disney sci-fi movie TRON. Ride one of many quickest coasters of all of the Disney theme parks whereas touring by means of The Grid in your very personal Lightcycle.
Note: A digital queue is in place for TRON Lightcycle / Run. Guests should use the My Disney Experience app to enter this attraction.
3. Epcot Center
Epcot Center takes you worldwide while not having to journey with the World Showcase that includes 11 international locations the place you’ll be able to immerse in their tradition. Go Soarin’ Around the World in the IMAX simulator, create your individual idea automobile to take a spin alongside the take a look at observe, or try the basic Epcot attraction that takes you on a journey by means of time. The all-ages attraction will permit company to discover and interact with water because it travels from the skies to the oceans and again once more.
4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We all the time love going to movie studios, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios has reworked from its authentic MGM studio tour to a Hollywood setting, taking you thru worlds from the films. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge permits you to expertise the whole lot Star Wars. Go by means of 3D movement simulators to construct your individual droid. Kids will love the Toy Story and Pixar themes, too.
6. Typhoon Lagoon
While Orlando doesn’t have seashores, it has loads of water parks. And in case you are a water lover, Disney has a water park! Typhoon Lagoon has water slides and surf swimming pools, seashores and lazy rivers.
So even should you don’t make it to Daytona or Miami Beach, you’ll be able to nonetheless have a seashore vacation. But Daytona Beach does make a fantastic journey for Orlando, we’ve stayed in Daytona and made day journeys to Orlando in the previous, learn extra: Best Things to do in Daytona Beach, Florida
7. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Waterpark
The second of Disney’s water parks is Blizzard Beach. This 66-acre water park is a good place to relax. The theme of this park is a ski resort melted into heat and alluring waters. Since it takes place in a ski resort, many downhill slopes and slides could be loved. There are winter themes such because the snow citadel fountain, Tikes Peak, Toboggan Racers, and the Downhill Double Dipper.
If you feel fearless, you’ll be able to sort out Mount Gushmore, one of many world’s quickest and tallest waterslides. There’s additionally a lazy river and white sandy seashores to remind you that you just take pleasure in enjoyable in the solar. Read 18 Best Beaches in Florida for Fun in the Sun
8. Disney Springs
Disney Springs can be situated at Walt Disney World Resort. This expansive out of doors complicated has 4 distinct areas: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side. It combines procuring, eating, and leisure in one simply accessible location. Shoppers can discover numerous shops, from big-name manufacturers to distinctive Disney-themed merchandise on the Marketplace.
One of the best issues to do in there’s to take a sizzling air balloon trip over Disney Springs. This exhilarating journey elevates guests excessive above the bustling streets, offering panoramic views of Disney Springs and the encircling space. The tranquil ascent in the early morning or late night hours captures the essence of Orlando’s scenic magnificence, with the enduring Disney landmarks seen from a chook’s eye view.
For leisure, Disney Springs presents reside music, road performers, and a state-of-the-art movie show. There are loads of eating choices accessible at The Landing, that includes the whole lot from fast bites to wonderful eating experiences.
What’s superior is that Disney Springs has free admission, and is open year-round, making it a handy and budget-friendly addition to any Orlando journey. You get the texture of being at Disney with out the hefty ticket costs.
Where to Stay at Disney
You can guide lodges immediately at Walt Disney World Resort and we extremely suggest this to benefit from your keep. Check out these lodges situated immediately inside Walt Disney World Resort.
9. Universal Orlando Resort
The subsequent on our record of prime issues to do in Orlando is to make your means to Universal Orlando Resort. It is certainly giving Walt Disney World Resort a run for its cash with seven island parks on Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, 4 lodges and a water park. Universal has some main thrill rides with quick rollercoasters and enjoyable digital actuality rides. Check out: The Best All Inclusive Resorts in Florida
10. Universal Studios Florida
Movie buffs will love Universal Studios Florida with rides impressed by movie and TV. There are loads of 3D rides that can make your abdomen leap. From the Shrek 4D and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (which I completely go sick on) to The Simpsons Ride, you’ll be immersed in animation. If you need curler coasters, that is the place to go along with the 70 mph Jurassic World Velocicoaster to the extra stress-free 40 mph Revenge of the Mummy.
