Best 7 Things to Do in Orlando Before You Die (Hidden Gems)

Here’s what I learned the hard way: Orlando is not a city you figure out on your first visit. My early trips were theme park marathons—running from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, collapsing in hotel rooms, repeating. It took a local friend grabbing me by the shoulders and saying, “You’re missing everything” for me to realize Orlando has layers most tourists never peel back.

Yes, the parks are incredible. But the Orlando that stays with you—the one you’ll still be talking about decades later—lives in the spaces between them. Airboats across sawgrass marshes. NBA games where the crowd becomes a living organism. Swamp tours where gators slide past your kayak. These seven things to do in orlando aren’t on most itineraries. They should be.

1. The Real Florida: An Everglades Airboat Ride

Twenty minutes from the theme park chaos, a different Florida emerges. The sawgrass prairie stretches to the horizon. The only sounds are wind and the distant roar of airboat engines. And beneath the murky water, prehistoric creatures glide.

Why It’s Essential:

Most visitors fly into Orlando, hit the parks, and leave without ever experiencing the actual Florida ecosystem. This is your chance to correct that.

What to Expect:

An airboat ride is equal parts thrilling and surreal. The flat-bottomed boat skims across shallow water at 40+ mph, spinning 360-degree turns that make kids shriek with delight. Your captain cuts the engine in gator territory, and suddenly you’re drifting silently past animals that haven’t changed in 200 million years.

The Best Operator:

Wild Florida offers airboat tours on Lake Cypress with options ranging from 30-minute thrill rides to 2-hour eco tours. Their drive-thru safari park (more on that later) is attached, making it easy to combine experiences.

What You’ll See:

• American alligators (dozens of them, from hatchlings to 13-foot giants)
• Bald eagles nesting in cypress trees
• Turtles stacked on logs like solar panels
• Otters, wild hogs, and countless bird species

A good pair of polarized sunglasses is essential. These Costas cut glare and let you see through the water’s surface to spot gators below.

2. Universal Orlando Resort with Epic Universe

You know about Universal. You might not know about Epic Universe—the brand-new park opening in 2025 that changes everything.

What’s New:

Epic Universe is Universal’s most ambitious project yet. Five themed worlds including:

• Super Nintendo World: Ride Mario Kart in augmented reality, punch ? blocks, collect digital coins
• How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Fly on dragon-backed rides, explore Viking villages
• Dark Universe: Monsters unleashed—Frankenstein, Wolfman, Dracula in a gothic landscape
• Celestial Park: The central hub with gardens, fountains, and the park’s signature coaster
• Harry Potter Ministry of Magic: 1920s Paris wizarding world, connecting to Fantastic Beasts

The Strategy:

If you’re visiting before Epic Universe opens, the existing parks still deliver. If you’re visiting after (late 2025 onward), you need a minimum of 3 days just for Universal.

The Classics:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) connects to Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) via the Hogwarts Express. The attention to detail is staggering. Butterbeer is mandatory.
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: Best ride in Orlando. Trackless, thrilling, emotional. Ride at park open or close to minimize waits.
• VelociCoaster: Jurassic World-themed coaster with inversions, near-misses, and a top hat that makes your stomach drop.
• The Mummy: Indoor coaster that’s somehow still terrifying after all these years.

Stay at a Universal hotel for early park admission (1 hour before public). This single benefit lets you experience Hagrid’s or VelociCoaster with virtually no wait.

Pro Tip

3. Walt Disney World: One Park, One Day, No Regrets

Here’s the truth about Disney World: trying to do everything guarantees you’ll enjoy nothing. The families I see melting down are always the ones attempting four parks in three days with dining reservations at all hours.

The Better Way:

Pick one park. Own it. Experience it fully.

Which Park to Choose:

• Magic Kingdom: For first-timers and families with young kids. Castle, parades, fireworks, classic rides. It’s the Disney everyone pictures.
• Epcot: For adults and older kids. Drinking around the world, future-focused rides (Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is incredible), festivals year-round.
• Hollywood Studios: For Star Wars fans. Galaxy’s Edge is immersive in ways that make grown adults cry. Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster deliver thrills.
• Animal Kingdom: For nature lovers and Pandora fans. Flight of Passage is arguably Disney’s best ride. The safari is genuinely good. Fewer crowds than Magic Kingdom.

