Orlando is a top destination for people around the world, and for good reason! There are so many incredible things to do in Orlando, making spending weeks there on a trip easy. I’ve visited Orlando several times, getting the opportunity to visit Disney, Universal, and the surrounding area, so I’ve created this amazing Orlando, Florida, itinerary with options!
This itinerary includes four or seven days of options because I know some of us are limited in time, but ideally, you could spend seven days. Switch the order of things however you’d like. Add an extra day, take one away… There will also be plenty of advice throughout this post, so make sure you have options at the end to extend your trip, too!
Table of Contents
Tips for Visiting Orlando
- The Orlando airport is extremely busy. You will want to plan and schedule transportation to and from the airport. Uber and Lyft let you schedule rides, but the place you’re staying may offer free shuttles (many hotels and resorts do).
- It would be best to arrive early at the airport for your departure from Orlando because checking in can take a long time.
- While parking is easy at the parks, the costs add up quickly. I recommend staying near the park and walking instead. It will save you time and money.
- Park Reservations: Make all necessary park reservations in advance, especially for Disney parks. Check for virtual queues and be ready as soon as they open in the My Disney Experience App.
- The end of June, all of July, and the first half of August are the busiest, hottest, and most expensive times of year for theme parks in Orlando.
- You can get around using hotel shuttles, Uber, or rental cars. Some hotels offer free transportation to theme parks and the airport.
- Prepare for Florida’s weather with sunscreen, hats, and jackets for afternoon showers. At certain times of the year (especially spring and summer), it rains almost daily but goes away quickly.
- Ensure you have downtime to rest and recharge, as theme parks can be exhausting.
Tips for Visiting Theme Parks in Orlando
- When visiting theme parks, get there early before the park opens. Most days, that is a little before 9 am, but check their website for the specific day of your visit. The park is far more busy later in the day, and you want to get in line for your top rides early.
- Download the Universal and Disney Apps. They’re easy to use, and you can check wait times, order food ahead, and view the park map. You can also enter your ticket and credit card information directly into the app and pay for everything through it! Both apps also allow you to carry a Magic Band or card with you.
- Get a Fast Pass or head to the single rider line to save time on lines. They can be worth it, depending on the time of year you are going.
- Bring a belt bag. You can wear a belt bag on many rides at Disney and Universal. If you bring a backpack or bag that can’t strap around your waist, you must store it in one of the lockers. Lockers are free while you ride, but they are still important to note and can save you time!
- Multi-day park passes do not have to be used on consecutive days for Disney or Universal. Tickets must be used within 14 days of the first use, so as long as you redeem the second day within that time frame, you will be good to go. For Universal, the second visit must be used within seven days of the first visit date.
- You can ask for cups of water for free throughout the parks. I’d bring a collapsable water bottle so you can quickly fill it up at water stations while ensuring it still fits in your belt bag.
Where to Stay in Orlando
As mentioned, I’d highly recommend staying near or even in one of the theme parks you visit. It will be the most convenient for your trip, and while it may cost a little more for the stay, you’ll save on things like parking and Uber. Below are a few options I’ve stayed at and enjoyed!
Within walking distance of both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn offers the vibrant ambiance of the Atlantic City boardwalk era. It’s along a lake and has an enjoyable pool, carnival games, unique dining, and exciting nightlife on the Coney Island-style boardwalk.
DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal
DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando offers a great location within a 15-minute walk of Universal Orlando Resort. This hotel (I love Hiltons) has plenty of on-site amenities, like a large pool, restaurants, and Starbucks.
You can get early access to Universal while staying at Doubletree by booking a vacation package directly through Universal and selecting DT as the desired hotel.
This is the most expensive option; however, if you stay here, you get express passes. This makes staying at one of the three hotels (the other is also a Lowes Portofino and the Hard Rock Hotel) that offers the fast passes for free a much better deal.
This hotel has a tropical theme, delicious food, and a relaxing atmosphere. A sparkling lagoon-style pool surrounded by a white sand beach and palms is also a highlight of staying here.