Get your 3 Park Ticket that give entry to Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme parks. Hassle-free cancelation up to 24 hours in advance to obtain a full refund.
11. Harry Potter and Diagon Alley
Universal is a mixture of theme park and dealing studio and you can too try Harry Potter’s escape from Gringott’s financial institution. Harry Potter is so fashionable he crosses over two theme parks!
We have been fortunate sufficient to go to the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Diagon Alley. Even as adults, we liked this. It helps that I’m a Harry Potter fan!
What we love about Universal is that its rides are geared to adults with some excessive curler coasters, and simulators. In truth, I used to be so nauseous after one trip I had to take a number of rides off as Dave went on a few of curler coasters with out me.
12. Universal Islands of Adventure
Besides The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogsmeade, Universal Islands of Adventure has seven different themed sections. Marvel Super Hero Island, The Lost Continent, Port of Entry, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, Skull Island, and Seuss Landing are all locations you’ll be able to discover. Each of the island parks all has rides geared towards the angle film genres.
13. Minion Land
Minion Land opened at Universal Studios, that includes the beloved Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction, a brand new Minion café and extra.
Check out The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash and head over Despicable Me Minion Mayhem to see your favourite characters.
Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast combines progressive display know-how, state-of-the-art gaming interactivity, and elaborate bodily units to create a one-of-a-kind, game-based journey the place company encounter immersive environments, nefarious villains, and tons of mischievous Minions from Illumination’s blockbuster movie franchise.
14. Universal CityWalk
You don’t even have to essentially go into the park to take pleasure in Universal Resort, City Walk has some enjoyable sights exterior the gate. Play a spherical of mini golf, catch a film or seize a chew. It’s a enjoyable place to take a stroll and really feel the vitality.
If you’re on the lookout for one thing distinctive to do, Universal’s Great Movie Escape at Universal CityWalk is the first-ever escape room expertise that options two rooms with interactive state-of-the-art missions. It’s intricately detailed units have been impressed by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster movies Jurassic World and Back to the Future.
Where to Stay at Univeral Orlando Resort
Where to Stay at Universal Resort
15. International Drive (I-Drive)
International Drive (aka I-Drive) is without doubt one of the must-visit locations in Orlando. International Drive has a halfway really feel with indoor go-carting, indoor skydiving, arcade video games, and mini golf. This resort space has many sights, eating places, leisure, and procuring. It is house to the Orange County Convention Center, so there are many lodges making it a extra affordable place to keep than one of many theme parks in Orlando.
Where to Stay at International Drive – We stayed at Wyndham Orlando Resort, and it was incredible. It was inside strolling distance to a few of the finest sights on International Drive and close by eating places and the movie show. Yet it was far sufficient away from all of it, giving an upscale quiet retreat. Check it out on TripAdvisor
The space has many lodges, making it straightforward to discover International Drive out of your resort. Let’s try a number of of I-Drive’s prime websites.
16. Fun Spot America
Looking for an amusement park exterior Universal and Disney? Fun Spot America is situated at International Drive and is enjoyable for the entire household with go-kart tracks, Orlando’s solely wood curler coaster, youngsters’ rides, and a splash park. Get your tickets in advance, together with free parking and water park admission.
Unlike our different Orlando theme parks, Fun Spot doesn’t cost for non-riders – which is ideal for folks of older youngsters. Instead, dad and mom can watch their youngsters benefit from the rides at no cost and keep safely on the bottom.
17. The Wheel at Icon Park
The Wheel at Icon Park is a 400-foot-high commentary wheel that takes 23 minutes to do a full rotation. This is without doubt one of the extra fashionable issues to do in Orlando at evening. Make certain to cease on the Sky Bar to choose up some bubbly or beer in your trip. The pods are air-conditioned and maintain up to 15 folks.
