These must-visit Orlando attractions will have you saying “Mickey who?”
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Let me clear up one thing first: I am solidly Team Disney. But I get why other folks aren’t fans. It is pricey, and not everyone buys into the vibe of “the most magical place on earth.” But there are so many more things to do in Orlando than just visit the House of Mouse, and this Florida city remains one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., with AAA reporting that it’s the top domestic spring break destination for 2026.
Part of Orlando’s allure is that it caters to tourists, making a trip here easy and budget-friendly (especially if Disney isn’t on your itinerary). You can fly direct to Orlando International Airport from 118 different U.S. cities and, depending on where you’re flying from, may be able to book a budget airline to Orlando Sanford Airport or nearby Lakeland Airport. With nearly 500 hotels to choose from, it’s also easy to find lodging that fits your style and budget.
I recently traveled to Orlando with my husband and two tweenagers without visiting Disney, and—spoiler alert!—we had an absolute blast. Read on to find out which super fun, family-friendly Orlando attractions should be on your must-visit list.
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Orlando Auto Museum at Dezerland Park
Best for: Car enthusiasts and those in search of rainy-day fun
Believe me when I tell you that the Orlando Auto Museum at Dezerland Park is one of the best things to do in Orlando. It will delight everyone in your family, including skeptical dads, hard-to-please teens and even active toddlers who need plenty of space to run around. Housed in a former shopping mall, the museum houses real-estate tycoon Michael Dezer’s private collection of more than 2,000 vehicles. The self-guided tour starts off with a bang in the world’s largest collection of James Bond vehicles and memorabilia. You’ll see cars ranging from the original 1064 silver Aston Martin from Goldfinger to the Land Rover Defender from No Time to Die.
From there, you can get up close and personal with more famous cars from TV and film, including the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, the Batmobile from the original Batman TV show, the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters and the Buick Grand National driven by Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious. Sign up for a private VIP tour, and you’ll be allowed to sit in the cars for photo opps.
The museum houses more types of outlandish cars than you even knew existed, including the world’s largest limousine with seating for 75 (just don’t make any tight turns), an Elvis car with a hood shaped like a guitar and a Bugs Bunny car shaped like a giant carrot. On a more serious note, history buffs will appreciate the “Jeanette,” a DUKW driven by the 818 Amphibious Truck Company, an all-Black unit that landed at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1945. The vehicle was named after the driver’s girlfriend, and the couple wed after World War II was over.
When you’re done looking at cars, play a round of paintball, drive go-karts or bowl a few frames. The fully indoor park is perfect for rainy days or super hot summer days, when you need some air-conditioned fun.
Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures
Best for: Outdoorsy types
When I signed up for the Boggy Creek airboat ride—essentially a barge that can reach up to 50 mph with a giant fan attached to the back—I was expecting to see alligators and take a ride through wetlands. I wasn’t expecting to be wowed by the natural beauty of the Everglades, while spotting more bird species than I could count. But that’s exactly what happened.
It’s hard to imagine that something that fast and loud (we donned noise-protection headphones) could be peaceful, but it was. Surprisingly, the airboat didn’t scare the wildlife, which has grown accustomed to the boats. As Captain Dave skillfully maneuvered our boat through the water, he paused to point out osprey and bald eagles. Yep, we saw the promised gators too—from a safe distance, of course.
And there’s more than just rides at Boggy Creek’s 32-acre park. Kids can mine for gems, and everyone can visit the butterfly garden. My 11-year-old daughter particularly loved feeding the Highland cows, which are a new addition to the park. The shaggy cows were friendly—and hungry—and the boldest one let her pet it.
Discovery Cove
Best for: Lovers of aquatic life
For anyone who wants a day at the beach without having to leave Orlando, Discovery Cove is the answer. It’s billed as an “all-inclusive tropical paradise,” and for my family, it lived up to that lofty expectation. In fact, it reminded me of being on a cruise ship’s private island. Discovery Cove sits across the Central Florida Parkway from SeaWorld Orlando (which we did not visit), and the two share a parent company.
We parked ourselves at our cabana (available for an additional charge) and explored the park from our home base. I appreciated having a shady, secluded spot throughout the day with lounge chairs and a hammock. Bonus: It has a locker, so we could leave our valuables behind while we toured the park.
One of our first stops was the Explorer’s Aviary, home to more than 250 exotic birds, including macaws and flamingos. The more adventurous can feed the birds fruit (provided by the park) right from their hands. But we spent most of our time on the Wind-Away River, a lazy river on steroids. The river winds through the aviary, into caves and under waterfalls. The park provides pool noodles rather than inner tubes, and some parts were so deep that I couldn’t stand, which may make it challenging for inexperienced swimmers, though life vests are available.
We signed up for two extra animal encounters, SeaVenture and Swim with Dolphins. SeaVenture is like scuba diving lite: You don a dive helmet that allows you to breathe normally and walk on the bottom of the tank, and even my water-hating hubby enjoyed it. And how could he not? You get to walk by lemon sharks and through schools of tropical fish all while manta rays glide by overhead!
Unfortunately, our Swim with Dolphins experience was canceled, but for a good reason. Discovery Cove is respectful of the animals, taking their cues for what they do—and don’t—want to do. Our group of assigned dolphins decided they weren’t up to performing that afternoon. All guests were offered the option to rebook or get a refund.
