Don’t settle for any getaway — make yours unbelievably real with five incredible things you can only experience in Orlando.
Orlando is the only place in the world where you can have breakfast with Mickey, cast a spell in Diagon Alley™, zoom across the everglades in an airboat, pet a penguin, and catch an incredible fireworks show — all in one day. And with more than 190 unique activities in our welcoming destination, plus more being added every year, that lineup is just one of nearly 1.8 million distinct combinations waiting for you here.
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be: Your entire group will be thrilled no matter how you choose to experience Orlando. To make your planning even easier, make a personal appointment with one of our experienced Vacation Planners. But first, here are a few adventures you can include in future visits to ensure an unforgettable getaway of your own — and they’re all exclusive to Orlando.
FIREWORKS. EVERY NIGHT.
Orlando offers the unique chance to catch fireworks and similar shows every night of the year (weather permitting). From the nightly “Disney Enchantment” and “Harmonious” spectaculars at Magic Kingdom ®Park and EPCOT ®, respectively, at Walt Disney World ®Resort, to an incredible combination of music, water and light at Universal Orlando Resort’s “Cinematic Celebration” at Universal Studios Florida, you will spot gorgeous displays whether you’re in the theme parks or even just nearby.
Additional seasonal shows take place at SeaWorld®Orlando, including the summertime “Ignite” display, as well as holiday shows at locations throughout the area, such as Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. A hallmark of our destination, nightly fireworks are just one more unbelievably real part of the Orlando experience.
WATCH ROCKET LAUNCHES ON THE REGULAR
Nowhere else can you watch a rocket launch from the spectacular view of a 400-foot-tall observation wheel. Yet here in Orlando, catching sight of a SpaceX launch is possible almost anywhere, thanks to the destination’s close proximity to Kennedy Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Combined with the stunning perspective of Orlando available from atop The Wheel at ICON Park ®, a live launch becomes an unforgettable moment to witness in person.
BECOME A TIFFANY EXPERT
Lovers of the arts might not think of Orlando as a cultural haven — but they should. For starters, we’re home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany works courtesy of The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, just north of our main tourism districts.
Famous for his unique glassworks, Tiffany was one of the most creative and prolific designers of the late 19th century. (Ever hear of Tiffany glass? This is what they’re talking about!) The Morse Museum houses an incredible wealth of Tiffany’s works, from jewelry, pottery, paintings and art glass to his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and art from his Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall.
Plenty of other unforgettable art encounters await you in Orlando. For example, you can visit the Lake Nona Sculpture Garden, a 50,000 square-foot outdoor space designed for the exploration and discovery of a distinguished selection of sculptures from one of the world’s largest private art collections, The Lewis Collection. It’s adjacent to the Lake Nona Wave Hotel near Orlando International Airport.
HANG GLIDING … WITHOUT MOUNTAINS
Believe it or not, mountains aren’t necessary to hang glide — at least, not in Orlando. Here, you can experience the first and largest aerotow hang gliding park in the world, Wallaby Ranch.
Just south of our main tourism districts, this innovative flight school invites thrill-seekers of any experience level to tandem hang glide the safest way possible: by being towed 2,000 feet in the air, then gently released to ride the air currents back down. You will even be taught to steer the glider on your first flight.
SOAR OVER GATORS
Zip line seven stories above 130 live alligators and crocodiles at the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line at Gatorland, aka The Alligator Capital of the World ®. You won’t find another zip line experience like it, with 1,200 feet of thrilling flight across Florida wildlife and breathtaking views from high above the treetops.
Just because the Screamin’ Gator is one of Orlando’s most thrilling outdoor experiences, that doesn’t mean it’s only for adults — kids as young as 4 can safely get in on this action.