7 Day Ultimate Orlando Itinerary for Families

Orlando, FL is a magnet for families with kids. The city houses over 18 different amusement parks which will appeal to every taste. These include Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Legoland, Fun Sport America and many others.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park is the most visited amusement park in the whole world. In 2022, it welcomed over 17 million visitors. In Florida, no other park comes even close to it. Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood studios were distant second and third, with approximately 11 million visitors that year.

But it’s important to keep in mind that Orlando offers much more than just the theme parks. In this city, you will also find some interesting art exhibitions, museums, parks, premier golf courses, and excellent shopping opportunities.

7 days would definitely not be enough to see everything Orlando has to offer. You’d probably need a month or more for that. However, one week is plenty to do a lot of fun activities with your kids. And you can always come for more in future.

Below I’ve listed a sample itinerary for visiting Orlando. These are all of my family’s favorite parks and other activities in Orlando.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

Orlando Itinerary: Day 1 – SeaWorld Orlando

I suggest starting your Orlando itinerary with a visit to the SeaWorld Orlando theme park.

The SeaWorld has always been one of my favorite parks in Orlando. It has just celebrated its 60th anniversary, so it’s been around for many decades.

Tips for Visiting SeaWorld

SeaWorld is a large park and there is a lot to do. There are many animal exhibits, animal shows, and various rides which will keep you busy.

The most popular animal shows are dolphin show, sea lion and otter show and Orca encounter (their most famous show). There is also a parade of SeaWorld characters. It’s rather short, but kids usually like it. If you have time, you can watch it. If not, it’s not a huge deal.

Here are some tips for your visit:

• If you are interested in attending all (or most) animal shows, you have to keep in mind two simple rules. First, it’s important to head over to the respective stadium about 30-45 minutes in advance to get good seats. Second, if you WANT to get wet, sit close to the stage. If not, sit above the “soak zone” which is marked on the rows. As one would expect, dolphins and sea lions don’t splash as much as the whales.
• SeaWorld has a great penguin exhibit which you would definitely want to visit. But be aware: it FREEZING there. There’s literally snow laying around to make it as close as possible to penguins’ natural habitat. It’s definitely a good idea to bring a jacket if you want to spend sometime watching the penguins. Otherwise, you’ll just run in and out!
• If you or your kids are interested in feeding animals, there are some places where you can do it. One is at the sea lions exhibit, another – at the sharks exhibit. The cost is $8 per tray.
• Significantly, SeaWorld offers not only animal exhibits and shows, but also plenty of cool rides. There are many options, including the newest rollercoaster the Penguin Track. Something to keep in mind is that rides are usually very popular. With most of these rides, there is a substantial waiting time. Usually it’s 30-40 minutes.
• Planning your day is important, especially if you are coming with young kids. Unless you come during the off-season, you will likely face very hot, humid weather. It’s not easy for little kids to tolerate. 7-8 hours at the park is pretty much all they can take, so you’ll have to maximize your time. Also, make sure you put on plenty of sunscreen. There is a lot of shade, but you will likely be spending sometime in the sun, especially during shows. Lower rows are usually in the sun.
• Undoubtedly, SeaWorld is one of my favorite places to buy gifts. They have a lot of stores throughout the park with slight variations of merchandise. I suggest first glancing in various stores and then picking the gifts you want.
• SeaWorld offers all day dining for $30 per person. This might be a good idea if you are expecting to spend a lot of time at the park and eat a couple of meals. With lots of walking around, kids get hungry and thirsty. Prices for meals are not cheap and they could easily add up to $30 or more.

SeaWorld Sample Itinerary

Below is a sample itinerary which will allow you to have a great experience.

9:00 am: Arrival at the SeaWorld

9:00 am – 9:45 am: Take some pictures with SeaWorld signs behind you, walk around the park, get familiar with the surroundings, look at the flamingo, dolphin and manatees exhibits (all relatively close to the entrance)

10:30 am Watch the Dolphin show at the Dolphin Center.

11:00 Visit the penguin exhibit, get on a ride or two

12:30 pm Sea Lion and Otter show

1:00 pm Lunch

3:30 pm Orca Encounter

4:00 pm Shopping and additional rides/animal exhibits

The final word

SeaWorld has faced some controversy in the recent years. Some of the issues which are cited include the lower lifespan of sea creatures in captivity and some fatal incidents involving both the animals and trainers. The park has worked hard to discontinue the harmful practices and improve well-being of everyone involved.

