In Orlando you could spend entire weeks doing different things and your plans would never end. This is without a doubt one of the capitals of fun in the United States (and these people know how to have fun, we assure you). If you are planning your trip and feel overwhelmed by the number of options, don’t panic! Below we tell you the 20 best things to see and do in Orlando, the ones you can’t miss for anything in the world.
Article written by our friends Fernando and Paloma, they are really nice 🙂
Qué ver y hacer en Orlando
Orlando is, along with Miami, the most important city in the US state of Florida and is considered one of the meccas of amusement parks around the world. Places as fun, spectacular and magical as Disney World Resort and Universal Resort Orlando are located in this city and attract millions of visitors every year.
But Orlando is much more than Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter and company and here we are going to tell you about the 20 essential things to do in Orlando. Put on some cream, some comfortable shoes and let's hit the road! And if you have more time, plan one of these day trips from Orlando.
1. Vive la magia en el Walt Disney World Resort
Let's start at the beginning. If there's one thing you have to do in Orlando, it's visiting "the most magical place on earth." That's exactly what they say when you arrive at Walt Disney World Resort, and we couldn't agree more!
Here you'll feel like a kid again at Magic Kingdom, be amazed by the floating mountains of Pandora at Animal Kingdom, become a true Jedi at Hollywood Studios, and discover how Walt Disney himself imagined the cities of the future at Epcot. These are just a few of the thousands of things you can do within its 4 theme parks.
⭐ You can get your 1- to 10-day Park Hopper pass for Walt Disney World online to jump from park to park whenever you want!
2. Get your adrenaline pumping at Universal Resort Orlando parks
If Disney World is magical, the parks of the famous film studios are not far behind, and that's never been better said. It is made up of two amusement parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and they are located southwest of Orlando. If you don't have a way to get there, you can sign up for this excursion to Universal Orlando Resort on your own.
Here you will feel like one of the students of Hogwarts and you will accompany Hagrid in his famous Sidecar, you will be able to catch Martians in the purest MIB style, return to the future in the authentic Delorean and eat a Krusty Burger accompanied by a Duff beer at Moe's Bar to replenish your energy. And for the bravest there is the brutal acceleration of the VelociCoaster, the fastest roller coaster in all of Orlando. We already told you that these parks promise!
⭐ You can buy the ticket to the Universal Resort Orlando parks in advance.
3. Get wet at one of Orlando's best water parks
Orlando's weather is quite hot, so there's nothing better than spending at least one day at one of its water parks. Within the Disney World Resort you have Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach, two ideal options for family fun in Orlando.
Universal Resort also has one, Universal's Volcano Bay, which has, in our humble opinion, the best water attraction, the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, an amazing ride down slides that runs through the park's emblem, its large volcano.
This plan is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Orlando and if you decide to go, we recommend checking the weather forecast beforehand, since some days, especially during hurricane season in Florida (between June and November) the water parks may be closed.
4. Have a great time at Universal Citywalk
Universal calls this area the “Epicenter of the Incredible” so you can already get an idea of what awaits you. Among numerous shops and restaurants, there are activities and shows, all based on the best films from the film studios.
It is located at the entrance of the two theme parks of Universal Orlando Resort, it opens from 8am to 12am and you do not need a ticket to the parks since access is free and parking is free after 6pm (except in the month of October when Halloween Horror Nights are held).
The most outstanding restaurants are undoubtedly the famous Hard Rock Café and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. And for those with a sweet tooth, there is the new The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, an incredible chocolate factory.
If you see a lot of people leaving the parks with a pink box in their hand, you should know that inside they contain the wonders of the Voodoo Doughnut. Here we ordered, among other things, their legendary Bacon Maple Bar®, yes, you read that right, a Doughnut with BACON! That's why they call this land "The home of the brave".
* Tip: To avoid the queues at Voodoo Doughnut you can order through the Universal APP and schedule it to pick it up directly at the time that best suits you.
