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.
41. Enjoy a river rafting adventure on Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure)
After a few hours of “I cannot take anymore of this Florida heat & humidity,” you will definitely be ready for a water ride. In fact, cooling down will prevent you from leaving the park early due to heat exhaustion and wasting that expensive ticket. Head straight over to Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges for the ultimate cool down/entertainment: a thrilling whitewater ride which will totally soak you.
42. Stroll around CityWalk
CityWalk is the place to be after you day out at Universal. This dining and entertainment complex features a variety of themed restaurants (Hard Rock Cafe is a great place to relax, enjoy some fun comfort food and rock n’roll), a movie theater, Blue Man Group, bars and nightclubs, mini-golf, and a handful of shops. Vivo is a nice classy Italian place for anyone craving some carbs after all those miles you walked over the course of the day!
43. Scare yourself silly on Revenge of the Mummy (Universal)
This high speed coaster (up to 45mph) with amazing special effects (the fireball and beetles are quite realistic) takes you on an adventurous ride in complete blackness, meaning you never know when you will drop, twist, or turn. It’s quite an exciting experience. For a ride experience that will leave your heart pounding the entire time, look no further than The Mummy.
44. Check out the Simpsons 3D ride (Universal)
This unique 3D ride based on the beloved animated series is a must for new visitors! The technology is great, enabling you to feel the actual rush of going on a rollercoaster and following your favorite characters around…while basically sitting still. Sure it gets a bit old after the first few times, however, nothing beats the first exhilarating time!
More Universal rides/attractions/shows to check out
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong
- Men in Black Alien Attack
- Transformers the 3D ride
- Universal’s Horror Makeup Show
- Blues Brothers show
Check out my full guide to Universal’s best rides.
Tip: Discount Universal passes can be found on Undercover Tourist.
…when you need a break from the parks!
A combination of brutal sun and humidity, miles and miles of walking, long wait lines in the heat, and entertaining (yet exhausting headache inducing rides) can really take a toll on your body. To get the most out of your trip (namely not being exhausted, crabby, and run down after too many back to back days out in the sun at the parks), try to plan a day or 2 outside of the theme parks, whether it be for resort lounge days, day trips to other areas in Florida, or simply taking some time out to explore the nature right here in the Orlando area. Check out a few of these suggestions when you need a refreshing, quiet day away from the parks!
45. Take an off day to lounge around your resort
Take advantage of all the wonderful amenities you are paying for at your hotel/resort/condo rental, whether that be a pool, on-site restaurants, volleyball and tennis courts, and any other fun attractions. Give your feet and mind a break with a relaxing afternoon lounging by the pool! You will be totally refreshed to hit the parks again after giving your body a much needed break.
46. Drive to the Gulf coast for some fun in the sun
The beaches of Tampa Bay are just an easy day trip away (about 2 hours). The warm waters are perfect for swimming and the sand is so soft and clean. Check out Clearwater, famous for its smooth powder like quartz sand, or visit a quieter alternative like Sand Key (great for collecting seashells) or Pass-a-Grille in St Pete (a gorgeous small beach without the crazy crowds of Clearwater). Anna Maria Island is a bit further, however, definitely worth it for the laid-back island atmosphere.
Although a bit of a drive, there are many other fun activities to do in the Tampa area including great museums (check out the Florida Aquarium), fun waterfront activities (check out the Madeira Beach dolphin cruise), beautiful nature preserves (Weedon Island in St. Pete is a must-see), and great restaurants (Columbia is amazing). Overall, taking a day trip to the Gulf Coast saves you some money, gives your body and mind a much needed break from the exhausting theme park action, and enables you to explore different natural areas of Florida outside of the man made congestion. It’s a win-win situation!
