Last month, Beth Lang (one of our travel agents) traveled down to Orlando to learn more about the sights and places to visit in the area. In addition to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, she found quite a few other “hidden” gems. Here are Beth’s hidden secrets of Orlando – sites, resorts, and savings!
1. Fogo de Chao
“This Brazilian steakhouse is one of the best places I have ever ate at. It was pricey, but the cost was well worth it. I’ve been joking that I would take my husband to Orlando just to eat here.”
2. Gatorland
“Gatorland had a lot of different things to see that I was not expecting. I walked around for hours looking at all of the different animals that they had rescued, including bobcats, various birds in their aviary, snakes, and rare white alligators. Gatorland was not just gators, which surprised me in a very good way.”
3. Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
“Going on an airboat ride is such a unique experience that, if you’ve never been on an airboat, you should take a ride at least once. This is an experience I think everyone should have.”
4. Nickelodeon Suites Resort
“The Nickelodeon Suites Resort, in my opinion, is the perfect vacation spot for families. You can get slimed here, have breakfast with SpongeBob, watch Nickelodeon movies… I loved it!”
5. iFLY Indoor Skydiving
“The iFLY, in one word, was awesome. It was a fun ‘adventure’ that I loved and would probably do again. I’m afraid of heights but was still able to experience skydiving without falling from thousands of feet in the air. The wind turbine tunnel pushes you up so that you are ‘floating,’ but there is still the sensation that you’re skydiving. This is something I’ve been telling all my friends they should do. ”
6. I-Ride Trolley
“The I-Ride Trolley continually runs, so if you’re staying on International Drive this is invaluable. You can pre-purchase passes online and it will save you a lot of headaches while in Orlando. The trolley can drop you off at Sea World, Universal Studios, the outlets and various stores in the area. It is also inexpensive, which makes this a great deal all around.”
7. Orlando Magicard
“You can download a Magicard from Visit Orlando’s website, which gives you discounts for various attractions and hotels in the area. Most of these locations can be reached by the I-Ride Trolley, which is very convenient. Rather than printing the card out you can also download it to your phone, so if you forget to print one before you leave, you still can access all of the deals while in Orlando. And best of all? It’s free!”
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When thinking of Orlando, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are usually the first places that come to mind. However, there are plenty of secrets to be discovered in the area! Have you ever found any wonderful location that no one else knew about while on vacation? Let us know in the comments below!