Found in the south of the United States and the center of Florida, Orlando is the city to visit for families and thrill-seekers thanks to the number of famous theme parks found here. Resorts and parks such as Universal Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld, and more are among one of the most popular things to do in Orlando, Florida.
Movie fans everywhere are more than familiar with Universal Orlando Resort. It is home to various theme parks and rides inspired by famous shows and films like The Simpsons, Transformers, The Mummy, and more. Harry Potter fans can also visit Hogwarts and ride the roller coaster at Gringotts Bank in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Visit just before the Christmas holidays to avoid busy crowds.
This renowned entertainment complex is one of the many Orlando tourist attractions that will surely make any traveler’s dreams come true. Walt Disney World® Resort includes various parks inside the attraction, like Magic Kingdom Park, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and more! Tourists can also enter the newly built Star Wars land! Just don’t forget to avail of a fast pass so that you can revel in that Disney magic and take advantage of the resort’s many attractions.
Magic Kingdom is one of the theme parks found inside Walt Disney World Resort. This is where tourists can bring out their inner child or make new memories with their kids. Embark on iconic Disneyland rides such as Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and more. Visitors can end their day by watching the fireworks light up the sky in the evening, against the backdrop of Sleeping Beauty’s magnificent castle.
Also found in Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot is an educational theme park where its visitors can hop from one country to another without leaving Orlando! The attractions here feature different exhibitions of countries, like Germany, France, Japan, and China. Epcot also has futuristic rides and attractions, such as Mission: SPACE, Soarin’ Around the World, and the EPCOT Future Experience. This park allows tourists to learn about culture and phenomenal technological innovation.
SeaWorld Orlando is the place to go for anyone looking to learn about marine wildlife and the various animal species living in the oceans and seas. Kids and adults alike would be amazed seeing real orcas, penguins, sharks, and dolphins up close! Travelers can also see these magnificent creatures perform awesome shows in different attractions. It’s the perfect opportunity to be closer to nature and educate yourselves about how intelligent marine animals truly are.
One of the things to do in Orlando that any tourist can’t miss is to head to Universal Studios Florida, found inside the Universal Orlando Resort complex. Here, you can “ride the movies” from The Mummy to Fast and Furious, go on studio tours, or watch different live shows such as The Bourne Stuntacular, Fear Factor Live, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard among others. Every Hollywood movie fan or TV show aficionado has to drop by Universal Studios Florida at least once in their lifetime.
Another park found inside Universal Orlando Resort is Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This one is for the adrenaline junkies, because all the thrill rides are found here, including The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts - both being extreme roller coaster rides. Visitors can also say hi to their famous costumed heroes at Marvel Super Hero Island or go on an exhilarating river journey at the Jurassic Park ride. There’s just too many attractions to choose from!
Situated within Walt Disney World Resort is Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a park for movie and TV show lovers as well! Head over to the much-anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and meet stormtroopers in full gear. Younger kids can laugh their hearts out while watching Muppet Vision 3D, an interactive show. Want some thrills and chills? Try the Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror for that famous deadly elevator drop. Both adults and kids are going to have a blast in this theme park.
This wildlife-themed park is also found in the Walt Disney World Resort complex, where visitors can pretend they’re in a jungle or forest interacting with their favorite Disney animal characters, like Flik from A Bug’s Life, Simba from The Lion King, Dory from Finding Nemo, and more. Older guests can head to Pandora, the setting of the film Avatar, and try out attractions based on the popular James Cameron movie. Aside from rides, travelers can also enjoy interactive shows or dine in rainforest-inspired restaurants.
From the same company of SeaWorld and Aquatica Orlando is Discovery Cove, an educational theme park and resort where families can get up close and personal with animals. Visitors may go on a dolphin encounter, snorkel with stingrays, meet otters, or feed the birds in the park! It’s a place where travelers can both relax and try out the different activities the place has to offer.
Orlando has been renowned for having the most famous resorts and theme parks on the planet, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. These attractions have numerous rides and theme parks themselves, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Magic Kingdom Park, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Epcot, and more! Orlando is really best for families, children, and kids-at-heart.
Popular times to visit Orlando would be during March to April in Spring, as well as June to August in the summer, or the holidays in December. Catch moderate crowds and cooler weather (as Orlando can be hot and sunny especially during summer) during November, when it isn’t too busy and prices aren’t at their peak. Travelers can keep Epcot’s flower festival (March to May) and food festival (September to November) in mind when planning visits, too!
The best location to stay is within the Central Business District, also known as Downtown. It’s filled with modern buildings and commercial areas that travelers can explore, including restaurants, pubs, city centers, and more. The district is also not too far of a drive from Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World.