You can get your tickets in advance – Enjoy the town views from the pod with this versatile ticket that permits you to go to when it fits your schedule. You can improve to embody eating experiences or actions comparable to tickets to the Starflyer, Madame Tussauds Orlando, or SEA LIFE Orlando.(straightforward cancellation for full refund inside 24 hours of ticket entry)
18. WonderWorks
WonderWorks is a enjoyable interactive science middle with sights just like the Space Discovery Zone, Extreme Weather Zone, The Physical Challenge Zone, and the Imagination Lab. It is an indoor amusement park for the thoughts! It has 100 interactive reveals from the indoor ropes problem
19. Escape Game
Escape Game on International Drive was rated the #1 Escape Room in Orlando should you love escape rooms. It has 7 Orlando escape rooms for all talent ranges, together with a jail break, the heist, Gold Rush, and Mission to Mars. There is free parking, and you may mix it with different International Drive sights, adopted by dinner or a trip on The Wheel at ICON Park.
20. I-Ride Trolley
The I-Ride Trolley is an effective way to get round International Drive. A single fare is $2 per trip, however it’s best to get a day cross. Day passes vary from sooner or later for $5 limitless rides to 3,5,7 and 14-day passes. See the I-Ride Trolley for Details.
21. Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Wax Museums have endured the many years. There’s one thing that pulls folks to well-known wax figures when on trip and Orlando has stuffed that requirement by having its personal Madame Tussauds. If you’re into that, test it out.
For extra Florida journey data, you might have considered trying to try these articles.
22. Church Street
Most folks don’t consider spending time downtown Orlando on their Florida holidays, however there are many issues to see and do. Church Street is the center of downtown with the perfect eating places and nightlife. Make your means to the East End Market to see artwork, meals and fruit and greens from throughout Central Florida or benefit from the bistros and cafes of Thornton Park. Downtown Orlando can be house to the Amway Sports Arena that’s house to the NBA Basketball Team, the Orlando Magic.
23. Fringe ArtSpace
The latest attraction in downtown Orlando is the Orlando Fringe at Fringe ArtSpace. The 9100 sq. foot house is a 12 months spherical performing arts venue with two theatre areas. A essential stage and the smaller black field venue. Make certain to test it out to see its applications of concert events and theatres plus pop up occasions and workshops.
24. Amway Center
If you’re a basketball fan, head over to the Amway Center and choose up some tickets to see the Orlando Magic, Orlando’s NBA crew. Winners of six division championships, that is one fashionable crew! If you’ll be able to’t get tickets to a sport, try a live performance on the enviornment, there are common occasions, and performances and the hockey crew Orlando Solar Bears name the Amway Center house as effectively.
25. Lake Eola Park
Located in the center of downtown, Lake Eola is sort of a mile of waterfront sidewalks circling a picturesque lake. The Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, aka Centennial Fountain, is the official image of Orlando. This serene park is a well-liked place for concert events and eating. You can lease paddleboards in the park as effectively.
26. Orlando Science Center
Nearly each main metropolis in the world has a science middle and Orlando is not any exception. These interactive museums are an effective way to spark curiosity in science and know-how for the little ones and to escape the warmth. ona sizzling Florida day. Everybody loves the Kinetic Zone providing an introduction to physics or going again hundreds of thousands of years to the age of the dinosaurs. It has all of it. Science is cool man.
27. Orlando Museum of Art
Just since you are visiting the theme park capital of the world doesn’t imply you don’t require a little bit of tradition. The Orlando Museum of Art is a contemporary artwork museum housing the whole lot from native artists to French basic artists like Cézanne and Gauguin.
28. Titanic Artifact Museum
For Titanic Lovers, the Artifact Exhibition in Orlando homes practically 200 artifacts from the Titanic recovered by RMS Titanic Inc. We are all the time fascinated with Titanic exhibitions. We’ve been to the Titanic Museum in Belfast the place the Titanic left from its port and in Halifax the place the foremost rescue and restoration happened on the time of its sinking off the coast.
Get your tickets in advance to Titanic Artifact Museum – See artifacts recovered from the Titanic and immerse in the expertise by means of full-scale recreations of her Grand Staircase, First Class Cabin and extra whereas actors in interval costumes painting Titanic notables.
29. Morse Museum of American Art
See the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, an American Art Nouveau artist, and designer who was the son of the founding father of Tiffany and Company. He is most well-known for working with glass designing lamps, stained glass home windows and mosaics. He was additionally the primary design director of Tiffany & Co.
