The 26 most criminally underrated attractions in Central Florida

The VIBE Tour at Hard Rock Cafe in Universal CityWalk
This free tour is one of the best deals in all of Orlando. The VIBE tour gives guests a backstage glance of the world’s largest Hard Rock Café. While the tour does change it usually includes the John Lennon Room, a room filled with one of the largest collections of Lennon artifacts with many of them being donated directly from Yoko Ono. The Attic is the other major room on the tour. This room features historical rock artifacts that you’re encouraged to pick up and feel. The tour only takes place on days when there’s not a concert next door at the Hard Rock Live (the Attic is typically used as a green room for the main acts). Tours happen daily between 2 P.M. and 9 P.M.

Photo via itvictoria_ on Instagram.

Dora Canal Cruises
Mt. Dora is a beautiful city but few know of the nearby Dora Canal, rated as one of the most beautiful waterways in the world. There’s a number of great tour companies that give tours of the canal, Lake Dora and Lake Eustis. Rusty Anchor Tours (the main one I use) start in downtown Mt. Dora, passing by the seaplanes of Tavares before entering into the small canal. Dora Canal is lined with cypress trees, passes by a small park and through some of the last untouched property in the Golden Triangle area.

Photo via fuzzy4470_ on Instagram.

The Titanic Experience
The I-Drive location might scare some away from this history museum but the collection here is one that everyone should see. Included in the museum are amazing recreations of many of the iconic rooms from Titanic but the main focus here is the massive collection of artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. Exhibits at the museum display opulence of the ship paired with the otherworldly nature it is now found in. The “Little Big Piece,” a 3-ton section of the Ship’s hull closes out the experience and help bring home how big the ship really was. Don’t let the location scare you away from this amazing, award-winning local history museum.

Photo via anthonydigitalmedia on Instagram.

Seuss Trolley at Universal Orlando
The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride! is the result of an earlier failed ride at Islands of Adventure. The trolley combines a number of great features that other rides could learn from. With two separate routes and storylines, the ride is really two in one. A perfect way to not only see Seuss Landing but also get some excellent lakefront views of the Islands the trolley is also a great ride for those of us who are big into people watching. Sadly many adults overlook the ride due to its location the child focused Seuss Landing.

Photo via dmdzqb on Instagram.

Citrus Tower and The Presidents Hall Of Fame Museum
One of the oldest attractions in Central Florida the Citrus Tower and the Presidents Hall of Fame next door are a bit out of the tourist region but that shouldn’t stop locals from checking these out. The Citrus Tower no longer overlooks rolling hills of citrus but still offers some impressive views of South Lake County. Reaching 226 ft. in the air on a clear day, you can supposedly see 8 counties from the top of the observation level. Make sure to take a coin to drop in the wishing well at the top of the tower. The Presidents Hall of Fame next door has a one of a kind collection of Presidential memorabilia ranging from White House plates to a scaled down version of Mt Rushmore. The museum isn’t anything modern but slow down and enjoy the oddity that it is. Sadly they don’t make roadside attractions like these anymore.

Photo via bmdvpro/Instagram

If I Ran The Zoo at Universal Orlando
A second Seuss Landing attraction that is often overlooked due to its location the If I Ran The Zoo walk-through, interactive attraction is a great place for kids to explore, burn off some energy and connect with some of the lesser known characters from Dr. Seuss. The attraction usually has a team member more than ready to help with just about any question and the area rarely has crowds seen at other attractions in IOA.

Photo via _orlandeando on Instagram.

Fievel's Waterslide at Universal Orlando
The 200 ft, 16-second long waterslide within Fievel’s Playland has to be the most overlooked attraction in all of Universal Studios Florida. While most of the playland is only open to children the waterslide is open to all ages. It is short but it’s a great way to cool off on a hot summer day and with it being so hidden the lines are usually long (even on the busiest days the lines rarely top 30 mins.)

Photo via _laucasanova on Instagram.

People Mover at Disney's Magic Kingdom
While not the most popular ride at Walt Disney World, the PeopleMover was one the attractions that Walt had the highest hopes for. The attraction usually doesn’t have a long line, is a great way to show a child the inside of Space Mountain without worrying about a height requirement and is a great way to relax for a few minutes (10 mins to be exact) in the bustling Magic Kingdom. The magnetic transit system is still viewed as cutting edge even today and the ride provides a fun opportunity to get a few high-fives from other cars.

Photo via _disneyscott98 on Instagram.

Carousel Of Progress at Disney's Magic Kingdom
The Carousel of Progress isn’t the most thrilling ride (of you would even count it as a ride) but the history surrounding this show should be enough to make it on the list. A fun look back at life throughout the 20th Century the CoP is a great place to grab a few minutes of AC while also reconnecting with the foundational work that lead to Walt Disney World. The show originally debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair and is one of the longest running shows in the world. The 2016 Magic Kingdom version is a bit different but still keeps that original charm and the super catchy ‘Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow’ song.

Photo via disneyworldbri on Instagram.

Sum Of All Thrills at Disney's Epcot
Found in Innoventions East this Kuka arm based roller coaster simulator is oddly enough both one of the most advanced and one of the most overlooked rides at Epcot. With no Fastpass, this ride can get a long line but the custom ride experience makes it a unique ride every time you ride. Skip the coaster simulators at DisneyQuest and WonderWorks and go on this one instead.

Photo via _mathmovesu on Instagram.

