This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visit Orlando for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you remember those few days in the middle of the summer when it was a scorcher and all you could dream of was winter? Yeah, now’s the time of the year when you begin to bite your words, because all you’re dreaming of is for those blazing hot summer days as the winter cold begins settling in on the city. Switched up your wishes pretty fast didn’t you? Don’t worry, I did to. Luckily for me, this year I got to escape the impending cold for about 1 week and flew down to Orlando, Florida with Visit Orlanodo to relive summer for one last time before hunkering down for the snow-mageddon that’s about to take over Toronto.

Earlier this month (just as the temperature was beginning to drop), Peter and I packed up out bags and escaped to Orlando. To the land of forever sun, and where dreams come true—at Walt Disney World. Now this isn’t the first time that I’ve been to Orlando, nor will it be the last. But it was definitely the first time that both Peter and I have had the chance to travel there together, and I’m so glad that we did (besides being able to live in warmth again for 7 days), because Peter was finally able to live the Walt Disney World experience in all of its glory, along with some other fun things that we did along the way as well!

Before embarking on our trip, I did some research to figure out exactly what you can do in Orlando, and have put together the below list of our top 10 favourites from some of the activities that we did on this recent visit. Some obvious ones may already be on your itinerary, but hopefully some are new to you and will be intriguing! If you have any future plans already booked for Orlando, or are considering it for the winter months, remember to bookmark, save, or send this post to yourself so that you can archive it to bring back out when you’re planning your itinerary!

Score some deals at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets

If you love shopping, then you won’t want to miss out on the deals at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets. I would recommend setting aside roughly a half day to do this as there are so many retailers that you’ll want to take your time perusing them all. There’s a wide variety of retailers so anyone from the bargain hunter to the luxury shopper will have at least a couple of options that will be of interest to them. Both Peter and I are fans of All Saints and we both picked up a little something in preparation for the fall/winter season back in Toronto. I found the perfect white boyfriend blazer, and Peter purchased his first ever leather jacket. Those two purchases and the major deal that we got them for pretty much had our shopping itch satisfied.

But of course we didn’t stop there. Peter also lucked out and landed an amazing pair of sneakers from the NIKE Factory Store and couldn’t resist wearing them out on the same day that he purchased them. Talk about love at first site!

Visit the happiest place on Earth – Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

There is literally no way that you can make a trip to Orlando without visiting the happiest place on Earth – Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. In all seriousness though, the minute that you set foot on the amusement park grounds, you can’t help but smile! This wasn’t my first visit to Magic Kingdom, but I still grinned from ear to ear on this visit. Peter and I have been chatting for years that we should visit together, so I was also extremely happy to have finally realized this dream of ours.

Travel Tip: I would highly, highly, highly, recommend getting the FastPass addition to your park tickets so that you can cut down on the waiting time at each ride. Remember to also plan ahead and to book your FastPass rides as early as possible! Don’t be like us and forget to do it till the last minute. You’ll end up spending the majority of your day waiting in line for rides!

My ride recommendations:

• Haunted Mansion
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Jungle Cruise
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Explore Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

For a more worldly adventure, schedule your visit to Epcot to coincide with their Food & Wine exhibition. Not only will you still be able to enjoy Epcot for all that it has to offer, but you’ll also get the opportunity to sample various foods and cuisines from around the world while you’re there!

The last time that I was in Orlando was most likely almost 10-15 years ago, so I didn’t get the chance to truly appreciate Epcot for what it was since I had yet to travel around the world that much. Now after having had the opportunity to travel to places like Morocco, Paris, and many others, going back to Epcot and seeing those cultures being brought to life by the miniature vignettes is so much more impactful. I can truly appreciate the beauty of Marrakech’s medina, of Mexico’s Maya Ruins, and of the calming Seine River in Paris. It was also such an amazing experience being able to both relive the atmosphere and to indulge in the delicious food from each culture while walking around the Epcot property.

