Orlando 3-day itinerary

Arrive at Universal's Islands of Adventure before the gates open. Sprint to Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure — it regularly hits 120+ minute waits by mid-morning. Then explore Hogsmeade village: buy a wand at Ollivanders ($55, interactive), drink frozen Butterbeer ($8.99), and ride the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Castle. Take the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida (requires 2-Park ticket) for Escape from Gringotts.

Hit the big rides: Velocicoaster is a masterpiece of coaster engineering (four inversions over a lagoon), the Incredible Hulk Coaster launches you from 0–40 mph, and Revenge of the Mummy is a dark ride with fire effects. Use the Universal app for real-time wait times. Single rider lines cut waits by 50–70%. Lunch at Mythos Restaurant in Islands of Adventure — themed like a cave, the Mediterranean menu ($16–24) is among the best in any theme park.

Universal CityWalk is free to enter after the parks close — a neon-lit strip of restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium serves enormous milkshakes ($16). The Groove is a multi-level dance club (no cover most nights). Bob Marley's A Tribute to Freedom has live reggae and Caribbean food. For something calmer, Red Coconut Club has craft cocktails ($12–16) on a retro rooftop terrace overlooking CityWalk.

Drive 45 minutes north to Blue Spring State Park ($6 per vehicle). From November through March, hundreds of manatees gather in the crystal-clear 72°F spring water — you can see them from the boardwalk just feet away. Outside manatee season, swim in the spring run where the water is impossibly blue and a constant 72°F year-round. Rent a kayak ($20/2hrs) to paddle the St. Johns River. Arrive before 10am — the park fills to capacity on weekends.

Head to Winter Park — Orlando's upscale village neighborhood. Park Avenue is lined with independent boutiques, cafes, and galleries. Take the Scenic Boat Tour ($16, 1 hour) through a chain of lakes and canals past mansions and subtropical gardens — one of Central Florida's hidden gems. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art ($8) has the world's largest collection of Tiffany glass. Lunch at The Ravenous Pig on Orange Avenue — a James Beard-nominated gastropub ($16–26).

Head to the Mills 50 neighborhood — Orlando's Vietnamese district and creative hub. Colonial Drive between Mills and Bumby is packed with incredible pho restaurants, banh mi shops, and bubble tea spots. Pho 88 is the local legend ($12–14 for large pho). Then walk south to the Milk District on Robinson Street for Orlando's best bar scene — Sportstown for cheap beer ($3 PBR), The Nook for vinyl DJ nights, or Stardust Video & Coffee for weird films and espresso.

Start with breakfast at Se7en Bites in the Milk District — a Southern bakery with biscuit sandwiches ($10–12) and sticky buns that draw lines down the block. Then head to ICON Park on International Drive — ride the Orlando Eye observation wheel ($28) for panoramic views of the parks and city. The SEA LIFE Aquarium ($28) and Madame Tussauds ($30) are at the base if you want a combo ticket deal ($44 for all three).

Disney Springs is free to enter — no park ticket required. It's a massive outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with Disney theming throughout. Browse the World of Disney store (the largest Disney merchandise shop on earth), watch a movie at the AMC Dine-In Theatre, or try the Void VR experience ($34). Lunch at The Polite Pig — a Disney Springs original with smoked meats and craft cocktails ($14–22). The Boathouse has amphicar rides on the lake ($125 for 20 min).

Head to downtown Orlando for a final evening. Walk the mile-long path around Lake Eola — the fountain light show runs every evening and the swan pedal boats ($15/30min) are a peaceful way to end the trip. Dinner at Hunger Street Tacos on Church Street for Merida-style cochinita pibil tacos ($4.50 each) or The Stubborn Mule for creative gastropub fare ($16–24). Walk Church Street's bar district for a farewell drink at Hanson's Shoe Repair — a speakeasy above a shoe shop.