Theme Parks & Water Parks near me in Orlando, FL

Planning theme park days in Orlando? This list covers the four Walt Disney World parks, Universal's three parks and SeaWorld, plus the water parks that round out a trip. Magic Kingdom is the classic first pick for families, EPCOT suits food lovers and adults, and Universal Epic Universe is the newest park in town.

13 picks · Updated October 2026

1
Magic Kingdom Park

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
Walt Disney World's original park and the one most first-time visitors want to see. Cinderella Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and TRON Lightcycle / Run fill the day, and it ends with a nighttime parade and castle fireworks.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for Magic Kingdom Park (opens in a new tab)Directions to Magic Kingdom Park (opens maps)
2
EPCOT

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
Half thrill rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track, half World Showcase, a lakeside loop of 11 country pavilions with dining and shops. It is the Disney park that works best for adults and couples.
- Theme park
- Family
- Visitor favorite
- Date idea
Website for EPCOT (opens in a new tab)Directions to EPCOT (opens maps)
3
Disney's Hollywood Studios

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
Home to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land, plus Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster for older kids. Stay late for the Fantasmic! evening show.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for Disney's Hollywood Studios (opens in a new tab)Directions to Disney's Hollywood Studios (opens maps)
4
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$$
Rides and live animal habitats share the same park here. Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage in Pandora are the big draws, and walking trails like Gorilla Falls slow the pace down.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (opens in a new tab)Directions to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (opens maps)
5
Universal Epic Universe

Attraction in Orlando, $$$$
Universal Orlando's newest park, built around five worlds including Super Nintendo World, the Ministry of Magic and the Isle of Berk. Celestial Park sits in the middle and hosts a nighttime show.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for Universal Epic Universe (opens in a new tab)
6
Universal Islands of Adventure

Attraction in Universal, Orlando, $$$$
The pick for coaster fans, with Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Seuss Landing gives younger kids gentler rides in the same park.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for Universal Islands of Adventure (opens in a new tab)
7
Universal Studios Florida

Attraction in Universal, Orlando, $$$$
Universal's original movie-themed park, with thrill rides, simulators, kid-friendly attractions and live shows. It sits next to Islands of Adventure, so the two pair well on a park-to-park day.
- Theme park
- Family
- Visitor favorite
- Near Universal
Website for Universal Studios Florida (opens in a new tab)
8
SeaWorld Orlando

Attraction in International Drive, Orlando, $$$
Big coasters like Expedition Odyssey mixed with dolphin, orca and shark presentations and the Shark Encounter tunnel. Sesame Street Land makes it work for families with preschoolers too.
- Theme park
- Family
- Kids
- Visitor favorite
Website for SeaWorld Orlando (opens in a new tab)Directions to SeaWorld Orlando (opens maps)
9
Discovery Cove

Attraction in International Drive, Orlando, $$$$
A reservation-only day resort rather than a ride park. Admission covers meals, drinks and snorkel gear, you can snorkel the Grand Reef and feed birds in the aviary, and a dolphin swim can be booked.
- Water park
- Outdoor
- Water
- Date idea
Call Discovery Cove Website for Discovery Cove (opens in a new tab)Directions to Discovery Cove (opens maps)
10
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$
Disney's ski-resort-themed water park, with the Summit Plummet speed slide, a chairlift up the mountain, a wave pool and Tike's Peak for small children. Hours typically run 10am to 5pm and vary by season.
- Water park
- Outdoor
- Water
- Family
Website for Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park (opens in a new tab)Directions to Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park (opens maps)
11
Aquatica Orlando

Attraction in International Drive, Orlando, $$$
SeaWorld's water park near International Drive, with slides, the Cutback Cove wave area and kids' play zones. You can add an up-close tour to meet Commerson's dolphins.
- Water park
- Outdoor
- Water
- Family
Website for Aquatica Orlando (opens in a new tab)Directions to Aquatica Orlando (opens maps)
12
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Attraction in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, $$$
Closed for refurbishment as of late Oct 2026; check the Disney park calendar for reopening. When open, its huge Surf Pool wave pool, Crush 'n' Gusher water coaster and heated water make it a favorite.
- Theme park
- Water park
- Near Disney
- Family
Website for Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (opens in a new tab)
13
Universal Volcano Bay

