When Vic and I went to Orlando with the Visit Orlando in October, I thought I had the city figured out already. I had never been, but we’ve all heard about it through pop culture. Just envision theme parks and Mickey Mouse just walking down the road. But this trip for me was really eye opening to what the whole city had to offer. Along with the traditional idea of Orlando, we got to experience the culture of the city itself.
Visit Universal Studios Hollywood
Coming from Toronto, my idea of amusement/theme parks were very skewed. As a person who doesn’t care for rollercoasters, I didn’t know what to expect going into Universal Orlando Hollywood. I had envisioned massive rides, something that I’ve never absolutely needed. But I was completely wrong! Being sucked into a world where I was surrounded by some of my favourite movies was an experience that I’ll never forget. I had never comprehended how you’re able to be immersed and integrated into the Universal world, but then I could understand. Going on rides for an experiential time rather than for the thrill of the rollercoaster was exactly what I wanted. Sure, there are rides such as The Hulk Coaster, but some of the other rides offer more than just a thrill ride. Our very first ride was the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and it was an absolute blast! Wandering through the park, experiencing other rides such as Fast & Furious – Supercharged and Revenge of the Mummy made it a truly memorable experience.
Engulf yourself in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I’ll be the first to tell you, I am not a Potter head whatsoever. I’ve seen a couple of the movies but never read the books. That being said, I fully encourage anyone who appreciates the novels, movies, or just plain cool rides to go through these rides. Firstly, you need to see Harry Potter and Escape from Gringotts. The interactive ride makes you feel like you’ve entered the world, and are a valuable contributor in the escape plan for the characters. Then head out, get yourself a magic wand (Vic totally got Hermione’s), have a Butter Beer, and then go across King’s Cross to the other side with Universal’s Island of Adventure. Here’s where you can find the classic Jurassic Park River Adventure, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and of course, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Last but not least, stick around for a late show that full knock you off your feet (quite literally though, there were people getting ready for it 45 minutes before the show started. Needless to say, you can grab a seat on a bench or on the ground while you wait)!
Explore the I-Drive and stay at the Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection
By I-Drive, I mean International Drive. I’d compare it to being along the Strip, obviously with an Orlando charm to it. It’s the hub for tourists coming to town to go to theme parks and it makes total sense. Each major park is about a 20 minute drive from the hotel, which makes it super accessible! After a long day at the parks, the last thing I wanted to do was drive an hour to get back to my hotel or to find some food (obviously…). The Castle Hotel was located right between Universal Studio Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Spending our first few days there was a perfect way to start the trip as it made it easy for us to get around, and it was conveniently located close to a Chick-Fil-A, which if you follow us on Instagram, you’ll see was an absolute delight each time.
Experience Orlando from the sea to the sky
The ICON Orlando 360 is Orlando’s gigantic observation wheel with a full aerial view of the city. The 20 minute ride gives you a view from 400 ft in the air, with a 360 perspective to enjoy from all angles. We went around noon (which I can’t lie, got a bit toasty outside), but the pods are fully air conditioned with music to make the experience a lot funner. We had a zero wait time during the time of the day, which made the experience so much better. Combine that with SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium and Madame Tussaud’s and you’ve got a fun start to the day!
Make sure you go to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
Could you guess I was going to suggest this? I had never been to Orlando before, and so obviously, never been to any of the Disney World parks. I figured I wanted to tackle one park and I let Vic be the decider of where we went. To no surprise, we ended up getting FastPass+ to Magic Kingdom to cut down on the wait times and to really maximize the entire time we had. With a full 12 hour day ahead of us, I had to priorities for the day. 1) Try to stay hydrated as much as possible as it was 35 degrees minimum in the blaring sun, and 2) Not wait in lines! I know the latter is impossible, but I wanted to cut down the wait times because I’m just an impatient person when it comes to line ups (really though, who isn’t…).
I had to make sure we went through Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lighyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and Pirates of the Caribbean and I was can say I was never disappointed. Each of these were planned and kept us entertained and engaged with the whole ride! To my pleasant surprise, we also went to Mickey’s PhilharMagic. This was a completely random occurrence as it had a short wait time and was close to where we were coincidentally standing (you can check wait times on the My Disney World App). Mickey’s PhilharMagic was a major blast from the past and had all of my favourite songs as a kid growing up including A Whole New World and Be Our Guest, nostalgia was at its finest!
Experience world cultures through Epcot’s Food and Wine
We also got to go through Epcot‘s Food and Wine Festival which actually provided a much more chill time than Magic Kingdom. Experiencing Epcot was a change because the demographic seemed a bit more of people our age rather than kids running around. Taking in the culture was much more evident as Epcot tried to represent places from across the world, from Japan to Morocco, to Canada. Stay light for a crazy light show and enjoy lots of food and wine!
Break the bank at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets
You know that I love sneakers. My Instagram feed is filled with shoes, fashion, and sports. But as much as I love sneakers, I can rarely justify spending full price on a pair of kicks (unless it’s love at first site…) That’s the main reason I always go to outlet malls. I’m always interested to see what kind of deals are being offered and what I can squeeze out of my visit! I had always heard about the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets from friends, as one of the best outlet mall experiences so you know I had to give it a shot on my own.
Visit the Alfond Inn at Rollins College in Winter Park
The Alfond Inn at Rollins College is definitely far from the touristy areas. To imagine Winter Park, just think of a Yorkville (for those who know Toronto) kind of vibe. A very walkable area, a lot of boutique shops, and gorgeous scenery. The Alfond Inn is located right in the middle of Winter Park which made walking around extremely simple. We literally walked for 3 minutes and found ourselves in the main shopping area full of little boutiques and coffee shops. Make your way to Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. for a start to the morning (or for us, a fuel stop) and enjoy a gorgeous side patio. Go for a dip in the Alfond Inn pool (I also want to include that the gym is the best hotel gym I’ve ever experienced! Lots of machines for cardio and for weights, good selection of free weights, a smith machine, and an area for yoga/stretching, my man Jose Lopez would approve) and then get yourself a delicious dinner at Umi.
Breathe in the culture of downtown Orlando
With the city growing, the food culture grows with it. I wouldn’t characterize myself as a foodie, but I do appreciate and enjoy eating all types of foods. With that being said, I’d recommend looking into the East End Market and Church Street Districts to find yourself some delicious noms. Once you’re done dinner, do what we did and head on over to Lake Eola Park, find a spot to chill, and relax. Take in the sites, fresh air, and the beautiful lake in the centre of the city.
