Orlando Road Trip Summer 2022 - Where To Stay + What To Do
This summer we partnered with Visit Orlando to share our experiences on our recent trip! #visitorlando I’ll be sharing a hidden gem in the Orlando area that is a great spot to stay if you’re vacationing here. You’ll also find a full list of all the spots we visited along with tips and details of our experiences.
Where To Stay
When it comes to lodging Orlando has so many options, it can seem a bit overwhelming picking the right spot. We knew we wanted to stay somewhere close to major theme parks + attractions that was spacious enough for our family of 6 to spread out. Magic Village Views in Kissimmee was the perfect spot, centrally located with 3-4 bedroom luxury condos that are surprisingly affordable. Check out a video of our villa!
We stayed in a 4 bedroom villa with a hot tub and bbq. You will have a private parking spot which is very nice. No circling around the building desparately trying to find an open spot on a late night! Our villa had a full eat-in kitchen with a massive island. The kitchen comes with plates, cups, utensils, etc. Pretty much anything you can think of that you’d need is there including things like a bottle opener. Sounds like a small detail, but nice to have on hand. It really made it seem like home without having to plan ahead and pack a bunch of extra things. There is a large two-story living room with a TV + fireplace. It’s a great spot for everyone to hang out. There’s also a nice half bathroom off the kitchen area and laundry room with washer and dryer.
Each bedroom had substantial closet space and a safe for valuables. The primary bedroom of our villa was on the first level with a full bathroom attached. Upstairs were 3 additional bedrooms each with it’s own bathroom. One of the bedrooms on the second floor was so large it had it’s own sitting area! Our 3 older kids claimed this room to themselves. They all wanted to stay together and it was nice having the extra space! But when it came to getting ready in the morning they all had their own showers upstairs.
It is an upgrade to get the hot tub and bbq on the patio, but I think it is worth it. After a long day at the parks it was nice having the hot tub to relax in. The outdoor area was quite large with a full patio set and large dining table. It was truly a nice little outdoor oasis for us. We were lucky enough to have views of the outdoor amenities too.
Speaking of amenities, Magic Village Views has a large outdoor pool with fountains. It has a zero entry which is a nice way to ease into the water. There is plenty of chairs/seating outdoors to hang out and lounge. They also have games set up outdoors like a giant Jenga set and HUGE chess pieces! The tennis courts were a hit with our family, especially the kids. The older three wanted to play every night when we got home. There is also sand volleyball. Just off the lobby there is a workout center and they recently opened a restaurant too! Although we didn’t have a chance to dine there during out visit. In addition there’s a small shop with some snacks + essentials just in case you need something.
Overall, Magic Village Views is a great choice if you are vacationing in Orlando. We would definitely make a trip back here. It was perfect for our family and would also be great for families to share. There truly is so much space here! We also loved the stylish modern design it reminded me of mid-century modern. All of the employees we interacted with were very friendly and welcoming. See more of what we did at Magic Village Views.
Things To Do
Orlando is known for it’s world class theme parks and attractions so you surely won’t have a shortage of spots to visit! For this trip we went to some spots we’ve been to before and also explored some new places as a family. We definitely made some amazing memories on this trip to Orlando.
Universal Orlando
We kicked off the trip with 2 days at Universal Orlando. There are 3 parks to visit here: Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park. We dedicated 1 entire day to Universal Studios and one to Universal’s Islands of Adventure. We did have park-to-park access with our tickets but with a 4 kids, one of whom is two, our family moves rather slow and it just made more sense for us to do a park each day. But, I would still recommend the park-to-park access especially for adults only or if you have older kids. Having the flexibility to move about freely is really nice. Plus, the parks are so close you literally can walk back and forth to one another. See some video highlights of our Universal Orlando visit here!