Universal Orlando Resort
Best for: Theme-park aficionados
As most folks know, Disney isn’t the only game in town when it comes to theme parks. Orlando is also home to Universal Orlando Resort, which doubled in size in 2025 with the opening of Universal Epic, its fourth park. We opted not to visit Epic on our trip, because the lines are reportedly still long, and instead focused our day trip on Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. (The fourth park is Volcano Bay, a water park.)
We started our day at Islands of Adventure because on the day we visited, it opened at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than Universal Studios. Our first stop was a visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade, and our first ride was its signature Hargrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. On the “storycoaster,” as Universal calls its themed rides, riders hop in a charmed flying motorcycle before being thrust into the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid shows off his favorite magical creatures, including Fluffy, the three-headed dog. The roller coaster was fast, fun and not too scary, and it deserves all the accolades that riders have heaped on it since it debuted in 2019.
Next, my kids essentially forced me to ride the Jurassic World Velocicoaster. I try to say yes to everything on vacation, but the 155-foot drop, four loops and a max speed of 70 mph were downright scary! Still, I’m happy I did it. Yes, my heart was pounding, and I screamed the entire time, but it was exhilarating!
Before I knew it, it was time for lunch (burgers at The Burger Digs), and we were off to Universal Studios, a short walk from Islands of Adventure. We started with a stroll through the gift shop in Hollywood, where the costumes from Wicked were on display. As impressive as they were on the big screen, they were even more beautiful up close, where you could appreciate the delicate lace, intricate beading and textured fabrics. Then it was time to refuel with a “flaming Mo” and a “Big Pink,” a giant donut at Moe’s Tavern from The Simpsons.
Our favorites at Universal Studios were Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley and Harry Potter’s Escape from Gringrots, as well as the family-friendly Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a motion simulation ride that turns you into a Minion. All in all, it was a very fun—and very exhausting—day.
Where to stay
Just like folks are Team Disney or not, there are two camps of hotel guests: those who don’t care where they stay because they don’t plan to spend much time in their room aside from sleeping, and those who like to stay somewhere with loads of amenities and plenty of room to spread out to fully enjoy the downtime. While I was in the first camp when I was younger and traveling solo, now that I have kids who run me ragged—and who occasionally get tired themselves—I appreciate a nicer hotel. On our trip, we stayed at two fantastic options, and they were perfectly located for all the things we wanted to do in Orlando.
Caribe Royale
Caribe Royale is an all-suite hotel, located 1.5 miles from Disney’s EPCOT (you know, if you wanted to go there). We stayed in one of the property’s villas with two bedrooms, a separate living room and a full kitchen, plus a dining table and washer/dryer. The resort boasts a pool with a 75-foot water slide, on-site fishing and cycling (loaner gear is available at no extra charge) and seven restaurants and eateries. My crew were big fans of the Stadium Club, a souped-up sports bar with pro-level sports simulators. We tried our hand at ice hockey, golf and—our favorite—zombie dodgeball.
Villatel Orlando Resort
The townhouse-style villas that make up the Villatel Orlando Resort boast four to nine bedrooms that can sleep up to 26 people. Each villa comes with its own private pool, fully stocked kitchen, outdoor gas grill, ample big-screen TVs and a washer/dryer. The decor is modern chic, and the beds are super comfy. The pièce de résistance for us was the Barbie-themed room with bunk beds and an actual twisty slide to exit the top bunk. Oh, and did I mention that there was an arcade-style game in our room? My kids were ready to move in!
The resort has an on-site waterpark, but it has limited food options, including poolside dining and a 24-hour market. Because we had a rental car, we picked up our own groceries for breakfasts and snacks and got take-out sushi one night when we were too tired to eat out. It’s centrally located, just under two miles from Universal Orlando Resort.
Where to eat
Speaking of dining options, when you think Orlando and restaurants, you may think of the world’s largest McDonald’s or picture a Rainforest Cafe overrun with loud children. But Orlando’s food scene has really come into its own, and as of 2025, the city was home to nine Michelin-starred restaurants, beating out other well-known Southern foodie cities such as Charleston and New Orleans.
That’s not to say there’s nothing in between fast food and fancy restaurants. We loved our evening at Café Tu Tu Tango, which serves traditional (and delicious) Spanish-style tapas. It’s also a maker’s space and gallery, with artwork for sale and a stage with flamenco dancers twirling through the restaurant. It’s located near ICON park, so get there early and take a spin on the Orlando Eye, the giant Ferris wheel right on the promenade.
Another fave was JoJo’s Shake Bar, with burgers and milkshakes served alongside a walk down memory lane. Don’t miss the ladies’ room plastered in old magazine covers, including Jane, Cosmopolitan and the like, which transported me back to my childhood bedroom.
Last, if you’re willing to take a detour for the best biscuits ever, I would highly recommend Se7en Bites in Orlando’s Milk District. Not only does it have the flakiest biscuits ever, but it also serves creamy mac and cheese, crispy fried chicken and decadent brownies, pies and more. I’m still dreaming about the house-made pimento cheese. Note that it’s only open for breakfast and lunch.
Disney can wait … at least for now
Did we miss going to Disney on our Orlando trip? A little, especially when we saw all the billboards and highway signs reminding us how close we were. But our trip was filled with so much fun and so many amazing new experiences, it was well worth it.
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Sources:
- AAA: “AAA Shares Top Spring Break Destinations and Travel Advice”
- Flymco.com: “Domestic (U.S.) Service”
- VisitOrlando.com: “Places to stay”
