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Destinations / United States

Orlando

Theme park capital of the world.

familiesadventurefirst-timersshoppingbudget
Plan your trip to OrlandoSee the top 10
320,000Population
2.8 millionMetro area
English, SpanishLanguage
USDCurrency
7 daysIdeal stay
$250-400Typical day

Orlando is the world's theme park capital, home to Walt Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld. Beyond the parks are lakes, springs and the Space Coast. It suits families and thrill seekers.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Disney's classic park with Cinderella Castle. Fireworks end the day. It opened in 1971 and is centred on Cinderella Castle.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-210Cost
    yesBook ahead

    One-day ticket prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Arrive before opening and use the app to plan ride times.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. Movie-themed rides and the Wizarding World. It links to Islands of Adventure. It opened in 1990 and has rides based on movies and TV.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-200Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Buy a multi-park ticket if you also want Islands of Adventure.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. Universal's newest park, opened in 2025, with Nintendo and wizarding lands. It is very popular. It opened in 2025 and is Universal's newest theme park in Orlando.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $130-200Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Buy tickets early and consider a multi-day pass.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. A Disney park of future tech and World Showcase pavilions. Festivals run most of the year. It opened in 1982 and has World Showcase pavilions of many countries.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-210Cost
    yesBook ahead

    One-day ticket prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Plan a meal at the World Showcase and stay for the night show.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. NASA's launch site with the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launches can be seen. It lies about 80 kilometres east of Orlando on the Space Coast.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $75-90Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    General admission; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Car, about 1 hour.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. Universal park with Hagrid's coaster and Jurassic World. It is great for thrills. It is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-200Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Ride the big coasters first thing, and take a break in the shade at midday.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. A zoo and theme park with Avatar's Pandora. Safaris are a highlight. It opened in 1998 and includes safari rides.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-210Cost
    yesBook ahead

    One-day ticket prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Do the safari in the morning when animals are most active.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. Star Wars and Toy Story lands. It is busy. It has Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $120-210Cost
    yesBook ahead

    One-day ticket prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Go straight to the most popular ride at opening.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. A marine park with coasters and animal shows. It is near I-Drive. It combines marine animal shows with roller coasters.

    Full dayTime needed
    about $80-120Cost
    recommendedBook ahead

    Prices vary by date; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Check show times when you arrive and book dining or animal encounters in advance.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. An outdoor shopping and dining district. Entry is free. It is a free shopping and dining district at Walt Disney World.

    Half dayTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.

    Tip. Come in the evening for live music and avoid midday heat.
    Official siteSee on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Orlando in three days

One park per day: Magic Kingdom, Universal and Epic Universe.

  1. Magic KingdomFull day · about $120-210
  2. Universal Studios FloridaFull day · about $120-200
  3. Universal Epic UniverseFull day · about $130-200
Beyond the city

Day trips

Blue Spring State Park

Manatees in winter.

31 mi · Car, about 45 minutes

Cocoa Beach

Atlantic beach.

53 mi · Car, about 1 hour

Tampa and Clearwater

Gulf beaches and a lively waterfront.

84 mi · Drive, about 1h30 to 2h

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Clear spring for swimming, paddling and picnics.

16 mi · Drive, about 30 minutes

De Leon Springs State Park

A spring setting offers outdoor time away from the parks, with activities and access needing a current check.

Car or arranged transport, roughly one hour north in the 2026 tourism guide.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: March to May and October to November. Warm and less crowded.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.7JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

70°F
Typical daily high
Average59°F
Rain2.4 in
About8 rainy days
Sun strength3.5 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Jan

EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

January to February

Food, art and music at EPCOT.

Nov

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

Late summer to November

A long food festival at EPCOT.

Sep

Halloween Horror Nights

September to early November

Scary nights at Universal Studios Florida.

Nov

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

November to December

Ticketed holiday nights at Magic Kingdom.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

There is no US State Department advisory for US cities, and Canada's advice for the US is to take normal security precautions; theme parks are very safe; heat, storms and traffic are the bigger risks.

2/5
Walkability

Car-oriented city; walking only within parks.

2/5
Public transport

Buses exist but most visitors drive or use resort shuttles.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Disney resorts

$$$$

Best for: families

Transport to parks.

2. Universal area

$$$

Best for: families

Walk to Universal.

3. International Drive

$$

Best for: budget

Central with many hotels.

4. Walt Disney World resorts

$$$

Best for: families, Disney fans

On-site transport and early park access perks.

5. Universal Orlando area

$$$

Best for: Universal fans

Walk or shuttle to the parks, with on-site perks.

6. Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee

$

Best for: budget, groups

Cheaper rooms and vacation rentals close to Disney.

Getting there and around

Main airportOrlando International (MCO), 9 mi from the center
To the centerRental cars, ride apps and hotel shuttles are the usual options; the Brightline train links the airport to Miami.
Around townRent a car or use resort transport and ride apps.
Ride appsUber, Lyft
Taste it

What to eat

Cuban sandwich

Florida classic.

Key lime pie

Tart dessert.

Butterbeer

At Universal's wizarding areas.

Dole Whip

Pineapple soft serve at Disney.

Theme park snacks

Turkey legs, churros and Dole Whip are park icons.

Cuban and Puerto Rican food

Strong local Latin communities offer good restaurants.

Fresh orange juice

Citrus is part of the area's history.

Southern comfort food

Fried chicken and biscuits at local diners.

Pho in Mills 50

The city's Vietnamese restaurant scene offers noodle soups beyond the theme-park dining circuit.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTip 18 to 22 percent in restaurants.
PaymentsCards are accepted almost everywhere.
EtiquetteExpect afternoon thunderstorms in summer.
  • Book park tickets and ride passes ahead.
  • Use park apps for wait times.
  • Hydrate and use sunscreen.
  • Hurricane season runs June to November.
  • Buy theme park tickets online; prices vary by date.
  • Use the park apps for ride wait times and mobile ordering.
  • Daily thunderstorms are common in summer afternoons.
  • Pack water, sunscreen and a poncho.

A short history

Orlando was a small citrus and cattle town until Walt Disney World opened in 1971. Universal and other parks followed. It is now one of the most visited destinations in the US. Orlando grew as a citrus centre before Walt Disney World opened in 1971.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Orlando