I asked my brother if he wanted to go back, and of course, he said yes! (sorry, no mom and dad this trip) My friends at Expedia.ca were more than happy to assist this trip so we could relive our childhood (or teen years). We booked our flights, and car rental together which saved us a surprising amount of money. Adding the car was just $20 for three days!

For our hotel, we decided to stay off-site at the Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort since it was significantly cheaper. The hotel has free WiFi, two pools, lounge chairs, cabanas, and a pretty impressive gym. They even offer free shuttles to and from the Disney theme parks (wish I knew this before I rented a car). 

The main reason we came back to Orlando was for the theme parks. Honestly, theme parks are fun. They’re even better as an adult since you can focus on just the main rides while buying whatever you want. That being said, if your time is limited like it was for us; you may want to just focus on the best rides in Walt Disney World to go on.

Best rides in Magic Kingdom

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Okay, this isn’t one of the best rides, but this is a subjective list. I love Toy Story, so Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin makes my list. It’s an interactive game where you help buzz shoot space aliens.

Pirates of the Caribbean – This is one of Disney’s most classic rides. It’s a simple boat ride where you’ll see Animatronics of Pirates in the Caribbean – Yes you’ll see Captain Jack Sparrow. This isn’t exactly a thrill ride, but it’s one of those rides that Disney is famous for. Okay to be fair, waiting an hour for this ride is not worth it.

Space Mountain – Easily one of the best rides in Magic Kingdom. Space Mountain is a roller coaster ride that takes place in “outer space.” It’s really just an enclosed coaster that’s in the dark. It doesn’t go upside down, but it’s one heck of a thrill.

Best rides in Hollywood Studios

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue – This is another classic ride but has seen upgrades over the years, most recently with The Force Awakens. It’s a 3D motion simulator ride with multiple stories so be sure to ride it more than once.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – If you love Indiana Jones, then this show is for you. It’s a live action stunt show which recreates many of the movie’s most iconic moments. There are multiple stunts and a pyro show, so there’s no worry about staying entertained.

Toy Story Mania – Another Toy Story themed shooter, but this one is in 3D and at Hollywood Studios. Admittedly, this ride always has a line since it’s geared towards kids. The cool thing is that the lines take you through different Toy Story themed sets.

Best rides in Animal Kingdom

Kilimanjaro Safaris – This is the one ride people come to Animal Kingdom for. It’s a safari ride through Disney’s version of Africa. You’ll ride in a giant jeep while the guide points out and tells you about the animal residents. Try to go on this ride early in the morning or later in the evening when they are most active.

Expedition Everest – Every Disney park has one thrill ride and Expedition Everest does not disappoint. This roller coaster will take you through the mountains before you come face-to-face with a Yeti. Many of animatronics no longer work, but it’s still a lot of fun.

Festival of the Lion King – Many people focus on the rides and forget that Disney puts on some incredible shows. It’s all about the show here as circus performers put on one heck of a “tribute” to the movie while singing some of its most famous songs . This ended up being my favourite “ride” the whole time I was in Disney since it was completely different. 

Best rides in Epcot

Turtle Talk with Crush – Another impressive show from the minds at Disney. It’s a screen-based attraction, but there’s an actor who sees the crowd and performs as Crush. Kids think it’s really Crush, while parents get to laugh at the jokes that go over the heads of the little ones.

Soarin’ Around the World – Epcot was built for those who want to see the world without actually leaving the U.S.A. Soarin’ Around the World is a hang-glider simulator ride that takes you to some of the most famous attractions in the world. It may sound cheesy, but it’s a ton of fun.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – I didn’t mention the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, but the IllumiNations show at Epcot is epic. Disney likes to say that it represents the history of mankind, but just enjoy it for what it is; an awesome fireworks show.

Discover dinosaur bones, learn about ancient civilizations, admire art from some of the masters, or try to catch a glimpse of royalty; there are literally dozens of free things to do in London. It’s pretty easy to spend an entire day without spending any money (besides on food and transportation). I’ve visited London a few times before this trip so I was excited to see new free attractions and old favourites.

British Museum

If you have time for just one museum, make it the British Museum. The most famous pieces in the museum are the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, and the collection of mummies which represent just a few of the estimated 8 million pieces in the collection. Human history, culture, and are are the focus at the British Museum with grand sections devoted to the Egyptian, Greek, and Middle Eastern cultures. As soon as you enter, you’ll be greeted by the Great Court, a stunning glass covered area that is an architectural marvel. Even if you don’t have time to go to the museum, you can always visit the website which has the largest online database of objects of any museum in the world.

