Updated November 3, 2026
Orlando is the Bay's favorite road trip. From Tampa it's roughly 85 miles on I-4, usually about an hour and a half without heavy traffic (allow more on Friday afternoons and holiday weekends).
A Tampa Bay weekend in Orlando usually means one park day (Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando or SeaWorld) plus an evening at Disney Springs, Universal CityWalk or Winter Park's Park Avenue.
Jump to: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars & nightlife · Hotels
Things to do in Orlando
Magic Kingdom Park
Disney's flagship castle park with classic rides, parades and nightly fireworks across themed lands.
EPCOT
Disney park pairing future-themed rides with a lakeside World Showcase of pavilions representing different countries.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Movie-themed Disney park home to Star Wars and Toy Story lands plus thrill rides and stage shows.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney park blending live-animal habitats and a safari ride with rides themed to Pandora and Asia.
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
Ski-resort-themed Disney water park; currently the open Disney water park while Typhoon Lagoon is temporarily closed.
Universal Epic Universe
Universal's newest park, opened May 2025, with five worlds including Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic.
Universal Studios Florida & Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal's two original side-by-side parks, linked by the Hogwarts Express for guests holding park-to-park tickets.
SeaWorld Orlando
Marine-life theme park combining animal habitats and shows with some of Orlando's tallest roller coasters.
Aquatica Orlando
SeaWorld's tropical-themed water park with slides, wave pools and a lazy river near the I-Drive corridor.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
NASA's visitor complex with real rockets, the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit and bus tours; generally open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Gatorland
Old-school Florida wildlife park packed with alligators and crocodiles, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine.
ICON Park (The Wheel)
I-Drive entertainment complex anchored by The Wheel, an observation wheel rising over 400 feet with sweeping area views.
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Hour-long pontoon cruise through Winter Park's chain of lakes and canals past grand lakefront estates and wildlife.
Lake Eola Park
Downtown's signature lakeside park with a walking loop, live swans and pedal swan boats rented Tuesday through Sunday.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Botanical garden with themed plantings, camellias and lakeside paths, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Disney Springs
Disney's waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment district with live music, a tethered balloon ride and no park ticket needed.
Restaurants in Orlando
The BOATHOUSE
Waterfront steak and seafood house with a raw bar, outdoor bars and optional vintage Amphicar rides on the lake.
Chef Art Smith's Homecomin'
Southern comfort cooking built on Florida produce and family recipes, with a moonshine bar and weekend brunch.
Jaleo by José Andrés
Multi-level Spanish spot serving tapas, wood-fired paella, cheeses and sangria in a lively setting.
Paddlefish
Seafood restaurant set aboard a docked paddle-wheel boat on the Disney Springs lake.
Enzo's Hideaway
Table-service Italian restaurant styled as a hidden underground hangout at The Landing.
The Polite Pig
Counter-service barbecue joint with smoked meats and sides, an easy budget-friendly meal at Disney Springs.
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
Folk-art-filled restaurant serving New Orleans-leaning American food alongside live Southern music.
Hawkers Asian Street Food
Orlando's original Hawkers, sharing small plates of pan-Asian street food in the Mills 50 district.
Kres Chophouse
Fine-dining steakhouse in a historic Church Street building with a deep wine list.
Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster
Family-run steak and lobster house that has been an Orlando special-occasion favorite for more than 30 years.
Prato
Rustic Italian kitchen on Park Avenue known for wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta.
Gideon's Bakehouse
Cult-favorite bakery famous for oversized cookies and cold brew; expect a line.
Bars & nightlife in Orlando
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Irish pub with an interior shipped from Ireland, nightly free live music and Irish dancers.
The Edison
Industrial-gothic bar and restaurant in a mock 1920s power plant, with cocktails and nightly entertainment.
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar
Aviation-themed lounge nodding to Indiana Jones' pilot, serving inventive cocktails, beer flights and casual bites.
Wine Bar George
Master-sommelier-led wine bar pouring 200-plus wines by the ounce, glass or bottle with shareable plates.
Dockside Margaritas
Open-air waterfront margarita stand styled after a 1960s Florida produce stand.
Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar
Rooftop bar atop the Coca-Cola Store mixing Coke-based cocktails and floats with views over Disney Springs.
Pat O'Brien's Orlando
Replica of the New Orleans original with dueling pianos, a flaming fountain patio and signature Hurricanes.
Ole Red Orlando
Blake Shelton-branded country bar at ICON Park with live music most days and a full food menu.
The Wine Room on Park Avenue
Park Avenue wine bar and American kitchen with tastings, happy hours and a speakeasy-style private room.
Hotels in Orlando
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Luxury resort inside Disney property with a lazy river, golf and a rooftop restaurant overlooking Disney fireworks.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Victorian-style flagship deluxe resort on the monorail loop near Magic Kingdom.
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney value resort themed to pop culture through the decades, one of the cheapest ways to stay on property.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Italian-seaside-themed Universal hotel whose room keys include free Express Unlimited at the two original parks.
Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
Rock-themed Universal hotel with a 12,000-square-foot pool, walking access to CityWalk and free Express Unlimited.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Celestial-themed hotel at the end of Celestial Park with its own exclusive entrance into Epic Universe.
Universal Stella Nova Resort
Prime-value 750-room resort beside Epic Universe with early park admission and shuttles to other Universal parks.
Universal Aventura Hotel
Modern prime-value Universal hotel, a mid-priced on-site option with Universal hotel perks.
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Retro 1950s-60s beach resort with family suites, a lazy river, bowling and early park admission.
Dockside Inn and Suites
Budget beach-themed Universal hotel with two-bedroom suites sleeping six, two pools and free park transportation.
Hotel Beauden, Autograph Collection
Art Deco-inspired boutique hotel, formerly Grand Bohemian Orlando, with a rooftop pool and piano lounge near Dr. Phillips Center.
The Alfond Inn
Art-filled boutique hotel owned by Rollins College, a short walk from Park Avenue shops and dining.
Good to know
- Theme park tickets are date-based and prices change by day. Buy from the official site or an authorized seller.
- Some water parks close seasonally. Check status on the official page before planning a water-park day.
- For a multi-day Disney trip with a hotel package, a vacation planner can sort out tickets, resort and dining reservations for you. See our Disney vacation planning page.