Check out the best tips of things to do at Disney World and Orlando! We have listed all the places you can not miss when you’re visiting the city. In addition to the many theme parks, there are beaches, museums, nature parks and much more to discover! Here is a list of the main attractions of this city:
After reading this article, check out our tips about how to save a lot of money on your trip to Orlando. It is the most accessed article on our blog and will help you with all the trip planning. There are several unmissable tips that will save you A LOT of cash and set up your entire trip to Orlando.
1) Discover the theme parks in Orlando: Disney, Universal and Sea World
When it comes to what to do in Orlando, you can’t help thinking about theme parks. The Walt Disney World Orlando complex, just one of them, is huge! We will mention here the most famous parks that exist in Orlando:
– Magic Kingdom Park
Disney Magic Kingdom Park is the main and most famous park in Walt Disney World and in the world. It is where you will find all the Disney characters like Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and all the princesses and cartoon characters. In the Magic Kingdom Park is the famous Cinderella castle, known all over the world and where the incredible Disney fireworks show, which takes place every day at the close of the park, and is the greatest attraction in Orlando. The Magic Kingdom is undoubtedly Disney’s main park and the first on our list.
– Disney Epcot
Disney Epcot is considered the park of the future. With technological toys and attractions, it is the park of dreams for those who like technology, space and curiosities about the future. The first area of Epcot is responsible for the futuristic fame, and have attractions, souvenir shops and food options. It’s where you’ll find the famous SpaceShip Earth, inside the “Epcot Ball”. It has even received the title of the second most photographed tourist spot in the world, just behind the Eiffel Tower.
– Hollywood Studios
Disney Hollywood Studios is the park that tells the story of cinema and the whole story of Walt Disney and its classics. There you will find the Ghostbusters’ car, Aladdin, Beast, Pocahontas or the friendly Woody from Toy Story. Disney Hollywood Studios has really cool musicals for children, like the one of the Little Mermaid and the one of Beauty and the Beast, which are beautiful. Not to mention Aerosmith’s Roller Coaster, which is the most radical of all Disney parks. The big highlight now a days are the Star Wars attractions, which include day shows with special effects, an amazing night fireworks show, a simulator and meetings with characters from the movies. Be sure to visit this park.
– Disney Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park is the largest of all Disney theme parks – five times larger than the Magic Kingdom. The concept of this park is totally different and it explores animal life. At Animal Kingdom Park, all attractions are related to animals and wildlife. It is a safari park where you will take pictures with animals, go on a jungle safari and have fun with some toys. There is the Kilimanjaro safari, the Everest roller coaster, an attraction from the movie “A Bug’s Life” and an evening show called Rivers of Light. And, of course, the magical World of Pandora, from Avatar movie.
– Universal Studios Park in Orlando
Universal Studios Orlando Park is the second largest theme park in Orlando. It is undoubtedly one of the best and most fun parks in Orlando, especially for young people and adults. It has radical attractions and simulators, all about the main Hollywood films. It is at Universal Studios Park that you will find the Simpsons, Men in Black, Shrek, the Mummy and many other characters attractions. And now there’s still the Harry Potter themed area, with Diagon Alley. Without a doubt it is one of the best parks in Orlando.
– Islands Of Adventure Park in Orlando
The Islands of Adventure park, at the Universal complex, has very different attractions full of special effects, which came out of Steven Spielberg’s imagination. Islands Of Adventure is a fully themed park and has very radical things to do. For those who like superheroes, the park is full of attractions, such as the famous Hulk roller coaster and Marvel superheroes elevator, besides the famous Harry Potter world: there’s the Hogwarts Express, which connects the two Harry Potter themed areas of the two Universal parks, and it’s really cool to see.
– Sea World Park
Sea World in Orlando is one of the best parks in the city, and it’s worth a visit. There is the famous roller coaster Manta, which imitates the movement of a stingray, and Mako, a roller coaster quite radical. There is also the Kraken, the largest roller coaster in the city, the dolphin and whale shows, an attraction where you can get a close look at the penguins etc. The park is very nice, with attractions for children, young people and adults.
