Whether you are a visitor to Orlando or you live in the area, there is certain things that you just gotta do, even if it's just the once!
Orlando is a city that has so much to offer, from world famous theme parks to quirky roadside attractions, and just about everything else you can imagine and then some, its a place where no matter how many times you visit or how long you live in it, there is always more that you have yet to experience.
But first, the basics, those must do, bucket list things that you just gotta experience in Orlando, many of these are first visit must do's, but others could be things that you have not done yet, that you really should, so lets dive in and get ready to tick off your Orlando Bucket List!
Must Do Things To Do In Orlando!
Walk right down the Middle of Main Street U.S.A.
Of course you can't have an Orlando Bucket List without having a visit to Walt Disney World at the top of the list!
Walt Disney World Resort located here in Orlando is the most famous theme park in the world, A world where your fantasy becomes a reality at Magic Kingdom Park. Where you can journey into incredible worlds brimming with possibilities at EPCOT. Where your favorite stories unfold all around you at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Where you discover that nature holds the greatest magic of all at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. And where there's magic in every drop at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park.
Cast a spell in Diagon Alley
Right up next to Walt Disney World on an Orlando bucket list is Universal Orlando Resort.
Star in your favorite movies and embrace high-speed adventures at Universal Orlando Resort. Sip Butterbeer in Hogsmeade and come face to face with a T. Rex at Jurassic Park when you visit Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Next door at Universal Studios Florida, you can escape from Gringotts bank, explore Diagon Alley, and have lots of fun with the Minions in Minion Land, while Universal’s Volcano Bay water park promises a refreshing day full of water rides and tropical vibes.
Ride a Stand-Up Roller Coaster
Feel the awesome power of the ocean in a whole new way on Pipeline, the first-of-its-kind surf coaster. Experience the rush of launching 110 feet up at 60 mph and feeling every bank and curve as though you’re really riding the waves, thanks to innovative dynamic seats that gives you unparalleled freedom of movement.
Guests are immersed in wonder at SeaWorld Orlando, where the aquatic world comes alive like no place else. Walk down Sesame Street, connecting to all of the fun, laughter and learning of the world famous street. Take a plunge down the world’s tallest river rapids drop on Infinity Falls. Experience the predator power of MAKO, Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster. Climb aboard and ride the mighty Manta.
Explore Space
Have you ever wanted to get so close to a rocket that you could almost touch it? At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex you can!
Walk through the giants of space travel in the famous Rocket Garden, learn about the men and women who’ve lived and worked among the stars at the Heroes and Legends exhibit, and stand nose-to-nose with the actual Space Shuttle Atlantis. But if that’s not enough, you can come and watch an actual rocket launch.
Yes, if your timing is right, don't miss the opportunity to catch a rocket launch!!
Visitors of all ages, and from all over the world, can witness the most amazing things on Earth that leave Earth at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Ride a massive Ferris Wheel
Not your average Ferris wheel, The Wheel at ICON Park is a stunning 400 foot tall Observation wheel that towers over International Drive.
The Wheel gives you a view of Orlando like no other. From the top of this spectacular Observation wheel, you can take in the sights throughout Orlando and beyond.
Come Face to Gator with an Alligator
Come on out and enjoy all the alligator awesomeness of a day at Gatorland, “The Alligator Capital of the World!”
There isn’t a better place to see alligators and crocodiles of all sizes, from babies, also known as grunts, to the 14-foot monsters that call our Breeding Marsh home. They even have the largest collection of extremely rare white leucistic alligators. But, Gatorland is more than just a gator park! Enjoy the free-flight aviary, petting zoo, one-of-a-kind animal shows, and more. This is an only in Orlando, must to attraction.
Enjoy a wild ride on a Wild Florida Safari
Buckle up and take a road trip through the Wild Florida Drive-thru Safari Park where you and your family can see more than 150 exotic and native animals roaming freely. In addition to exploring the drive thru safari, there are also a variety of animal encounters and experiences you and your family will enjoy. From feeding to painting with the tallest living animals on Earth, this adventure will definitely reach new heights.
To make your adventure truly one to remember, admission to the Wild Florida Gator Park is included in with the Drive-thru Safari Park experience.
