I lived in Orlando for a year, spanning from June of 2023 until June of 2024. I had just moved there all the way from central Maine to live with my boyfriend, who I had met online and maintained a long distance relationship with for almost a year before we finally closed the gap (He’s my husband now, by the way!). Before he switched to working for a fully remote company, he was based out of Orlando. It was a whirlwind year of theme park days, excellent food, palm trees, and sunshine. Relocating to Pittsburgh, where we bought our house and are currently living, was quite an adjustment! Here were my ten favorite things to do during my year in sunny Orlando, Florida! Not everything on this list is a major tourist attraction. I’ve also included some of my favorite local spots.

1. Spending the Day at EPCOT

EPCOT is my favorite Disney park, hands down. Part of that is because Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is easily my favorite Disney ride, and my second favorite ride of all time. It also has a special place in my heart for a different reason: the Cosmic Rewind loading area is where Tim proposed to me on our last trip to Disney before moving to Pittsburgh. I’ll always associate this ride with that moment.

But I also love EPCOT because rather than feeling like I had to rush between attractions to do everything the park has to offer, I found my own little routine and my own things that I liked to do every time I visited.

I always loved walking around the Mitsukoshi Japanese department store in the Japan pavilion. This was before I had been able to visit Japan and getting to do so felt like a far away dream, so I really loved this little slice of Japan. I always took my time browsing all of the Pokemon, Sanrio, Rilakkuma, and anime merchandise. Then there’s the Mexico pavilion, where chips, guac, and a margarita before riding on the Gran Fiesta Tour made for a perfect evening.

I also loved all of the rotating seasonal festivals and food and drink booths. Throw in a ride on Soarin’, a walk around the World Showcase, and a stop for dinner somewhere along the way, and you’ve got yourself a perfect theme park day. EPCOT is especially great for childless couples. It has a big focus on food and drink and cultural appreciation.

2. Soaking Up the Vibes at Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful theme park in Orlando. It has gorgeous landscaping, greenery, animals, music, and incredible attention to detail. The vibes are immaculate, and simply being there is enjoyable.

It also happens to have two of my favorite Disney attractions: Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage. Expedition Everest is one of those coasters that Tim and I would occasionally ride over and over again, utilizing the single rider line so that we could get as many rides in as possible, although we couldn’t sit together using this method. Avatar Flight of Passage, on the other hand, is one of the most immersive and impressively modern theme park attractions I’ve ever ridden.

I loved taking it slow at Animal Kingdom. I liked wandering through the animal trails, popping into the shops, catching a show, and stopping into the Nomad Lounge for some of the most excellent food and drink that the park has to offer. Animal Kingdom isn’t a park that I ever felt like I had to “conquer.” I just liked spending time there.

3. Going to Another Broken Egg Cafe for Brunch

My favorite Orlando-area brunch spot was Another Broken Egg Cafe. I am forever grateful to the coworker who introduced it to me.

My usual favorites were the eggs benedict, the city grits (cheese grits topped with bacon, tomato, and green onion), and the Bourbon Street pancakes, which were layered with banana, pecans, a delicious rum butter sauce, and whipped cream.

This restaurant serves the kind of breakfast where you probably won’t need lunch afterward. Everything is southern-style, rich, hearty, and delicious. Tim and I ate here for weekend brunches over a dozen times, easily. I will forever be thinking about those Bourbon Street pancakes!

4. Getting Boba at Krave Tea or Shen Tea

There was never a shortage of boba in Orlando, but two places in particular became instant favorites of mine: Krave Tea and Shen Tea.

At Krave, it was all about the black sugar boba for me. To this day, I’ve never had boba that has been able to top it. It’s made with fresh milk and their house-made black sugar boba. The boba itself sweet, caramel-y, and perfectly chewy. Their other offerings are great, too. I’ve never had something from here that I disliked. At Krave Tea, you’re getting a perfectly and lovingly crafted drink.

Shen Tea, meanwhile, gets its flowers for being the most adorable boba shop I’ve ever set foot in. The interior is so kawaii, with pink walls and stuffed animals everywhere you look. The drinks are good, too! I really enjoy their taro milk tea.

5. Eating and Grocery Shopping at Lotte Plaza Market

Going to Lotte Plaza Market was a legitimate activity for me when I was living in Orlando. It’s a HUGE Asian supermarket with an attached Asian food court. The food court has around 5-7 different vendors, and has a particular emphasis on Korean dishes. You can get tteokbokki, ramyeon, bibimbap (the best bibimbap my husband has ever had!), and my favorite: the spicy beef and kimchi bowl. Our meals usually came with an array of small Korean appetizers. Other vendors offer pastries, boba, ramen, pho, and more.

