Orlando Florida Theme Parks Springs and Manatees

Why visit Orlando

No other place concentrates so many large-scale attractions in one area. Families come for character meals and classic rides, teenagers and adults for thrill coasters and immersive lands, and space fans for rocket launches.

Beyond the gates, Orlando is a fast-growing city with a lively dining scene, especially in the Mills 50 district and Winter Park. The surrounding landscape of lakes, oak hammocks and spring-fed rivers is classic Central Florida, and the springs stay a cool, steady temperature all year, making them a refreshing break between park days.

The key to a good trip is pacing. Park days are long, hot and expensive, and trying to see everything usually means seeing less.

The theme parks

Walt Disney World

Southwest of the city, Walt Disney World covers a huge area with four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, with Cinderella Castle and classic attractions; EPCOT, with its World Showcase pavilions of eleven nations around a lagoon; Disney's Hollywood Studios, home to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land; and Disney's Animal Kingdom, with its savanna safari and the land of Pandora.

Spaceship Earth, a geodesic sphere, stands at the entrance to EPCOT. Photo: Benjamin D. Esham (bdesham), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Universal Orlando Resort

Closer to the city along Interstate 4, Universal Orlando Resort has Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, linked by the Hogwarts Express train for visitors with park-to-park tickets, plus the Volcano Bay water park and the CityWalk entertainment district.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter spans two parks at Universal Orlando Resort. Photo: Carlos Cruz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

SeaWorld Orlando and Gatorland

SeaWorld Orlando combines marine animal exhibits with some of the region's tallest roller coasters, while its sister water park, Aquatica, is next door. For something older and more homespun, Gatorland on the south side of the city has been showing alligators and crocodiles since 1949, with boardwalks over a breeding marsh full of wading birds.

Gatorland, opened in 1949, is one of Orlando's oldest attractions. Photo: Uncredited, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Downtown, Winter Park and space

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

About an hour east of Orlando on Merritt Island, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex tells the story of American spaceflight.

Space Shuttle Atlantis is displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island. Photo: Gzzz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lake Eola Park

In the heart of downtown, Lake Eola Park is circled by a walking path of about a mile, shaded by oaks and lined with benches. Its fountain, lit in colors at night, is a city symbol, and you can rent swan-shaped pedal boats.

The fountain in Lake Eola has been a symbol of downtown Orlando since the 1950s. Photo: JER3L1337, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Harry P. Leu Gardens

Just northeast of downtown, Leu Gardens covers about fifty acres on the shore of Lake Rowena, with one of the largest camellia collections in the eastern United States, a rose garden, tropical plantings and a historic house museum. Allow ninety minutes; winter is camellia season.

Harry P. Leu Gardens covers about fifty acres of botanical collections on Lake Rowena. Photo: (Ebyabe), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Winter Park

The neighboring city of Winter Park has a walkable main street, Park Avenue, facing a long, shady central park.

Park Avenue in Winter Park is lined with shops and cafes facing a shady central park. Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Springs and nature

Wekiwa Springs State Park

About thirty minutes north of downtown in Apopka, Wekiwa Springs has a clear swimming area fed by a spring that stays cool all year, plus hiking trails and canoe and kayak rentals for paddling the Wekiwa River.

Wekiwa Springs feeds a cool, clear swimming area and the start of the Wekiwa River. Photo: Bart Everson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Blue Spring State Park

About an hour north in Orange City, Blue Spring is a winter refuge for West Indian manatees, which gather in the warm spring run when the St. Johns River cools, typically from about November to March.

Hundreds of manatees shelter in the warm spring run at Blue Spring State Park in winter. Photo: Rizka, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Food and local flavors

Orlando's dining reflects its diverse population.

Central Florida is citrus country, and you can still buy fresh orange juice and fruit at roadside stands outside the city in season.

For a lighter meal between parks, look for Cuban bakeries selling pastelitos filled with guava and cheese, and taquerias and Latin American cafes along the main corridors of south Orlando and Kissimmee.

Popular dishes to try in Orlando

Where to stay

Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista suit families planning several Disney days.

Universal and International Drive suit visitors focused on Universal, SeaWorld and the convention center, with many restaurants and attractions within reach.

Kissimmee, to the south, has many vacation homes with pools, good for large groups and longer stays.

Where to stay in Orlando

Best time to visit

Orlando's winters are mild and dry, with warm days and cool nights, making winter and early spring pleasant.

Crowds follow school calendars. The busiest periods are spring break in March and April, summer, Thanksgiving week and the stretch from Christmas to New Year.

Getting there and getting around

Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest in the country, with flights across the United States and abroad; Orlando Sanford International Airport to the north serves some low-cost carriers.

A rental car is the most flexible way to explore, especially for the springs and the space coast. Interstate 4 is the main artery and can be congested; toll roads such as State Road 417 and 528 offer alternatives.

A suggested itinerary

Practical tips

• Book park tickets, hotel and popular dining reservations well in advance, especially for holidays.
• Download the official Disney and Universal apps for wait times, mobile food ordering and maps.
• Arrive at park opening; the first hours have the shortest lines.
• Carry a refillable water bottle, sunscreen and a light rain poncho for summer storms.
• Plan rest breaks at your hotel pool on hot days, especially with young children.
• Check rocket launch schedules and road closures before driving to the coast.

Find local businesses in Orlando on WiserMap

From Mills 50 noodle shops to Winter Park boutiques, Orlando's independent businesses are a big part of a visit beyond the parks.

Explore local businesses