Go beyond the expected with these off-the-beaten-path theme park experiences in Orlando.

Here in Orlando, we’re no strangers to magical experiences. In the Theme Park Capital of the World, you can race with velociraptors, shrink down to LEGO® size, play along on Sesame Street™, and be transformed into royalty with a wave of a wand. But if you’re only visiting for the rides and shows, you could be missing out.

Save on discount tickets: Orlando Theme Parks

We’re breaking down some of Orlando’s most unexpected theme park experiences, including high-value tours, immersive games and more hidden gems hidden in plain sight. Dig into them during your next visit to discover what makes Orlando so unbelievably real.

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Universal Orlando Resort

Defeat Bowser Jr.

Level up your stay in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ with an interactive Power-Up Band™, which you can use to earn coins, play mini games and collect keys throughout the day. One of the most exclusive games is the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown, which you can unlock by collecting three unique mini game keys and heading to Bowser Jr.’s lair on the second floor. Your mission: to recover the stolen Golden Mushroom in an epic Shadow Showdown. You’ll jump, duck, swing and punch your way to victory — or at the very least, you’ll have fun trying.

Discover: Things to Do at Universal Epic Universe

© Nintendo. Nintendo trademarks are properties of Nintendo

Discover Newly Enhanced Wand Magic

Pack your trunks, because your Hogwarts™ acceptance letter is finally here! Universal Orlando Resort recently unveiled a new collection of second-generation interactive wands in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ which, when combined with Universal Play in the Universal Orlando Resort app, can unlock a new world of personalized fun. If you thought you knew everything there is to know about spell casting in Orlando, think again, because this update is a game changer.

Discover: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Now, you can finally get sorted into your Hogwarts™ house, catalog fantastic beasts and unlock all-new spells — including several custom enchantments that are only available with a second-generation wand. You’ll progress through maps and lessons just like a real student, earning house points as you play to see who will win the House Cup. From perfecting your wand movements to discovering your Patronus, there’s a whole new world of magic just waiting to be uncovered — but without a second-generation wand, you might not even realize what you’re missing.

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling

Send a Letter via Owl Post™

You might not own a pet owl, but you can still send a letter via Owl Post™ in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ — Hogsmeade™. Shop an enchanting assortment of postcards, stamps, notebooks and paper goods in The Owlery™, then have your snail — er, owl mail stamped and delivered with the official Hogsmeade™ postmark. Be sure to send a postcard to yourself as well for a unique memento of your trip!

Discover: Things to Do at Universal Orlando Resort

Escape Into (and From) Your Favorite Cinematic Universe

Set off on an immersive adventure through some of your favorite film settings, no park ticket required, at Universal’s Great Movie Escape in Universal CityWalk. This state-of-the-art attraction invites you to join in on the action and explore two brand-new storylines inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World and Back to the Future films.

Discover: Universal’s Great Movie Escape

SeaWorld® Orlando

See Conservation in Action on a Rescue Tour

SeaWorld® has cared for over 42,000 rescued animals in the past 50 years, and you can tour the SeaWorld® Orlando rescue facility to learn more about what they’re doing to help. Book the 30-minute SeaWorld Rescue Tour to gain a high-level overview of SeaWorld’s conservation efforts and hear firsthand rescue stories. You may even see animals like manatees and sea turtles who are there to receive care.

Discover: Things to Do at SeaWorld Orlando

Become a SeaWorld Trainer for a Day

Want to take it a step further? Go behind the scenes during the Trainer for a Day Tour. You’ll join a team of dedicated animal trainers as they prepare meals, complete a dolphin enrichment session, and set the stage for their signature animal presentation, Dolphin Adventures. You’ll learn what it takes to work at a major zoological facility like SeaWorld Orlando and get a tour of the Rescue Center before you head out.

Discover: Orlando Theme Park Tours

Play Along at Sesame Street Land™

At Sesame Street Land, not only can you meet, hug and high five your favorite characters — you can explore the neighborhood in their shoes! Interactive elements and games bring you right into the world of Sesame Street and provide boundless entertainment for residents of all ages. Ring Bert and Ernie’s doorbell, whip up a delicious meal with Cookie Monster and Gonger, buzz Abby Cadabby’s apartment, and more. And the whole family will love the Sesame Street Party Parade! This award-winning parade will have everyone up and dancing as Elmo, Big Bird and friends accompany colorful floats during the parade at Sesame Street Land. But whatever you do, don’t knock on Oscar’s trash can.

Discover: Things to Do at Sesame Street Land

Discovery Cove®

Join the Flamingo Mingle

At Discovery Cove®, not only can you swim with dolphins, hand-feed exotic birds, and snorkel with thousands of tropical fish, you can also mingle with flamingos. During this highly intimate and exclusive animal encounter, you’ll meet, mingle with and feed Caribbean flamingos at Flamingo Point. You’ll also learn more about these majestic animals from an expert aviculturist for a flamboyant good time.