Universal Studios Florida
Day one was focused on Universal Studios Florida. Tip: Get the Universal Express pass so you can skip the regular lines at most of the attractions. This helped our family move through things a lot quicker and ultimately we were able to do a lot more during our visit. Universal Studios has so many fun rides and experiences. Many of them offer 3-D or 4-D experiences which make it feel like you are actually there! Despicable Me Minion Mayhem was a fun ride for the entire family. They offer non-moving seats for younger children and those with disabilities so most can enjoy this experience. Some of the more fast paced rides our family enjoyed were TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D + Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a must do experience. There is Diagon Alley within Universal Studios and Hogsmeade over at Islands of Adventure. Another fun ride was Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts located in Diagon Alley within Universal Studios. This area is heavily themed and you feel like you are actually immersed in the world of Harry Potter! You need to make sure to get a Butterbeer or two during your visit. These are a yummy way to cool down on a hot day! One of the things we did in Diagon Alley, that my kids loved the most was purchasing a few interactive wands. Throughout Diagon Alley + Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure you can actually cast spells with your wands and bring the magic to life. If you cast the spell right the world comes alive, you might just turn on a fountain or flush a toilet, you never know what will happen! This was really entertaining for my kids! We purchased our wands at Ollivanders and the shop in and of itself was an experience. You go through a show before you enter and your child just might be chosen or should I say the wand just might choose them! Even if you don’t get a wand, make sure to visit the shop it’s worth it! When it comes to the rides here, my kids really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. This indoor roller coaster takes you on a fun underground journey! But, in my opinion, the best Harry Potter rides are at Islands of Adventure including the #1 ride of all Universal Orlando, but I’ll get to that soon. Another fun thing to do in Diagon Alley is to visit the Gringotts Money Exchange in Diagon Alley. Here you can exchange your $10 or $20 bills for Gringotts that you can use within Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade along with select other locations throughout Universal Orlando. The kids really got a kick out of this and it was a fun way to pick out some souvenirs. The envelope itself is also a great souvenir for Harry Potter fans.
While walking around Universal Studios we saw some fun live shows including one where they made entertainment out of picking up trash! They had a group of performers that found a piece of litter on the ground and somehow made a comedic performance out of picking it up and disposing of it properly. The shows were a fun surprise for sure! If you are lucky, you can catch Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration at Universal Studios Florida on select nights. We were fortunate to experience this one as we were walking out of the park on our first night. They have fun music and immerse you into some of your favorite movies!
Universal Islands of Adventure
Now on to day 2! We spent the entire day at Universals Islands of Adventure. There were many more thrill rides here, but what I really loved for our 2 year old was Suess Landing! In this area you’ll feel like you are in a Dr. Suess book. There are several rides here more appropriate for smaller children like the Caro-Suess-el and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish which is similar to Disney’s Dumbo but this one also has water-shooting jets so be prepared! There are some really fun shops in this area and an amazing spot for some sweet treats! If you want a little sugar rush, make sure to head to Snookers & Snookers Sweet Candy Cookers for an amazing selections of treats like cupcakes, giant donuts, candied apples and so much more!
Islands of Adventure has a large Marvel themed area called Marvel super Hero Island. Some of my favorite rides like The Amazing Adventures with Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk Coaster are in this area. Like I mentioned previously, there is another Harry Potter area here called Hogsmeade. You can actually take the Hogwarts Express from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade! I’ve heard that it is an amazing ride, but unfortunately was not running during our visit. Make sure to go on the ride within the castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It’s the original Harry Potter ride. My husband and I rode it shortly after it first opened and it is still fun + thrilling to this day! I told you earlier that Hogsmeade has what in my opinion is the best ride so without further ado it is…….. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure! There is typically a pretty long wait and express passes cannot be used here but WAIT, it is so worth it! Hands down this my entire families favorite ride! The kids were super lucky because of child swap, they got to ride it twice. My husband and I were definitely jealous, it is that good! This ride needs to be on your Orlando must do list. In Hogdsmeade there are plenty more spots for your kids to practice their magical spells too. Make sure you don’t miss the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. This one is over at Universals Islands of Adventure and there are multiple shows once it’s dark, approx. every 15 minutes. It is a spectacular projection show right on the castle with some fireworks. The show is a great way to end your night at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Or you can do what we did, catch the show and then join the line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. If you enter the line right before park close you will most likely have a shorter wait and as long as you are in the line before closing you are guaranteed to ride. Since the wait was long we preferred to spend time waiting after closing so it didn’t eat into our day.
Another tip at Universal Orlando is to take advantage of the child swap option! Since our two year old was too small for some of the rides we could all wait in line together and once we reached the front of the line one of the adults could wait in a designated child room. There were usually cartoons playing and things to look at to keep little ones entertained. Once the first group is done riding, the adults can switch out and the kids can ride again. This was super convenient for our family and made it so no one had to miss a ride and we saved a ton of time by not having to wait in line again! It also works great if you have a child that is just simply scared or unwilling to go on a particular ride even though they are big enough.
Universal Orlando is definitely a theme park worthy of your Orlando must do list! Check out some of the fun we had during our visit!