2) Cool off in Orlando’s water parks
Another item that cannot be left out of your list of things to do in Orlando, if you are going in the summer, is the water parks. There are two water parks at Disney, which are Blizzard Beach and Thypoon Lagoon, and one at Universal, which is Volcano Bay. All are smaller than “normal” parks, so they are cheaper, but equally fun, with different types of pools, water slides, currents, etc. There is also Legoland Water Park, which is Lego’s children’s water park, and Discovery Cove, which is a most exclusive park and one of the most beautiful in the world, with dives and interaction with marine life – that’s where you can swim with the dolphins.
3) Visit Disney Springs
Disney Springs in Orlando is one of the coolest things to do in the city. It is a Disney entertainment complex, and is full of wonderful shops, restaurants and super cool attractions for you to enjoy. Not to mention the local entertainment shows. It is a very nice place to visit, and people use to go there at night, after visiting the theme parks. Disney Springs has cool bars for a beer and several stores, including World Of Disney, which is the largest Disney store in Orlando.
4) Enjoy the night at Universal CityWalk
For those who think that Orlando is just theme parks: you are wrong. Orlando has some of the best clubs and bars in the world. The main tip is the Universal CityWalk Orlando entertainment center, which is right at the entrance to the two Universal parks and is a huge region, with a lake in the middle, very beautiful. There are several bars, restaurants and shops that are really cool to visit. For those who want to dine or just have a beer, there are good options like the Hard Rock Café, the NBA Restaurant and the Bumba Gump, which is the movie’s themed restaurant.
For those who are travelling without children or with older children, it is the best place to go out in Orlando. There is always a show or DJ playing and it is very lively. The city of Orlando has nightclubs of all kinds to suit all tastes, and has a lot to do at night in Orlando.
5) Do a lot of shopping in Orlando
Orlando is one of the best places to shop in the world. The prices are really cheap and the city has great shopping malls and outlets with the best stores that sell everything, quality products and a lot of variety. There are also electronics stores in Orlando, with smartphones, Apple products, notebooks, tablets, video games and accessories for much cheaper. You can also find releases that have not even arrived here yet, and at much lower prices. It is truly a shopper’s paradise.
For those who want to do a lot of shopping, Premium Orlando Outlets are the best option. It is the largest chain of outlets in the city! But of course there are also malls, such as Shopping Florida Mall Orlando, which is the largest mall in Florida. If you intend to shop, set aside at least two full days for this activity, as you spend at least one day to get to know these huge outlets that have more than 300 stores. It is important to devote a lot of time to this activity.
6) Explore Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando is the financial and commercial center of the city. In the morning, its wide green areas allow people to stroll through pleasant and natural environments, while at night, the region has one of the most exciting nightlife in the city. It is there that Lake Eola Park is located, which has a 1.4 km trail around a lake and swan pedal boats for rent. And also Church Street Station, a street in Downtown with several entertainment options with several restaurants, interesting stores and concert halls.
Finally, in Downton there is also Harry P. Leu Gardens. It is a pleasant park of 20 hectares, with beautiful gardens, beds of herbs that perfume the place and many flowers. If you are in Orlando in the spring, you will probably see several rose bushes. The park opens daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
7) Visit Orlando museums
Museums in Orlando are a good choice for those who want to escape a little from the conventional theme parks and shopping in the city. The city has cultural centers for families, groups of friends and even couples, with an extensive cultural section that is very worth visiting. They are attractions for all tastes, from the craziest to the most serious. In addition to Madame Tussauds, which we will talk about later, see the main museums in Orlando:
– Orlando Museum of Art
The Orlando Museum of Art is one of Orlando’s best-known museums and one of the best in the southern United States. It has a huge collection of African and American pieces, with works of antiquity and contemporaneity. Worth the visit for admirers of art. Take advantage of the fact that it is close to other attractions and also visit Loch Haven Park itself, where the museum is located, which has three lakes and yields beautiful photos.
– WonderWorks Orlando Museum
The WonderWorks Orlando Museum gives tourists more than 100 attractions that mix education with creativity, entertainment and imagination. Visitors can feel like they are in the middle of an earthquake or hurricane, and even feel the sea temperature on the night the Titanic sank. They can also use a simulator where you build your own roller coaster and then ride it. There are many fun and impressive experiences, divided into categories such as natural disasters, space, psychological experiences and the laboratory of the imagination. It is the ideal tour to entertain children, teenagers and adults, recommended for all age groups.
– Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Orlando Museum
The Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Orlando Museum seeks to surprise all its visitors with its unusual attractions. It is divided into 16 galleries and contains the most surprising things, such as a piece of the Berlin Wall and a replica of Monalisa made entirely of toast. There is also a picture of Beyoncé made of jelly beans and a statue of the tallest man in the world, in addition to interactive areas. It is similar to Wonderworks in some ways.
