Kissimmee houses a vacation playground in the heart of Florida, amidst the theme park capital of the world. On the doorstep of Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld Orlando, visitors have a vast choice of entertainment and accommodation options, including world class resorts.
Kissimmee also offers close proximity to a range of outdoor activities including many area beaches and lakes. The town is located within a 90 minute drive from Atlantic coast beaches like Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Melbourne Beach.
I spent my formidable years growing up in the Orlando area, and even worked at Magic Kingdom during my junior and senior years of high school. I’ve watched Kissimmee grow over the years, and it was fun to recently re-visit places like Old Town and Medieval Times, where I have fond childhood memories.
Traveling to Kissimmee
Kissimmee, on the doorstep of Orlando, is one of the world’s most visited destinations. The famous theme parks are huge family draws, particularly during summer and other school holidays. The winter months also appeal to snow birds seeking reprieve from harsh northern winters.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located 20 miles from Kissimmee, connecting visitors from around the world. Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Orlando Executive Airport and Sanford Airport offer additional flights in and out of the region. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is 80 miles from Kissimmee, and the drive takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Best Time to Visit Kissimmee?
The theme parks tend to be especially busy during summer and school holidays. Summers are reliably hot and humid, and it is storm season. If you visit Kissimmee during the summer, take advantage of spending time outside during mornings and evenings when temperatures are not as hot. Some park hours, like Magic Kingdom, tend to operate later during summer.
If you want to avoid the largest crowds and peak prices, September, October, November, April and May are good months to visit. Winter temperatures are cooler, and the water parks tend to close from December through February. But Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld are open year round. If you want to avoid the heat, visit outside summer, during the cooler months.
Kissimmee Resorts
Kissimmee is home to a wide range of resorts, hotels, short stay condos and home rental options. The area is also the timeshare capital of the world. Many visitors travel with their families annually for both short and extended vacation stays. There are also some wonderful properties for couples to enjoy a fun and relaxing getaway.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando
We recently had the opportunity to stay at beautiful Margaritaville Resort Orlando. The AAA four diamond award property offers a vacation oasis on the doorstep of the theme park capital of the world. Lush pools, spa facilities and comfortable spacious rooms offer families and couples a slice of paradise. Guests can also book a colorful and spacious villa featuring a private pool, amidst colorful Caribbean style architecture.
Margaritaville Resort’s aim is for visitors to feel like they are blissfully sailing on a cruise, while on land. Their fantastic pools and hot tubs are idyllic for a relaxing getaway. Enjoying a meal or a drink at the bar while listening to live music, including Jimmy Buffet cover songs, also helps melt away daily stress.
Margaritaville Resort’s friendly staff enjoys their jobs, and their warm hospitality and smiling faces amplifies a great guest experience filled with relaxation and fun. We had a wonderful time on the property, as we soaked up Jimmy Buffet style vibes.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando is located behind the Sunset Walk entertainment district, which features a wide variety of delicious dining and fun options. Entertainment choices include escape rooms and axe throwing. Guests can also walk just a few minutes to Studio Movie Grill to watch a film from the friendly confines of plush stadium seating.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando
8000 Fins Up Circle
Kissimmee, Florida 34747
Phone: +1 855-995-909
Kissimmee Attractions
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
Medieval Times offers a throwback to Middle Ages entertainment in an 11th century inspired castle in Kissimmee, Florida. Impressive jousting knights, horsemanship and falconry are performed in front of a lively audience. The royal court is led by the queen, and her knights are aided by their squires.
Medieval Times’ knights are talented swordsmen, dueling before raucous flag waving spectators cheering for their appointed colors. The horses also dazzle, as they display dressage elements that will impress equestrian fans.
A 4-course, utensil-free meal is served in the castle arena while spectators enjoy the well choreographed tournament. Everyone typically gets the same meal, but Medieval Times can accommodate some dietary restrictions, so let them know when you book. As I’m lactose intolerant, the waiter brought me an Italian ice for dessert instead of the creamy eclair that is typically served.
Stick around after the performance to get photos and have a chat with the talented knights. Medieval Times is quite the performance, and a great family activity in Kissimmee. Many patrons go to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion, so let them know if you would like it announced it to the crowd!
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Kissimmee, Florida has been dazzling audiences since 1983. The original North American location has since spawned 9 other castle shows across the continent. The original concept began in Mallorca, Spain in the 1960’s.
Wild Florida – Drive Thru Safari, Air Boat Rides and Gator Park
With over 200 native and non-native animals, Wild Florida offers a variety of exciting animal encounters in Kenansville, which is just outside Kissimmee.
Visitors can book a 30 or 60 minute airboat ride to experience a unique perspective of country Florida. Airboats allow people to glide atop shallow water to get up close to alligators, a variety of birds and other wildlife. This was a Florida bucket list item for Bell and we were happy to be able to tick it off the list at Wild Florida.
The drive thru safari at Wild Florida brought back memories of our Tanzania safari – minus lions and elephants. Visitors can drive through miles of land in the comfort of your own vehicle to enjoy a wide variety of free roaming animals. Highlights include camels, water buffalo, elk, moose, Shetland cattle and many more.
Wild Florida also features a sizable animal enclosure that you can walk through. Highlights include squirrel monkeys, albino alligators and a variety of snakes from around the world. Additionally, they have a giraffe feeding platform, gator park and hawk swamp boardwalk through pristine cypress trees.
