#NInjaVerdict – (Alternative) Orlando Florida, USA

Orlando Florida, in the USA, has been (without question) the number 1 worldwide family holiday hotspot for many a year. The name is synonymous with theme parks and entertainment with the likes of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and Seaworld the main reasons for visiting that part of the Sunshine State.

Whilst there is no getting away from the fact that these dominate the area (Walt Disney World is the same size as Greater Manchester for context!), there is SO MUCH MORE to Orlando than “The Mouse”, Superheroes and Rollercoasters. So we hopped across, and packed as much as we could, into a short 4-5 day trip to see what the “alternative” side of Orlando can offer as a NInja holiday destination ….

Getting There
Due to its popularity, there are MANY ways to get to Florida these days – but the easiest route is always going to be DIRECT and with the Aer Lingus service from Dublin airport, everything is made very easy.

Aer Lingus will operate 24 DIRECT routes to the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026 (including new routes to Pittsburgh and Raleigh-Durham) and fly DAILY to Orlando during the peak summer months. The route is operated by an A330 which offers both economy and business class cabins. All transatlantic customers on Aer Lingus enjoy complimentary meals and refreshments (wine, beer, juice, etc) – along with 1000+ pieces of entertainment content at your seat.

And dont forget, by flying DIRECT, you pass US Customs and Pre Clearance in Dublin, which means when you arrive in the USA, you are treated as a domestic arrival and just head to pick up your bags and off you go!

For the best fares on transatlantic routes, please visit aerlingus.com

 

Hotel
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Orlando – Lake Buena Vista. This hotel is ideally located for easy access to all the attractions in the area (about half way between the two BIGGEST theme park resorts – Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World)

This (recently renovated) IHG hotel offers everything from a comfortable modern room and hearty breakfast, to an outdoor pool area, gym, bar and restaurant and easy access parking. Its the perfect base for your Orlando adventure.

 

Day 1

We decided to take a full day to explore all the attractions of International Drive. I-Drive, as it’s commonly referred to, is a busy commercial area filled with restaurants, outlet malls, a large convention centre and attractions, it has been a tourist necessity since the 1980s and maybe the most well-known area of Orlando for Brits/Irish travellers.

First stop was ICON Park, a 20-acre open air entertainment destination with plenty to offer. Free parking can be accessed on levels 4-7 in the ICON Park Parking Garage, and the area itself is free to access and walk around.

There is a LOT to see and do here ….but trill-seekers can get their fix at the Starflyer and Slingshot.

The Orlando Starflyer is “The World’s Tallest Stand-Alone Swing Ride” standing at 450ft. Sitting beside your friend or partner, you are secured by a seat belt and in-between leg harness and move up and down whilst rotating around a tower at speeds up to 45mph. Once at the top of the tower, if you’re brave enough to open your eyes then it also offers great views of the Orlando area, as you whizz round at high speed!

The Slingshot is described as “The most exhilarating and adrenaline pumping thrill ride in the world”. Take your seat and get buckled in by the staff, and as you are tilted back to face the sky, you are lowered down slightly with the rumbling noise, the mist and smoke of the volcano eruption. While you sit there waiting with anticipation, you can hear your heart pumping, and then BOOM! You are catapulted 450ft in the air at a speed of 0-100mph in 2 seconds. You then drop and bounce back up again, and drop and bounce back up again, and so on and so on until your bearings are gathered – I would most certainly recommend doing the Starflyer and Slingshot before eating lunch or dinner!

After the adrenaline rush, we were able to sample something more slow paced. ICON Park also offers Madame Tussaud’s, Ripley’s Crazy Golf, Bungee Pearl Express, Sea Life Aquarium, 7-D Motion Theatre, Carousel and so much more. We went to Museum of Illusions Orlando, which brings optical magic to life through jaw-dropping, walkthrough exhibits which make you question everything you were taught in science class at school!
Walk through an upside-down living room or swirling vortex tunnel, this wacky world of the weird and wonderful offers some truly great photo opportunities and is fun for all the family.

Once you’ve walked through the museum, go outside and hop on one of the iconic structures of the area’s skyline – The Orlando Eye. The 400ft tall observation wheel gives you a 360 degree view of Orlando like no other. A full rotation takes about 20mins, you can link your phone to the Bluetooth speaker in your pod, then stand back and enjoy picking out all the different attractions in the area.