Shopping for Asian groceries after eating authentic Korean food was always a lot of fun. Coming from someone who had seldom left small-town Maine before meeting my husband, I can say that there is nothing comparable to this market where I grew up. Huge multicultural markets like this are so exciting to me, partially because I never really got to experience anything like them, save for a couple of visits to Boston and New York City.

6. Riding Velocicoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure

I’ve ridden over 40 unique roller coasters, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster remains my favorite roller coaster of all time. That should tell you how much I love this ride!

Mustering up the courage to get on it was quite an endeavor for me. It was probably our 5th or 6th trip to Islands of Adventure that I finally did it. I remember the exact moment that the train was cleared to leave the loading area, and knowing that it was officially too late to back out. My vice grip was unmatched and my heart was beating out of my chest. This was early in my roller coaster journey!

I very quickly realized that while Velocicoaster was the most thrilling ride I had ever been on, it was also the most fun! The launches, inversions, airtime, and speed are just incredible.

Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Islands of Adventure. Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure is another fantastic coaster, and despite not being a Harry Potter fan, I loved wandering around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And I can’t talk about Universal without mentioning Butterbeer. This drink is pure joy and deliciousness.

If you’re a roller coaster person, don’t skip it. And get a Butterbeer while you’re at it.

7. Visiting the American Girl Store

This one is admittedly very specific to my interests, but as a lover of all things American Girl and the owner of around a dozen American Girl dolls, I loved having this store nearby.

Even as an adult collector, it’s so nostalgic to walk around in an actual American Girl store and see all of the dolls and elaborate displays in person. It’s also really cool getting to meet and chat with other adult collectors. I remember one of the cashiers telling me that she has over 70 dolls!

It’s also one of those places that serve as a reminder that there is a lot to do around the city for people with niche interests. It’s not all theme parks and major tourist attractions. Sometimes it’s tiny doll furniture, too!

8. Getting Sushi at Sakari Sushi in Winter Park

When you live somewhere for a while, it’s inevitable that you develop a handful of restaurants that become your places, and Sakari Sushi quickly became just that for me and my husband. They have a bit of an upscale vibe, creative and delicious sushi, and excellent house-made kimchi. It was a go-to place for date night!

9. Getting Indian Food at Tamarind in Winter Park

This was another restaurant that Tim and I frequented. As lovers of Indian cuisine, this place always hit the spot. The staff are very kind and the food was always great. One night our server suggested we try the gobi manchurian, and we quickly realized that it’s one of our favorite things ever and we get it almost every time we go out for Indian food to this day!

This is another place that probably wouldn’t make a standard “top 10” list, but that’s part of why I’m including it. Some of my favorite memories from Orlando are the big attractions and the roller coasters, but just as many are the places that I found myself returning to again and again.

Thank you for all of the wonderful dinners, Tamarind.

10. Riding Basically Everything at SeaWorld Orlando (But Especially Mako)

SeaWorld Orlando is another must for roller coaster fans because the park honestly has quite an impressive lineup. Among all of the coasters this park has to offer, my absolute favorite is Mako. Honorable mentions are Ice Breaker, Kraken, and Pipeline.

Mako is a huge hypercoaster built around speed, airtime, and massive drops, with no inversions. The first drop is around 200 feet, making it among the tallest roller coasters in Florida. The best part is the feeling of being completely lifted out of your seat as you fly over the hills. It’s thrilling without being rough or too complicated. It’s just a lot of fun!

SeaWorld isn’t as impressive or as elaborately themed as Disney or Universal, but it earned its spot on this list for having one of my favorite roller coasters of all time. Mako alone makes this park worth visiting at least once.

Why Orlando Will Always be Special to Me

I don’t know that I’d ever live in Orlando again, but I’m really glad that I did. For one year, some of the places that millions of people save up all year to visit became a part of my every day life, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling a little nostalgic for that.

When I look back, I think about Disney World of course, but I also think about the smaller things. I think about going out for boba or sushi, or exploring Lotte Market and coming home with a bag full of new Asian snacks to try. I hope that this blog taught you about some lesser known gems that Orlando has to offer. Living here allowed me to experience this city in a way I never could have as a tourist.

This is my love letter to Orlando- the city that gave me a year of theme parks, good food, new experiences, and some of my favorite memories.