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.
31. Explore the unique wildlife at Animal Kingdom
Take a stroll around the grounds of Animal Kingdom, home to all sorts of wildlife including tigers, gorillas, elephants, sharks, lions, and much more! The gorilla pictured above was particularly camera friendly!
More must-do’s at Disney Parks
- Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
- Spaceship Earth (Epcot)
- Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios)
Check out the full guide to Disney rides
Tip: Purchase more days to save more money. You really cannot see everything in Disney in a single day. The more days you buy, the more you save!
…at Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure
32. Enter the world of Jurassic Park (Island of Adventure)
This prehistoric water based ride is an absolute blast, even more so that the new Jurassic World movies reminded us why we love this timeless series. With animatronic dinosaurs, lush tropical landscaping, and a scary 84 foot drop at the end, you will want to experience this ride over and over again. A nice treat for fans of the franchise, not to mention a fun way to cool off!
Also be sure to take a thrilling ride on the new Jurassic VelociCoaster which just opened in the summer of 2021.
33. Explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal & Islands of Adventure)
With multiple themed rides, fantastic replicas of Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, & the Hogwarts Express, and every little Harry Potter detail covered, you can easily spend an entire day exploring the 2 Harry Potter Parks at Universal (and you should as both are completely amazing!).
Harry Potter fans will surely be impressed with the spot on recreation of the Harry Potter world (you can even order a Butterbeer, take a chocolate frog with you for the train ride, send out a postcard with the official Hogsmeade stamp at the Owl Post, and pick out your own wand!). All the shops are beautiful recreations of scenes from the films.
In terms of rides, both Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Escape to Gringotts are worthy of the long wait. In fact, the Forbidden Journey has one of the most interesting queues in theme park history (with the wait being almost as incredible as the ride itself). As you stroll through Hogwarts castle, you will see the familiar moving portraits, realistic holograms of Dumbledore, Ron, Harry, and Hermione, and numerous artifacts from the series.
Overall, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is probably one of the best additions to a theme park in history. Plan for a whole day and, if possible, book a Universal package which includes early admission to the Wizarding World and enjoy the benefits of fewer crowds, better photos, & extra time to explore!
34. Enjoy the best water ride in Orlando: Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Islands of Adventure)
Don’t let the Toontown location fool you. Dudley Do Right’s is a blast for visitors of all ages, so much so that I find myself getting back in line at least 3 times on every visit! I’ve been on this ride countless times, in fact probably more so than any other ride at the Disney/Universal parks. Not only will it totally cool you down (for at least a few hours), but it is also an exhilarating coaster ride with lots of twists, turns, and an amazing 75 foot double drop at the end!
35. Dine at the world’s best theme park restaurant (Islands of Adventure)
This unique cave themed restaurant was voted best theme park restaurant several years in a row. This comes at no surprise as everything about the dining experience, from the cool cave interior, to the exceptional service, to the unique menu, to the fantastic overviews of the park, make a meal here more than worthy of an hour or so of your time. Skip the counter stands and treat yourself to an air conditioned meal at Mythos. Just be sure to make reservations as walk in seating is typically unavailable.
36. Pick out your own unique wand at Ollivanders (Hogsmeade) or Wands by Gregorovitch (Diagon Alley)
At Ollivanders Wand Shop in Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) you can pick out your favorite character’s wand. The best part of all is that wands of every character are available, not just the major cast members. For an upcharge, interactive wands will turn on special features throughout the park -talk about feeling like a wizard for the day! And don’t miss out on “the wand chooses the wizard ceremony” where one guest out of a small group is chosen to enjoy this truly unique fan experience. Wands by Gregorovitch at Diagon Alley (Universal) also carries a huge selection (see photo above).
37. Travel 67mph on the insanely fast Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)
Now this is one fast and fun coaster! The Hulk is no doubt the best coaster at Universal. Skip the headache inducing coasters which will leave your head swirling and aching in favor of this smooth, fast ride. It’s one of my favorite Universal rides. It’s so fast with so many turns and twists (7 inversions) that you barely have time to think and then boom the ride is already over! If you are brave enough, wait the extra time for a ride on the front seat for one of the most exhilarating experiences in all of Orlando.
38. Enjoy Orlando’s tallest coaster: Rip Rock Ride It (Universal)
This tall & speedy coaster takes you on a thrilling upbeat ride as you make a vertical climb of 167 feet and reach speeds of up to 65mph. Not for the squeamish or those terrified of heights, but great fun for anyone who wants to experience an intense ride! To add to the excitement, you will get to pick from a selection of songs in different genres (which only you can hear in your personal seat speakers) to rock out to while enjoying the ride. A ride experience of a lifetime, Rip Rock It is a must-add to your Universal ride itinerary.
39. Take your pic next to the iconic Universal globe
The perfect photo souvenir – who can leave Orlando without taking a pic next to the most recognizable sight at Universal?
40. Soar above the sky on E.T. the Adventure (Universal)
It’s an oldie, but a goodie, especially for fans of the 80’s classic and anyone else looking for a cute nostalgic ride. After boarding your flying bike, you will soar above the forests, the night skies, and eventually pass an island of ETs. As an added bonus, there is barely ever a wait, as it seems to get passed up in favor of the newer rides.
