EPCOT Spaceship Earth at sunset Walt Disney World Orlando Florida

Nearby Attractions

Everything Central Florida has to offer — within easy reach of our homes.

Windsor Hills is one of Kissimmee's best-positioned resorts — just minutes from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, with the rest of Central Florida easily reachable for day trips. After years of vacationing here ourselves, we've put together this guide of everything within driving distance, organized by what families actually look for.

Distances and drive times below are measured from our homes in Windsor Hills Resort. Times are approximate and assume no traffic, which is rare in Orlando — plan for a little extra during park hours.

Curated

Start Here — Our Family Favorites

A few places we genuinely love and recommend to every guest.

Magic Kingdom

7 mi · ~15 min drive

The most magical park, and the closest to Windsor Hills. Get there at rope drop, take a midday break at the house, head back for fireworks. That ability to come home for lunch is the whole reason we bought near Disney.

Visit Magic Kingdom

Discovery Cove

12 mi · ~20 min drive

The under-the-radar gem. Swim with dolphins, snorkel with rays, all-inclusive food and drinks. The pace is calm and the crowd is small — perfect after a few hectic park days.

Visit Discovery Cove

Kennedy Space Center

65 mi · ~1 hr drive

The best non-Disney day trip we know. Worth the drive — plan for a full day, and grab lunch in Cocoa Beach on the way back.

Visit Kennedy Space Center

Disney Springs

8 mi · ~15 min drive

A no-ticket-needed Disney evening. Dinner, live music, shopping, and Disney atmosphere without committing to a full park day. Great for arrival nights when nobody has energy for a park.

Visit Disney Springs

Clearwater Beach

89 mi · ~1.5 hr drive

When you need a real beach day. White sand, calm Gulf water, and a built-in excuse to skip the parks for 24 hours. Worth the drive for stays of a week or more.

Visit Clearwater Beach

American alligator resting on a log in a Florida wetland

Gatorland

15 mi · ~25 min drive

Old Florida charm and genuinely entertaining for kids of all ages. A nice low-stakes morning between big park days — and the zipline over the alligators is real.

Visit Gatorland

Plan Your Trip

What's Within Driving Distance

Three buckets to help you plan —
what's close, what's a day trip, and what's worth the longer drive.

EASY TO COME BACK FOR LUNCH

Within 30 Minutes

(Half-Day Trips)

All four Walt Disney World parks
All three Universal Orlando parks
SeaWorld & Discovery Cove
Disney Springs
Gatorland, ICON Park, Andretti Karting
Fun Spot America Kissimmee
Island H2O Water Park
Green Meadows Petting Farm
Lakefront Park
Major shopping centers

Most of your vacation will be within this range — easy to come back to the house for a swim, a nap, or to get the kids out of the sun.

WORTH A FULL DAY

30–60 Minutes

(Easy Day Trips)

Peppa Pig Theme Park
LEGOLAND Florida
Kennedy Space Center
Forever Florida
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Cocoa Beach
Daytona Beach
Bok Tower Gardens
Wild Florida Drive-thru Safari
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Brevard Zoo

Pack the car in the morning, plan to be home for dinner. Great for breaking up a week-long stay.

RESERVE FOR LONGER STAYS

60+ Minutes

(Worth-the-Drive Days)

Clearwater Beach
Madeira Beach
Siesta Key Beach
Anna Maria Island
Tampa attractions
St. Petersburg Pier
Tarpon Springs
St. Augustine
Busch Gardens

These deserve their own day with no rush back. Best for guests staying a week or more.

All Attractions

Browse by category

Disney World

Just minutes from our homes — the closest theme parks to Windsor Hills.
New for 2026: Magic Kingdom reopens Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with a new Rainbow Caverns scene, EPCOT debuts Soarin' Across America, Animal Kingdom welcomes Zootopia: Better Together, and Hollywood Studios reimagines its coaster as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets — plus a new Cars-themed land, Piston Peak National Park, at Magic Kingdom.

Universal Orlando

A 25-minute drive — easy as a full-day trip, especially with the new Epic Universe now open.

SeaWorld & Discovery Cove

Two very different experiences with the same parent company — and both worth a day.
New for 2026: SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, a new suspended family dark ride at SeaWorld.

Water Parks

Florida heat plus theme park lines means at least one water park day is usually a great idea. Island H2O is closest to home and a guest favorite.

Other Theme Parks

If you've done Disney and Universal, these smaller parks add variety — especially for younger kids.
New for 2026: LEGOLAND Florida's first-ever indoor coaster, Galacticoaster, with customizable LEGO spacecraft.

Beaches

Florida has two coasts and both are within reach. Atlantic beaches (Cocoa, Daytona) are closer; Gulf beaches (Clearwater, Madeira, Siesta Key) are worth the longer drive for calmer water and white sand.

Space Coast

An hour east of Orlando, the Space Coast is the best non-Disney day trip — Kennedy Space Center plus a beach lunch makes a perfect day.

Local Entertainment

Quick, easy fun that's close to the house — perfect for half-days or evenings.
New for 2026: Old Town USA marks its 40th anniversary — four decades of "Quirky Cool" since 1986.

Outdoor & Natural Attractions

A break from the parks — Central Florida's springs, state parks, ranches, and airboat tours feel a world away from the lines and crowds.

Cultural & Historical Sites

Central Florida is more than theme parks — these add an unexpected layer to a vacation. St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., is the standout history day trip for families staying a week or more.

Mini-Golf

A vacation classic, and Florida does it well. Most of these are themed and entertaining for all ages.

Golf Courses

For the grown-ups who want a morning round between park days.

Shopping

From outlet bargains to upscale malls — all easily reachable from Windsor Hills.