Unlike many other large cities, Orlando doesn’t have a shortage of things to do for rides and attractions for visitors of all ages. There’s a theme park for everyone, from the classic Disney parks to parks themed on your favorite franchises.
With so many great options, you might be wondering where to start. To solve your conundrum, you’ll need to think of a few things first. For one, you need to think about your budget.
Are you prepared to spend a few days in one of these parks? You don’t need to go to them all at once, of course, but you can only afford to go to a few. Besides, you need to think about the theme park you want. Are you looking for something that only appeals to adults? Or do you want to go to fun parks for the whole family?
These parks offer rides and attractions for thrill-seekers and plenty of relaxing spots for people with kids to catch a break. They also come in various price ranges and offer something for everyone.
To help you with your decision, we’ve prepared an insider guide to savings and fun on the top 10 attractions and rides to consider when you travel to Orlando.
1. Disney’s Magic Kingdom
If you’re looking for a classic theme park experience, you won’t go wrong with Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The park is located in the City of Orlando, and it’s one of the most famous parks in the world. It’s been around since 1971, and it’s been welcoming millions of tourists with its classic attractions and never-ending parade.
Besides being an excellent place to visit for tourists, the Magic Kingdom is also an excellent place for locals because it’s filled with things to do. The park is so popular that it holds over 200 events, most of which are free.
If you visit the Magic Kingdom in the fall, you should go to the Harvest Celebration. You’ll enjoy the festive atmosphere, and you’ll get to see the Halloween decorations up close.
2. Universal’s Islands of Adventure
If you like roller coasters, you’ll love Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The park is one of the most popular theme parks globally, and it’s located in Orlando, Florida. The six islands that make up the park are full of attractions perfect for thrill-seekers.
The perfect way to start an exploration of the parks is by riding The Incredible Hulk Coaster and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you like the Harry Potter franchise.
3. EPCOT
If you love getting cultured, you should visit EPCOT. The park was conceptualized by Walt Disney himself as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow to celebrate human culture and progress. For this reason, the park is full of attractions that are perfect for culture buffs.
It has pavilions representing different countries like Morocco, Mexico, and Japan. You can’t go wrong with the Mediterranean Food Lab or the American Adventure in terms of food.
4. SeaWorld Orlando
If you’re looking for a fun day out with friends or family, don’t miss out on SeaWorld Orlando. You can also go to the Aquatica water park, one of the best water rides in Orlando, or the Shamu show.
You can also try one of the many other activities the park offers, such as the stingray encounter or diving with dolphins.
5. Disney’s Blizzard Beach
If you’re looking for a water park with lots of slides and attractions to keep you busy for a few days, you should go to Disney’s Blizzard Beach.
Blizzard Beach is one of two water parks at Walt Disney World and has about a dozen attractions. It also has a kiddie play area and a pre-teen play area, so rest assured you’ll find something for your kids no matter their age.
6. Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter
If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, you should visit Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Perhaps the most favorite thing to do in this park is going to the doors of Hogwarts. You can also go to Diagon Alley, where all the Harry Potter magic is, or ride on the Hogwarts Express.
If you want souvenirs, you can go to the stores where you can find great Harry Potter merch and have a meal at the Three Broomsticks.
7. Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is the oldest and largest theme park in the state. It’s known for its gorgeous roller coasters and attractions perfect for thrill-seekers. Some of the must-see attractions at this park include Aquarena Springs, the Bumper Cars, the Exotic Expeditions’ river rafting, and the off-road racing.
This park is perfect for families with kids of all ages. The kids’ area at Busch Gardens Tampa is called Explorer Island, and it’s a beautiful place for kids to play. The park is also very pet-friendly, and there are plenty of spots for you to bring your four-legged friend.
8. Universal Orlando Resort
This park is located right next to the Universal Orlando Resort. It’s a great place to visit if you want to go to both parks in one trip. The must-see attractions of this park include King Kong’s stunts, the King Kong 360 3-D attraction, and the Rolling Thunder roller coaster.
9. Gatorland
Gatorland is the oldest alligator farm in the world. It’s located right in the middle of Busch Gardens, making it a must-see attraction in Florida.
Some of the must-see attractions of this park include the alligator wrestling show, the swamp buggy ride, and the Gator Beach food court.
This park is perfect for families with kids of all ages. The kids’ area at Busch Gardens Tampa is called Explorer Island, and it’s a beautiful place for kids to play. The park is also very pet-friendly, and there are plenty of spots for you to bring your four-legged friend.
10. Orlando Eye and Volcano Bay
This is a combination of a fully-themed observation wheel and a leisurely riverside beach. The Orlando Eye can take you for an extraordinary view of the city below. You can also visit the riverside beach for a relaxing and soothing experience after a busy day out in the parks.
Upcoming Rides in 2022
What’s even better about Orlando is that with each passing year, the theme parks in the Sunshine State continue to amp up their game hence why they are filled with millions of visitors each year.
So, in case you’ve been to all the rides listed in this article or haven’t found something that tickles your fancy quite yet, here’s a brief list of some of the upcoming attractions that will be opened this year.
1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction is a new, thrilling escape-the-room game that’s coming to the Star Wars Launch Bay at Walt Disney World in 2022. This high-tech attraction will put guests through an immersive adventure as they try to find their way out of a secret base on the planet Takodana, taken over by the evil First Order.
With laser blasters and lightsabers at their disposal, guests will have to use all of their wits and skills as they’re pursued throughout this fierce action-packed escape.
2. Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Black Panther
One of the most anticipated new additions is the attraction that features Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Black Panther. Guests visiting this new attraction will experience a custom-built 3D ride in which they will encounter their favorite characters from the film, including T’Challa, Shuri, Killmonger, M’Baku, Klaw, and more.
With black panther being one of the biggest franchises from Marvel, it’s no surprise that Walt Disney World has decided to include this popular movie in its theme parks.
3. Marvel Superhero Island
Marvel Superhero Island will be a new Marvel-themed area that will allow guests to explore the world of Marvel through the lens of Walt Disney World. This immersive land will feature themed attractions and entertainment like never before, ensuring that guests are left feeling like they have entered into the action.
4. Frozen Ever After
Frozen Ever After is a new Disney attraction in the Disney Parks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts in 2022. It will be located at Epcot’s Norway Pavilion, where visitors will be able to watch an exciting story about two sisters who make their way into the ice palace.
As visitors experience this last summer before Elsa freezes over forever, they’ll find out how Anna manages to save her sister and bring light back to Arendelle.
Along with Frozen Ever After, guests can also expect to see rides based on Peter Pan’s Flight and Big Hero 6. In 2022, we can expect quite a few new attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
In Summary
The best thing to do in Orlando is to visit the theme parks. These are some of the best attractions and rides out there, and they’re worth visiting during your trip to Florida.
From roller coasters to water rides, every park has something for everyone. You can spend a few days at one of these parks to enjoy the sun and have fun with friends and family. These parks are full of activities, and they’re perfect for families. You can ride roller coasters with your kids, go on water rides while they’re still small enough to sit on them safely or participate in other fun activities.