Insta your way around Orlando's Murals
Take a walk through downtown Orlando, and you’ll discover art in unexpected places, including larger-than-life butterflies, a vintage Orlando postcard, hanging gardens, even a parking garage covered with murals, and the latest downtown mural, Unbelievable Real!
Step back in time at Old Town
Old Town in Kissimmee is a much loved and very popular free entertainment district featuring unique shopping, dining, rides and more with free weekly events, live music, and of course, Old Town's legendary car shows including the famous Saturday Classic Car Show & Cruise.
The Old Town Classic Car Show has been a local tradition for over 30 years, it is one of the premier weekly car shows in Central Florida. The Saturday Classic Car Show welcomes show-quality 1985 and older hot rods, street rods, and antiques.
Enjoy a Balloon Ride over Walt Disney World
Soar sky-high during an 8-minute tethered adventure in the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon at Disney Springs. Aerophile Balloon Rides will give you a birds eye view of Walt Disney World!
Take a ride on a Massive Swing
The Orlando StarFlyer is the world’s tallest stand-alone swing ride attraction standing 450 feet high. It has 24 seats (12 x 2 seats), the ride has no age limit, has no weight limit (you must be able to fit the seat safely and fasten the seat belt/lap belt properly), and the minimum height for the ride is 44 inches which makes this a unique attraction that appeals to the young and old and the adventurous and not so adventurous.
A family friendly high thrill experience that you just gotta experience at least once!
Take a ride in the world's largest Monster Truck
The Showcase of Citrus is home to massive monster trucks that are actually converted school buses!!
Catch a ride into the vast Florida Outback. Guests will explore Native Woodlands, Citrus Groves, and Bigfoot territory. Be sure to keep a sharp eye out for Giant Bigfoot, Woodfairies, and Friendly Gnomes! Passengers who purchase animal feed buckets will also get to feed exotic animals, like zebras, bison, water buffalo, and more.
Saddle up for a Horseback Ride through ranch land
The Lazy H Ranch offers scenic trail rides through hundreds of acres of pristine Florida ranch lands.
Ride back in time as you osey along and ride across the Kissimmee Valley, through hundred-year-old oak hammocks and along the shores of beautiful lake Tohopekaliga. Take in the beautiful scenery while you hear the tales of Florida's cattlemen, Kissimmee's cow town heritage, and what it means to be a Florida Cracker.
Enjoy a leisurely a cruise through Winter Park
The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, located on Lake Osceola is less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, and is a must do thing to do for sure!
The boat tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through narrow manmade canals on the tranquil Winter Park chain. On any given tour, participants may observe large cranes swooping waterside to snag a large fish or a lazy alligator languishing on a nearby bank. Every tour guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers. Breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores are also a key feature of the scenic cruise.
Take a Swan Boat Ride on Lake Eola
The City of Orlando rents pedal-powered swan boats on historic Lake Eola so guests can view the park from the lake and enjoy the fountain up close.
This is a 100% must do Orlando Activity, and at under $15 for a 30 minute rental, and boats seating up to five people, there is no excuse not to do it!
Go inside the upside down house on I-Drive
WonderWorks is an amusement park for the mind with 28,000 square feet of “edu-tainment”. The attraction combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands-on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination.
This once top-secret laboratory was located in the Bermuda Triangle. An experiment gone awry lifted the laboratory, carrying it to International Drive in Orlando, Florida where it landed upside down. Luckily, all of the exhibits remained intact and available for guests to explore
Get into some Hot Water
There’s no wrong approach to enjoying Orlando’s gorgeous waterways, rent a kayak or a canoe and enjoy the numerous waterways and natural springs.
Or dive in, because the water is always warm here in Orlando, well mostly!!
Cheer on the Home Team
You gotta catch a sports game when your in town! In downtown Orlando the impressive Amway Center hosts NBA basketball with the Orlando Magic and ice hockey too, with the Orlando Solar Bears.
If you love soccer, catch an Orlando City or Orlando Pride match at their Excelsior Stadium home.
Throw in the NFL Pro Bowl and college bowl games at Camping World Stadium for even more sports.
