We love Disney World, and when you come and visit, you’ll want to spend plenty of time in the parks. When you need a break from the parks, you can head outside the Disney bubble and experience Orlando, Florida.

As a Florida local, here are some of my favorite things you can do outside of Disney but still nearby during your vacation.
First up is Medieval Times! While you might have been to these in other states, Florida takes their theming to the max. You’ll feel like you’re entering a castle and are instantly greeted with crowns.

The whole dinner show is a blast where you’ll dine on medieval meals like cornish game hen, corn, and potatoes, and watch knights battle it out on the stage. There’s jousting and horse tricks, and it’s a great way to exit Disney World while still having a themed experience.

Confession: I really like dinner shows, and there’s another one I suggest checking out: Pirates Dinner Adventure. Pirate lovers are going to be obsessed with this as you get a delish dinner while seeing an 18th-century ship replica.

The performers are fun, and you’ll get to see sword fights, mermaids, and epic stunts.

Outside of dinner shows, we love the Orlando Eye. This huge Ferris wheel will take you about 400 feet in the air and give you a view of Orlando like no other.

It’s about a 20-minute ride where you can pick your own music, located at ICON Park.

If you’re looking for another show (sorry folks, this one doesn’t include dinner), The Dr. Phillips Center is our local performing arts center. Broadway shows come and travel, as well as performances from local musicians and theater groups.

You can check out their schedule online and find a show the whole family will want to watch (have you seen the 2025-2026 Broadway season yet? You’ll want to catch tickets to those most popular shows like Hadestown!). There are tons of great restaurants in the area as well, so you can enjoy a little evening in downtown Orlando.

I could probably go on and on about how much there is to do in Orlando beyond just theme parks, but these are four fun experiences I take my family to when they’re visiting. Make sure you keep following AllEars for more!
20 BEST THINGS TO DO IN DISNEY WORLD WITHOUT A THEME PARK TICKET
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What are your favorite things to do in Orlando outside of the theme parks? Tell us in the comments!
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