Discovery Cove
Orlando is action packed but if you are ready to slow down the pace a bit I recommend a visit to Discovery Cove! It is located right in Orlando, but once you set foot into this all-inclusive day resort you’ll feel like you are in a tropical paradise. There are pristine beaches with exotic birds that you can hand-feed, along with so much more like The Grand Reef where you can swim and snorkel with thousands of tropical fish! You won’t have to wait in long lines or amongst large crowds because Discovery Cove requires reservations and attendance is limited. It truly is unlike any Orlando park I’ve ever visited.
As soon as we entered I knew Discovery Cove was something special! The tropical themed building with soaring ceilings sets the stage for you to enter paradise and is where the check-in is located. Our day at Discover Cove began by swimming with dolphins! This was an experience I have dreamed of doing for most of my life and it was pretty amazing to be able to do it right in Orlando! This is an extra experience that you will need to book separately in advance. You’ll begin the dolphin experience with an animal care specialists teaching you all about dolphins and their habit. You’ll have an option to ask questions too. For the actual experience, you’ll enter the Dolphin Lagoon where you’ll have the opportunity to individually interact with the dolphins. The trainer will let you know more about your specific dolphin, ours was Stella, and teach you how to interact with them. We had the opportunity to touch/pet the dolphin but the highlight of the experience was actually gliding on a dolphin. They will teach you exactly where to hold on to and then the dolphin will pull you through the water. They do have a professional photographer taking photos of the entire experience which are available for purchase after the interactions. The trainer will have your dolphin perform tricks right up close by you and will teach you some of the commands to get them to do the tricks. To say it was an amazing experience is an understatement. If you are celebrating a special occasion there is even a special surprise during the show, I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m not going to disclose what it is but you can contact Discover Cove directly.
After the dolphins, the kids really wanted to go in the Wind-Away River. We grabbed some pool noodles to float along and had a great time exploring. Shortly after we entered there was a cave to float through. You’ll find several waterfalls throughout the river and can enjoy spotting some tropical birds. You’ll pass along some gorgeous sandy beaches along the way too. This was kind of like a lazy river but so much more! Breakfast and lunch at Laguna Grill are both included with your admission. The food is served buffet style with a wide range of options including seafood and vegetarian dishes. Lunch also offered some yummy dessert options. You can pick from an assortment of beverages included sodas and coffees. It was really nice not having to worry about spending extra money the entire day, even self-parking was included! This way you could really just focus on the experience. The kids really loved that they could get slushees all day, I mean talk about paradise for a child! Adults 21+ can enjoy a selection of beer and wine as well.
We were fortunate enough to stay in one of the VIP Cabanas during our day at Discovery Cove. These secluded cabanas have some amazing advantages like a guaranteed view of the dolphin lagoon. Imagine just sitting in your cabana and getting to gaze out at dolphins all day, pretty dreamy right? Our cabana had a private hammock and several lounge chairs to relax on. We had all the beverages and snacks we could possibly need with a mini fridge right in the cabana and snack basket with a variety of options from chips to nuts and more. The VIP Cabanas also come with a dedicated VIP Cabana Host. Our host Kendall was amazing! He was friendly and attentive to all of our needs, he made our already amazing day in paradise even better! We had the premium drink package and there were so many yummy options to choose from, Kendall brought us several instagram worthy adult beverages to try out. Check out all of the special occasion options available during your stay at Discovery Cove here.
Another thing included in your stay is access to the Explorer’s Aviary where you will be surrounded by hundreds of beautiful exotic birds. Tip: we were told visiting earlier in the day is usually best because the birds are most hungry! You have the opportunity to hand feed the birds and watch them nibble fruit right from your hand! There are also more up-close animal adventures throughout Discovery Cove.
If you are reading this, it’s definitely your sign to visit Discovery Cove and enjoy a relaxing day in paradise! It was ranked the #1 best theme park in Orlando by USA Today’s 10Best 2021. No doubt, we will be traveling back to Discovery Cove sometime again soon. It was such an amazing experience and we want to explore all that it has to offer. You can see some of the highlights in this video!
LEGOLAND FLORIDA
If you have a little LEGO fan in your house, than this park is somewhere you will definitely want to visit. The theming here is incredible and it is geared for kids ages 2-12 #builtforkids Located in Winter Haven, it was about an hours drive from our hotel in Kissimmee. LEGOLAND Florida consists of the main theme park and also has it’s own water park! The main park has over 50 LEGO inspired rides and attractions! We had never been to this park before and I was surprised how many different themed areas there were.