Gotta Go Downtown
There’s no shortage of exciting things to do in Downtown Orlando including cultural events, museums, nightlife, entertainment and more!
Enjoy a drink in one of downtown's bars, then discover the perfect place to dine before seeing a show at the the Dr. Phillips Center, then stay up late and enjoy the amazing nightlife scene here in downtown.
Trolley on down I-Drive
Orlando’s International Drive is packed end to end with awesome attractions, restaurants and nightspots.
The easiest way to get around is by hopping aboard the I-Ride Trolley which runs the entire length of I-Drive, and has the convienience of getting around on foot.
Shop till you Drop
Outlet shopping is a must do here in Orlando and we're lucky to have our fair share of outlets, including Orlando Premium Outlets which has two huge locations featuring over 360 stores all offering amazing savings including Orlando's only official Walt Disney World outlet stores, you can find Premium Outlets locates on International Drive and Vineland Avenue.
Another popular outlet location is the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores featuring over 50 stores, with many brands you will not find anywhere else in Orlando.
Mall shopping continues to be ever popular here in Orlando, and of course being indoors, they are perfect to beat the rain! The Florida Mall a must visit, featuring over 270 retail stores, it's the areas largest shopping destination. The Mall at Millenia is a world class shopping destination boasting 150 of the finest stores, it's popular for upscale shopping here in Orlando.
Talk to the Spirit In The Sky
If you’re looking for something different to do, this is as quirky as it gets. Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp is in Lake Helen, around 30 minutes from Orlando.
Known as the Psychic Capital of the World, every corner of the small town has a large number of psychics and mediums. there are classes, workshops and you'll have the chance to get a consultation with your own psychic.
Keep on Rolling
If you drive to Spook Hill, just outside of Orlando in Lake Wales, you can see your car rolling up the hill and defying gravity along the way, awesome!
Spook Hill will show you a rare optical illusion that you can see in only a few other places in the world. Known as a gravity hill, you’ll find a sign explaining how to make your car roll upward... happy rolling!
Visit the Town that Disney Built
Just a few miles south of Walt Disney World is Celebration, the town that Disney, did in fact build.
Founded by The Walt Disney Company in the mid 90's, Celebration is worth exploring and admiring for its charm and new urbanism ideals.
Although not now owned by Disney, Celebration is a charming and picturesque small town featuring tree lined streets, captivating architecture and a welcoming mix of shops and restaurants.
Visitors can take a self guided walking tour, enjoy a romantic horse drawn carriage ride, or rent a Segway or a bike for a trip around town.
Meet your favorite Hollywood Icons
Madame Tussauds Orlando is the only place to get up-close and personal with the hottest celebrities and enjoy the glitz and glamour of Hollywood life. Dazzle your friends with the ultimate selfie as you strike a pose with Taylor Swift, kick a GOOOAL with Neymar, fly back through history to meet our greatest leaders, and save the world with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
And you can join in the wax-tastic fun by making your own wax hand to take home!
Walk through a tunnel surrounded by Sharks
At SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium come face-to-fin with thousands of fish, sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and many more.
Prepare for a world of glittering scales, humongous tentacles, and razor sharp teeth. Get ready to plunge deep into the oceans, explore our 360-degree ocean tunnel, meet our friendly rescue sea turtle, and touch exotic starfish and anemones.
Go indoor Skydiving
Discover the dream of flight at iFLY Orlando! Experience the true free fall conditions of skydiving without jumping from an airplane. iFLY's vertical wind tunnel technology creates a wall-to-wall cushion of air on which you can safely float.
There’s no parachute, no jumping and nothing attaching you to planet Earth. It’s just you and the air. Super fun, super safe, and super cool! Children as young as three, to adults as old (or young at heart) as 103 can fly with us. It’s safe for kids, challenging for adults and realistic for skydivers. They provide all the gear and a personal instructor will guide you through your flight.
Go inside a house that was swallowed by a Sink Hole
Sure to entertain the entire family, adults and children alike will be astounded by incredibly hard to believe, but undeniably true stories from around the world at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando.
Admire hundreds of artifacts, incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia, interactive games, and more that you won’t find anywhere else!
