Orlando is the most visited city in the United States for one reason, and it is a good one. But the people who leave happiest are the ones who give the parks a plan and the rest of the city at least one day. Here is both.
The parks, planned well#
Orlando has Walt Disney World's four parks, Universal Orlando's three (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe, which opened in 2025) and SeaWorld. They are expensive, so the plan matters more than the list.
- Pick fewer parks and give each a full day. Running between three in a day mostly buys you queues.
- Go midweek and arrive before opening. The first two hours are the quietest of the day.
- Plan around the afternoon storm. In summer a thunderstorm rolls in almost every afternoon and is gone in an hour. Do the outdoor rides in the morning and keep indoor shows for mid-afternoon.
- Eat outside the park on at least one day. A Vietnamese lunch in Mills 50 costs a fraction of a park meal.
Swim in a spring#
Central Florida sits on an aquifer that pushes up water as clear as glass, at about 22°C (72°F) all year.
Wekiwa Springs is half an hour north of downtown: a swimming area, kayaks and trails. Blue Spring, about an hour north, is where hundreds of manatees shelter in winter, roughly November to March. Swimming closes then, but the boardwalk view on a cold morning is one of the best things to see in Florida. Go early: both fill up and close the gate when they're full.
Kennedy Space Center and the coast#
About an hour east, Kennedy Space Center has real rockets, the space shuttle Atlantis and a bus tour out to the launch pads. If a launch is scheduled while you're here, the beaches around Cape Canaveral and Titusville are where locals watch from.
Pair it with Cocoa Beach for an afternoon on the Atlantic. New Smyrna Beach, a bit further north, is the surfers' favourite.
Winter Park#
A short drive north of downtown, Winter Park feels like another town: brick streets, the shops and cafés of Park Avenue, and the Scenic Boat Tour, an hour through a chain of lakes and narrow canals past old houses and gardens. The Morse Museum next door has the largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's glass anywhere.
Eat in Mills 50#
Mills 50, just north-east of downtown, is Orlando's Vietnamese and pan-Asian district: pho, banh mi, Korean fried chicken, ramen, Thai, and a few places open late. It is where locals eat, and where park-goers who find it come back to.
Kissimmee, south of the city, is the other food direction: Puerto Rican and Latin American restaurants, because Orlando has one of the largest Puerto Rican communities outside the island.
Lake Eola and downtown#
Walk the path around Lake Eola, rent a swan-shaped paddle boat, and stay for the fountain lights at dusk. On Sundays a farmers market fills one side of the lake. The bars and restaurants around it are where Orlando goes out.
Old Florida#
For the Florida that existed before the parks: Gatorland, a small, old-school alligator park, or an airboat ride across the wetlands south of the city.
When to go#
Late January to early March and late October to early December have the most comfortable weather and, outside holidays, smaller crowds. Summer is hot and humid with near-daily afternoon storms, and parks are busiest during school holidays, Christmas, New Year, spring break and Easter. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Getting around#
A car makes Orlando much easier: the parks, the springs and the coast are far apart, and public transport is limited. Disney and Universal run their own transport for hotel guests, and rideshare works well between the parks and the city.
With someone who lives here#
A Local Friend in Orlando knows which spring has space on a Saturday, when the manatees are in, which park day is quiet this week, and where to eat in Mills 50. You browse their profiles, see what they're great for and what they charge per hour, and write to them directly. Roavi takes no fee: you pay the Local Friend.
Going to Orlando?
Meet local guides in OrlandoEn español: qué hacer en Orlando.
Also worth reading: things to do in Miami, three and a half hours south, and first time in the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Orlando besides theme parks?
Swim in a freshwater spring (Wekiwa Springs is half an hour north), see manatees at Blue Spring in winter, visit Kennedy Space Center on the coast, take the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, eat in Mills 50, walk Lake Eola downtown, or spend a day at Cocoa Beach or New Smyrna Beach.How many days do I need in Orlando?
One day per park you want to see, plus at least one day away from the parks. Most families plan five to seven days; a couple can see two parks and the best of the rest in four.When can I see manatees near Orlando?
In winter, roughly November to March, when they shelter in the warm water of the springs. Blue Spring State Park, about an hour north, is the classic place; on cold mornings hundreds gather there.What is the best time of year to visit Orlando?
Late January to early March and late October to early December: comfortable weather and, outside holidays, smaller crowds. Summer is hot and humid with near-daily afternoon storms.Do I need a car in Orlando?
For the springs, the beaches and the Space Center, yes, or someone local who drives. A trip that is only the parks can work with hotel shuttles and rideshare.