We finish the visit at Universal's brand new Great Movie Escape, a different Escape Room where you will be transported into the movies like you never imagined before. You will find yourself in a secret genetics laboratory and must use your wits to avoid becoming prey in Jurassic World: Escape. And you will also get into the skin of Marty McFly to prevent the evil Biff Tannen from sabotaging the timeline in Back to the Future: OUTATIME. Crazy!
5. Be amazed at Disney Springs
Similar to Universal's Citywalk, Disney Springs is a shopping and entertainment area where you can have a fun time in Orlando. It's also the perfect place to visit the huge World of Disney store and buy some Mickey Mouse ears so you're not the only one not wearing them, Donald Duck's cap, and even a Jedi sword like Luke Skywalker and Master Obi-Wan's in Star Wars.
Take a stroll through the Coca Cola Store if you're curious about how the quintessential American drink tastes in other countries around the world, and if you want to know which are the best cookies in all of Florida, go to Gideon's Bakehouse.
Be amazed by the decor of the T-Rex Café and Rainforest restaurants, the latter of which is easy to recognize as you'll see it under a large erupting volcano. And the famous Spanish Chef José Andrés has one of his JALEO restaurants here, in case you miss Spanish cuisine. As a personal experience, we tried the D-Luxe Burger which, with permission from The White Castle, was one of the best burgers we tried in Orlando.
Admission is free, as is Universal's CityWalk, you don't need a park ticket and if you go by car, parking is free. It is very easy to get there from downtown Orlando via the well-known Interstate 4 and taking exit 68. There is an alternative route via I-Drive to the Vineland Road exit in case you find a lot of traffic on Interstate 4.
6. Get to know downtown Orlando
There is more to life than just the theme parks. Another thing to see and do in Orlando is to take a stroll around the city centre, starting from Lake Eola Park, the true heart of the city. It has large garden areas perfect for an improvised picnic and a lake where you can rent a swan-shaped boat. It is not surprising that it is one of the favourite places for locals.
Although it may sound cliché, if you are in the USA, do not miss the opportunity to attend an NBA game, the best basketball league in the world. To do so, you only have to go to the Amway Center located on Church ST as it is the home of the city's team, the Orlando Magic.
→ Buy tickets for an Orlando Magic game in advance
Very close to Lake Eola Park is the Orange County Regional History Center, an interpretive center on the evolution of the history of the state of Florida, from the Seminoles, who were the first communities to populate these lands, through the arrival of the Spanish under Ponce de León and up to the present day. It is open every day from 10pm to 5pm and general admission costs $8.
Mills 50 District, a different neighborhood
If you're looking for the most colorful neighborhood in Orlando, take a stroll down North Mills Avenue. An area with a lot of artistic atmosphere, where you'll be immersed in the street art culture. Most of the city's Asian food restaurants are also concentrated here, in case you want to indulge in Dunplings. It's located about half an hour north of Downtown but you can get there very easily if you take the #125 bus.
7. Walk down International Drive, Orlando's most famous street
As you read through this post, you'll realize that the vast majority of things to do in Orlando that we suggest are on this street, which is, of course, one of the most famous and important in the entire city.
Starting on the southwest side and with a length of 11 miles (about 18 kilometers), International Drive or I-Drive is well-known for its hundreds of restaurants, attractions, entertainment centers and shopping areas such as the famous Outlets.
It has its own means of transportation called the I-Ride Trolley that allows you to move around the entire route without any problems. The price of a single ticket for one trip is $2 for adults and for children up to 9 years old it is free. If you are going to use it several times, we recommend the unlimited travel option valid for 1, 3, 5 and 14 days. You can buy it here.
8. Live a thousand and one experiences at Icon Park
Icon Park is an outdoor entertainment center located in the heart of I-Drive, full of attractions (yes, you read that right again, more attractions), restaurants and all kinds of activities. Of all of them, the most notable is “The Wheel,” a huge 120-meter-high Ferris wheel that offers the best panoramic views of all of Orlando. Included in the Go City Orlando pass, for which you get a 5% discount with the code “MOCHILEANDO.”
You can also take a photo book with a bunch of famous people (well, they are wax figures but very well done) at the Madame-Tussauds Museum and enter a world where nothing is what it seems at the Museum of Illusions.