ICON Park also offers a range of food and drink options, from Gordon Ramsey’s Fish & Chips, Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Yard House, Outback Steakhouse, Brother Jimmy’s BBQ to name but a few.
*I would also highlight that coming summer 2026 to ICON Park is the world’s largest Build-A-Bear store. Over multiple floors, the size of this place needs to be seen to be believed!

After ICON Park, it was time to travel less than a mile away to Pointe Orlando.
A vibrant, outdoor entertainment and dining complex, Pointe has something to tickle everyone’s taste buds with Cuban, Italian, American and British cuisine just a few of the options available.
For those looking to party, choose from places including Live! District, Funny Bone Comedy Club, PBR Cowboy Bar, Shark Bar, Sports & Social, Still Lounge By Dre and Snoop.

However, Pointe also has a vast array of attractions to keep you entertained, such as Greens Indoor Golf & Bar, Game Show Battle Rooms, Sandbox VR, Regal Cinemas, and our next stop – Will to Escape.

An escape room is a fantastic way to spend an hour, solving numerous puzzles to complete the ultimate mission of the room you are in. It’s an immersive team (or family) experience like no other. Our room was “Disappearance: Last Location”, in which we had to work to solve clues in search of lost friend, Greg. As we tried to make our way from one room to the next, I can categorically state that this NInja is better suited to the travel industry than crime fighting, detective work and problem solving …. we never found Greg!!

Our last attraction of the evening, which incorporated dinner, is one of the most recognised buildings on International Drive – Wonderworks!
An indoor amusement park with 35,000 square feet of “edu-tainment”, it combines education and entertainment with more than 100 hands-on exhibits that challenge the mind and spark the imagination. Make your way through 3 floors of attractions, such as experiencing hurricane-strength winds, lying on a bed of nails, and the iconic Bubble Lab.

All this within the famous “upside-down” house! A truly memorable landmark on the I-Drive strip.

Also at Wonderworks is the Outta Control Magic Dinner Show. This is the epitome of family fun. Mind-blowing tricks and illusions with great audience participation, you’ll be amazed by the magic and laugh the night away at the “dad jokes”. All the while being served unlimited salad, cheese and pepperoni pizza, beer, wine, soda and dessert. What’s not to love about that!?

 

Day 2

The second day started off with a round of golf at Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club, located at the swanky Rosen Shingle Creek hotel. You will find a number of Rosen hotels in the Orlando area, but this one is their premier location. And their golf course was pretty spectacular too.
The Arnold Palmer designed course is a golfer’s paradise, and only a short drive from the Lake Buena Vista / theme park area.

Whether you’re a casual golfer or a professional, this course offers rolling hills, luscious fairways, undulating greens, strategic bunkers, not to mention a lot of water hazards! Orlando is blessed with a plethora of wonderful golf courses, and Shingle Creek is right up there with the best of them The staff are attentive and helpful, always there to assist in any way they can.

After a morning on the golf course, it was time for “The Alligator Capital of the World” – Gatorland!

Gatorland is a 110-acre adventure park combining old Florida charm with incredible experiences, exhibits and entertainment. First opened in 1949, today it provides affordably-priced family fun featuring 1000s (and I mean THOUSANDS!) of alligators and crocodiles, breeding marsh with observation tower, free-flight aviary, capybara encounter, nature walk, petting zoo, train ride, splash park and Screamin’ Gator zipline.

The one-of-a-kind Gator Jumparoo show is a highlight for spectators, as staff dangle food over the water and the gators jump out of the water creating a feeding frenzy.

The zipline is another must-do experience when at the park. Voted “Best Zip Line in the USA”, you journey along 1200ft of high flying , heart pounding adventure, as you make you way through 4 x seven storey towers, passing over areas such as the Alligator Breeding Marsh complete with 130 giant alligators below!
With a takeaway restaurant on site, you can spend the whole day at Gatorland, pack in everything it has to offer, and grab lunch on the go as well.

A definite must-do attraction when you come to Orlando – and best of all, VERY affordable with adult day tickets only $30 / child ticket $25!