Tip: check out my full guide to the best attractions in Tampa
47. Explore the beautiful nature surrounding central Florida
Lakeland, just a half hour or so outside of Orlando, is a fun natural escape from the man made cluster. The area is home to several great parks and preserves including the fantastic Circle B. Bar Reserve, where you are almost guaranteed at least one alligator sighting. Silver Springs State Park in Ocala (about an hour drive) is another great option. Here you can explore a few trails, walk around the landscaped grounds, and take a unique glass bottom boat ride. If looking to stay in the Orlando area, there are plenty of nice choices as well. I recommend Tibet Butler Nature Preserve and Lake Baldwin.
48. Safely view alligators in their natural habitat
There are lots of companies around Orlando which offer fun airboat cruises. As Florida is home to the second largest population of alligators in the country (after Louisiana), there is a high likelihood that you will see many of these prehistoric creatures during your visit (spring will offer the best opportunities for sightings as this is prime season). If willing to venture out of the way a bit, I highly recommend taking the drive over to beautiful Sarasota to explore one of Florida’s largest and most beautiful parks: Myakka River State Park. Here you can take a fun and affordable boat ride.
There are plenty of other activities at Myakka to make your day trip more worthwhile including a scenic driving/biking loop, a canopy walk, birdwatching trails, and several gorgeous hiking trails. Not to mention the many other fantastic activities around Sarasota including Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota Jungle Gardens, and St. Armand’s Circle. Trust me, the 2 hour day trip is more than worthy of the time spent in the car!
Tip: Check for Sarasota attraction discounts on Groupon.
49. Explore gorgeous Winter Park
Winter Park is a cute, small city offering a lot of charm and natural beauty. This quaint Orlando suburb offers plenty of non-theme park fun such as quiet parks, boat rides, local restaurants and shops, and a charming downtown area, Winter Park is the perfect afternoon destination away from the theme parks. Visiting the Charles Homer Museum (home to the largest collection of Tiffany glass art) and a relaxing ride along the Scenic Boat Tour are musts when visiting. Overall, Winter Park is simply a gorgeous area which feels world’s away from the theme parks.
50. Enjoy a round of mini golf on the gorgeous Pirate’s Cove Course
A round or 2 of mini golf is the perfect opportunity to take a day off from the theme parks and still enjoy the Florida sunshine. Pirate’s Cove is a gorgeous course featuring a massive pirate ship, waterfalls, and lush tropical landscaping. It’s pretty shady so you can visit year-round even during the harsh summer sun.
Other Orlando entertainment options include the 2 Disney waterparks (too crowded in my opinion), shopping (Orlando is home to many fantastic outlet malls), Lake Eola Park (Paddleboat rentals and nice views of the Orlando skyline), Dave and Busters (old-fashioned arcade fun), and a ride on the new Orlando Eye.
Disney Parks Location, Tickets & Parking Info:
Magic Kingdom: 1180 Seven Seas Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Epcot: 200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL 32821
Animal Kingdom: 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32830
Hollywood Studios: 351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney Springs: 1486 Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL 32830. Parking is free.
Walt Disney World ticket pricing
Universal Location, Tickets, & Parking Info:
Universal/Islands of Adventure/Citywalk: 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819.
Universal Studios ticket pricing.
Address info
- Clearwater Beach: One Causeway Blvd. Clearwater, Florida, Clearwater, FL 33767
- Sand Key Beach: 1060 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33767
- Pass-A-Grille beach: Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
- Anna Maria Island: 115 Third St South Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
- Florida aquarium: 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
- Madeira Beach boardwalk: 12901 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
- Columbia Restaurant: 2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
- Weedon Island Preserve: 1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
- Circle B. Bar Reserve: 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803
- Silver Springs State Park: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
- Tibet Butler Nature Preserve: 8777 Winter Garden Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32836
- Myakka River State Park: 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241
- Siesta Key Beach: 948 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL 34242
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens: 3701 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34234
- St. Armand’s Circle: 300 Madison Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
- Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour: 312 E Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Charles Homer Morse Museum: 445 N Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Winter Park downtown: Park Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789
- Pirate’s Cove Golf Course: 8501 International Drive Orlando FL 32819
