8 Things to Do in Orlando Before, During or After the Shareholder Summit With Your Family or BFF

Orlando, the site of the eXp Shareholder Summit on May 17-20, is the perfect locale to bring along the family or BFF’s and have some fun in one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. 

Everybody loves Mickey Mouse, and a visit to the Magic Kingdom is high on the bucket list of people all over the world. But this central Florida city is more than just Disney World. It’s a thriving metropolis with museums, cultural attractions and easy access to the Atlantic coast beaches! 

Here are eight ideas for a little fun before, during or after the conference:

1. Disney World

Let’s face it: Disney World is the granddaddy of Orlando’s theme parks and includes the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and water parks. Choices for all ages and interests! Planning a day trip visit requires some tactical efficiency, given that there’s enough at Walt Disney World to keep you busy for weeks. 

Reservations are required: Plan your visit to Disney World and pre-pay for tickets. To enter a theme park, all guests ages 3 and older must have a reservation in addition to valid admission for the same park on the same date. There’s a Disney Experience app you can download, too!

2. Universal Orlando Resort

For action-movie buffs, Universal Studio Orlando offers more than 50 rides over the three parks: Universal Studios Florida, which features The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park. Smart travelers may opt to buy a Universal Express ticket to speed through lines. 

Universal Studios is where the Summit’s closing bash took place last year and this year, it will be at Islands of Adventure. Universal is always a crowd-pleaser.

3. Kennedy Space Center 

Get ready to spend a whole day at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which is about an hour’s drive to Cape Canaveral on the East Coast. No car? There are plenty of tour options from Orlando. 

NASA’s entire space program is known to thrill and inspire visitors. Mission Zones are grouped by chronological era offering attractions from the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions.

Ticket options include the opportunity to add on special behind-the-scenes experiences. If you want to study before you go, download the app! 

Visitors to The Space Center note that the place is massive, so wear good walking shoes. Top attractions include: 

• The Rocket Garden 
• Space Shuttle Atlantis 
• The Space Shuttle Launch 
• IMAX 3-D movies 
• Space Mirror Memorial 

4. Titanic: The Artifact Collection

Take a break from real-time Florida 2023 and head to the Titanic exhibit. Feel like you’re on that fateful voyage back in April 1912.

Rave reviews continue to pour in about this critically acclaimed Titanic exhibit. It features a trove of artifacts, and the 2-hour guided tour proves a rich way to immerse yourself in the tragic history of this infamous ship and its passengers. 

5. SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

Want to come face-to-face with the fishes and marine animals? SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is a long-time favorite Florida attraction. This is a good venue for an hour or two, making it a perfect pit stop if you don’t have all day.

The main event is the 360° ocean tunnel. Be prepared to be mesmerized by a parade of sea turtles, sharks, eels, stingrays, and tropical fish as they swim over, under, and all around you. 

6. Madame Tussauds 

Where else in the world can you see Abraham Lincoln, Bad Bunny, Dale Ernhardt Jr. and Zendaya in the same place? That’s right: Madame Tussauds!

The famous wax museum has an outpost in Orlando where it brings the stars of stage, sports and history to life. It’s located in ICON Park alongside other exciting attractions.

A combo ticket for both Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Orlando gets you into both venues for $44.99 for adults, $39.99 for kids. 

7. Gotta Go to Gatorland!

Gatorland is open 365 days a year. It’s the best way to commune with Florida’s notorious alligators with none of the risk! Gatorland is more than just gators. It offers exhibits, shows, a free-flight aviary and a new Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure. 

For the truly adventurous, there’s a screamin’ zipline that lets you soar 350 feet through the air over the Alligator Breeding Marsh, where more than 100 giant alligators hang out below. 

8. Orlando Has a Whole Lotta Art, Too!

One of the greatest ways Orlando shows off its identity as an international city is through its amazing array of museums. The Orlando Museum of Art, or OMART, is the leader of the pack with a vast array of permanent collections and rotating exhibits. 

Located in Loch Haven Park close to downtown Orlando, OMART all but guarantees a rewarding visit. Everything from American Art to the Art of the Ancient Americas and African Art are always on display. The museum is closed Mondays, but open noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. 

Here are other notable museums for the art lovers out there:

• The Rollins Museum of Art  — Wonderful museum with an eclectic collection located at Rollins College in Winter Park. 

• Hannibal Square Heritage Center  — Located in the heart of Winter Park, this collection is a rich account of the upscale Hannibal Square district’s origins as one of Florida’s original African American communities. 

• Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens  — Another gem in the Orlando art scene, this museum focus­es on Amer­i­can rep­re­sen­ta­tional sculp­ture, with over 200 works by Czech-born Amer­i­can sculp­tor Albin Polasek. The museum is listed on the National Reg­is­ter of His­toric Places and a delight to tour. 

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