50 Things you Must Do on any Disney/Universal Studios Orlando Vacation!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
21. Bowl at Splitsville Luxury Lanes (Disney Springs)
This classy Disney Springs bowling alley is anything but ordinary. The trendy design, creative menu (a full food and drink menu is available) and convenient location make it a great add-on to any day out: the perfect escape from the heat for an hour or so. Great daily specials and early bird pricing makes a visit even more attractive!
22. Check out Disney’s version of American Idol (Hollywood Studios)
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The American Idol experience at Hollywood Studios is one of the most fun attractions you will come across on your entire Disney trip, even more so for fans of the classic reality show. Contestants are selected throughout the park for a realistic live American Idol show, complete with a judging panel, a packed audience, and talented performers. You will have so much fun listening to the judges comments and voting on your favorite performer, thereby giving you the authentic experience of being at a real American Idol taping.
23. Experience the diverse cultures of the world…without leaving Florida (Epcot)
A visit to Orlando wouldn’t be complete without at least a half day visit to Epcot. Although Epcot lacks the fancy rides and shows of the other parks, it’s still worthy of a short visit. At World Showcase, you can eat, shop, and enjoy attractions and entertainment from around the globe.
24. Challenge your family/friends to see who can shoot the most targets on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a fun interactive ride sure to entertain fans of the classic Disney movie series. As you travel along in a moving car you will zap targets and attempt to get the maximum score of 999,999, which surprisingly I received on my first try. Overall, it’s a ride that both kids and those young at heart will enjoy.
25. Cool down on Kail River Rapids (Animal Kingdom)
After a hot afternoon exploring Animal Kingdom, you will surely need a cool down. The most exciting way to do this is by taking a fun rafting adventure on Kail River. Similar to Universal’s River Barges ride, but so much fun and so refreshing that it is worthy of a ride at both parks. The massive circular raft has room for everyone in your party, a refreshing change from the typical 2-4 person seater. This exhilarating whitewater themed adventure has you dropping, twisting, turning, and getting totally drenched in the process – a very fitting ride for Orlando’s hot, humid climate!
26. Enjoy an adventure through cinema’s past on The Great Movie Ride (Hollywood Studios
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On this entertaining 22 minute tram ride, you will be taken through realistic looking scenes from many great classics of yesterday including “Mary Poppins,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Expect lots of fun surprises along the way! A must for any movie buffs!
27. Fly high in the sky on the Astro Orbiter (Magic Kingdom)
Astro Orbiter is a simple ride with barely a wait as comparison to the more popular newer additions to the Magic Kingdom. On this spinning ride, you will travel up and around (you can control yourself how high you want to fly) in your own personal spaceship. Take the ride both in the daytime (for the nice overviews of the park) and at night for the beautiful lights of Tomorrowland. It’s always fun to enjoy a laid-back ride after a few high intense adventures like Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain.
28. Head over to Liberty Square for a patriotic celebration at Hall of Presidents (Magic Kingdom)
Take a seat back and relax as you watch 43 presidents come to life. A beautiful theater modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia, lifelike animatronics, and a little history lesson all combine to make this show an entertaining and educational experience for any history buffs.
29. Fly over Neverland on Peter Pan’s Adventure (Magic Kingdom)
Board a magical pirate ship and set sail over the beautiful skies of London. A fun tribute to the classic movie filled with magical scenes including Pirate’s Cove and Mermaids Lagoon. The wait is a bit long as this is one of Magic Kingdom’s more popular rides, however, worth it for the nostalgia. Peter Pan’s Flight is a charming ride which makes you feel like you are in the Neverland fantasy world, which is the whole point of Disney World, right? A magical experience well worth the wait!
30. Twist, turn, spin, and drop on Primeval Whirl (Animal Kingdom)
Although this looks like a kiddie ride, it’s thrilling enough for adults too! Primeval Whirl is like a strange tilt a whirl/rollercoaster combo in which you sit in a spinning seat (you control the speed) as you drop and twist and turn along the coaster tracks. Surprisingly, one of the scariest rides at Disney as you are spinning in every direction as you drop, sometimes sideways, sometimes backwards! A cute carnival theme, short wait times, and an overall fun, scary ride experience make this a must do when visiting Animal Kingdom.