We started off our day by strolling through the main shop near the entrance of the park. My oldest son insisted, he has been waiting to visit LEGOLAND and was excited to see all the sets. They even have park exclusives here that you can’t get anywhere else. Everyone was hungry so we headed to Granny’s Apple Fries based on the recommendation of an employee at the front entrance. I am glad that we took their advice because it was so good! This dessert shacks main treat is fried apple splices with whipped cream. We’ve never had anything comparable to his and it was really enjoyable, I’d recommend giving it a try. After the carousel ride outside of the restaurant we moved on to the LEGO Ninjago area. My husband and the older kids hopped on LEGO Ninjago: The Ride while my youngest and I had the chance to meet Lloyd one of the Ninjago characters!
While we walked around the park there were so many impressive LEGO builds to see, like I mentioned earlier the theming was incredible. We hopped on some more roller coasters along the way to the LEGO Movie World. This was a really fun area with one of my favorite rides, Emmet’s Flying Adventure Ride. You hop on a Triple Decker Flying Couch and are transporting into the LEGO Movie universe! It feels like you are flying through a world of LEGO! The kids really loved the Battle of Bricksburg ride, but warning you’ll get soaked! But, in the hot Florida summer sun this might be just what you are looking for.
One of our favorite live shows was the LEGO School of Spinjitzu. When we entered they gave us all bandanas to wear with the help of the instructor, we got to practice our ninja skills! It was a nice break from the rides and fun for both kids and adults. Right outside the show there were a bunch of Different LEGO rides like the Flying School Coaster which was my kids favorite! You are suspended so your feet are dangling in the air while you sour around the track. There is also Boating School & Driving School in this area. A great spot for food nearby was Kick’n Chicken Co, the hand-breaded chicken tenders were yummy!
If you are with a younger child during your visit to LEGOLAND Florida, check out the DUPLO Tot Spot. There are more appropriate activities for toddlers in this area and DUPLO theming as well. If you are with someone that likes LEGO Friends make sure to check out Heartlake City. This themed area features Mia, Olivia, Andrea, Emma, and Stephanie and offers rides, attractions, dining, and shops too!
So if you are ready for your little master builders eyes to light up with excitement, take the drive out to Winter Haven and visit LEGOLAND Florida! We shared a video on Instagram highlighting our experience at LEGOLAND!
Winter Garden Florida
Just outside of Orlando (14 miles west of downtown to be exact) you’ll find the adorable town of Winter Garden, FL. We stumbled across this town during one of our Orlando visits several years ago and are hooked on it’s charm! The vibrant downtown area has has plenty of dining and shopping options. We always make sure to go to Plant Street Market located right in historic downtown Winter Garden. In this indoor artisan market, you’ll find local vendors that feature a variety of natural, organic food and homemade products. Since all 20 vendors are located under the same roof, this is a great spot for families that have different tastes. Everyone can easily choose where they want to order food from and then eat together at one of the indoor or outdoor tables. I kind of look at it as a fancier version of a food court with a way better atmosphere and top notch food!
Downtown Winter Garden is very family friendly and you are likely to catch many golf carts driving around from the many gold cart communities within the city. It is truly such a nice vibe. Centennial Plaza has a beautiful Clock Tower and a gazebo where you can sometimes see live music. There are several swinging benches where you can just relax and take in the city and it’s atmosphere. The Downtown area kind of feels like you are in a Hallmark movie. You’ll find a splash pad for kids to enjoy near Centennial Plaza. We always enjoy just walking around and checking out some of the amazing murals.
This time during our visit, we stopped at Bikes & Blades, a full-service bicycle rental shop near Winter Garden. It is right on the 24 mile West Orange Trail that runs through Orlando. Here you have the option to rent hourly or for a full day. Each of us got our own bicycle to ride, and they even offered trailer rentals which was perfect for our youngest to ride in. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. They took the time to adjust our bicycles and help the kids with their helmets so they fit securely. There were so many places to explore and the trail goes right through downtown Winter Garden amongst other towns. The views on this trail are amazing, my favorite part was biking beneath the giant Oak Trees with hanging Spanish Moss, check out the views here! It truly was a gorgeous site. Along the trail we stopped at a pretty butterfly garden where we hydrated and took in the scenic views. I really would like to go back again one day and explore more of the West Orange Trail, and when we do we will surely stop at Bikes & Blades!