Best things to do in Orlando

The world's largest vacation resort, Walt Disney World Resort features four theme parks, two water parks, five golf courses, and a sprawling shopping and entertainment area. The most visited resort on the planet, this vast entertainment complex attracts more than 50 million visitors each year. Developed by Walt Disney in the 1960s, the complex is now a self-contained city spread over an area of at least 171 sq km (66 sq mi). There are 24 on-site hotels. Grab a free resort map to plan out your days and evenings, balancing out shopping and entertainment with adrenaline-inducing roller-coaster escapades and calmer rides. Skip the long lines by purchasing your ride and show tickets in advance, and save money by making your dining reservations online.

Universal Orlando Resort inspires more than 7 million annual visitors to "ride the movies," offering a behind-the-scenes look at movie-making and TV shows. It features two theme parks, seven themed areas, numerous 3-D rides, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops. Created by one of the biggest film studios in the world, the complex provides a mix of rides, live shows, and costumed characters. As you walk around the centrally located lagoon, look for special appearances by Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop, the Simpsons, Shrek, and Woody Woodpecker, the official mascot of the complex.

Hosting more than 8 million guests each year, Universal's Islands of Adventure ranks among the world's top theme parks. It features several distinctly themed areas, each with an eye toward adventure. You can explore a world of superheroes and cartoon characters on the park's roller coaster and train rides, or choose from a range of interactive live shows. As you journey through the islands, look out for Spider-Man, Harry Potter, and a slew of characters straight out of Dr. Seuss' imagination. The park includes several rest areas where you can sit down for a quiet meal or pick up a few souvenirs. Save money and time by booking your park experience well in advance. There's an on-site hotel.

Swim with bottlenose dolphins at Discovery Cove, a theme park that provides a more relaxing experience than the nearby mammoth entertainment complexes. You can interact with exotic birds in the free-flight aviary or explore the tranquil world of private beaches and heated outdoor pools. The park also contains a coral reef, where you can use the provided equipment to snorkel with thousands of tropical fish. To see the park's highlights quickly, take a boat ride down a tropical river running through the aviary and past sandy beaches, waterfalls, and rainforests. The park only admits a limited number of guests each day, so make your reservations well in advance.

SeaWorld blends elements of a theme park and marine life zoo. The vast complex also includes a 7 hectare (17 acre) lagoon and a tropical forest. See the famous killer whales in an arena show, or get a dose of adrenaline with a ride on an upside-down (floorless) roller coaster. To combine the best of both worlds, visit the oceanic water-coaster, featuring an 18 m (60 ft) vertical drop. You can also take part in the interactive deep dives, allowing you to have a safe, hands-off contact with sharks, stingrays, and sea lions. For something a bit more relaxing, enjoy one of many live shows, featuring choreographed performances with lights, music, dolphins, and costumed acrobats.

Hosting nearly 20 million guests each year, Magic Kingdom Park ranks among the most-visited theme parks in the world. Part of the world's biggest amusement park, which covers a vast area twice as large as Manhattan, this theme park is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters. The park's centerpiece is a replica of a fairy-tale castle from the 1950s' film "Cinderella." Six magical lands surround the castle, featuring boat and roller coaster rides, games, jungle cruises, train adventures, shooting arcades, and stage shows. Explore the themed lands of this wheel-shaped venue using Cinderella's castle as your hub. A narrow-gauge railroad runs along the park's perimeter and provides an excellent overview of the park before you start exploring.

The largest single Disney theme park in the world, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park dedicates more than 200 hectares (500 acres) to the animal conservation philosophy once pioneered by Walt Disney. Divided into seven themed areas, the park blends elements of a theme park and zoo, offering rides through the diverse worlds of wild animals. You can go on a safari through Sahara or navigate a wild river in Asia, surrounded by zebras, lions, tigers, bats, iguanas, giant anteaters, wallabies, and other exotic creatures. Most animals are real, although some are animatronic. The park also offers an adrenaline-junkie's roller coaster, as well as carnival-style rides and games in an area designed to recall the roadside attractions once scattered throughout the country.