Day 1 Disney’s Magic Kingdom
We’re starting strong with a day in the iconic Magic Kingdom. It’s the classic Disney park and a perfect start to your Orlando trip. You can’t come to Orlando or Disney without seeing Cinderella’s Castle!
Make sure you arrive early and have all reservations for rides early. Highlights for a day in Magic Kingdom are below.
Don’t Miss:
- Cinderella Castle: The most recognizable symbol of the Magic Kingdom, serving as the park’s centerpiece.
- Main Street, U.S.A.: This is the nostalgic entrance to the park, lined with shops, eateries, and the charm of small-town America.
These are classics and can be enjoyed by guests of all ages:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Haunted Mansion
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Small World
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Newer Attractions that are pretty fun:
- Tron
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
- Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
Where to eat in Magic Kingdom:
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe: A popular spot for quick service Tex-Mex cuisine.
- Columbia Harbour House: Quick service spot that offers a variety of seafood and American dishes.
- Be Our Guest Restaurant: Enjoy a meal in Beast’s Castle (reservations required).
- The Crystal Palace: Character dining with Winnie the Pooh and friends (reservations required).
- Liberty Tree Tavern: Colonial-style eatery for New England favorites & Thanksgiving staples.
Day 2 Disney’s Hollywood Studios
For your next day, we’re headed to Hollywood Studios. Hollywood Studios is another Disney park themed around the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. There’s lots of fun theming around the entertainment industry, featuring attractions based on movies, television, music, and theater.
Not to mention, it’s home to the fantastic new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, an immersive look into the world of Star Wars with some amazing rides. Here are some highlights for how to spend the day in Hollywood Studios.
Hollywood Studios has a lot more thrill rides than other parks and is one of my favorites! This is why I say you should definitely dedicate an entire day to this park.
Don’t Miss:
- Hollywood Boulevard: The main entrance area of the park is designed to resemble the golden age of Hollywood and features shops, eateries, and the iconic Chinese Theater.
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: An immersive land where guests can experience the best of Star Wars.
Best Attractions and Rides:
- Tower of Terror
- Rise of the Resistance
- Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run
- Toy Story Mania
- Slinky Dog Dash
- Rock n Roller Coaster
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Indiana Jones Stunt show
Where to eat in Hollywood Studios:
- Hollywood & Vine: A character dining restaurant offering buffet-style meals.
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant: This unique dining experience involves guests sitting in vintage cars and watching classic sci-fi movie clips.
- 50’s Prime Time Café: A retro-themed restaurant serving classic American comfort food.
- Oga’s Cantina: A must-stop for drinks and light food in Star Wars: Galaxy Edge
Day 3 Day Trip
One of the mistakes people often make is not exploring beyond theme parks in Orlando when there is so much to explore beyond theme parks here! Central Florida is home to many different beautiful springs and outdoor adventures.
If you’re not a big theme park person, consider spending two of your days in Orlando on day trips instead of one. You could replace a water park visit with a day at the beach or whatever else you’d like to do!
Whether you want to relax at a beach or go on an adventure to see manatees, spend this day exploring outside Orlando.
Option 1: Beach
Orlando is forty-five minutes away from New Smyrna Beach, located on Florida’s east coast. It’s a really charming coastal town known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and vibrant arts scene.
The highlight of your visit is the beach and sand dunes. You can also explore the Canal Street Historic District, a great spot for shopping and dining, featuring antique shops, galleries, and local eateries.
Option 2: Glass Bottom Boat Tour or Kayak with Manatees
Silver Springs State Park is home to Florida’s oldest tourist attraction (and one of the most famous): glass-bottom boats. But this park offers so much more and is definitely my personal favorite day trip from Orlando. The spring is huge, and like Blue Springs, it stays a nice 72 degrees year round.
This park is home to river otters, manatees, gaters, monkeys, tons of birds, and fish! It’s 4000 acres and encompasses not just springs but 5 miles of beautiful gardens, trails, and serene spaces. During our visit, the highlight was a glass-bottom kayak tour, during which we saw so much wildlife!