This museum showcases his glass works together with a chapel inside that was on show on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
30. Harry P Leu Botanical Gardens
Another tropical oasis simply minutes from downtown Orlando is the Harry P Leu Gardens. This 50 acre park is a good escape in case you are on the lookout for one thing totally different to do in Orlando. There’s a butterfly backyard, a tropical rainforest and quite a lot of unique vegetation from all over the world.
Things to do Near Orlando
My dad and mom spend their winters in Winter Haven. Located 1 hour south of Orlando, it’s a fashionable Snowbird vacation spot and there are fairly a number of issues to do right here to add to your Orlando itinerary. My dad made some extent of telling me that if I ever wrote about issues to do in Orlando, I need to embody these different Central Florida sights. So let’s test them out.
31. Kennedy Space Center
With Elon Musk and Richard Branson beginning up the house race once more, curiosity in house journey is at an all time excessive. The Kennedy Space Center has been attracting guests to Cape Canaveral for many years. Check out the astronaut coaching middle and the Apollo / Saturn V race to the moon. There are loads of interactive shows and outdated rockets and house craft available.
Pick up your skip the road tickets to the Kennedy Space Center for entry to many reveals together with, Space Shuttle Atlantis, Shuttle Launch Experience, Rocket Garden, and IMAX Spacefilms. This Kennedy Space Center Day Trip contains transportation from Orlando, Kissimee, Disney and Lake Buena Vista areas and with entry to Kennedy Space Centre sights and a go to to restricted areas.
32. Old Town Kissimmee
Step again in time and go to the Old Town of Kissimee. This city is modelled after a basic Florida city full of eating places, outlets and tree lined streets resembling a bygone period. Make certain you go to on a Saturday evening for the Saturday Nite Classic Car Cruise and take a trip on the Old Town’s iconic Ferris Wheel.
33. Tree Trek Adventure Park
If you’re on the lookout for an journey, the Tree Trek Adventure Park is enjoyable for the entire household. Experience arial challenges above the forest cover and an enormous 425 foot lengthy zip line. There are programs for all ranges together with 2 youngsters programs and grownup programs ranging in top and problem. Tackle the silver impediment course for the final word problem.
Tree Trek Adventure Park is situated at 7625 Sinclair Rd in Kissimmee, Florida 34747
34. Winter Park
When touring round throughout a go to with my dad and mom, we stopped in Winter Park and my first thought was “mom and dad should buy a place here!” This Orange County metropolis is full of parks and its essential road Park Avenue has loads of procuring and eating. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is certainly one of Orlando’s prime sights taking guests by means of seven lakes and two canals.
Winter Park has an upscale feeling that’s fully totally different from the Disney and Universal sights. It is a means to expertise Orlando like an area with upscale eating, wonderful artwork museums and 2,781 acres of pristine waterways.
35. Bok Tower Gardens
This stunning day journey from the town is situated between Tampa and Orlando. Birders love Bok Tower Gardens with its 126 totally different species of birds, making it a chosen cease on the Great Florida Birding Trail. There are 50 acres of gardens, together with a youngsters’s backyard across the neo-Gothic Singing Tower carillon. There are solely 600 carillons in the world! Professional Carillonneurs play this bell tower. It’s value visiting for this alone!
36. Legoland
Legoland has come a good distance child and Legoland Florida is a mix theme park and waterpark in one. This is certainly a park for the entire household. A really cool truth is that Legoland is on the positioning of the previous Cypress Gardens which was well-known for its water exhibits since 1939. While Cypress Gardens is formally closed, it lives on in Legoland’s Botanical Gardens the place the enormous Cypress tree nonetheless stands.
Leggoland’s latest attraction is opening quickly. Pirate River Quest is a treasure hunt journey that sees company observe a pirate in search of treasure by means of the waters of Cypress Gardens to discover its canals.
37. Florida Everglades Tours
Exploring the Florida Everglades is an exhilarating day journey from Orlando, simply three hours away. This huge, pure wetland is a prime attraction for guests in search of an journey past the town’s theme parks. Book this Everglades tour to see alligators, birds and the surroundings as you skim by means of the excessive grass of the Everglades.