See historical artefacts from the world famous Titanic
When you visit the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, you embark on a journey back in time to April 1912, when the ship embarked on its maiden voyage!
You receive a replica boarding pass, assume the role of a passenger, and follow a chronological journey through life on Titanic. The Exhibition features more than 300 artifacts and historical items as well as full-scale room recreations
Experience horror at Orlando's only year round haunt
Located in Old Town Kissimmee, Mortem Manor is the only year-round haunted attraction! Named "One of America's Scariest Haunted Attractions".
Journey through Mortem Manor, two floors of an old victorian themed haunted attraction filled with scares, thrills and fun. Featuring live actors, animatronics and state-of-the-art special effects.
Check out the countries largest collection of cars
Visit Orlando Auto Museum to see the country’s largest auto museum which is home to more than 2,000 vehicles worth over $200 million, featuring everything from military vehicles used in combat to cars made famous by television and movies and vehicles from a variety of decades and countries around the world.
Experience an Airboat Ride
You gotta experience an Airboat Ride, its tradition!
Boggy Creek Airboat Tours is set in an enchanted 32 acre landscaped park with lighted brick pathways along the shore of a beautiful lake where nature is abound. Experience the ultimate outdoor fun under a canopy of majestic oak trees. View juvenile alligators for an up-close and personal view of Florida favorite reptile.
Take a Helicopter Tour over the Theme Parks
Get a birds eye view of Orlando's world famous theme parks from above!
International HeliTours helicopter flights are a favorite with Florida's tourists, HeliTours is the ONLY 5 passenger Tour provider in Orlando that offers Air conditioned comfort.
Play a round of Put Put
You simply can't come to Orlando and NOT play at least one round of put put!
Play award-winning miniature golf at Congo River Golf, there's an adventure for everyone. It’s fun for the whole family, and there can only be one winner, unless you play again...
Congo River Golf has locations on I-Drive, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs and more.
Experience Orlando's natural beauty
Explore an amazing botanical oasis covering nearly 50-acres, and only minutes from Downtown Orlando. Each garden at Harry P. Leu Gardens is designed specifically to further the gardens mission: inspire visitors to appreciate and understand plants.
The garden and historical home were deeded to the City of Orlando in 1961 by Mr. Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane.
Visit a National Historic Landmark
Historic Bok Tower Gardens, a national historic landmark, features two hiking trails, 50 acres of gardens, the 20-room El Retiro Estate and the 205-foot art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower carillon.
Bok Tower Gardens has fascinated millions of Florida visitors since it’s opening in 1929.
Check out the local Artwork
Along with showcasing local, national and international works of art, Orlando Museum of Art has two discovery centers for children. The mission of the museum is to inspire creativity, passion and intellectual curiosity by connecting people with art and new ideas.
Enjoy a hands on Science Lesson
Orlando Science Center is Central Florida’s award-winning, hands-on science museum. For more than 60 years, the exhibits and programming have brought science to life for not just residents of Central Florida, but also visitors from around the world.
With four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons,
See the largest collection in the world of Louis Louis Tiffany
The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), including the artist and designer’s jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows; his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago; and art and architectural objects from his Long Island country estate, Laurelton Hall.
The Museum’s holdings also include American art pottery, late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art.
Discover Orlando's real history
The Orange County Regional History Center, housed in a historic courthouse in the heart of downtown Orlando, offers four floors of exhibits exploring 12,000 years of Central Florida’s rich heritage.
Take in an Orlando Dinner Show
Their is a ton of dinner shows here in Orlando, and one of the best will take you on a swashbuckling adventure.
Step into adventure and experience a taste of the pirate’s life. Family friendly and full of excitement, Pirates Dinner Adventure is a must-see for children and adults alike. Set sail with our cast of entertainers, acrobats, and cutthroats as they chart a course through danger and romance.
Swordfights, songs, sea monsters, and a captain’s feast – no other Orlando dinner show packs so much entertainment into a single evening. Look no further for fun things to do. Pirates Dinner Adventure has it all and more!
Pwewww it's quite a bucket list, but that's just for starters, you Gotta Go explore Orlando!
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