Get thrilled at Universal Studios Florida

If you love adventure, then the Universal Studios Florida theme park is the way to go! Filled with action packed rides and the beloved The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, this amusement park is definitely not to be missed. The last time that I was there, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ had yet to exist, so you can only imagine my excitement, being a Potterhead, of finally visiting Hogsmeade and Hogwarts for the first time ever! If you go, make sure to pick up a glass of Butter Beer—it’s absolutely worth the hype! The drink comes in the form of a soda or a slush, and I can confirm that both are equally as delicious.

My ride recommendations:

• Revenge of the Mummy℠ – The Ride
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™

Get thrilled again at Universal’s Islands of Adventure™

Next to Universal Studios Hollywood is their sister park Universal’s Islands of Adventure™. You can either exit Universal Studios Hollywood at the entrance and re-enter into Universal’s Islands of Adventure™, or you can take the train at King’s Cross to travel to Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ as well! I really wish that we had the chance to take the train, but unfortunately we missed the last one out and had to re-enter the park from the main entrance. Upon re-entry, we made a beeline for Hogwarts and spent the majority of our evening there. There are so many fun things to do at Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ such as picking up a wand to cast spells in Hogsmeade™.

My ride recommendations:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
• Jurassic Park River Adventure™
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®

See Orlando from new heights on the ICON Orlando™ 360

Go up, up, up, and away on the ICON Orlando™ to get a lay of the land from 400 ft up in the air. This 20 minute ride will give you a nice and relaxing view of Orlando in the comfort of a pod with 360 degree views. We went for a ride during the daytime, but have been advised by many others that going right at sunset will render you with some beautiful orange hues. If you go during the weekday, you might even score an entire pod for yourself!

If you’re looking for other activities, I’d also recommend popping into Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium as they’re all located in the same building.

Have a relaxing day at Winter Park

Once you’ve had the chance to visit all of the amusement parks on your itinerary, I would recommend spending a day in Winter Park to relax, enjoy the abundant green spaces, and shop to your heart’s content. This quaint street is lined with beautiful trees as well as charming boutiques and cafes to fill your day with relaxation and shopping. I’d highly recommend popping into Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen for a delicious Mango Smoothie if you need something to cool down on a hot day. If you like to shop for clothes, make sure to pay a visit to Sultre Boutique as they have an amazing selection from many of the currently trending designers that will ensure that your wardrobe is current.

Stay at The Alfond Inn at Rollins College

A hotel of its own kind, The Alfond Inn is a property of Rollins College and all revenue generated goes directly back to the college. With a beautiful rooftop pool and a mouth-watering restaurant on property, it’s easy to see why so many people love staying at The Alfond Inn. It’s situated a bit back from the main road, meaning that you’ll have a lot of peace and quiet, and I can fully attest to this. I spent a little bit of time on the balcony for a few of the nights that we were there and can attest that there was barely any traffic noise pollution that floated back up to our room. If you stay here, make sure to grab brunch at their in-house restaurant, Hamilton’s Kitchen, and order the avocado toast—it is truly divine!

Downtown Orlando

Foodies will love downtown Orlando for the plethora of restaurants at their disposal. Between the East End Market and the Church Street District, you’re bound to find somewhere delicious for dinner. Besides food, there is also the stunning Leu Gardens to explore and discover. I would recommend paying a visit to the gardens before heading over to dinner as the gardens close at around 5PM.

Take a stroll around Lake Eola Park

After one of your dinners, make your way over to Lake Eola Park to enjoy the green space while the sun sets over the lake. The beautiful orange and crimson hues that you’ll find will be perfectly complemented with the swans and ducks that freely roam the property. If you’re keen on spending some time there, grab a seat by one of the picnic benches as the sky turns a myriad of colours over dusk. Or even rent one of the swan-shaped paddle boats for a fun ride across the lake and enjoy a view of downtown Orlando’s skyline.

Photography Credits: The Dunk Listt