Discover: Things to Do at Discovery Cove

Take an Underwater SeaVenture

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, don your dive helmet for an underwater SeaVenture through The Grand Reef. During this 45-minute walking tour, you’ll explore the reef floor and come face-to-face with sharks, experience one-on-one animal encounters, and even get to touch unique sea life along the way.

Snorkel With Sharks

Don your wetsuit and snorkel for a unique adventure that you won’t find anywhere else in Orlando: snorkeling with sharks! Free swim with over 20 large and midsize sharks, including Pacific Blacktip, Nurse, Zebra, Whitetip Reef and Bonnethead varieties. You can also assist with shark feeding and training via the Shark Interaction program (which includes the shark snorkel) for even more toothy fun.

Walt Disney World® Resort

Get a Haircut on Main Street

Hidden in plain sight along Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom® Park, Harmony Barber Shop doles out sweet styles sprinkled with Disney magic. Beloved by parents for the My First Haircut package — which includes baby’s first chop, an official first haircut certificate and pint-sized Mickey Mouse ears — the storied salon offers standard cuts for Disney fans of all ages. Be sure to book early, as this popular location tends to fill up quickly even for those in the know.

Discover: Things to Do at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort

Embark on a Wild Animal Encounter

Get up close and personal with white rhinos, elephants, crocodiles and more on a variety of guided experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Options include 60-minute elephant or rhinoceros encounters, an exhilarating three-hour Wild Africa Trek, and a semi-private safari adventure followed by African-style tapas. Check-in for all animal tours is located at the Curiosity Animal Tours kiosk, located across from the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction entrance. You can also spot animals after dark during the Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Discover: Nocturnal Adventures

If an undersea adventure is more to your liking, head to The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion at EPCOT®. After a tour of the backstage areas, you can hop in the water with bottlenose dolphins or (if you’re SCUBA-certified) swim with sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays and sharks in the pavilion’s 5.7-million-gallon aquarium.

Go Beneath the Scenes at Magic Kingdom® Park

Walt Disney World super fans, history buffs and theme park enthusiasts won’t be able to resist the Keys to the Kingdom tour, which takes you behind the scenes and deep into the fascinating history of Magic Kingdom. The five-hour guided tour includes a complimentary lunch, juicy commentary on the park’s rich history and attraction secrets, and behind-the-scenes access to the famed tunnels running under the park and more storied locations.

Horse Around at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch

Saddle up for trail, pony, wagon and carriage rides at Tri-Circle-D Ranch, part of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The stables are home to over 90 of the Happiest Horses on Earth, including Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales and more. If you’re lucky, you might even spot Cinderella’s Ponies and the majestic horses of Main Street, U.S.A. during your visit.

Discover: Disney Resorts Collection

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort

Experience Old Florida Charm at Cypress Gardens

Before LEGOLAND® Florida Resort opened in 2011, visitors flocked to the area to visit Florida’s original theme park: a sprawling botanical garden and amusement park called Cypress Gardens. Opened in 1936, the gardens are still open to LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park visitors to this day. Discover a majestic Banyan tree, stroll past 30 kinds of palms, see a modern LEGO® version of the iconic Cypress Gardens Southern Belles, and uncover more nostalgic surprises along the way.

Discover: Things to Do at LEGOLAND Florida Resort

Dive Into Aquatic Fun at SEA LIFE Florida

Want something more modern? How about an entire aquarium inside a theme park? SEA LIFE Florida is billed as the world’s first “Theme Park Under the Sea,” and it’s packed with ride-inspired reef scenes, coral castles and underwater carousels — not to mention thousands of fish! Admission to SEA LIFE Florida is available separately or as an upgrade to your LEGOLAND Florida Resort ticket.

Discover: What’s New in Orlando

Trade LEGO® Minifigures

LEGO Minifigure collectors, rejoice! Thanks to a fun LEGO Minifigure trading program at LEGOLAND Florida Resort, you can pick up new LEGO Minifigures for your personal collection without spending a dime. Look for designated Trading Posts throughout the park, where you can trade, buy and collect as many LEGO Minifigures as your heart desires. The park’s Model Citizens (employees) also carry tradeable LEGO Minifigures on their name badges, so feel free to say hello if something catches your eye. It’s a great way to meet fellow enthusiasts and score a free souvenir of your bricktastic day out.

Take a Guided Wildlife Tour

Take a guided wildlife tour of Winter Haven’s “Famous Chain of Lakes,” for the chance to spot gators, turtles, osprey, bald eagles and more. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of the area, see modern LEGOLAND Florida Resort landmarks, and see remnants of the past, including the Esther Williams Florida Pool (pictured), which was created for a 1953 MGM Pictures film shot on-property. The 25-minute tours depart from the boardwalk behind the LEGOLAND® Hotel. Reservations are recommended.

Discover: Orlando Ecotourism

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