The best theme parks in Orlando

Universal Islands of Adventure is the place for Harry Potter fans. The park plays host to wizards, witches and goblins as they take flight on attractions like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. On the other side of the park, you’ll find a land dedicated to Dr. Suess characters, Marvel Super Hero Island (where you can fly high with The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man), and a Jurassic Park-themed land.

What’s new: Jurassic World VelociCoaster is still the newest thing at this park, but next year, Harry Potter fans can continue to live their best wizard’s life at an all-new themed land at Universal’s Epic Universe park.

Pro tip: Order lunch at the Three Broomsticks, which specializes in British fare. Take your meal outside to the patio to watch the VelociCoaster whiz by.

Universal Studios Florida is home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley, E.T. Adventure and The Mummy, among other attractions. Inside Diagon Alley, you can zip through Gringotts Bank on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and drink a glass of Butterbeer with your pals at The Leaky Cauldron. After channeling your inner wizard, hop on a bike with E.T. to get him back to his home planet on E.T. Adventure. Universal fans also know this is the best ride to walk through the queue because of the iconic smell that hits you the moment you walk into the forest.

What’s new: This summer, Universal revealed its newest land, DreamWorks Land, geared toward younger guests. The land features a Trolls-themed, family-friendly rollercoaster, a stage show filled with DreamWorks characters, and more.

Pro tip: When you're riding Men in Black Alien Attack, be sure to press the red button when prompted. This will boost your score and will likely make you the high-point scorer in your car.

There really is nothing like walking down Main Street, USA, at Walt Disney World. Magic Kingdom is filled with nostalgia for young and old, with rides like Space Mountain and The Jungle Cruise and characters like Mickey Mouse and Snow White parading down the street waving to guests. The park just launched its newest attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which replaces the now-defunct Splash Mountain.

What’s new: Besides going down the bayou with Tiana, the latest thing to open at Magic Kingdom is a new iteration of the popular Country Bear Jamboree, now called the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. The new show brings the band of bears back together to sing country music versions of popular Disney songs.

Pro tip: When hunger strikes at Magic Kingdom, get in line for the iconic spring rolls from the cart near the entrance to Adventureland. The cart has a seasonal menu of rotating spring rolls. Recently, the menu featured cheeseburger and pepperoni pizza spring rolls.

The worlds of Toy Story, Star Wars, and classic Disney characters all come together at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The park may be the smallest of the Walt Disney World properties, but it became a prime destination when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019. The themed land has its own original storyline that fits into the ongoing Star Wars saga. Inside, you’ll find two attractions, a bar, a few restaurants, and plenty of shopping. Kids will love the larger-than-life Toy Story friends who have come out to greet them inside Toy Story Land, and they'll even get to ride on the back of Slinky Dog on Slinky Dog Dash.

What’s new: Toy Story Land has been undergoing a major expansion recently, including the newly opened Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant.

Pro tip: If you have younger children, Hollywood Studios is the place for them to see and meet their favorite Disney Junior characters.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park has lands dedicated to Africa and Asia that will make you feel like you're traveling through real-world locations, and the park also has fictional lands dedicated to the worlds of Avatar and dinosaurs. While many people will race off to ride Avatar Flight of Passage first thing in the morning, real Disney pros know that the first stop should always be Kilimanjaro Safaris, because this is when the animals are the most active. If you’ve never heard a lion roar after your morning coffee, you’re really missing out.

What’s new: This park is getting ready to receive a major upgrade to its DinoLand U.S.A. area. Disney has recently shown some concept art that features a potential Encanto-themed area taking over DinoLand. While nothing is fully confirmed just yet, we hope Encanto makes its way into a Disney park soon.

Pro tip: Tackle Expedition Everest faster by doing the single rider line. If you enter the line as a group you will be split up, but it's worth it to get on the coaster faster.

Even though it’s technically a water park, Universal Orlando Resort classifies Volcano Bay as a theme park. From a lazy river to body plunge slides that blast you through the centerpiece for everyone to see, there’s fun for the whole family. Volcano Bay is also home to some of Universal's best food and drinks, including a delightful coconut-crusted fried chicken platter and the scrumptious Waturi Fusion ice cream, a colorful twisted soft serve.

