Orlando 7-day itinerary

Arrive at Islands of Adventure at rope drop. Head straight to Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure — wait times hit 120+ minutes by mid-morning. Explore Hogsmeade village: get sorted at Ollivanders ($55 interactive wand), drink frozen Butterbeer ($8.99), and ride the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Castle. The level of detail in every window display and hidden alley is extraordinary — take your time.

Velocicoaster is a masterpiece — four inversions over a lagoon, reaching 70 mph. The Incredible Hulk Coaster launches you into a zero-G roll. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man remains one of the best dark rides ever built. Use the Universal app for real-time wait times and single rider lines (50–70% shorter waits). Lunch at Mythos Restaurant ($16–24) — Mediterranean food in a cave-themed restaurant overlooking the lagoon.

Exit to CityWalk — free to enter after park hours. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium has enormous milkshakes ($16) and a steampunk-themed interior. For dinner, Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food ($14–20 mains) is better than it has any right to be in a theme park complex. Drinks at Red Coconut Club — retro cocktail lounge with live music and a rooftop terrace. The Groove nightclub has no cover most weeknights.

Start at Universal Studios Florida for Diagon Alley — Escape from Gringotts combines a coaster with 3D projection. The Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream ($6) are essential stops. Then hit Revenge of the Mummy (dark ride with real fire), the Bourne Stuntacular (live action show), and the brand-new Villain-Con: Minion Blast. Use Express Pass if your budget allows ($80–130 add-on) — it halves your wait times.

Universal's Volcano Bay water park ($80 single day) is a full-featured tropical water park with a 200-foot volcano centerpiece. The Krakatau Aqua Coaster is the headline ride — a water coaster that shoots you through and around the volcano. The TapuTapu wearable queues rides virtually so you can relax in the lazy river or wave pool while waiting. The Taniwha Tubes are family-friendly raft slides through Maori-carved caverns.

Head to International Drive for tourist-corridor fun. Ride the Orlando Eye ($28) at sunset for panoramic views. Dinner at Tin Roof for live music and Southern food ($14–22) or the Cuban sandwich at Black Rooster Taqueria on Mills ($8–10). For an unusual experience, ICEBAR Orlando ($25 with 2 drinks) has everything made of ice — walls, seats, glasses. Dress warm, they provide coats. End with go-karts at Fun Spot ($10–15 per ride) if you're still buzzing.

Disney Springs is free — no park ticket needed. Walk through the massive World of Disney store, browse the LEGO Store, and grab breakfast at The Polite Pig ($14–18 smoked meat plates). The waterfront area along the lake is beautifully landscaped. The Void VR experience ($34) is mind-blowing — you physically walk through a Star Wars or Wreck-It Ralph world. Amphicar rides on the lake ($125 for 20 min) use vintage 1960s amphibious cars.

Drive 25 minutes to Winter Park — Orlando's charming village. Park Avenue is lined with oak trees, independent boutiques, and galleries. Take the Scenic Boat Tour ($16, 1 hour) through chain-of-lakes past mansions and subtropical gardens. The Morse Museum ($8) has the world's largest Tiffany glass collection, including an entire chapel interior. Lunch at The Ravenous Pig — James Beard-nominated gastropub with craft beers and elevated pub food ($16–26).

Head to Mills 50 — Orlando's Vietnamese neighborhood and creative hub. Colonial Drive between Mills and Bumby has incredible pho restaurants, banh mi shops, and bubble tea. Pho 88 ($12–14 for large pho) is the local institution. Then the Milk District on Robinson Street for Orlando's best bar scene — Sportstown (cheap beer, $3 PBR), The Nook (DJ nights, no cover), or Stardust Video & Coffee for cult films and espresso.

Drive 45 minutes to Blue Spring State Park ($6 per vehicle). November through March, hundreds of manatees gather in the 72°F spring water — visible from the boardwalk just feet away. Outside manatee season, swim in the impossibly blue spring run (constant 72°F year-round). Rent a kayak ($20/2hrs) on the St. Johns River through cypress forests. Arrive before 10am — the park caps capacity and turns people away on weekends.