Attraction in Universal, Orlando, $$$
Usually open 10am to 5pm, but it has a maintenance closure from Oct 26, 2026, with reopening planned by Apr 1, 2027. When it reopens, the 200-foot Krakatau volcano, raft rides and Kopiko Wai lazy river are the draws.
- Theme park
- Water park
- Near Universal
- Family
Website for Universal Volcano Bay (opens in a new tab)

How to choose between Disney, Universal and SeaWorld

Start with who is in your group. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom suit young children best, while EPCOT leans toward adults who want food, drink and World Showcase. Hollywood Studios is the Star Wars and Toy Story park. Universal's three parks skew toward older kids and teens, with Islands of Adventure carrying the biggest coasters and Epic Universe adding Super Nintendo World and the Ministry of Magic. SeaWorld blends coasters with marine animals and Sesame Street Land, and it is the easiest of the three resorts to reach from International Drive. If you only have a day or two, pick one resort rather than splitting time across all three.

When to go and how to plan the day

Disney and SeaWorld park hours vary by day, so check each park calendar before you build a schedule. Arrive before opening and ride the most popular attractions first, since lines grow through the late morning. Summer afternoons in Orlando bring heat and thunderstorms, so plan indoor shows or a break at your hotel in the middle of the day and return for the evening. Nighttime shows such as Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios, the castle fireworks at Magic Kingdom and the fireworks over the EPCOT lagoon are worth staying for. Wear broken-in shoes, bring a refillable water bottle and pack a poncho.

Adding a water park day

A water park makes a good rest day between theme parks. Blizzard Beach is Disney's open option, with typical hours of 10am to 5pm that vary by season. Aquatica sits near International Drive and has kids' zones and a wave area. Discovery Cove is a different kind of day: reservations are required, attendance is limited and food, drinks and snorkel gear are included. Two parks are closed for now. Typhoon Lagoon is closed for refurbishment, so check the Disney park calendar for reopening, and Volcano Bay has a maintenance closure from Oct 26, 2026, with reopening planned by Apr 1, 2027.

About this list

Every place here is a locally run business in Orange County with its own website, which we checked for hours, menus and contact details. We leave national chains off our best-of lists and favor places with a clear specialty.

This page covers 13 theme parks and water parks in Orlando. You'll find them in Walt Disney World, Universal and International Drive, spread across Orlando and Lake Buena Vista.

Where menus list prices, most of these sit in the $$$$ range, with a handful at $$$.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best theme park in Orlando?

It depends on your group. Magic Kingdom is the classic choice for families and first-time visitors, Islands of Adventure has the biggest coasters, and EPCOT suits adults who want food and culture with their rides. Universal Epic Universe is the newest park and a strong pick for Nintendo and Harry Potter fans.

How many theme parks are in Orlando?

Walt Disney World has four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Universal Orlando has three: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. SeaWorld Orlando adds another, and water parks such as Blizzard Beach, Aquatica, Typhoon Lagoon and Volcano Bay are on top of that.

Which Orlando theme park is best for young kids?

Magic Kingdom is the usual first pick for young children, with classic rides, a nighttime parade and castle fireworks. Animal Kingdom's safari and animal trails work well for little ones, and SeaWorld's Sesame Street Land and Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure give preschoolers rides sized for them.

Are Orlando water parks open in the winter?

Some are, with shorter or seasonal hours. Blizzard Beach typically runs 10am to 5pm with hours that vary by season. Typhoon Lagoon is closed for refurbishment as of late October 2026, and Volcano Bay has a maintenance closure from Oct 26, 2026, with reopening planned by Apr 1, 2027, so check each park's calendar before you go.

What is Universal Epic Universe?

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando's newest theme park. It is built around five worlds, including Super Nintendo World with Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon's Isle of Berk and a Dark Universe monster land, all connected by the Celestial Park hub.