On the positive side, the role of SeaWorld in educating kids about the ocean is invaluable. They focus on kids’ education, sustainability and conservation. Every show they feature tells about the sea animals, where they live, and how to make sure they are well protected. There are also multiple signs throughout the park which feature educational information about species.

Without places like this, many children would not be able to learn so much about sea creatures. It’s obviously better to see these animals in their natural habitats, but for many kids this is not a possibility.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 2 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

About the park

On the list of most visited parks globally, Disney’s Animal Kingdom does not rank at the top. It’s ranked #11 with about 9 million visitors. But I figure rankings don’t mean anything. What’s important is that this is a super cool park and a lot of people I know, including myself, consider it their favorite.

Animal Kingdom is a sort of a hybrid between a safari, a large zoo and an amusement park with various rides. Animals are not kept in cages but in large areas which are very close to their natural habitat. This is of great appeal to visitors who are cognizant of animal welfare.

In addition, there is a lot of education information throughout the park, which is a big plus. When it comes to theme parks, I appreciate the amusement aspect, but I also want to make sure my child learns something new, so this park is perfect for that.

When should you visit the park?

My suggestion is to get to the Animal Kingdom park early in the morning. It opens at 8:00 am, one hour earlier than other parks.

It’s definitely worth getting there early as animals are usually more active in the morning. You’ll likely see more of them on a safari and during hiking. In the afternoon, it often rains in Florida, so it’s always a good idea to finish with all the most interesting experience in the morning.

One other idea could be to come late in the afternoon, as the rides usually have fewer people shortly before closing. But I think it’s a bit risky as you cannot control the lines, and you might miss out on some important rides.

Main theme areas

Disney’s Animal Kingdom consists of the following main theme areas: Discovery Land, Africa, Asia, Dinoland and Pandora- the World of Avatar. Each section of the park showcases different cultures and animals.

My favorite theme area is Africa. I might be biased since I spent a lot of time working in Africa and I’m very familiar with the culture and many countries there. But I still think it’s the most interesting part.

My favorite ride in the whole park is Kilimanjaro safaris. Kilimanjaro is a mountain in Tanzania- the country where I worked for several years. If you are interested in reading more about Tanzania- make sure to check my blog post about Bongoyo and Zanzibar islands in Tanzania.

The safari experience at the Animal Kingdom is not exactly like you’d have on a real safari, but still, it’s pretty close. You get on a safari car and go around the park looking at various animals in their natural habitat, like elephants, giraffes, antelopes, crocodiles, ostriches, and other African animals. You also get a chance to see the baobab tree. The guide tells a lot of interesting information about various animals throughout the ride.

Other interesting experiences in the Africa theme area are gorilla tracking and Rafiki Conservation Planet. With gorilla tracking, you get a chance to do some hiking and see gorillas and learn about these interesting animals. With the Rafiki Conservation Planet, you take a train ride to the conservation station where you can get close to farm animals and learn about Disney conservation efforts. My daughter liked this a lot. Other exhibits did not offer a chance to interact with animals, while this one did.

In addition to various animal encounters, you don’t want to miss the Lion King show. It’s a wonderful, colorful 30-minute show which features all of the favorite characters from Disney’s Lion King. Make sure you arrive early. The theater fills up quite quickly and you will likely be seated far away from the stage unless you arrive 30-40 minutes ahead of time.

Asia theme area also offers a very cool experience. A popular new attraction there is the Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain rollercoaster. You also don’t want to miss the Maharaja trail. You will be walking down the trail where you can spot a lot of interesting animals: the Komodo dragon, bats, tigers and various tropical birds. The bird area is especially cool because they walk right next to you and you can look at their nests and get really close to them. There is also a wonderful show – Feathered Friends in Flight- which features various flying birds.

Animal Kingdom offers a great opportunity for kids to become Wilderness Explorers. As soon you enter, kids can get a booklet with various activities they have to do and get badges at various stations spread throughout the park. My daughter has found this experience really interesting, and we’ve seen many other kids in the park very engaged as well. Make sure not to miss this opportunity.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 3- Rest day/ Shopping day

It’s always good to spend a couple of exciting and busy days in the park and then take a break, relax at the pool and re-charge your batteries.