Option 3: Relax at a Resort and Shopping
There’s a lot of amazing resorts around Orlando if you want a relaxing day after a few days in a theme park (and another coming on your last day). If you’re not already staying at a resort or spot with a pool, then consider using Resort Pass or renting one privately with Swimply!
For the rest of your day, do some shopping! You can head to Disney Springs, the Outlets, or one of the malls in Orlando. They have every store you can think of (almost)!
Day 4 Universal’s Harry Potter World
For your last day in Orlando, you can’t miss visiting Harry Potter World! You’ll need a multi-park pass to see the entire park, but it’s definitely possible to explore the whole park in just a day.
If you arrive early, you shouldn’t have too much difficulty riding everything in Harry Potter World in pretty much 6 hours. Then, you’ll have extra time to walk around other parts of Universal and explore what it has to offer.
Both sides of the park are unique. Diagon Alley is at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade is at Universal Islands of Adventure, with the Hogwarts Express to connect the two. Here are the highlights of a day at Universal Studios Florida.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
- Escape from Gringotts (Diagon Alley)
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Hogsmeade)
- Flight of the Hippogryph (Hogsmeade)
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Hogsmeade)
- Olivander’s Wand Shop (Hogsmeade)
Other Fun Things to Do:
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (Universal Studios)
- Revenge of the Mummy (Universal Studios)
- Men in Black Alien Attack (Universal Studios)
- Transformers: The Ride 3-D (Universal Studios)
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster (Islands of Adventure)
- Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands of Adventure)
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls (Islands of Adventure)
Where to Eat
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley)
- Central Park Crepe (Universal Studios)
- Mythos Kebab (Islands of Adventure)
- Green Eggs and Ham (Universal Studios)
- Mel’s Drive-In Diner (Universal Studios)
NOTE: If you have just four days, this is where your itinerary ends. You’ve gotten to explore some of the best parks and see Central Florida beyond the theme parks. If you have more time and want to extend, here’s a few more options. You can also mix and match this itinerary to have days go in any order you’d like.
Multi-day park passes do not have to be used on consecutive days for Disney or Universal. Tickets must be used within 14 days of first use, so as long as you redeem the second day within that time frame, you will be good to go. For Universal, second visit must be used within seven (7) days of first visit date.
Day 5 Water Park Day
On day five, it’s time to cool off with some time at a water park! There are several to choose from and depending on what you want and who you’re traveling with I’ll recommend a few different options. The reason I suggest both of these options is because you can save on them by adding a day to your ticket, which really can save about $40-50 a person, if not more.
Option 1: Universal Volcano Bay
This is my personal recommendation. Volcano Bay is the newest and has the best variety of rides for all different ages. The body slides at the top of the volcano are intense, as well as a really fun lazy river that goes pretty fast.
It’s best for adults or people traveling with older children due to the variety of fun rides and things to do here. Lines for the water coaster get long so get there early and put your name in to reserve a spot in line.
Option 2: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
This is the other option I’d recommend for your day. Typhoon Lagoon has fewer rides, but a really big and nice wave pool. Many people with small children decide to come here because most of the slides are tame and don’t have a high limit.
Many people will come and don’t spend the whole day, so get there early or when everyone goes back to their hotel in the afternoon for the kid’s naps.
Day 6 Disney Choose One
Why are we going back to Disney after a few days elsewhere? Well, remember how I mentioned in this article that you can use your multi-day tickets within 14 days for Disney? We are well within that window and I think a break was needed! But, it’s time to head back to one more Disney park.
There are four different Disney theme parks in Orlando that make up Disney World. The two you haven’t visited yet are Epcot and Animal Kingdom (and maybe Typhoon Lagoon). So, on the sixth day of your trip, choose one more theme park for the day.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is a smaller park, but has the best theming of any of the Disney parks in my opinion. It’s beautiful to walk around and you’ll find tons of good food options here. This park closes the earliest, though (usually around 6 pm), but also, it’s easy to see it in a shorter amount of time. This is the perfect option if you’re looking for a more chill last theme park day.
