Updated October 20, 2026 · Launch edition

The 7 Best Things to Do in Orlando, FL

In our October 20, 2026 edition, the best thing to do in Orlando is EPCOT, followed by Magic Kingdom Park and Universal Epic Universe. We weighed 21 options on public reputation, recognition from independent sources and how well each fits the people who go there; this is the October 20, 2026 edition.

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At a glance · October 20, 2026

#NameWhereKnown forBest for
1EPCOTWalt Disney World ResortWorld Showcase country pavilions and the Cosmic Rewind coasterFamilies, food and festival fans, first-time visitors
2Magic Kingdom ParkWalt Disney World ResortCinderella Castle, classic Disney rides, parades and character meet-upsFamilies with kids, first-time visitors
3Universal Epic UniverseUniversal Orlando Resort (Epic Boulevard)Super Nintendo World, Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon landsTeens and adults, thrill-ride and franchise fans
4Universal Islands of AdventureUniversal Orlando ResortHagrid's motorbike coaster, Jurassic World VelociCoaster and the Incredible Hulk CoasterThrill seekers, Harry Potter fans, families with older kids
5GatorlandSouth Orange Blossom Trail (Southchase)Alligators, live animal shows and the Screamin' Gator Zip LineFamilies, wildlife fans, a non-theme-park day
6Lake Eola ParkDowntown OrlandoThe lake fountain, swan boats and the Sunday farmers marketCouples, families, a free downtown stroll
7Orlando Science CenterLoch Haven ParkHands-on exhibits, planetarium shows and giant-screen filmsFamilies with kids, rainy or very hot days
  1. 01

    EPCOT

    Walt Disney World Resort · Bay Lake · Theme park

    Orlando Weekly readers voted EPCOT the area's best theme park in 2026, and its Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster won best theme park ride in the same poll. It pairs rides with World Showcase, an area of pavilions themed to different countries, and it drew about 12.3 million visitors in 2024 according to the TEA attendance index. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs through November 21, 2026.

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  2. 02

    Magic Kingdom Park

    Walt Disney World Resort · Bay Lake · Theme park

    Magic Kingdom was the most-visited theme park in the world in 2024, with about 17.8 million guests according to the TEA Global Experience Index, and it has more Google reviews than any other attraction on this list. The park is laid out in six themed lands with rides, costumed characters and parades. Plan on a full day, and note that some evenings are given to separately ticketed events such as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which runs through October 31, 2026.

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  3. 03

    Universal Epic Universe

    Universal Orlando Resort (Epic Boulevard) · Orlando · Theme park

    Universal's newest park opened on May 22, 2025, and won the 2026 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in a theme park, plus three more Theas for individual rides and lands. Its five worlds include Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, and Orlando Weekly readers ranked it second among local theme parks in 2026. Its public Google rating, 3.9 on about 10,900 reviews, is well below the other parks here, so it ranks below EPCOT and Magic Kingdom despite more awards.

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  4. 04

    Universal Islands of Adventure

    Universal Orlando Resort · Orlando · Theme park

    Islands of Adventure placed third for best theme park in Orlando Weekly's 2026 readers' poll and holds a 4.7 Google rating across more than 110,000 reviews. Its eight themed lands are built around thrill rides such as Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the Jurassic World VelociCoaster and the Incredible Hulk Coaster. One-park tickets start at $124.99 plus tax and change by date.

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  5. 05

    Gatorland

    South Orange Blossom Trail (Southchase) · Orlando · Attraction

    Open since 1949, Gatorland is a 110-acre wildlife park on South Orange Blossom Trail with alligators, birds and wild cats, educational shows and a zip line. In Orlando Weekly's 2026 readers' poll it won best zip line and placed second both for best attraction that is not a theme park and for best place for family fun. It holds a 4.7 Google rating on more than 27,000 reviews, the largest review base of any non-theme-park pick here.

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  6. 06

    Lake Eola Park

    Downtown Orlando · Orlando · Park

    Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando won best city park in Orlando Weekly's 2026 readers' poll and has a 4.7 Google rating on nearly 25,000 reviews. A 0.9-mile sidewalk circles the lake, pedal-powered swan boats can be rented Tuesday through Sunday, and the Orlando Farmers Market sets up on Sundays. Entry is free, and the park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

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  7. 07

    Orlando Science Center

    Loch Haven Park · Orlando · Museum

    Orlando Weekly readers voted the Orlando Science Center the best museum in Orlando in 2026. Its hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows and giant-screen films are all indoors, which makes it the strongest rainy-day pick on this list. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but usually closed on Wednesdays, except during Orange County Public Schools breaks.

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How we picked these seven

For things to do we weigh public reputation, recognition from independent travel guides and how much of Orlando each one shows you, and we keep at least two picks outside the theme parks.

Places are ranked by evidence, not by a single number, and nobody paid to be listed. Figures like drive times and prices change; each one shows where it came from and when. Read the full method.

Questions, answered

What is the best thing to do in Orlando?

EPCOT ranks first on our 2026 list: Orlando Weekly readers voted it the area's best theme park, and it holds 4.7 stars on more than 164,000 Google reviews. Magic Kingdom, #2, was the most-visited theme park in the world in 2024.

What are the best things to do in Orlando besides theme parks?

Our top non-theme-park picks are Gatorland, a wildlife park open since 1949 with animal shows and a zip line; Lake Eola Park downtown; and the Orlando Science Center. Each finished first or second in at least one category of Orlando Weekly's 2026 readers' poll.

What is a free thing to do in Orlando?

Visit Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, which charges no admission and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. A 0.9-mile path circles the lake, swan boats can be rented for a fee Tuesday through Sunday, and the Orlando Farmers Market runs there on Sundays.

What can you do in Orlando on a rainy day?

Go to the Orlando Science Center, Orlando Weekly readers' pick for best museum in 2026, where the hands-on exhibits, planetarium shows and giant-screen films are all indoors. Adult tickets are $29 online or $32 at the door, and it is usually closed on Wednesdays except during Orange County Public Schools breaks.

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