The 1-Day Strategy:

• Arrive before rope drop (30-45 minutes early)
• Ride your top priority immediately
• Use Genie+ (skip-the-line service) strategically
• Take a midday break (return to hotel, swim, rest)
• Return for evening (shorter lines, cooler temps, nighttime shows)

Where to Eat:

• Magic Kingdom: Skipper Canteen (adventurous, hilarious servers, actually good food)
• Epcot: Space 220 (dining with “space views”) or any World Showcase pavilion
• Hollywood Studios: Docking Bay 7 (Galaxy’s Edge, surprisingly good)
• Animal Kingdom: Tiffins (signature dining, underrated)

The “1 Park Per Day” ticket is the standard. Don’t feel pressured to park-hop—it adds cost and complexity without improving enjoyment.

Pro Tip

A cooling towel is a Florida essential. These Mission towels activate with water and stay cool for hours.

4. SeaWorld: Beyond the Controversy

SeaWorld has evolved. The breeding program ended years ago. The focus has shifted to rescue, rehabilitation, and education alongside the rides and shows. It’s worth a fresh look.

What’s Actually Great:

• Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin: A dark ride that’s genuinely charming, followed by a walk-through penguin exhibit with hundreds of birds swimming inches from your face.
• Mako: One of Orlando’s best roller coasters. Hyper coaster with airtime hills that make you feel like you’re flying.
• Infinity Falls: River rapids ride with a near-vertical drop. You will get soaked. Bring a change of clothes.
• The animal exhibits: Manatee rehabilitation, sea turtle rescue, and dolphin viewing areas that feel respectful.

The Shows:

• Orca Encounter: Educational rather than performative. The trainers explain orca behavior while the whales do what whales do. It’s genuinely interesting.
• Dolphin Adventures: Similar format—natural behaviors explained, not circus tricks.

The Strategy:

SeaWorld is less crowded than Disney and Universal. You can experience most of it in one day without Genie+ equivalents. Go on a weekday for lowest crowds.

The “All-Day Dining Deal” is worth it if you’re hungry. One price gets you a meal every hour at participating locations.

Pro Tip

5. Kennedy Space Center: Where Dreams Launch

An hour east of Orlando, the place where humans left Earth waits. Kennedy Space Center isn’t a theme park—it’s the real thing. Actual rockets launched from here. Actual astronauts trained here. Actual missions are planned here.

Why It’s Essential:

You’ll see:

• Space Shuttle Atlantis: Displayed as only astronauts saw it in space—tilted, payload bay open, heat tiles visible. The presentation before you enter makes grown men cry.
• Saturn V Rocket: The largest rocket ever flown, displayed horizontally in a building that makes you feel tiny. Walk underneath it, touch a piece of the moon, and imagine riding that fire to another world.
• Apollo/Saturn V Center: Includes the actual Firing Room where Apollo missions launched. Sit at a console. Feel history.
• Rocket Garden: Vintage rockets standing like monuments. Climb into a Mercury capsule replica. Photo opportunities everywhere.
• Bus Tour: Takes you to restricted areas—Vehicle Assembly Building (one of the world’s largest buildings by volume), launch pads, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

For Space Nerds:

• Astronaut Encounter: Daily talks with actual astronauts. Q&A included.
• Atlantis Behind the Scenes Tour: Add-on that takes you into the orbiter processing facility (extra cost, limited availability).

The Strategy:

Book the earliest tour with transport from Orlando. You need a full day—arrive at opening, leave at closing. Pack snacks (food options are decent but limited).

6. Wild Florida: Gators and Exotics

Twenty minutes from Disney, Wild Florida offers something no theme park can: actual Florida wilderness. This isn’t a zoo pretending to be natural—it’s the real swamp, with real animals, run by people who genuinely love this place.

What Makes It Special:

Drive-Thru Safari Park: Fourteen miles of trails through 170 acres where animals roam freely. Zebras approach your car. Watusi cattle with horns wider than your vehicle block the road. Ostriches peck at windows. It’s ridiculous and wonderful.

Airboat Tours: (Covered earlier) but the combination ticket makes sense here. Do the airboat first, then safari.

Gator Park: See every size of alligator, from hatchlings to giants. Feedings happen multiple times daily. The “Gator Jump” show is cheesy fun.

Exotic Animal Encounters: Sloths, lemurs, porcupines. Bookable add-ons let you get closer than the public.

The Strategy:

Half a day is enough, but you’ll wish you’d stayed longer. Combine with airboat tour for a full Florida experience.

The safari works best in a car with good visibility. Rental SUVs are ideal. Convertibles should keep tops up—ostriches aren’t gentle.

Pro Tip

A good camera with zoom lens captures safari moments. This Sony RX100 fits in a pocket but delivers professional-quality photos.

7. Orlando Magic: NBA Basketball at Its Best

Here’s something most tourists never consider: Orlando has an NBA team, and watching them play is one of the best adult entertainment in orlando florida options available.