With no parades or water park, Epcot is not your typical theme park. It's divided into two sections: Future World celebrates technological innovation, while the World Showcase focuses on international culture. Take a time machine-themed dark ride though the history of humankind at the park's landmark 18-story geodesic sphere. Have a space adventure in a motion simulator, or design a concept car and take it for a "test drive," a thrill-inducing ride. In the World Showcase, pavilions representing 11 different countries encircle a lake. Take a gentle ride on a Viking ship, marvel at the Chinese acrobats, or order a stein at the German beer garden. Kids can make free crafts and get a special stamp at each country. Each pavilion almost exclusively employs citizens from the represented countries, so you can get a native's perspective on any questions you have. To avoid lines, use the FastPass+ system to book reservations for some key attractions, but be aware the slots fill up fast for the most popular ones.

Step back in time to Hollywood's 1930s and 1940s heydays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a sprawling theme park spanning 55 hectares (135 acres). Wander the studio's vast network of streets and entertainment areas--blending into one giant film set--for a behind-the-scenes look at the world of movies. Watch live shows or go on backstage tours of a working studio to learn to the secrets behind some of film industry's biggest hits. You can also take an elevator ride through 13 floors of fear, or speed up to 96 kph (60 mph) on the twisting roller coaster taking you through a recreation of darkened streets of Los Angeles. This park attracts more than 10 million visitors each year, so expect crowds.

Set in the world of 18th-century seafaring rogues, imaginatively designed Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf takes you through caves, over bridges, and under waterfalls. You’ll visit pirate dungeons, treasure holds, and sunken ships. You can choose between two courses: the Captain’s Course is easier and more suitable for kids, while Blackhead’s Challenge is more challenging. Have fun putting your way through the beautiful scenery, or compete for the special awards available for a hole-in-one.

Home to several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Harry P. Leu Gardens also lays claim to almost 20.3 hectares (50 acres) of warm-weather gardens. You can visit the gardens and wander among the lush greenery, discovering azaleas, citrus trees, hibiscus, vegetables, and more spread out over a multitude of different exhibits and themed areas. Keep an eye out for some of the centuries-old oak trees on the grounds. Stop by the on-site museum in the former house of the garden's founders, the Leus, and join a guided tour. You'll find a showcase of the life and times of the Leus dating from around the turn of the 20th century. Be sure to check the gardens' schedule for information on special events, showings, and activities.

Cool off with a relaxing dip in one of the world's largest outdoor wave pools at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. As one of two aquatic parks at Walt Disney World Resort, the complex offers an array of water attractions ranging from gentle wading pools to exhilarating thrill rides. Speed down five stories at almost 64 km/h (40 mph) on the Humunga Kowabunga waterslide, or take a chance snorkeling with dozens of sharks and stingrays at Shark Reef. Feel free to pack your own lunch, or stop by one of the park’s many outdoor eateries. Arrive sooner rather than later in terms of both lines and temperatures.

A sprawling shopping, dining, and entertainment area, Disney Springs is an outdoor complex offering free entry and complimentary parking. Separated into three themed sections, the complex includes a large marketplace area, housing the world's biggest Disney store and a Ghirardelli chocolate shop that displays antique chocolate-making equipment. Use the marketplace as the hub of your exploration and download a map to your mobile device to find noteworthy attractions in the other sections, such as an old-fashioned dine-in movie theater or a modern 30-lane bowling alley. End your visit with a ride on a tethered balloon, which provides 360-degree views of the entire resort from a height of 120 m (400 ft).

Enjoy a premium shopping experience at The Mall at Millenia, Orlando’s center of high-fashion and luxury goods. The two-floor masterpiece of modern architecture houses more than a hundred stores. Shop for clothes, home furnishings, jewelry, electronics, and more. Take a break from shopping while you savor the specialties of international cuisine at one of the cafes or restaurants. If you’re visiting for the first time, check online for the best way to get to the mall and avoid traffic.