8) Watch an incredible sports game or show in Orlando
We love watching sports games and shows when we travel to Orlando. Even for those who do not like sports, it is a spectacle apart and an incredible experience to see the culture of Americans up close. The stadiums are beautiful, the matches are organized, and everything is always very lively. We have already researched a lot and a cool site to buy tickets for all games, in addition to the shows (there are always many) in the United States is this tickets website. It is one of the largest sites in the world, and has all the shows and championship events in the United States and the world.
It was also the site where we found cheaper tickets and the easier way to buy. In this link, you already can inform your travel date and it will show you all the games that will take place while you are there. We have already warned you that the coolest games to watch are the NBA (Basketball) and NFL (American Football) games. The NHL (Ice Hockey) and the MLB (Baseball) are also very interesting championships.
Watching a Orlando City football game, for example, is one of the most fun family things to do in Orlando. Watching a sport match in another country is very interesting to see how people relate to the teams. Orlando City plays in the Florida Citrus Bowl, which is located close to Interstate 4, one of the main roads that cross Orlando. Nobody thinks to include this tour in the list of things to do in Orlando, but it is worth it.
9) Visit I-Drive 360 in Orlando
I-Drive 360 is a complex of attractions in Orlando with several attractions, museums, aquarium, restaurants and famous stores, located on International Drive. Because it is on Orlando’s main avenue and has incredible attractions, the I-Drive has become a reference for everyone, and is very popular with tourists in Orlando. Check out its main attractions:
– Orlando Eye on I-Drive 360
Those who walk by International Drive can easily see the huge Orlando Eye Ferris Wheel, which is the main attraction of the complex. It is one of the largest ferris wheels in the world and has large cabins where several people enter together and can see an incredible view of the entire city of Orlando. The project was inspired by the London Eye Ferris Wheel, which is located in London and is considered the largest in the world, which is why it is called the Orlando Eye Ferris Wheel.
The tour lasts between 10 and 20 minutes and from up there you can see some theme parks and the whole city. The ferris wheel is 120 meters high, and there are a total of 30 capsules, each of which can fit 15 people. Before walking on it, you can see a 10-minute 4D film, which shows the construction and history of this attraction.
– Madame Tussauds Orlando Museum on I-Drive 360
The Madame Tussauds Wax museum in Orlando is a really cool place to visit. For those who do not know, Madame Tussauds is a series of wax museums famous worldwide, which reproduce celebrities and famous people on wax dolls that look like real ones. Orlando’s Madame Tussauds has characters who have made history and success in the United States and in films known around the world. It has over 2,000 square meters and over 40 wax celebrities.
It is divided into themes, starting with dolls from world leaders who made history as some presidents of the United States. Then there are the idols of the sport and then the singers who conquered the world. The most popular dolls are the ones of Barack Obama, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Kate Perry, Vin Diesel and Brad Pitt.
– Sea Life Orlando Aquarium on I-Drive 360
The Sea Life Aquarium in Orlando is one of the major attractions in the city. It is also located within the I-Drive 360 Orlando complex, and has more than 5,000 marine animals, including fish, sharks, rays and turtles. What draws the most attention in the aquarium are the huge tunnels under the water, which pass through thematic places that simulate the habitat of marine animals. Its construction was made to impress visitors and create maximum proximity between people and marine animals.
There are several sessions that are called Dive Stations, and you go from one to one, following an order. The kids are fascinated and it’s a really cool place to take the little ones. I-Drive 360 Orlando is truly an entertainment center and also has several shops and restaurants.
10) Discover the Gatorland Park in Orlando
The Gatorland Park in Orlando is an alligator theme park with attractions about (and around) these animals. In addition to attractions and fake alligators, the gigantic area of Gatorland also has dozens of huge alligators that live there, as well as other animals such as turtles and birds.
Gatorland also offers shows with alligator interaction: there is the “Gator Jumparoo Show”, where trainers give food to alligators and they jump very high to get the meat; the show “Up Close Encounters” where some people from the audience are chosen to touch animals such as snakes, spiders and alligators; and “Gator Wrestlin”, where a trainer climbs on top of a large alligator and closes his mouth with his hands, among other attractions.
