Freeholdman12, CC BY 4.0
Kissimmee
Kissimmee is a city in central Florida just south of Orlando, with many holiday homes and resorts close to the theme parks.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay with a level walk to the beach in Kissimmee
- Quiet places to stay in Kissimmee: few bars nearby
- Within 30 minutes by car of Epcot
- Within 30 minutes by car of Magic Kingdom
- Within 30 minutes by car of Universal Studios Florida
- Within 30 minutes by car of Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Within 30 minutes by car of Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Within 30 minutes by car of Universal Islands of Adventure
- Within 30 minutes by car of SeaWorld Orlando
- Within 30 minutes by car of Disney's Blizzard Beach
Best things to do in Kissimmee
The one thing not to miss
Start with Epcot, Walt Disney World's second park, opened in 1982 as a permanent world's fair with a World Showcase of national cultures and seasonal festivals.
Epcot1. Epcot
A Walt Disney World park opened on 1 October 1982, dedicated to human achievement and international culture. It is known for the Spaceship Earth sphere and the World Showcase, and holds seasonal events such as the Flower & Garden and Food & Wine festivals.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
26,304 readers a month
Sources
2. Magic Kingdom
The Walt Disney World park that opened on 1 October 1971, with Cinderella Castle as its icon. It hosted 17.83 million visitors in 2024, making it the most visited theme park in the world for the eighteenth year running.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
17,267 readers a month
Sources
3. Universal Studios Florida
A film and television themed park in Orlando that opened on 7 June 1990 as the first park at Universal Orlando Resort. It was later joined by Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Epic Universe.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
17,190 readers a month
4. Disney's Hollywood Studios
A 135-acre Walt Disney World park opened on 1 May 1989 as Disney-MGM Studios. It is themed to an idealised Hollywood and to worlds from film, television, music and theatre.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
16,146 readers a month
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom
A 580-acre zoological theme park at Walt Disney World, themed around the natural world, with hundreds of live animal exhibits. It has no nighttime fireworks so as not to disturb the animals.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
13,062 readers a month
6. Universal Islands of Adventure
A theme park in Orlando that opened on 28 May 1999, with each section built as a themed island. It was designed around the idea of exploration and later added a Wizarding World of Harry Potter area.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
10,427 readers a month
7. SeaWorld Orlando
An animal theme park just outside Orlando, with an estimated 4.45 million guests in 2022, which ranked it the 10th most visited amusement park in the United States. It is owned by United Parks & Resorts.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
7,866 readers a month
Sources
8. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The visitor centre at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, with historic spacecraft, two IMAX theatres and bus tours. The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit includes a simulated launch ride.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
4,214 readers a month
9. Disney's Blizzard Beach
A ski-resort-themed water park at Walt Disney World that opened on 1 April 1995. Its water is heated to about 80 degrees F, and it closes for annual maintenance in winter while Typhoon Lagoon stays open.
The park has an annual winter maintenance closure; check dates before you plan.
3,345 readers a month
10. Legoland Florida
A family resort in Winter Haven, built on the site of the former Cypress Gardens, whose botanical gardens were kept. It has a theme park, a water park and a separately ticketed Peppa Pig park.
Our sources do not say whether you must book ahead; check the operator's site before you go.
3,339 readers a month
Sources
Just missed the list: Disney's Typhoon Lagoon (11th by readers; a Walt Disney World water park); Universal Volcano Bay (12th by readers; Universal's water park)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Epcot leads with about 26,304 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.