You can also do some shopping. Orlando has wonderful shopping opportunities with plenty of outlets to choose from, like the Orlando International Premium Outlets, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, and many others.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 4 – Disney’s Magic Kingdom

As I mentioned earlier, Magic Kingdom is Disney World’s most visited park. Daily attendance was was 57,000 in 2021, compared to 38,000 for Animal Kingdom, 34,000 for Epcot, and 31,000 for Hollywood Studios. Many people will only visit one or two Disney parks, and Magic Kingdom will likely be on their list. So, the lines for the most popular attractions are definitely going to be the longest. Purchasing a lightning lane pass for this park appears like a wise idea, if you want to do many rides rather than just see highlights,

No words can describe what Disney’s Magic Kingdom is. It can only be understood by experiencing it. This is the most incredible, colorful, creative park in the Disney’s crown. The energy, the excitement, the smiles come from every direction. Happy children riding together with their parents cherish every single moment.

This is the way Walt Disney imagined his theme parks when he first got the idea of building one.

It all started on a Sunday afternoon when he was looking for a place to spend time with his daughters. Disney had two daughters (one of them was adopted). He looked into different options of activities for kids, but did not find anything comprehensive. Some places offered shows, others rides, for animals you’d have to go to the zoo… So, Disney decided that it was time to create an ultimate amusement park where you’d be able to do everything with your kids. And this is how the incredible Magic Kingdom idea was born.

The Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando is made up of the following sections: Main Street, USA; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland.

I’m not going to go in-depth into ALL the rides you can do at Magic Kingdom because there are so many.

But I’ll mention a few rides which are some of the most popular and fun, which you don’t want to miss. You should be able to do them in a day.

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Fantasyland). In addition to the actual ride, little kids will appreciate a nice indoor playground, especially popular when it’s steaming hot outside.
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (rollercoaster, Fantasyland)
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Adventureland)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
• Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
• Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid (Fantasyland)
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (rollercoaster, Frontierland)
• Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland)
• It’s a small world (Fantasyland)
• Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland)
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Frontierland)
• Space Mountain (rollercoaster, Tomorrowland)

I also think that you need to devote some time to shopping at Magic Kingdom because they seem to have the best selection of toys and other gifts for the family. Especially if you are looking for various Disney stuffed animals, it’s a good idea to get them at Magic Kingdom.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 5 – Disney’s Epcot

While Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney park, Epcot is a close second.

In fact, I’ve always been fascinated by this park’s cool concept, relaxed atmosphere, and attractions which are somewhat different from other Disney parks.

Did you know that Epcot means “experimental prototype community of tomorrow”? This concept was developed by Walt Disney back when he was planning to open Disney World in the East Coast, following the tremendous success of Disneyland in California.

Disney wanted the new park to be some sort of a futuristic community where scientists, creators and various innovative types could live together. This would be a community without crime, cars, noise and pollution, something I can definitely relate to.

Unfortunately, Disney passed away quite unexpectedly in 1966, before his dream could be turned into reality.

The executives of Disney corporation temporarily put his concept of the experimental community on hold and opened Disney World with the Magic Kingdom in 1971.

Epcot was opened a few years later, in 1974. It did not become a futuristic community but still a very cool park, with a lot of Walt’s ideas adopted in relation to innovation and technology. The Spaceship Earth symbol crowing its entrance is recognized throughout the world. 

My absolute favorite attraction in Epcot is the gorgeous Moana themed water attraction. You get a chance to take a relaxing walk down an open air area filled with various exhibits containing water while listening to the lovely music from the Moana show. Water responds to your moves and to your touch; it generates music and laughter. You learn to better understand the forces of nature and live in harmony with them.

Epcot also boasts 11 country pavilions which showcase various attractions, shopping and dining opportunities from various countries. With this variety, I think the dining opportunities at Epcot are superior to other Disney parks.

Among the most visited attractions at Epcot are rides featuring Ratatouille (3D experience) and Frozen (musical ride featuring all the characters from Frozen). These usually have 1 hour wait times, but they are definitely worth it.

