Things to do in Orange County

Visit Universal Studios Florida to discover cutting-edge attractions based on pop-culture icons, Hollywood blockbuster films and hit television shows. This Orlando theme park will transport you into a highly imaginative world where you can leap through the screen and become the star.

A visit to Universal Orlando Resort offers a memorable vacation for all the family, with accommodation, entertainment and theme park thrills all in one place. You can choose a hotel from eight options that include standard rooms and a multitude of suites to accommodate every style, size and budget.

For a town that provides all the essentials when you’re not at one of the area’s Disney attractions, visit Florida’s Disney Springs®. Within walking distance of major hotels and resorts are more than 100 shops and 60 dining venues as well as fun attractions. Ride a hot air balloon to view the Disney complex from aloft or travel on Lake Buena Vista and its canals in an Italian water taxi or amphibious car.

The first of the Florida-based theme parks, the Magic Kingdom® Theme Park is still central to most Orlando vacations. Six fantasy lands across 107 acres (43 hectares), morning-through-night entertainment and animatronic Disney characters all help to create an unforgettable experience for the entire family. Magic Kingdom® Theme Park was created from the vision of Walt Disney and opened in 1971.

Visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, where Disney magic meets Mother Nature. While watching elephants meandering across the Sahara and tigers stalking through the jungle, you will feel miles away from Orlando. This popular park in the Walt Disney World® Resort family delights visitors young and old.

With more than 45 acres (18 hectares) of exhibition space, Orange County Convention Center is one of the largest convention centers in the United States. The main exhibition hall covers more than 22 acres (9 hectares) and the ballroom is bigger than a football field.

With a name that stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, expect to see into the future at Epcot®. You’ll also explore the world of today in pavilions dedicated to different nations. Covering 300 acres (121 hectares), Epcot® has two main areas: Future World and World Showcase. Future World’s exhibits look at innovation, technology and science, while World Showcase presents the past and present cultures of 11 countries.

The magic of the silver screen comes to life at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. One of Walt Disney World® Resort’s four theme parks, it feels like a sprawling movie set. Once you step inside its boundaries, you are transported far from Orlando, Florida to the glittering world of Hollywood’s heyday.

Cheer on sporting stars or watch some of the world’s most famous musical acts at the Amway Center, a large sports and entertainment complex in the downtown area. Behind the metal and glass exterior with its 180-foot (55-meter) tower is a large arena with seating for more than 20,000 spectators. The venue is home to ice hockey, football and basketball teams including the Orlando Magic who play in the NBA (National Basketball Association).

Walt Disney World® Resort is the perfect place to stay in Orlando as a large number of the area’s star attractions are within easy driving distance. Two sights that should be at the top of every visitor’s itinerary is the wonderful Disney's Boardwalk and the ever-popular Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course. Two other great attractions you’ll find within a short distance of Walt Disney World® Resort are the Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and the Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.