things to do

theme parks overview - insider tips - dining, shopping, and more



photo submitted by guest
 

theme parks
 

What are the big theme parks?
 

There are two big resorts here in central Florida: 1) Walt Disney World, and 2) Disney’s main competitor, Universal Orlando. Walt Disney World, home of Mickey Mouse, has four big theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios (home of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge), and Animal Kingdom (home of Pandora - The World of Avatar). Universal Orlando is the home of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and has two big theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

What's the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
 

Universal Orlando has two big, elaborately themed Harry Potter sections, complete with exciting rides. And Butterbeer! There’s one Harry Potter park at each of Universal’s two theme parks, plus you can ride the Hogwarts Express from one park to the other, but only if you buy a “Park-to-Park” ticket.
 

What's the most popular theme park?
 

The biggest, most popular theme park in Florida is Disney’s Magic Kingdom, home of Cinderella Castle, Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World, The Haunted Mansion, and so much more.
 
But it's hard to recommend any of the parks over any of the others because they’re all so good – we recommend seeing them all!
 

Which theme park is best for kids? For adults? Teens?
 

There’s something for everyone at every theme park! Each one will have attractions for thrill-seakers, youngsters, and everyone in between!
 

How long do we need to spend at the parks? 
 

There’s a day’s or more worth of attractions at each theme park – that means to really do all of Disney and Universal, you’ll need to spend 6 days, or more!

Is there an attraction guidebook you recommend?
 

Yes! Check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. In spite of the name, it covers more than just Disney!

 

insider theme park tips

-For Disney, make sure you reserve fast passes as soon as you can – fast passes let you skip the line on certain rides, and you can reserve them 30 days in advance. And they’re free! (Universal has a similar system, but it costs extra, and with Universal’s system you don’t reserve anything in advance.

-Make sure you wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and bring some bottled water!
 
-Plan out our day in advance so you don’t spend time on the day of figuring out what to do.
 
-Make sure you arrive early – before the park opens – and then rush to the ride you want to do the most, and you’ll likely not have much of a line on that ride!
 
-Buy your tickets from Tickets2You.com, and you’ll get a little bit of a discount!

  

dining, shopping, and more

What restaurants do you recommend?
 

There are tons of great restaurants, both within Disney and without.

If you’re looking for a nice night out, we’re big fans of the restaurants at the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge in Disney - Sanaa and Jiko. The food is great and you can look at giraffes, zebra, and more at the preserve they have at the lodge, for free. (And don’t worry, the lodge isn’t inside Animal Kingdom and you don’t need a Disney ticket to get in.)
 
It’s also hard to beat the great views and great view at the California Grill on top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort – but it’s very popular, so make reservations early!
 
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, check out the top-rated middle eastern restaurant in the area, on Highway 192 – King O Falafel. It’s right by our office so we grab food there all the time!
 

What dinner shows do you recommend?
 

Our favorite is a little-known gem at the WonderWorks science museum  - the Outta Control Magic and Comedy Show. We’re also a fan of Medieval Times, where you can watch knights joust and fight.
 

What about the waterparks?

 
We love Disney’s waterparks and highly recommend them if you have time. They combine the fun of waterslides with the high-quality theming you expect from Disney. Typhoon Lagoon is themed like a beautiful tropical paradise that’s been hit by a crazy typhoon – it has a wave-pool with huge 6 foot waves, and a place where you can swim with real life sharks. Blizzard Beach is snowy, melting ski resort and has a terrifying 120 foot bodyslide called Summit Plummet.
 

Any ‘hidden gems’ you recommend?
 

If you want to see the wilder side of Florida, be sure to try an airboat ride in the swamp – they’re a ton of fun, and you’re almost guaranteed to see tons of gators! We recommend Cypress Lake Airboat Rides.
 

Where can we go shopping?

 
Check out Disney Springs - a huge complex filled with shops and restaurants – best of all, it has free parking!