Hunterian Museum

Located inside the Royal College of Surgeons, the Hunterian Museum is dedicated to the history of surgery and not often mentioned in guidebooks. Despite its “unusual” theme, I’ve always wanted to check out this museum since I first heard of it a few years ago from friends who live in the city. Definitely not for the squeamish, the museum takes a look at how surgery has changed over the years, the amazing things the human body can do, and anything medical related. Be warned, there are plenty of specimens on display that are pretty graphic- tours are talks are available but space is limited.

Architecture

It has been four years since I last visited London so I was amazed at how many new skyscrapers have gone up that have completely changed the skyline of London. The Shard and Leadenhall building have sharp lines which have been received positively by the public while 20 Fenchurch Street  has been dubbed the walkie talking building – at least you can get an epic view of the Southbank at the top-floor Sky Garden for free. Other buildings of note include 30 St. Mary Axe, Lloyd’s of London, City Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

South Bank

I wrote a full post on what to check out at London’s Southbank but it’s worth highlighting again since it truly is one of the best spots in London. Attractions you’ll see include The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, City Hall, HMS Belfast, Tate Modern (which is free to enter), Shakespeare’s Globe, Millenium Bridge, National Theatre, Southbank Centre (check out the food market on weekends), London Eye, and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium. You could easily spend an entire day just wandering around this area.

Hyde Park

There are plenty of parks in London but Hyde Park is probably my favourite. Speaker’s Corner is an interesting place but it gets boring after a few minutes, I much prefer to see the sites within the park. Many monuments and statues can be found throughout the park including the Peter Pan Statue, Physical Energy Statue, Queens Temple, Princess Diana Memorial, Holocaust Memorial Gardens and the Albert Memorial. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion which changes every year and of course Kensington Palace which is the Royal Residence of Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. In the end, this is just a park, but the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, and Harrod’s are within close proximity.

Thanks to my friends at Expedia.ca, I recently visited London and decided to stay at the Park Plaza Westminster which is the perfect location when visiting the city. Located right on the South Bank, the Park Plaza is also conveniently located by Waterloo Station which will give you direct access to Gatwick airport.

South Bank attractions

Step out of the lobby and right in front of you is Westminster Bridge – it may tempting to cross and admire Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament but instead, swing right and you’ll see another one of the must-see places in London, the London Eye. The £21.20 admission price (when purchased online in advance) may seem high but when you’re visiting England, you’re going to need to get used to paying for everything in British Pounds. Don’t worry though, the ride on the London Eye is well worth it for the sweeping views of the city.

The great thing about the South Bank is how kid friendly the area is. Right beside the London Eye is the SEA LIFE London Aquarium which is home to more than 500 marines species – including ones on the endangered list. The underwater tunnel and Shark Walk shouldn’t be missed but the penguin exhibit has become a favourite since it opened in 2011. Another attraction that may have caught the kids eye by now is Shrek’s Adventure tour which is located right by the Aquarium. Join Shrek and Donkey on a live action and 3D adventure where you can be one of the heroes – expect other DreamWorks characters to show up.

Art fans will also be spoiled by choice here. The Southbank Centre is one of the most popular cultural destinations in the world where artists come from all over the globe to perform. Next door you’ll find the BFI Southbank, a venue that celebrates all things film with over 2,000 classic and contemporary film showings ever year. Note that from Friday – Sunday there’s a food market behind here that’s worth checking out.

By now you could have easily have filled two days but there are even more must see places in London that you’ll soon come across. Right after you pass the Millennium Bridge, you’ll come across the Tate Modern. As the name implies, it’s a modern international gallery which is housed in the former Bankside Power Station – admission is free but there is a fee for special exhibits.

Next to the Tate Modern is the Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre which was originally built in 1599. Visitors can watch plays in the open air just like in the Victorian days – yes that means you might be exposed to the elements. If timing doesn’t work out or if tickets are sold out, you can take a tour of the Shakespeare’s Globe any day of the week.

Keep walking east and you won’t be able to miss the HMS Belfast. Take a tour of this historic warship and find out what it was like for crews who lived on this during World War II and beyond. You can explore the ship’s nine decks from the engine room to the deck; there’s also exhibits on display where you can learn about the battles that it took part in.

There’s no way you would have missed the infamous Tower Bridge since it’s the backdrop for the HMS Belfast, but as you make your way over, look to your right, the giant glass egg looking structure is actually the London City Hall; access inside is limited but definitely worth a picture from the outside. Once you make it to Tower Bridge, head up the north-west tower where you can access the glass floor and get a view from 42 metres above the River Thames.

If time permits (do you still have energy?) you could keep going and tour the Tower of London but the odds are you’ll be ready to call it quits by now. There are plenty of must see places in London and Expedia.ca has you covered. Be sure to check out their list of things to in London where you can get tours, Activities & sightseeing ideas.