For more nature, Wekiwa Springs State Park ($6 per vehicle) has swimming in a natural spring, 13 miles of hiking trails through sandhill habitat, and kayak/canoe rentals ($20/2hrs) on the Wekiva River. Alternatively, Gatorland ($30) is a classic Florida roadside attraction — a 110-acre alligator park with a zip line over alligator breeding marsh ($70 for the Screamer zip), a splash pad, and the new Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure.

Downtown Orlando centers on Lake Eola — walk the mile-long path around the lake as the fountain light show plays (every evening). Rent a swan pedal boat ($15/30min) if there's light left. Dinner at Hunger Street Tacos on Church Street — Merida-style cochinita pibil tacos ($4.50 each). Walk Church Street's bar district — Wall Street Plaza has seven bars in one block. End at Hanson's Shoe Repair speakeasy — text the number on the door for a code.

Drive an hour east to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex ($75 adults). This is where Apollo launched for the moon and Space Shuttles departed Earth. Start with the bus tour to the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Complex 39 — you'll see the actual launch pads. The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit is extraordinary — you enter through a simulation of re-entry heat, and the shuttle is displayed tilted with cargo bay doors open exactly as it orbited.

The Saturn V Center houses a real Saturn V rocket (the most powerful ever launched) suspended horizontally above you — the scale is overwhelming. Walk beneath it and try to comprehend that this thing flew to the moon. The Astronaut Encounter sessions (included) feature actual NASA astronauts sharing stories and signing autographs. The Rocket Garden outside has real Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo rockets you can walk among. Budget 4–5 hours total for the complex.

Stop at Cocoa Beach on the way back — the closest beach to Orlando. Walk the pier (free), watch surfers, and grab dinner at Coconuts on the Beach ($14–22 seafood plates) with ocean views. Ron Jon Surf Shop is a neon-lit surf emporium open 24 hours — even if you don't surf, it's a Florida landmark. Drive back to Orlando along the Beachline Expressway (FL-528) — 50 minutes back to the city.

Choose your Disney adventure. Magic Kingdom ($109–159) is the classic — Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. Arrive at rope drop and sprint to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (hits 90-min waits by 10am). Or choose EPCOT ($109–159) for a more adult experience — Test Track, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the World Showcase's 11 countries with authentic food and drink from each.

At Magic Kingdom, afternoon is for the less-crowded gems: Tom Sawyer Island (raft ride to a play island), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the PeopleMover (the most relaxing ride in any park). At EPCOT, eat your way around the World Showcase — fish and chips in the UK pavilion ($12), school bread in Norway ($5), and a margarita in Mexico ($14). Frozen Ever After in Norway has the longest wait — ride it during the fireworks.

Disney fireworks are legendary. Magic Kingdom's show is over Cinderella Castle — stake your spot on Main Street USA 30 minutes early. EPCOT's Luminous is over World Showcase Lagoon — the view from Japan or the bridge between France and UK is best. After fireworks, the parks thin out and wait times drop dramatically — ride your favorites again. Exit through the Main Street shops (open 30 min after closing) for souvenirs.

Start with breakfast at Se7en Bites in the Milk District — Southern bakery with biscuit sandwiches ($10–12) and sticky buns that draw lines. Then drive to East End Market in Audubon Park — a curated food hall with local vendors including Lineage Coffee (excellent espresso), Gideon's Bakehouse (half-pound cookies, $6 each, usually with a 2+ hour waitlist), and Hinckley's Fancy Meats. The vibe is artisanal and distinctly non-tourist.

Ride the Orlando Eye ($28) if you haven't yet — the 400-foot observation wheel gives panoramic views of the parks and city. The International Drive outlets have deals on American brands. Or relax at a hotel pool before your flight. For a unique final activity, iFLY Indoor Skydiving ($76 for 2 flights) on I-Drive simulates freefall without jumping from a plane. Pack up and check out.

Disney Springs is free and stays open until 11pm — perfect for a last evening. Dinner at The BOATHOUSE for upscale seafood with a waterfront setting ($24–40 mains) or keep it casual at D-Luxe Burger ($14–18). Catch the sunset over the lake, browse the shops, and soak in the Disney atmosphere one last time. Amorette's Patisserie does extraordinary Disney character cakes ($7–12) — edible art for the road.