This is a good place to end a tiring day and stuff yourself in one of its many restaurants. There are all kinds of international and local cuisine options. We were struck by Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips, owned by the famous American chef, and the Breathe Oxygen Bar, perfect for a break and getting some “air”.
Both the entrance to the site and the parking are free, but the attractions and museums are paid for. You can buy the complete pass if you want to do all the activities or customize it in packs according to your tastes, this is cheaper than buying individual passes. Icon Park and other places are included in the Orlando tour with boat ride, highly recommended.
Tip: if you need to change money, there is a currency exchange office here, which are not very common in this area. In any case, we recommend taking the Revolut card and/or the N26 card so that you are not charged commissions when paying in foreign currency or withdrawing money.
9. Go Shopping at the Orlando Outlets
Do you fancy a little shopping? Save a few dollars to spend at the famous Orlando Outlets. They are several outdoor shopping centers with lots of premium brand stores such as Vans, Converse, Nike, Calvin Klein, Columbia and many more. And the interesting thing is: the discounts are very, very attractive.
We recommend the Vineland Premium Outlets, for us one of the best and largest in all of Orlando. It is easily reached via Interstate 4, taking exit 68 towards Vineland Road. It also has a food court where you can eat and drink while you go from store to store.
And if you can't decide, there are even guided tours of the outlets!
10. Discover Wonderworks, where nothing is what it seems
If you're walking along International Drive and suddenly notice something a little strange, you'll know you've arrived at Wonderworks. What's so strange about it? Well, it's not a normal building, it's a gigantic house that's literally upside down!!
It's part of a large interactive centre with more than 100 exhibitions and activities about science and technology that will leave you speechless. It also has a super entertaining Laser Tag, an earthquake and hurricane simulator, a ropes course and you can even design your own 4D roller coaster. Great plan!
→ More information and booking tickets to Wonderworks
11. Be amazed like me at The Auto Experience at Dezerland Park Orlando
If you are a fan of the vehicles that appear in movies and TV series (like the humble servant writing these lines), this place will blow your mind. It is located within Dezerland Park Orlando, another of those huge leisure centers located right at the beginning of the I-Drive.
Spectacular cars like a DMC Delorean (it's my favourite, that's why I put it first), all the Batmobile models, a Pontiac Firebird (Kitt, from Knight Rider), the Flintstones' car, Scooby Doo's van, Captain NEMO's limousine, James Bond's Aston Martin and…
… Even a Guinness record: a limousine based on a Cadillac Eldorado that, at 30.5m long, holds the title of being the largest in the world! As a curiosity, it was designed by Jay Ohrberg, the same man who designed the Delorean in Back to the Future and Knight Rider. It can carry up to 75 people inside, has two engines, a swimming pool and even a helipad… it couldn't be more American!
12. Go inside the Titanic
I have to say that we didn't go, but the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition has earned its place in the top 20 attractions in Orlando. It is an interactive exhibition that will take you back to 1912 aboard the Titanic, the unsinkable ocean liner.
There is a tour of different rooms that recreate what the ship was like on its maiden voyage, and you can see a lot of period objects as well as original pieces recovered from the ship. The worst thing is that apparently you can't take photos inside... but hey, you'll always have the memory 😉
→ More info and ticket reservations here
13. Have a great time at the Old Town Kissimmee fair
If you manage to get to the end of the well-known I-Drive, you will find the Old Town Kissimmee, a fair in the purest classic American style that particularly reminded us a lot of the typical “county fairs” that we have seen so much in American movies
Here we will have dozens of attractions to choose from and have a super lively time. A Ferris wheel, go-karts, giant swings, an old carousel of the old kind. In addition to permanent exhibitions of classic American cars and the incredible “muscle cars”. Of course, we will also have many options to replenish our energy in its more than 15 restaurants.
By the way, if you would like to have your future predicted, there is a Zoltar machine, the same one that appears in the Tom Hanks movie BIG!
