Destination Orlando: Beyond Disney

What’s the biggest and most popular attraction in Orlando? Without question, it’s Walt Disney World, with its four theme parks, handful of resorts, shopping district, nightclubs and water parks.

But Orlando timeshare owners, who return to the glorious climate of Central Florida year after year, likely seek out things to do in Orlando that don’t involve a giant mouse. Here are just a few options:

Non-Disney Theme Parks
Like the massive Walt Disney World Resort complex, Universal Orlando Resort is made up of two theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, plus Wet n Wild water park, a downtown shopping and dining area (called CityWalk) and live shows, such as the Blue Man Group.

Sea World, home to Shamu, offers live entertainment, lots of marine life on display, as well as new thrill rides. About an hour southwest of Orlando is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, with live animals, live shows, thrill rides and roller coasters, as well as “safari” excursions.

Museums and Attractions
Museums and interactive attractions in Orlando range from the Orlando Museum of Art and the Orlando Science Center to Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium and the Holy Land Experience.

Kennedy Space Center, about a 45-minute drive east of Orlando, gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the country’s space program. Here, you can board a space-flight simulator, touch Mars rock and check out the Space Shuttle Explorer.

Enjoy southern hospitality at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede & Dinner Show, swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove, hold an alligator at Gatorland or watch the graceful Orlando Ballet dancers.

Golf Courses
Traveling golfers literally have hundreds of golf courses to choose from in the greater Orlando area. Public championship holes carved out in the wetlands beckon both novices and experts. Many timeshare resorts either have golfing on site or discounted pricing at nearby courses.

Shopping Centers
The Mall at Millenia boasts a whopping 1.2 million square feet of shopping space, with upscale shops like Chanel, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Tiffany & Co. Anchor stores are Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Macy’s. Spend the day into the evening here—the upbeat Blue Martini Lounge hosts DJs and or live bands nightly.

Even bigger than Millenia is The Florida Mall, with more than 250 specialty shops and anchor stores like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillards.

Just outside the city limits of Orlando is the ritzy suburb, Winter Park. Here, a stroll down Park Avenue brings many one-of-a-kind boutiques for browsing and shopping.

Lakes and Ocean
Fish, boat or swim on the dozens of lakes in Central Florida. Kayaking, canoeing, parasailing, water skiing and tubing are other activities locals and visitors enjoy on the lakes. Water excursions abound: You can go on an exhilarating airboat ride on the Everglades headwaters, take a leisurely paddleboat ride or snap photos of passing scenery on a mellow pontoon ride. 

And of course, the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are also worth a day trip. From inland Orlando, reach the east or west coasts in just an hour’s drive.

No matter what your age or activity level, you’ll find tons to do in Orlando—even if you never set foot in a Disney theme park.

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