Things to do in Orlando in the Morning

Watching the sun come up over Florida’s gloriously green landscape is a treat however you choose to do it, but perhaps never more so than from a serene hot-air balloon ride, as the sky glows pink and orange in the early light of dawn. Soar high over Orlando for spectacular aerial views of the region’s signature network of swamps, waterways, forests and fragrant orange groves. You’ll also get a bird’s-eye view of landmark attractions including Legoland, Walt Disney World and Disney Springs as you sail silently across the Florida sky.

There are multiple hot-air balloon experiences available in the Orlando area. Try established local businesses like Bob’s Balloons and Maverick Balloon Adventures for the win.

Ok, so it’s fair to say that top-tier family Orlando attractions like Legoland, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are never *not* busy. But we’d recommend arriving for opening time (generally 9AM-10AM) to stand any chance of avoiding frustratingly long lines at the most popular attractions, among them Disney’s Space Mountain coaster and Cinderella’s Castle, Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Legoland’s Ninjago-themed dark ride. Morning is also generally when the Sunshine State’s temperatures are at their most pleasant. Sure, you’re going to have to ply impatient toddlers with ice creams anyway, but visiting the theme parks before the midday mercury starts to soar may also help to tone down the tetchiness – for harassed parents as well as overheating kids.

Getting out into nature is one of the most pleasant and rewarding things to do in Orlando in the morning. And you don’t even have to venture too far to find it. Lake Eola, right in the heart of downtown Orlando, is a serene spot for sunrise strolls, thanks to its leafy waterside walkways, mesmerizing central fountain and cute swan pedal boats. A couple of clicks north, on the banks of Lake Rowena, the Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical oasis, chock full of temperate and tropical plants, colorful flower gardens, shady oak groves and picturesque pathways, ideal for mindful mornings surrounded by nature. Look out for plant species from bamboo to bananas, camellias to cacti, myrtle to magnolias.

Just north of the city, Wekiwa Springs State Park is where it’s at for a refreshing morning dip in gin-clear waters before the tourist hordes arrive. Or rent a kayak and go for a paddle down the wide Wekiva River.

Prefer to stay on terra firma? Try the West Orange Trail for a scenic sunrise bike ride that takes in Orlando’s Winter Garden, Apopka and downtown Oakland along its 22-mile length.

Like many of Orlando’s most popular attractions, the rather excellent Orlando Science Center is best visited in the morning when you have a much better chance of getting hands-on with the interactive exhibits. Likewise the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where you can marvel at space rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, stand beneath the hulking Saturn V, and visit the very spot from where Buzz Aldrin and his gang set off for the moon in the summer of ‘69. The same is also true of the majority of Orlando’s family-friendly attractions, among them the topsy-turvy world of WonderWorks, the Titanic exhibition, Sea Life Aquarium Orlando and the mind-melting Museum of Illusions.

Top tip: many of these sightseeing sizzlers are included with the Orlando pass from Go City, which could save you up to 50% on the price of admission to dozens of attractions, tours and activities. Click here to find out more and to bag your pass!

American alligators are a dime a dozen in Florida. You’ll find them pretty much anywhere there’s water, but if you want to absolutely guarantee yourself a sighting, Orlando’s Gatorland is a pretty safe bet. Here’s where you can witness gator feeding frenzies, watch expert handlers wrestle eight-foot monsters and, if you’re feeling particularly brave/stupid, zipline over seething pits of crocs and gators. General admission to this 100-acre park is included with the Orlando pass.

But nothing beats spotting gators (and other swamp-dwelling critters) in the wild. For that, you’ll need to get up early (like, really early) and make the long drive south to the Everglades for an airboat adventure of a lifetime at the likes of Boggy Creek and the Sawgrass Recreation Ground. The earlier you set out, the more likely you are to encounter gators and other native wildlife, as the cooler mornings are when they tend to be at their most active. Happy spotting!

Orlando is better known for its theme parks than its art museums, but its relatively modest collection of galleries are well worth an hour or two of your time. Spend a morning browsing the rotating exhibitions in the Orlando Museum of Art, plus highlights by Georgia O’Keeffe and Purvis Young from the permanent collection, and one of the finest collections of ancient American art in the southeast. While away the morning with a good book in the peaceful sculpture garden at Mennello Museum of American Art, by Lake Formosa. Or head to the city’s historic Winter Park, where the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art boasts the planet’s largest collection of Tiffany pieces, including paintings, lamps and decorative windows. 

Discover more cool things to do in Orlando in the morning with an Orlando pass. Hit the buttons below to find out more and choose the pass that’s best for you.