After a much-needed shower and freshen up after a day on the go, it was off to Disney Springs for the evening.Disney Springs is an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World Resort. The complex includes four distinct areas; Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center and West Side.

Marketplace houses many shops and restaurants, including T-Rex Café and Rainforest Café, both a popular dinner choice for families. A walkway connects the Rainforest Café with the Lego Store, always a hive of activity. Marketplace also has the signature Disney stores where you can buy themed apparel and accessories, gifts and homeware (perfect if you were at the parks but didnt want to do your shopping there and carry your purchases around with you all day).

The Landing depicts the fictional town’s transportation hub and marina. It features nautical-themed restaurants and shops, including Hanger Bar, The Boathouse and Gideon’s Bakehouse. Also in The Landing is Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant.

Town Center is the “central business district” of the Springs; a shopper’s paradise with upmarket stores including Sephora, Zara, Kate Spade, Uniqlo and Under Armour.

West Side houses Splitsville Luxury Lanes bowling alley, AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theatres, Pele Soccer, House of Blues, Cirque du Soleil, as well as M&M’s store, Star Wars and Marvel stores and Disney’s Candy Cauldron.

There is literally anything you can think of and more at Disney Springs, an ideal way to spend an afternoon or evening when in Orlando. The best bit, its FREE. Parking is free, entry is free, and you can stroll around the complex at your leisure, taking it all in and enjoying everything it has to offer – you dont need any Disney tickets to get in.

And a really cool feature of the parking lots – the spaces have green / red lights above them indicating whether they are available or not – so no more slowly crawling around looking for spaces when its easy to spot from a distance!

 

Day 3

A 30 min drive from our hotel was the city of Winter Park, one of Central Florida’s most visited communities thanks to its award-winning restaurants, sidewalk shopping, acclaimed arts and more in the upscale Park Avenue District. There are also outdoor parks and the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, and this is where we started.

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour has been welcoming visitors since 1938, and the hour-long guided cruise takes you through the lakes and canals in the Winter Park chain. Highlights of the tour include the natural scenery and local wildlife, the magnificent mansions and historic homes of the area, Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Gardens and the Isle of Sicily.

Our guide was the perfect mix of information and humour, and his local knowledge really brought the tour and the area to life.

After the tour, we took the short walk to Park Avenue and enjoyed a coffee and traybake in one of the many locally owned, independent coffee shops.
Park Avenue is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, strolling up and down both sides of the avenue and enjoying the array of independently owned stores, parks and perfectly manicured rose garden.

For lunch, it was the highly acclaimed Prato, a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.
If you love Italian cuisine, then this is the place for you! Arancini Fritters or Calamari, Octopus or Meatballs, the choice of starters has your mouth watering before you even get to the mains. Pizza, Pasta or Sandwiches provide options for even the most picky palate; and this NInja is a simple soul, so it was a large Fiorentina pizza and it did not disappoint!

After lunch, it was time for some culture in the form of  The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including the artist and designer’s jewellery, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows, and the spectacular chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
The chapel is an absolute must-see and demonstrates the artist’s craftsmanship in producing ecclesiastical goods ranging from clerical vestments and furnishings to mosaics and leaded-glass windows.

16 mosiac columns, a 1,000lb electrified chandelier in the shape of a cross, a marble and white glass mosaic altar, a dome-shaped baptismal font and several windows will leave your mind blown at the intricate artistry of Tiffany.

Fun Fact – Louis Comfort Tiffany’s father founded the world-famous jewellers, Tiffany & Co. Louis was the first design director at the family company.
Fun Fact II – Louis Comfort Tiffany designed the world-renowned New York Yankees “NY” logo.

There is more to the Morse Museum than just Tiffany, with its Art Nouveau collection, American art pottery collection, and late 19th and early 20th century American painting. If visiting Winter Park, there is no doubt that the museum has to be on your ‘To Do List’.

A short drive from the Park Avenue area is the Harry P. Leu Gardens, a 50-acre botanical oasis that invites you to explore, unwind and connect with the natural world. The gardens showcase a variety of plants from around the world, and they offer an enchanting experience for garden enthusiasts, families, and nature lovers alike.

There are 15,500 botanical specimens in total, representing 223 different plant families. There is The Florida Native Plant Garden, The Edible Garden, Tropical Fruit Collection, Herb Collection, Palm Garden, Bamboo Collection and Rose Garden to name but a few of the collections to walk through and lose yourself in the peace and tranquility.