Why It’s Great:

The Kia Center (formerly Amway Center) is one of the NBA’s best venues. Modern, comfortable, with sightlines that make you feel close to the action regardless of seat location. The crowd energy during a close game is electric.

The Experience:

• Pre-game: Arrive early for warm-ups. Players are accessible along the tunnels. Kids can get autographs.
• In-game: The Magic have excellent entertainment—dance teams, mascot (Stuff the Magic Dragon is legendary), and between-quarter contests.
• Post-game: Fans exit into Church Street, where bars and restaurants buzz with energy.

When to Go:

The NBA season runs October through April. Playoffs (if the Magic make them) are April-May. Weekday games are cheaper and less crowded; weekend games have better atmosphere.

The Tickets:

Upper-level seats are affordable ($30-60) and still offer great views. Lower level is a splurge ($100-300) but puts you close enough to hear players communicating.

Buy tickets directly through the Magic or verified resale sites. Avoid street scalpers near the arena.

Pro Tip

Bonus Hidden Gems (If You Have Extra Time)

The Morse Museum (Winter Park): Houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of Tiffany glass. The chapel interior is breathtaking. A short drive from Orlando feels worlds away.

Leu Gardens: 50 acres of botanical gardens near downtown. Ideal for a quiet morning away from crowds. The rose garden in bloom is spectacular.

Winter Park Boat Tour: One-hour narrated cruise through the chain of lakes connecting Winter Park’s mansions. See how the other half lives, literally.

Gatorland: The “older” gator park, less polished than Wild Florida but with its charm. The Gator Jumparoo show is worth admission alone.

Where to Stay for Hidden Gems Access

For Theme Park + Hidden Gems Combo:

• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando: Near Disney, free hot breakfast, evening snacks (saves fortune on meals), rooftop pool.
• Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Affordable Universal property with shuttle access.

For Adult-Focused Stay:

• Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando: Downtown, art-focused, walking distance to Kia Center (Orlando Magic). The rooftop lounge is sophisticated.
• Alfond Inn (Winter Park): Boutique, modern, near Morse Museum and Park Avenue shopping.

For Families Wanting Space:

• Vacation home rentals: Orlando has thousands. Look in Kissimmee or Davenport for proximity to parks and Wild Florida.

Where to Eat Beyond the Parks

Breakfast:

• Hash House a Go Go: Absurdly large portions, legendary hash, worth the wait.
• Keke’s Breakfast Cafe: Local chain, reliable, delicious pancakes.

Lunch:

• Black Bean Deli: Cuban food, authentic, affordable. The medianoche sandwich is perfect.
• Taco Chepe: Food truck turned restaurant, Baja-style tacos, fish tacos are incredible.

Dinner:

• The Ravenous Pig: Gastropub from James Beard-nominated chefs. Seasonal, creative, worth the splurge.
• Hawkers Asian Street Fare: Multiple locations, shareable plates, incredible flavor.
• Yellow Dog Eats: Sandwiches in a quirky setting, pulled pork with raspberry chipotle sauce.

Dessert:

• The Glass Knife: Cakes and pastries so beautiful you’ll photograph before eating.
• Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream: Multiple locations, creative flavors, homemade waffle cones.

What to Pack for Orlando

The Essentials:

• Cooling towels. Non-negotiable. You’ll thank me.
• Ponchos. Florida afternoon thunderstorms appear daily May to September. Disposable ones from Amazon cost pennies compared to park prices.
• Good walking shoes. You’ll average 8-12 miles daily.
• Reusable water bottle. Free water at all parks (ask at any food location).
• Sunscreen. The Florida sun is aggressive.

The Nice-to-Haves:

• Portable phone charger. Photos, maps, and wait-time apps drain batteries.
• Small backpack. Fits water, snacks, ponchos, souvenirs.
• Swimsuit. Hotel pool breaks revive tired families.

What NOT to Pack:

• Expensive jewelry. Theme parks attract pickpockets. Leave valuables at home.
• Large suitcases for day trips. Kennedy and Wild Florida require minimal gear.
• Expectations of “low season.” Orlando is always busy. Plan accordingly.

A portable phone charger is essential. This Anker model charges multiple devices and lasts days.

The Orlando You Didn’t Know Existed

The Orlando most tourists see is a facade—beautiful, entertaining, but incomplete. The real Orlando—the one that stays with you—lives in the swamp air on an airboat, in the roar of a Space Shuttle launch replay, in the electricity of an NBA crowd, and in the absurd wonder of a giraffe staring into your rental car.

These seven experiences aren’t replacements for the parks. They’re complements. They’re the difference between saying “I went to Orlando” and “I experienced Florida.”

Book that trip. The real Orlando is waiting.