Tours of the Everglades are extremely fashionable and extremely seemingly to promote out providing an up-close have a look at this distinctive ecosystem by means of airboat rides, which glide over the marshes, offering a chance to spot alligators, unique birds, and native flora.
Guided excursions are advisable to absolutely recognize the world’s wealthy biodiversity and to study in regards to the Everglades’ ecological significance. Besides airboat rides, guests can have interaction in mountaineering, chook watching, and images, immersing themselves in the tranquility of nature. This tour provides a refreshing distinction to the same old Orlando itinerary, making it a must-do for these wanting to expertise Florida’s wild facet.
38. Blue Spring State Park
Located 45 minutes exterior of Orlando in Orange City, Blue Spring State Park isn’t to be missed. It is the premier place to view manatees as they make their means up the St. Johns River throughout the winter months to keep away from the chilly ocean waters. The pure springs stay a balmey 72 levels all through the winter. Take a stroll alongside the 1.3-mile boardwalk to see manatees swimming. You may get in the water at Blue Spring State Park and do some swimming, paddle boarding and river tubing in designated areas.
39. Manatee Day Trip
One of the perfect methods to rise up shut and private with Manatees is to take a tour in the Great Outdoors. If the Manatees aren’t in Blue Spring State Park (since they’re solely there seasonally) you’ll be able to go to Homosassa State Park to see the Manatees of Crystal River. It additionally features a 30 Minute airboat trip on the Withlacoochee River.
Visiting animals in their pure habitat is our most well-liked means of experiencing wildlife. We counsel airboat excursions, kayaking excursions or snorkeling excursions over locations such because the Central Florida Zoo, SeaWorld or Gatorland.
40. Animal Welfare
We are usually not followers of zoos and don’t suppose that animals must be placed on show for folks’s leisure. We want visiting sanctuaries and seeing animals in their pure habitat. However, we wished to embody these animal sights as different Orlando guides point out them and we would like to give our opinion so as to make up your individual minds.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – When it comes to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we’d quite see lions on the African savanna quite than in a theme park. I do know not everybody can do that, however there are superb digital actuality and documentaries on the market. But at the very least Disney provides animals loads of room to roam. Disney says that it celebrates the earth’s animals plus a number of from Avatar’s Pandora. We personally, haven’t been to Animal Kingdom and like to take pleasure in animal encounters in the wild.
Seaworld Orlando – We by no means suggest a go to to Seaworld Orlando. While they declare to do a variety of conservation and rescues, they put marine life on show for human leisure and this isn’t proper. It causes stress on marine life to have to carry out and work together with strangers. I want Seaworld would change.
SEA Life Orlando Aquarium
If you need to go to an aquarium, SEA Life Orlando Aquarium is the best choice. Unlike conventional marine parks like SeaWorld, SEA Life locations a powerful emphasis on schooling and conservation.
The aquarium is famend for its efforts in rescuing and rehabilitating injured marine animals, together with its initiatives to shield ocean habitats. Visitors can discover quite a lot of reveals that showcase a variety of marine species, from colourful fish to majestic sea turtles, in environments that mimic their pure habitats. Interactive experiences, such because the 360-degree ocean tunnel, provide an immersive means to find out about marine ecosystems and the significance of preserving them.
Does Orlando have Beaches?
While Orlando itself isn’t house to seashores, it’s ideally positioned inside driving distance of a few of Florida’s most picturesque coastlines. To escape the Florida warmth, a day on the seashore is simply the ticket. Just an hour’s drive east, guests can attain the Atlantic shores of Cocoa Beach, well-known for its surf-friendly waves and family-friendly environment. A two-hour journey west leads to the Gulf Coast’s Clearwater Beach.
And these are simply a few of the incredible sights in Orlando. After visiting many times, we all the time discover one thing new. Florida has catered to vacationers down to a science and the folks in cost are perpetually pondering of recent methods to entice guests to the State. And a fantastic place to begin is Orlando!
Orlando is a incredible trip vacation spot for the entire household. With world-class leisure, wonderful location for day journeys, and limitless Orlando actions, it’s the proper vacation spot to go to Central Florida’s prime sights. Or you by no means want to depart the town, the chances are limitless.
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