1Nature
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Botanical gardens with plants from around the world, paths for slowing down and a camellia collection, close to central Orlando.
View details for Harry P. Leu Gardens- Best time to go
- November to AprilHot, rainy summer
- Suggested stay
- 3 days for a first taste7 or more for several parks
- Airport
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Currency
- US dollar (US$)
- Language
- English
- Time zone
- UTC-5UTC-4 during US daylight saving time
Overview
Orlando has one particular talent: turning the choice of where to spend the day into a family negotiation. Cinderella Castle, dragon adventures, gardens or a lake ringed by buildings? The destination has all of it, but spread out. The Disney parks sit in Bay Lake, southwest of downtown; Disney Springs is in Lake Buena Vista, and Winter Park is a separate city. Factor in the transfers before choosing a hotel.
This itinerary offers a first taste: one day in the city and two park days, each devoted to a single place. The Magic Kingdom and Epic Universe are the suggested picks; EPCOT and Islands of Adventure come in as substitutions or extra days. Winter Park, the Morse Museum, Disney Springs and CityWalk are extras too. To visit several parks without collecting nothing but lines and parking lots, extend your stay and build in breaks.
Did you know?
The Hogwarts Express links Harry Potter areas in two different parks: Hogsmeade, in Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley, in Universal Studios Florida; boarding requires a compatible Park-to-Park ticket.
The Morse Museum in Winter Park holds a chapel by Louis Comfort Tiffany: beyond the lamps, there is an entire room for watching light pass through glass.
Downtown Orlando has swans of its own: the pedal boats at Lake Eola imitate the bird, while the fountain and the buildings make up the scenery around them.
Things to see in Orlando
1
2Nature
Lake Eola Park
The downtown lake combines a fountain, swans, bird-shaped pedal boats and a walk with Orlando's skyline across the water.
View details for Lake Eola Park
3Theme parks
Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle anchors a day of Disney rides and characters; to enjoy it calmly, pick your priorities and devote the whole day to the park.
View details for Magic Kingdom
4Theme parks
Universal Epic Universe
Portals lead to worlds of Nintendo, dragons, monsters and Harry Potter, with Celestial Park linking the areas in a Universal park.
View details for Universal Epic Universe
5Theme parks
EPCOT
The Spaceship Earth sphere welcomes you to a park of rides, science and country pavilions, suited to an extra day or a swap in the itinerary.
View details for EPCOT
6Theme parks
Universal Islands of Adventure
Hogsmeade, Jurassic Park adventures and superheroes share this Universal park, a full-day alternative to the itinerary's picks.
View details for Universal Islands of Adventure
7Shopping and leisure
Disney Springs
Shops, restaurants and entertainment make up this outing in Lake Buena Vista, for an afternoon or evening of its own outside the parks schedule.
View details for Disney Springs
8Shopping and leisure
Universal CityWalk
Restaurants, shops and entertainment options by the water make for an outing of its own in the original Universal complex, separate from Epic.
View details for Universal CityWalk
9Neighborhoods
Park Avenue, Winter Park
Shops and restaurants set the pace on this Winter Park avenue, in a city neighboring Orlando, which pairs well with a visit to the Morse Museum.
View details for Park Avenue, Winter Park
10Museums
Morse Museum
Glass, lamps and a chapel by Louis Comfort Tiffany make up the collection of this Winter Park museum, to pair with Park Avenue.
View details for Morse Museum1Nature
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Before the Universal portals, walk through a real garden. At Harry P. Leu Gardens, plant collections share your attention with the urge to keep strolling with no set schedule. Look for the camellias when they are in bloom, but don't count on a specific flowering date.
Go in the morning, walk and take breaks. Book transportation to continue to Lake Eola, in another part of town. The historic Leu House Museum was temporarily closed when we checked; the suggested outing focuses on the gardens.
2Nature
Lake Eola Park
The pedal boat has a swan's neck, but the power is still yours. Lake Eola Park offers a path around the water, gardens and the Linton E. Allen Centennial Fountain, in downtown Orlando.
Walk around the lake, find a bench and watch the buildings on the far side. The pedal boat is optional and depends on operations. Leave time to eat nearby, without turning the stroll into training for the next park.
3Theme parks
Magic Kingdom
Cinderella Castle competes for attention with the phone of whoever just walked in. At the Magic Kingdom, fantasy spreads across rides, characters and shows. Current options include adventures inspired by Tiana and TRON.
Set aside the whole day, with rest, and choose what suits your group. Separately ticketed parties can change the regular closing time. Check the calendar: paying for a day while picturing guaranteed fireworks is a surprise your budget can do without.
4Theme parks
Universal Epic Universe
Mario, dragons and monsters share an address, but each world has its own portal. Celestial Park connects settings from SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon, Dark Universe and Ministry of Magic. Pick the universes that interest your group.
