What to Do in Orlando, Florida, If You Want to Do What the Locals Do

Orlando, Florida, is known the world over as the home to Mickey Mouse and Shamu. With its world-class theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World, it's no wonder Orlando has a reputation as a leading family vacation destination. But what do the locals do in Orlando? After all, Orlando locals know best about what's hot and what's not. So, if you want to enjoy Orlando the way the locals do (and for the record, I am a local), try these suggestions.

Okay, go ahead and visit Disney World... Once a year

Sure, locals don't go to Disney every weekend, but we do go. Most often locals will visit during special occasions such as Epcot's Food and Wine Festival or to enjoy Christmas at the Magic Kingdom. And with more than 40,000 employees at Walt Disney World, most locals know someone who works at Disney so we usually don't pay to get in (and if we do pay we get Florida residents discounts).

Visit a local Farmers' Market

Orlando is home to some great farmers' markets. Two of the best are the downtown Orlando market at Lake Eola Park. This beautiful Saturday market is set the heart of downtown Orlando and has fresh produce, food, wine, arts and crafts. On Sundays, locals head to the Winter Park Farmers' Market. With more vendors than its Lake Eola counterpart, this market offers more produce and a huge selection of plants ready to make your garden more beautiful.

Catch an Independent movie at Enzian Theater

The Enzian Theater is Orlando's only independent film house. With couches, table, and plush chairs, it's 180 degrees from most other theaters. You can enjoy a drink from the full bar outside before entering the theater. There's the usual theater fare such as soda and popcorn, but there's also cheese and fruit, nachos, and even full entrees.

Spend an Afternoon in Thornton Park

Located near Lake Eola Park is Orlando's Thornton Park neighborhood. As recently as a few years ago, this area was rundown and forgotten. However, Thornton Park is going through a renaissance complete with new trendy cafes, art galleries, and shops. There are some great places to grab lunch or dinner such as Dexter's Wine Bar or Hue. Most of the restaurants and cafés have outdoor seating so you can enjoy a sunny Orlando day as you drink wine and watch the world go by