Old Town
Old Town offers a variety of entertainment, rides, shopping, restaurants and bars in a nostalgic setting. The throwback entertainment hub includes vibrant live music, classic car shows, old time photography studios and more.
I have fond memories of visiting Old Town as a kid with my dad and sister. It is also fun for adults, so I enjoyed returning to experience some of what is new in the longstanding Kissimmee entertainment district.
Mortem Manor Haunted House
Located in Old Town, Mortem Manor is the area’s only haunted house that is open year round. Two floors of an old Victorian themed haunted attraction is sure to give you a spooky thrill. State-of-the-art special effects, live actors and animatronics combine to offer chilling effects as we walked through. The Travel Channel has named Mortem Manor one of the ”Scariest Haunted Houses in America.”
Thrill and Family Rides
Old Town features a variety of thrill and family rides, including a roller coast, go karts, bumper cars, ferris wheel, carousel and more. The iconic Ferris Wheel was custom-made in Italy, and offers fantastic views of Kissimmee and the surrounding areas from atop 85 feet.
Escape Rooms at Escapology
Escape Rooms have been booming in popularity for good reason. They’re great fun for groups of friends, families and couples. A series of puzzles challenges participants to crack codes and unlock doors within a 60 minute time frame.
Escapology Kissimmee Sunset Walk has 9 escape rooms to choose from. Options include Scooby Door, Star Trek, Batman, 7 Deadly Sins, A Pirate’s Curse, Mansion Murder, Murder on the Orient Express, Who Stole Mona and a Kid’s Mode. We played Scooby Doo as a group and had a fun time unlocking secrets with the help of the Mystery Machine crew. It was my first time in an escape room and it has piqued my interest to try more.
Axe Throwing at Lumber Jacks Axe House
Axe throwing is another game that is booming in popularity. With the assistance of their well-trained Axeperts (coaches), guests are invited to unleash their inner lumberjack. They will patiently teach you how to safely chuck an axe into a bullseye!
Axe Throwing is a great way to release some stress and have fun in a controlled environment. Most people get the hang of it relatively quickly, and there is satisfaction in sticking an axe into a board.
Other games at Lumber Jacks Axe House include soft arrow target shooting, foosball tables, a giant 10-foot-tall Velcro dart board and even log rolling (birling). You can enjoy the games while sipping from a choice of beers, wines, seltzers and ciders. Lumber Jacks Axe House also serves appetizers, pizzas, wings and chicken tenders if anyone gets the munchies while throwing.
Kissimmee Restaurants and Cafes
There is a huge selection of delicious restaurants in Kissimmee, Florida ranging from American to a wide variety of international favorites. If you enjoy popular American chains or Brazilian steakhouses, Korean hot pot, Indian, Asian and a variety of latin cuisines, you have ample great choices in Kissimmee.
There are many great restaurants, bars, sweet shops and entertainment options like Studio Movie Grill walking distance from each other in Sunset Walk. Here are several Kissimmee restaurants I recently dined at and can personally recommend.
Yeoman’s Topgolf Swing Suite
Conveniently located in Sunset Walk, Yeoman’s Topgolf Swing Suite is a British themed restaurant surrounded by a variety of entertainment options. I’m a sucker for good fish n’chips at British restaurants and pubs and can highly recommend the dish at Yeoman’s. The hand breaded piece of cod is massive, deliciously flaky, and served alongside a generous portion of thick cut fries. It washes down well with a craft beer like Bell’s IPA, a cocktail or glass of wine.
Ford’s Garage
Ford’s Garage Kissimmee is a 1920’s service station-themed restaurant adorned with classic Ford vehicles, gas pumps and automobile fixtures. The lively restaurant is ideal for casual fare like burgers, American comfort classics like meatloaf, barbecue dishes and salads. The bartender recommended the pulled pork sandwich, which was packed with thick chunks of flavorful pork between a brioche bun.
Ford’s Garage also has great drink specials. When we popped in they had select craft beers and ciders for just $3 a can, even well past their typical 2-6pm happy hour, on a Friday night!
Mochinut
Mochinut offers a great casual stop for fresh donuts, coffee and light bites off 192 in Kissimmee. A mochinut donut is made with glutinuos rice flour instead of wheat flour. This gives them a more chewy texture compared to traditional donuts.
Mochinut has a large selection of tasty donuts including caramel, chocolate and a variety of fruit flavors like mango, strawberry and blueberry. They also serve inventive made to order mochinut corn dogs that can be mixed with potato (delicious), ramen and cheese. Mochinut was recommended to us by one of the receptionists at Margaritaville, and we’re glad we swung in.
Portillo’s
Portillo’s is great for a casual family lunch. A variety of tasty Chicago style hot dogs and roast beef sandwiches are served in a spacious dining room filled with American memorabilia. In addition to their tasty frankfurters, I love the mix of flavors that hot and sweet peppers add to their roast beef sandwiches. Portillo’s also sells tasty chocolate cake slices, which we enjoyed later in the comfort of our hotel room.
Kissimmee Recap
Kissimmee, Florida features a wide variety of fun activities for families and couples. On the doorstep of Disneyworld, it offers an ideal base for visiting Orlando areas theme parks, attractions and natural landscapes. Entertainment abounds for all ages in the theme park capital of the world, in the heart of sunny Florida!
Disclosure: I was hosted media during a press trip with the Experience Kissimmee tourism board and stayed at Margaritaville Resort Orlando during the trip. However, the opinions and photos in this article are my own.
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