11) Take a Disney Cruise Trip
In addition to the theme parks, Disney has a fleet of ships that take incredible cruise trips. They are Disney themed cruises with Mickey, Goofy, princesses and the whole Disney gang inside the ship. The main ones are the Disney Dream Cruise and Disney Fantasy, which leave Miami. They are luxurious and huge transatlantic ships, all themed with charming Disney decor, attractions for all tastes and ages such as shows and games, in addition to the characters that are scattered around the Ship.
Cruising with Mickey, Goofy, Donald Duck, princesses and all the other characters is truly an unique experience, and Disney Cruise Line knows how to do it like no one else. It’s a really cool option to include on your Orlando to-do list if you have a few days left.
12) Have a day trip to Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens in Orlando is a park that has the largest roller coasters in the world and cannot be left out of the list of the best theme parks in Orlando. It is located in Tampa, about 90 kilometers from the city of Orlando, approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by car. This park was just a zoo, with the intention of teaching its visitors about the protection of wildlife. However, later on, other attractions were added to the park, such as the world-famous roller coasters Kumba, Montu and Sheikra, as well as new attractions, shows, restaurants and shops. It is the most radical and exciting Orlando theme park, ideal for roller coaster lovers.
13) Discover the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando
The Kennedy Space Center in Orlando is NASA’s official space center, and is open to tourists as an theme park. It is located on an island called Cape Canaveral, close to Orlando – an hour away by car. The area where the center is located is completely isolated due to the tests. The NASA Space Center is known worldwide as “NASA Park” and is the place from which NASA space shuttles, rockets and satellites are launched. In addition, Kennedy Space Center also receives millions of visitors a year for exhibitions and cool activities to do there.
14) Spend a day at Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, a popular Florida tourist city, is 1 hour away from Orlando and has many attractions such as beaches and cultural places. The city is also well known for having the headquarters of NASCAR, being the stage for the main races and championships of the Stock Car, such as the Daytona International Speedway. In addition, Daytona has some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, which are a great option to spend the day and rest for a while.
Tips to make the most of your trip to Orlando
Now that you’ve seen everything about the best things to do in Orlando and Disney World, a great tip that makes the difference on your trip is to choose the location of your hotel. Orlando is a big city, and it’s so much better to stay in a region close to the main tourist spots. See our article best areas to stay in your trip to Orlando to learn about the best regions to stay there and how to get a great hotel for an excellent price (and find good deals). You will stay in the best region, close to the parks and outlets, and enjoy even more your trip!
Orlando’s parks, outlets and tourist spots are very far apart, which is why the tourists always choose to rent a car in the city. With a car, you will be able to enjoy your trip even more, visiting everywhere and shopping with peace of mind. If you want, see our article how to rent a great and cheap car in Orlando, where we give you every information that you need to know about this subject, with tips about how to find unique prices using comparators. It ‘s much cheaper than people think, and it is worth it because Orlando is definitively a city to explore by car.
How can I use my phone in Orlando?
Being able to use your cell phone on your trip is something extremely useful. With it working, you can search about all the spots, access the discount coupons and park apps, check the weather and even use the GPS, saving the rent of this equipment for the car. Besides, of course, being connected to the various social networks!
We have selected the best tips about how to use your phone in Orlando, in which we indicate the cheapest way to use it all day long and anywhere in the entire country. With the mobile internet, you can search everything about the best things to do in Orlando and Disney World!
Where is the cheapest place to buy Orlando tickets?
Many people don’t know where (and even when) to buy Disney and Orlando tickets. We’ve done a lot of research and find out where is the cheapest place to buy Orlando parks tickets. We always buy our tickets there! It’s where you’ll find the best prices and where you can buy all the tickets, for all the parks and attractions at once, in the same place.
Don’t forget about the Travel Insurance for Orlando!
A very important tip is to have an International Travel Insurance before traveling to Orlando. No one should travel without it, so you can avoid major problems abroad! It ends up being cheaper than people think, and in our article of International Travel Insurance for Orlando you check everything you need to know about it: which are the best insurance companies, and tips for hiring excellent coverage for a lower price, saving a lot.
Must-see articles from Orlando:
- Best places to go shopping in Orlando: a complete guide to shopping in Orlando.
- Orlando’s Best Parks: all the main parks in Orlando.
- Walt Disney World Parks in Orlando: the incredible parks of Disney World.