Epic sits apart from the original Universal complex, with its own address. Set aside a full day and confirm your ticket: the options have changed since the launch. Having priorities prevents family meetings in front of every portal.
5Theme parks
EPCOT
You recognize the sphere before you learn the name Spaceship Earth. EPCOT combines technology and nature attractions with the World Showcase pavilions, where facades and restaurants change the scenery along the walk.
This is an alternative to the proposed Disney day, or a full extra day. Festivals can change the food and entertainment. If you book a restaurant, organize the rides around that break and check the lines on your date, without treating the lagoon as a racetrack.
6Theme parks
Universal Islands of Adventure
Hogsmeade shifts the conversation from roller coasters to wands, until another curve in the track appears. Islands of Adventure brings together Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and superheroes, with rides of varying intensity. Choose according to each traveler's restrictions.
Set aside a day of its own or replace Epic Universe. The Hogwarts Express links this park to Universal Studios Florida and requires a compatible Park-to-Park ticket; it does not go to Epic. Seeing everything on one ticket looks like savings until the clock starts charging.
7Shopping and leisure
Disney Springs
Disney Springs swaps rides for shop windows, tables and waterside strolls. It is a shopping, dining and entertainment area in Lake Buena Vista, at Walt Disney World. Go for dinner and a walk, without turning every store into a souvenir rescue mission.
Set aside an afternoon or evening of its own: the park days are already full. Restaurants and shows may require a reservation or purchase. Standard parking is free under the conditions we consulted; allow a margin for getting there.
8Shopping and leisure
Universal CityWalk
When the facades light up, CityWalk becomes a meeting spot. Restaurants, shops and entertainment fill the area next to the original Universal parks. General access is free, but meals, attractions and parking follow their own conditions; your wallet does not get a free pass.
Plan a separate outing, especially if your day was at Epic Universe, at another address. Stroll along the water and choose where to eat without a park ticket. Check the exceptions to the free evening parking.
9Neighborhoods
Park Avenue, Winter Park
In Winter Park, the plan starts at a shop window and ends at a café table. Park Avenue gathers restaurants, shops and access to the cultural life of this city neighboring Orlando. Walk looking at the streets instead of searching for attractions on your phone.
Set aside an extra period and combine it with the Morse Museum, on the avenue, checking its hours. It is also a possible substitute for the itinerary's first day. The suggested time covers the avenue; the museum is separate.
10Museums
Morse Museum
Glass can hold your attention for a surprisingly long time. At the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, in Winter Park, Louis Comfort Tiffany appears in lamps, windows, objects and a chapel. Notice how color and light change the way the pieces read.
Combine it with Park Avenue in an extra period or in place of the first day. The museum's calendar differs from the shops'; confirm it is open. It is a pause for looking, to alternate the stimulation of the parks with another rhythm.
3-day itinerary
Day 1
Gardens and the downtown lake
- 1Harry P. Leu Gardens in the morning
- Lunch and transfer to Downtown
- 2Lake Eola Park in late afternoon
- Dinner downtown
Day 2
A full day at the Magic Kingdom
- Arrival, transportation and security
- 3Magic Kingdom: your group's priorities
- Lunch and a break inside the park
- Available rides and entertainment
Day 3
The worlds of Epic Universe
- Arrival at the Epic Universe address
- 4Epic Universe: chosen worlds and attractions
- Lunch and a break in the park
- Continue your visit and return to the hotel
Map
10 places on the map
Practical tips
Hotel and getting around
Choose your base after the parks. Compare hotels by adding up parking, tolls and rides; confirm the destinations and schedules of the transportation your lodging offers.
The right ticket
Check the date, included parks and reservations on the exact product. Hotel perks and fast-pass options vary; don't apply old launch rules to Epic.
Rain in the plan
Summer brings heat, humidity and afternoon rain. Bring a rain jacket, water and sunscreen; if there is lightning, seek indoor shelter and follow local guidance.
Pace and accessibility
Check height, mobility and safety restrictions before buying. Choose rides suited to your group and keep meals and rest in the plan.
Bag and budget
Keep documents and your phone safe in busy areas. Compare the total cost, including food and parking, before adding another park.
Food and drink
Outside the parks, the table changes: Mills 50 brings together Asian cuisines, while Cuban sandwich shops offer other lunch breaks. Look for these places on your city days, without crossing the region in the gap between parks. These are flavors of local life, from different traditions.
Order it at a Cuban deli such as Black Bean Deli, recommended by local tourism.
A sweet from the Cuban tradition found at places like Zaza: a coffee break with a familiar flavor.
The Vietnamese soup shows up in the recommendations for Mills 50; eating outside the resorts becomes an outing too.