Many other attractions have much shorter waiting times, and they are absolutely worth seeing. There is a lot of educational content, which I am sure will appeal to both adults and kids. For instance, the Soarin’ center features a movie about Earth – first showing its most beautiful places and then the devastating impacts of climate change. Also, don’t miss the boat ride on which you will see various experimental techniques of growing plants.

All in all, I think no visitor will be disappointed by Epcot and its attractions. Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of attractions are indoors, which definitely helps during hot or rainy days.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 6- Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park has a little bit of everything. Fun rides, entertaining shows, and even an opportunity to learn about Walt Disney. I must say that in terms of food, I prefer other Disney parks (especially Epcot), but I guess it depends on your taste.

If your family members are fans of Toy Story, then Hollywood Studios would be a great park to visit. There is a whole section, Toy Story Land, which is dedicated to the characters of this animated film. Some of the rides to take in the Toy Story Land are Alien Swirling Saucers (spinning ride similar to Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom) and Slinky Dog Dash (rollercoaster). Both of these rides have long waiting times, so be ready.

Hollywood Studios is also a great park for watching various shows, like Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, Muppet Vision 3D, and others. Like with any show, the advice is to come 30-40 minutes ahead of time in order to secure good seats.

For little kids, I also recommend watching the Vacation Fun, a short animated film featuring Mickey and Minnie, as well as Disney Junior Play & Dance, a fun and interactive musical show.

Also, you don’t want to miss the Walt Disney Presents show, which tells the story of incredible Walt Disney. You’ll learn about his personality, his parents and siblings, the inspiration behind his animated films, the struggles he faced during his life and career, and many other interesting facts.

I was personally thrilled to find out that Disney invented his flagship character, Mickey, while traveling on the train from New York to Los Angeles. However, he came up with a really hard name for the little mouse- Mortimer. It was Walt’s wife, Lillian, who spotted the issue and suggested a much better name- Mickey mouse. The rest is history.

Orlando Itinerary: Day 7- Titanic Artifact Museum

The Titanic exhibition in Orlando is a great place to visit to take a little break from amusement parks, the noise and the hot sun. The exhibition is located fully indoors, it’s not usually crowded, so it’s a perfect place to relax and learn something new – even if you know a lot about Titanic already. There are about 300 artifacts and various historical items from Titanic on display, including a two-ton section of the original ship’s hull.

As you buy your tickets at the entrance, you will be handed your “boarding passes” for the Titanic. These will bear the name of actual passengers and at the end of the tour, you’ll be able to see if this passenger survived or not. You can get a guided tour, or simply get audio guides.

As you progress through the exhibition, you will see a lot of personal belongings of passengers (e.g., suitcases, clothes, notebooks), read their stories, and see plenty of pictures and displays.

You will see some heartbreaking pictures of Titanic lifeboats and people swimming in the ice cold water after we the ship went under.

Did you know that a huge ship like Titanic only had 20 lifeboats? Well, by the safety protocols of that time, it was actually more than required. They were supposed to hold 1,178 people (about half of passengers and crew). Originally, the plan was to have even more- 48 boats – but this number was rejected due to cosmetic reasons.

Interestingly, Titanic had plenty of life jackets, but they turned out quite useless when people ended up in the water. It was so cold that 5 minutes in the water was all it took for a person to freeze to death.

At the end of the exhibition, you’ll be able to see and even touch a fragment of an iceberg. They keep it at the exact temperature as on the night Titanic victims drowned. You can touch the ice to understand how cold it was.

If you want to know more about Titanic and this exhibition, check out my blog post: Titanic – the Artifact Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.

The Final Word

I hope you enjoyed this Orlando itinerary. It works well for our family, as these are our favorite attractions. My daughter loves Disney, so we try to visit Disney parks as often as we can. Recently, we went to Disneyland Paris. If you’re interested in going there as well, check out my blog posts: Disneyland Paris: One Day Itinerary and Top Ten Things to Do in Paris with Kids.

There are plenty of other things to do in Orlando too. If you have some extra time, or you’d like to explore something different, a couple of great places you’d want to put on your Orlando itinerary would be Universal Studios and Discovery Cove Orlando. Universal Studios will provide more theme park experience, but Discovery Cove is different. It’s more of a relaxing places to enjoy a quiet day at the beach and get close to animals. However, it’s very expensive, so this won’t be a good fit for everyone.