Living With The Land at Disney's Epcot
Who doesn’t love a good boat ride? Living With The Land is a great ride but is often forgot about due to the much more popular Soarin’ that’s in the same pavilion. LWTL is like two rides in one. It starts with a classic dark ride with numerous animatronics, special effects and fun scenes. The boat slowly floats through rainforest, desert, farm and other cool nature scenes before moving into the greenhouses. The second part of the ride takes guests past some of the latest technology in aquaponics, hydroponics and other sustainable practices. The ride is a bit slow but the scenes are incredibly detailed and the greenhouse has some of the most iconic things in all of Epcot.

Photo via thedailydisney on Instagram.

Central Florida Zoo
Dating back to 1923 the Central Florida Zoo is one of the oldest local attractions. With over 100 acres of animals and gardens the zoo is a fun, low cost alternative to the area theme parks. An antique 16 in (406 mm) gauge train takes visitors for a shade filled ride. The zoo has added and updated many exhibits over the past few years including a new Florida Black Bear exhibit that should open soon. Numerous events are hosted at the zoo throughout the year including an upcoming BBQ festival.

Photo via tmariexr on Instagram.

Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab at Disney's Epcot
While Mission: Space is viewed as a flop and even with the less intense is still for the more thrill-seeking guests the post show area is a perfect place for the whole family. A large scale game involves 56 guests at a time in a race to Mars. A multi-level ‘Playplace’ style playground is one of the best (and few) places in Epcot for kids to burn off some energy. Another game simulates driving a rover around Mars. The post-show lab isn’t the biggest but it is a great place to hang out during a passing rain shower.

Photo via lelelops on Instagram.

Manta Aquarium at SeaWorld
Manta is one of the best roller coasters in Orlando but also part of the area is a new aquarium that replaced the former aquarium that was nearly 3 decades old. The Manta aquarium houses over 3000 animals including over 300 rays. The aquarium includes some cool features like a Plexiglas ceiling in the Manta tank, some pop-up windows and a very cool octopus tank. This hidden aquarium is not just one of the best at SeaWorld but is one of the best in all of Florida.

Photo via weslonpessi on Instagram.

Mount Dora Museum Of Speed
At 7,000 sq. ft. the Mt. Dora Museum of Speed is on the smaller side but it’s packed to the gills with some of the rarest auto history you’ll find anywhere in Florida. The museum includes an odd collection of cars, clothing, neon signs, signed guitars and more. It’s a great distraction from Mt. Dora’s antique shopping. Please note though that the museum has a very unwelcoming ‘No One Under 14’ policy and refuses to accept credit cards (I guess they like to keep the retro theme going with even the cash register).

Photo via _chakyt22 on Instagram.

Crayola Experience at Florida Mall
One of Central Florida’s newest attractions the Crayola Experience is a fun half day option located inside the Florida Mall. With a live show, hands-on demonstrations, interactive exhibits and even a small café Crayola Experience would be the marquee attraction in many other markets. It has a certain Epcot Innoventions vibe to the place and is fun with the right group even without any kids in tow.

Photo via amybeegruss on Instagram.

M&M's World at Florida Mall
Also at the Florida Mall, this free meet-and-greet is one of the few places where you can meet life size (really over life-size) M&M characters. The M&M World is a fun shop to explore with some interactive exhibits but this small meet-&-greet is what makes this retail experience a must see if you’re at the mall.

Photo via arkiteckt_ on Instagram.

Daytona Beach Boardwalk And Pier
The Daytona Beach Pier and surrounding attractions are often overshadowing by the much larger speedway but this small, historic pier has all the right attractions for a night of classic Americana. The restaurant on the pier is now a Joe’s Crab Shack (but is much nicer than any Joe’s I’ve ever seen) and the end of the pier is exclusively for fishers and those who pay an admission price. Don’t worry though, just walking around the pier is fun is its own right. The nearby Skycoaster and the Ferris Wheel are a must do for anyone who Spring Breaks at Daytona. During the summer firework shows happen every Saturday night and live concerts happen on a regular basis throughout the year. If you’re still not convinced how fun the boardwalk can be maybe some old school LEN can help change your mind.

Photo via nathan_a_jones on Instagram.

Cypress Gardens at Legoland
Legoland Florida is one of the most active local parks when it comes to adding new rides but one of the best parts of the parks is also one of the most overlooked. Tucked into the back corner of the park is Cypress Gardens, the gardens that started Central Florida tourism as we know it. Restored (mostly) to its former glory the gardens a tranquil escape from Legoland. Iconic aspects of the gardens, like the Florida pool, the gazebo and the banyan tree, all remain. Legoland has hinted over the last few years that they’ll be restoring the boat tours through the gardens. Hopefully, that happens soon but until then you can enjoy the gardens via the winding walking paths that cut through them.

Photo via _jhrenee8 on Instagram.

Gator Spot at Fun Spot
There are plenty of places to see live alligators in Central Florida, but Gator Spot offers much more. With over 100 live alligators this place has gators of every size (and color). The main focus is on the larger gators, but a fun display towards the back of the exhibit houses tiny baby gators. Bouya Blan, a blue-eyed albino gator, also calls the exhibit home. This is only one of 12 known albino gators in the world. Throw in some live macaws, a one of kind gift shop plus a nightly feeding and this becomes one of the best (and cheapest) ways to see these living dinosaurs.

Photo via funspotamericathemeparks on Instagram.