Highlights include:
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- Expedition Everest
- Kali River Rapids
- Avatar Na’avi River Journey
- Festival of the Lion King
- Satu’li Canteen
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Mr. Kamal’s, Zuri’s Sweets, and Dino-Bite for snacks
Epcot
Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and is focused on innovation and technology. In recent years, this park has brought in some new and really fun rides. The negative for this park is that it gets extremely hot and is more concrete than other parks. Epcot is usually open until midnight or later and has Harmonious which is an amazing water and fireworks show. So you will get many more hours of park time if you choose Epcot.
Highlights include:
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Test Track
- Soarin’ Around the World
- Spaceship Earth
- Mission: Space
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Eat around the world at different country’s restaurants throughout the park
If in Epcot, end the day with the “Harmonious,” a nighttime spectacular show that happens daily there.
Photo by Alicia Morency on Unsplash
Day 7 Explore Orlando
On your last day in Orlando, choose to get out of the theme parks and see the city! There are a lot of cool things to do in Orlando besides the theme parks, so it’s well worth it if you have a week to spend some extra time exploring the town.
Here are a few things you can do in downtown Orlando to round out your trip.
- Gatorland: See thousands of alligators and crocodiles, take an airboat ride, go to a show, and even zipline through the gator marshes!
- Leu Gardens: These botanical gardens are beautiful 50 acres of plant life with nice walkways, flowers, and a calming atmosphere.
- Lake Eola Park: Located in downtown Orlando, this park offers swan boat rentals, walking paths, and stunning views of the Orlando skyline.
- Orlando Science Center: This is an interactive science museum with exhibits on physics, biology, and earth sciences, plus an observatory and planetarium.
- Orlando Magic: Check the NBA schedule to watch a game at the Amway Center.
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando: Explore oddities and curiosities in this museum of the unusual.
- The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art: Here you’ll find the world’s largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (yes, that Tiffany’s!) from stained glass to pottery to jewelry.
Consider getting a one day GoCity Pass, which includes several of the attractions above, to save a little on your trip!
End the day with an incredible meal at Sushi Saint or the Strand for an amazing finish to the trip.
Other Options to Extend your Trip
In addition to exploring Orlando, there are several other awesome cities you can visit in Florida to extend your trip. Below are a few places you could extend your trip to explore Florida further!
- Miami: 3 1/2 hours from Orlando is the iconic city of Miami. Known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, lively nightlife, and diverse attractions.
- St. Petersburg: 2 hours from Orlando and is known for its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, lively nightlife, and diverse attractions.
- Tampa: 1 1/2 hours from Orlando, is known for its vibrant cultural scene, historic neighborhoods, diverse attractions, and beautiful waterfronts.
- St. Augustine: 1 hour 45 minutes from Orlando and known as the oldest city in the US, St. Augustine has historic charm and plenty of nice beaches close by.
- Florida Keys: This stunning set of keys just south of Miami offers the best snorkeling in the continental US.
I hope this amazing Orlando, Florida itinerary has helped you plan your trip and think about all the amazing and fun things there are to do in Orlando! As someone who’s been several times, I’ve wanted to put together this itinerary for a while. I’m so glad I could finally craft a perfect itinerary for you.
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I’m so glad you also gave some options for exploring beyond the theme parks. There’s so much more to Florida than just the amusement parks. 🙂
Totally agree! It’s well worth spending at least a few days of a trip exploring the surrounding areas. There’s so many beautiful places in Central Florida!
Orlando looks like such a fun place for a holiday! Can’t wait to visit
It’s a great option! Hope you make it some day!
I did not know there was a beach somewhat close to Orlando! I am a beach person and always want to include that on a vacation. This is the perfect itinerary for Orlanda!
Yes! And the beaches are nice. If you have a rental car, it’s really easy to take a few nice day trips as part of an itinerary.
Quite a list you have here beyond the usual amusement parks. Great itinerary!
Thank you! Yes, I think there’s a lot of great options for things beyond theme parks (although I do love them too).