A quick pitstop back to the hotel and we were switching gears BIG TIME, heading towards downtown Orlando to the Kia Center, home of the Orlando Magic, the city’s NBA basketball team.
The Magic were hosting one of the league’s top sides this season, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Upon arrival at the Kia Center, you are quickly reminded of how important sport is to so many Americans. Therefore, when you visit the US, I would always recommend that you attend at least one sporting event. The pre-game buzz and atmosphere both inside and outside the arena gets the blood pumping, and once inside you are immediately swept away by the classic American razzmatazz and entertainment on the court.
The choice of food and beverages caters for everyone, and once fed and watered, you take your seat and wait for the main event of the evening.
The Magic took to the court amidst dimmed lights, flames, strobes and thunderous music. The fans were in a frenzy culminating in the tip-off. We were underway and Orlando held their own against top opposition.

In the end Oklahoma were too much for Orlando to match, but a great game of basketball kept us on the edge of our seats, and you couldn’t help but be impressed with the sheer power and athleticism of the players on court.
Any holiday to Orlando (during basketball season) should include a visit to the Kia Center and the Orlando Magic!

 

Day 4

The last day of Orlando trip and what a way to start! Get Up and Go Kayaking at Rock Springs / Kings Landing, which has been rated the #1 Activity near Orlando. USA Today also ranks their tours as the best in the USA. We arrived early and got ourselves set up in the clear kayaks, most definitely the best way to view the surroundings, and entered the water and paddled our way down the springs.

The first half of the paddle is a little bit more of a work-out, but it is all worthwhile for the float back. We took a number of stops along the way, taking in the beauty around us and also giving our arms a rest. Our tour guide was so enthusiastic about his job and the local nature and environment, and his knowledge and love for what he does really rubbed off on us and enhanced the tour even further.

This is Instagram or Tik Tok heaven, the crystal clear water, the clear-bottomed kayaks, together with local waterways and wildlife offer plenty of opportunities to grab some unreal pics or videos for your social media posts. The early morning steam rising off the warm spring water is something special, and to paddle your way down through it – and taking the opportunity to jump in (the Springs were never more than 3-4 feet deep) – is truly something not to be missed.

Once we were back on land, a short drive took us to Winter Gardens, a charming, historic city which is only 15 minutes from the Disney area.
Known for its walkable downtown area, the pedestrian-friendly brick-lined streets offer boutique shops, cafes and museums.

We went for lunch to The Hangry Bison, a ‘create-your-own’ burger concept with a variety of options when it comes to the burger patty and toppings. Known for its Bison burgers, craft cocktails, craft beer and whiskey selection, this is one very cool venue that ticks every box for a NInja lunch!

After lunch, we were able to work off our meal by hiring bikes from West Orange Trail Bikes and Blades and pedal our way down the West Orange Trail.
The trail itself is 22 miles long, most of which is on old railroad alignments. We started at Killarney Station, and we cycled 5 miles back into Winter Gardens. We locked up the bikes and grabbed ourselves a Kelly’s Homemade ice cream and a coffee from Foxtail Coffee.

After that, it was back on the bikes and off we set through the neighbourhoods back to Killarney Station.
Hiring a bike and cycling on the trail is a great activity whether you’re a keen cyclist, or a family looking for something a bit different. The trail is easily accessible and very safe, and this was the perfect activity to conclude what was an incredible four days seeing what the Orlando area has to offer outside of the theme parks.

We kayaked, we cycled, we sailed on a lake. We were shot into the air at 100mph, we played golf, watched basketball, and sampled small everyday American communities away from the hustle and bustle of the theme park crowds. Yet all this is a short drive from our centrally located hotel. It’s literally on your doorstep. So next time you visit Orlando, and you really should visit Orlando, remember that there is a world of variety out there that doesn’t necessarily involve mouse ears and princesses!

You can check out the FULL highlights from this NInja trip over on the Instagram page—on the homepage under Orlando

Why not visit your LOCAL NInja travel agency and ask them to plan your next NInja adventure to Orlando?
You can contact them via Holiday NInja – CLICK HERE – we can easily make that connection for you!