An 8-day Florida theme park itinerary

The youngsters (and youngsters at coronary heart) crave Disney – however dad and mom need a little bit nature, meal or two, and a few (non-mouse-related) tradition. Oh, and also you’ve solely acquired simply over per week. What do you do?

Whilst you may spend a month or extra at world-class enjoyable zones resembling Walt Disney World, Common Orlando Resort and Busch Gardens, it’s greater than potential to get a radical introduction to those beloved theme parks, in addition to a few of central Florida’s many different pleasures, in just some (bold!) days.

With year-round heat climate, there is not any unhealthy time to come back to the Sunshine State. Right here’s how to soak up Florida’s heaviest-hitting theme parks, as nicely different high sights in and round Orlando and St Petersburg, in eight days.

get round

Public transit choices are restricted in Florida, which means you’ll want a automobile to get from theme park to theme park. Count on to pay at the very least $30 per day for parking on the theme parks, with premium parking choices (which include nearer proximity to the entrances, EV charging and different parks) rising from there. Walt Disney World, Common Orlando Resort and Busch Gardens all supply thorough on-line primers on their parking choices.

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Days 1–2: Immerse your self within the magic of Walt Disney World® 

Sure, it’s as joyous – and immense – as you’ve heard. From Cinderella to Darth Vader to (naturally) Mickey Mouse, the world’s most beloved fictitious characters inhabit the world’s most well-known theme park. Since opening in 1971, this whole resort space – a metropolis, actually – has been constructed round storytelling, and its group pulls out all of the stops to create a fascinating vacation spot the place creativeness reigns.

Walt Disney World’s 25,000 acres cowl 4 totally different theme parks – plus two water parks, a procuring district and a slew of lodges – which means there’s no scarcity of enjoyable available right here (and also you may by no means wish to depart). Whereas many are drawn to the newer, high-tech rides such because the out-of-this-world Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the TRON Lightcycle / Run curler coaster, basic rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, the Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world” transport guests down reminiscence lane and straight into charming lands impressed by timeless cult characters.

Finances at the very least two days to chunk off a good chunk of Walt Disney World – with the data that it might take at the very least per week to expertise every part, and also you’ll doubtless be planning your return go to earlier than you allow the gates.

Planning tip: At Walt Disney World, a little pre-visit planning goes a good distance. In reality, with out figuring out simply what you wish to journey, how you intend to get from park to park and how a lot you wish to spend, you’ll be able to simply spend a full day staggering round feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices.

Purchase your park tickets nicely upfront (pricing is dynamic primarily based on demand) and make a plan of assault to maximise each minute on the park. When you’ve arrived, the My Disney Expertise app – which exhibits present journey wait occasions, lets you order meals upfront and extra if in case you have a Disney account – is just about important.

Day 3: Get pleasure from Orlando’s grown-up metropolis pleasures

16.5 miles northeast of Walt Disney World

After all of the marvelous Disney insanity, grown-up time is on the agenda in surprisingly subtle Orlando. Certainly, there may be way more to this metropolis than its theme parks, with gracious gardens, wealthy museums and a restaurant scene that’s miles away from quick meals.

Within the middle of Orlando’s historic Parramore district, the small Wells’ Constructed Museum celebrates African American historical past and tradition. The museum was as soon as a lodge – its Nineteen Thirties-era decor is preserved – which hosted such luminaries as Depend Basie, Cab Calloway, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington throughout the darkish days of segregation.

If it’s not too brutally sizzling and humid, depend on spending a while open air within the metropolis. Pretty and centrally situated Lake Eola Park sits between downtown Orlando and Thornton Park – lease swan paddle-boats to float across the many actual swans that ply the lake. The 50-acre Eden that’s Harry P Leu Gardens boasts lush plantings of roses, hibiscus, bananas, tree orchids and citrus timber that fill the grounds with fragrance and coloration.

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Detour: Head a bit out of city to take pleasure in nature at Wekiwa Springs State Park (40 minutes by automobile), the place you’ll be able to drift on a kayak between timber laden with Spanish moss, and perhaps encounter a number of of the handfuls of species of fowl and fish species, turtles and (sure) alligators that decision these turquoise waters residence. 

And about 45 minutes out of city, Blue Spring State Park gives the possibility to swim, kayak, go tubing, snorkel – and see manatees. Between November and March, you may spot as much as 500 of those light giants congregating within the spring-warmed waters right here.

Days 4–5: Get near Harry Potter and different beloved display icons at Common Orlando Resort

9.5 miles southwest of downtown Orlando

Again to themed enjoyable. One of many world’s premier theme parks – truly, 4 of the world’s premier theme parks – Common Orlando Resort is the place Hollywood film magic involves life. Movie and TV present followers will love Common Studios particularly, with rides like E.T. Journey and retailers like The Movie Vault.