What’s new: There’s not anything new at the park this year, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

Pro tip: Make sure your TapuTapu wearable is fully secured to your wrist since it can and sometimes does fall off on some of the more thrilling water slides.

EPCOT is usually known as Walt Disney World's adult-centric park with festivals that encourage eating and drinking all day and popping in and out of shows about each country represented in the World Showcase. The park recently completed its multi-year upgrades, which include a walk-through attraction inspired by Moana and a new nighttime fireworks show. This is also where you can ride the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind rollercoaster, which features a reverse launch.

What’s new: The newest thing at EPCOT is the nighttime fireworks show, Luminous The Symphony of Us. The show takes place in the middle of World Showcase Lagoon, so anywhere around the water is a good spot to watch.

Pro tip: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure inside the France pavilion is one of the newest experiences at the park. You can wait less time by going here first thing in the morning or getting in line late at night just before the park closes.

At LEGOLAND Theme Park, everything is bigger and better than any kid could have imagined, with attractions like Lost Kingdom Adventure and LEGO NINJAGO World. When it’s time to take a break, head over to Pirate’s Cove to watch Brickbeard’s Water Sports Stunt Show on the lake that backs up to the LEGOLAND property.

What’s new: The newly-opened LEGO Ferrari Build & Race Experience opened earlier this year. The all-new park experience allows guests to build their own LEGO Ferrari car and race it against other people.

Pro tip: Be sure to get the apple fries at the park! They are easily the best treat at LEGOLAND Theme Park.

The cutest theme park to open in Orlando is the Peppa Pig Theme Park, part of the LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The park is mainly for preschoolers and has rides based on the popular cartoon series it is named after (no great surprise there). Many of the attractions do not have a height requirement, meaning even younger kids can enjoy a day at the theme park.

What's new: The park hasn't added anything new since it opened, but that’s not a big deal since it is mainly geared toward younger kids.

Pro tip: This is a great half-day park, especially for parents with kids who have never been to a theme park.

SeaWorld Orlando is a great park for coaster enthusiasts and animal lovers. The expansive park shows off all sorts of creatures from the depths of the sea, including dolphins, whales, and adorable penguins. Adults will love the high-speed coasters like Kraken and Manta, while kids will enjoy seeing their favorite Sesame Street friends at Sesame Street Land. Be sure to ride on Sky Tower to see the entire park from a bird's-eye view and get panoramic views of Orlando.

What’s new: The new family launch coaster, Penguin Trek, opened in early July 2024. The ride ends with you seeing the park’s penguin habitat.

Pro tip: You can schedule tours to learn more about some of the animals at SeaWorld, including dolphins, sea lions, penguins, and sharks. Tours should be made ahead of time, but there are sometimes slots available at the park.

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Gatorland is known for its up-close encounters with real alligators. The park features zip lines, an off-road vehicle ride, a petting zoo, and the ability to be a trainer for the day. Along with the thrills, you can also see a variety of animals, including birds, capybara, big cats, snakes, and other reptiles.

What’s new: The newest attraction at Gatorland is Croc Rock Adventure. On this daring adventure, you’ll rock climb, walk across a cable bridge and ride a 350-foot-long zip line.

Pro tip: Unlike other theme parks in the city, Gatorland offers free parking, which is a big money saver for your family.

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If you’re looking for a theme park with classic attractions in Orlando, look no further than Fun Spot Orlando. The park features everything from roller coasters and a Ferris wheel to bumper cars and big sack slides. The park has two different payment systems: a day pass, which gets you onto every attraction, and a pay-as-you-ride system, where different attractions cost a different amount.

What’s new: There’s not much new at the park, but don’t let that deter you from going. The rides and games are a great way to spend a day in Orlando.

Pro tip: Fun Spot Orlando has the city’s only wooden roller coaster, White Lightning, which can reach speeds of 48 miles per hour.