14. Fly over Orlando by Helicopter
Without a doubt, one of the best experiences to do in Orlando is to fly in a helicopter over this immense city. You will enjoy an incredible panoramic view flying over the most spectacular areas, such as the amusement parks and the numerous lakes and wetlands.
There are both daytime and night flights, we recommend the latter since the lights at night are quite a spectacle. Prices start at $60 per person, it lasts about 30 minutes and the explanations are only in English. You can book with the best prices here.
Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here. Whatever your destination, save yourself trouble and don't take any chances.
15. Visit Celebration, the Disney workers' town
Celebration is a quiet and cozy community with small colonial-style houses located about 20 miles south of Orlando. You can easily get there by car via Interstate 4 to exit 64 and then take Celebration Ave.
What's so special about this place? Well, it was a community planned by the Walt Disney Company itself for its workers to live here. And you can certainly breathe the Disney scent in every corner. Don't forget to take a walk around its quiet Lake Rianhard where, with luck, you'll come across the occasional alligator.
Look how much we fell in love with this place, that we stopped for a coffee at the Market Street Diner, a small cafe on Front St. and there, sitting at a table with incredible views of Lake Rianhard, we thought for a moment about leaving everything and staying to live here. We don't rule it out in the future...
16. Eat at a McDonald's (there's a trick)
Wait a minute, are you telling me that one of the best things to see and do in Orlando is to go to a McDonald's? Well, the truth is, yes. But don't think we're going to recommend just any McDonald's, here's the catch. You should look for the one located at 6875 Sand Lake Road (right at the intersection with I-Drive) because it's considered... THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD!
It's so big that you don't just come here to eat: it has an area with loads of arcade machines and even a giant children's playground. Of course, order your favourite burger, although as strange as it may sound, they also sell freshly made pasta dishes and pizzas.
17. Fill up your pockets at a Crab Restaurant
If there is something typical to do in Orlando in particular, and in all of Florida in general, it is to try the delicious seafood of the area. We went to 192 Crab & Lobster Juicy Seafood and Bar at 5073 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, taking advantage of our visit to Old Town Kissimmee.
The experience is unique! It consists of ordering a plastic bag full of all kinds of seafood (crab legs, shrimp, clams, lobster tail, mussels...) along with potatoes and corn on the cob, seasoned with more or less spicy spices and all of it hermetically sealed and steamed. But first you have to prepare yourself well with an apron and gloves that they very kindly offer you, you can imagine why.
Everything cost us about $40 (tips aside) with the drink included. Highly recommended!
18. Discover The White Castle
If you thought that the McDonald's brothers invented the concept of fast food, I'm sorry to tell you that's not true. In 1921 in the city of Wichita (Kansas), a chef named Walter A. Anderson founded the first restaurant, The White Castle, which is considered the pioneer of fast food in the USA.
Their main product is hamburgers, which have the peculiarity of being somewhat smaller than the usual ones. They were also the first to dare to sell square hamburgers called "Sliders." You can order them alone or in boxes of 10, 20, and even 100 hamburgers.
The milkshakes deserve a special mention from my own experience, and we recommend spending some time at the drink machines that I call "choose your own adventure," as they have more than 100 drink options to choose from! They are re-feeling if you want to try them all (I wouldn't).
19. Have breakfast at a Denny’s
One of the first things we planned to do when we arrived in Orlando was to go to breakfast at a Denny’s, one of the largest family restaurant chains in the country. If you’re like us and have never done it, I can promise you that it’s an experience that’s hard to forget.
We ordered two classic breakfasts for about $12 each, accompanied by Hash Browns, and the surprise was that for $1 more they offered us a dozen pancakes!! covered in whipped cream, chocolate, and the traditional maple syrup. If you have any leftovers from that “ton” of food, you can take it home and do like us, have breakfast the next day!
20. Come back to Orlando whenever you can
We saved the best for last. If there’s one thing you should always do in Orlando, it’s: COME BACK!!
Hopefully, you now have a much clearer idea of what to do with your time in Orlando. You've seen that there are almost endless plans and an overdose of fun (and calories) is guaranteed. Which of these things to see and do in Orlando are you not going to miss for anything in the world?