Islands of Journey is a favourite for these on the lookout for a extra basic expertise, because of its terrific themes and next-level thrill rides. It’s additionally residence to maybe the park’s most beloved part: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade. Anybody obsessive about the books (or anybody who simply appreciates time) will love immersing themselves within the Potterverse on such rides as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, or by sipping a candy butterbeer alongside the extraordinary setting of Diagon Alley.

The brand-new Epic Universe is an extra playground full of themed lands, rides and eating places which are just about assured to be crowd favorites, from the Viking-inspired thrills in Practice Your Dragon – Isle of Berk to the interactive video games of Tremendous Nintendo World. This place encourages grown-ups to turn into wide-eyed children for the day.

Planning tip: As at Walt Disney World, it’s finest to do your homework and have a plan to get probably the most out of your time at Common Orlando Resort. The official app is full of interactive maps, real-time ride-wait occasions, restaurant-ordering choices and different priceless data.

Day 6: Study marine wildlife at SeaWorld, and the pure world at Bok Tower Gardens

SeaWorld is 8 miles south of Common Orlando Resort; Bok Tower Gardens is 44.5 miles south of SeaWorld

Head again towards central Orlando for a break from theme parks (nicely, type of). After struggling well-justified scorn for the mistreatment of its majestic orcas, SeaWorld Orlando has refocused its sights towards schooling and conservation.

Whereas guests will nonetheless see whales in captivity and performing in exhibits right here, they’ll additionally be taught in regards to the park’s rehabilitation of a whole bunch of marine animals, and the sustainable practices throughout its Orlando parks. Oh, and there are actually rides, resembling ocean-themed curler coasters Mako and Pipeline, plus a complete vary of drenched enjoyable on the Aquatica water park.

An hour’s drive south of Orlando, dreamy Bok Tower Gardens leads guests by 4 numerous native Florida ecosystems – a pine savanna, an oak hammock forest, a wetland prairie and a humid lavatory – which are residence to some 126 species of birds between them. Designed by famend panorama architect Frederick Legislation Olmsted Jr, the gracious gardens have azaleas, camellias and magnolias that burst into bloom within the spring.

Planning tip: Twice a day, the 23 bronze bells that grasp in Bok Tower Gardens’ centerpiece – a 205ft-tall (65.5m) carillon – ring with a melody that reverberates throughout the grounds. 

Day 7: Mix wildlife watching with curler coasters at Busch Gardens

66 miles west of Bok Tower Gardens

Your subsequent dose of theme park enjoyable lies outdoors the core central Florida circuit. On the Gulf Coast (about 90 minutes from Bok Tower Gardens and two hours from Orlando), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay blends some very effective curler coasters with a kitschy, only-in-Florida tackle an African safari expertise.

The absolutely walkable park has 10 totally different sections. Highlights embrace a journey aboard the Serengeti Railway, the place you’ll be able to encounter (from afar) free-roaming herds of African animals like zebras and giraffes. For one thing extra excessive, head to the Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest (206ft/63m), quickest (76mph/122kph) and steepest (with 91-degree drops) hybrid curler coaster. The brand new Phoenix Rising coaster is much less adrenaline-inducing – however not by that a lot.

Detour: Close by Journey Island has every part a contemporary, top-flight water park requires – a protracted, lazy river, an enormous wave pool, bucket-dumping splash zones and a swimming pool with leaping platforms, plus sandy lounging areas and sufficient twisting, plunging waterslides to maintain teenagers lining up till closing. 

Day 8: Get cultural in St Petersburg

30 miles southwest of Busch Gardens

Maybe Florida’s most culturally subtle metropolis, St Petersburg has a wealthy array of museums, eating places and sights that may delight guests of all ages. Each artwork connoisseurs and amateurs are positive to search out one thing that catches their eye on the Salvador Dalí Museum, residence to a staggering assortment of the famed surrealist’s works. The Nice Explorations Kids’s Museum is as enjoyable as it’s instructional, whereas children will love following the paths that snake by the jungle-like Sunken Gardens.

In order for you enjoyable with out paying for a ticket, take into account a day on the fabulously rebuilt St Pete Pier. This architecturally distinctive construction juts 3000ft (914m) into Tampa Bay, and has a play space, cafes, artwork installations and loads of room for working round to let off steam – a delight for each kids and their adults.

Detour: Think about squeezing in a day journey north to soak up the mermaid exhibits at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, a few 90-minute drive north of St Pete, the place enchanting sirens cavort in underwater tanks, to audiences’ delight. And for a special sort of underwater charisma, the manatees at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, a 30-minute drive from Weeki Wachee, by no means fail to impress.

This text was tailored from the eleventh version of Lonely Planet’s Florida, guidebook, printed in August 2025.