Orlando not for me… how to make the best of it

[Tabbycat81]

Currently in Orlando with DH and I’m just not enjoying it. We’ve done the 4 Disney parks, universal studios and plan to do island of adventure today but I just cannot be bothered 😬

Can anybody suggest anything other than the theme parks to do please?

Wild Florida for an air boat ride and the zoo. Shows a very different side to florida. Amazing wildlife. The airboat pilots are very knowledgeable

wild life? Photography? birdwatching?

Do you have a car? Clearwater is a great day out or Daytona on the east coast.

The air boat rides are fun and you're pretty much guaranteed to see wildlife.

Kissimmee old town is laid back with shops and restaurants and a few rides.

Kennedy Space Centre is well worth a visit. We weren't expecting much but it was amazing to see big rockets up close.

Lots of the lake resorts have bike hire.

We love Sandford and always take a trip there. Huge lake and a traditional old town vine.

Shopping!

If you have a car (and have any interest in space / astronauts), the Kennedy space center is about an hour away I think...

Kennedy is fantastic.
If you have a car go to one of the national parks. You can swim.
what do you like to do?

if you just want to relax, go to one of the waterparks with beaches, lay on a sun bed and read all day whilst the rest of the family go on slides etc.

if you want to be doing something but just not a park, try Kennedy Space Centre.

Might not be for everyone, but .... a bit of retail therapy for an afternnoon ? Possibly more relaxing after hectic days at the theme parks.
I don't know about these days but the shopping malls and discount stores used to have good bargains for Levi jeans, t-shirts, huge towels, children's clothes etc.

Also, the orlando eye (Big ferris wheel on international drive) and there are some good crazy golf courses on international drive. Volcano bay at Universal is a great day

What sort of things do you enjoy?

Silver springs and take the boat ride

Everglades and space centre.

Tubing at Blue Spring State Park

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park

Or swimming at Wekiwa Springs

www.floridastateparks.org/learn/swimming-wekiwa-springs

Clearwater beach is lovely. We also loved the airboats!

Another vote for Kennedy!

The Tiffany Museum in Winter Park (I am not a museum or art lover generally but really enjoyed this)

morsemuseum.org

There is SO much more to do besides the main 3/4 Disney theme parks. As others have said:-

Kennedy Space Centre
Everglades (though there's also another alligator air boat ride much closer to Orlando)
Daytona Beach (and lots of other beaches)
Miami
Clearwater
Mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs
Busch Gardens Animal park at Tampa
Swimming with dolphins

The first time we went, we were there for two weeks and only spent 3 days doing the Disney theme parks.

We went back for another two weeks a few years later and did none of the Disney theme parks at all.

You need to get in your car, get out of Orlando and explore some of the many other attractions.

We've been to Florida many times, and don't usually bother with the theme parks at all. Florida is gorgeous, and is one of the earliest Spanish settlements in the US - many places of historic interest to visit, as well as the fabulous wildlife mentioned above.

Lake Louisa state park is lovely. Also enjoyed Wild Florida.

Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach are an hour away. Get on FL-528 (the Beachline Expressway) and head east.

Airboat rides. Google, they're all over. Camp Holly on US-192 is good.

Orlando Science Center is great for children and adults.

Turtle walk at https://seaturtlespacecoast.org/program/turtle-walks/

New Smyrna beach had a lovely vibe to it, and lots of quirky interesting little boutique type shops. Downtown Sandford was also lovely, very old town vibe, the diner had waitresses wandering round topping up coffee, I felt like I'd wandered into a movie.

We hired a car and visited St. Augustine, Lake Louise, Everglades and Miami Beach. The Celebration area in Orlando is interesting to wander around.

I’d be going to find manatees to hang out with. Try and find some wild Florida

Thank you for all the suggestions 🥰 we unfortunately don’t have a car but we are planning a shopping day tomorrow and did volcano bay today which was better. Think I’m just fed up of queues and being tried 😂

Your hotel will be able to book excursions - Kennedy and Daytona Beach are a good option as a break from theme parks.