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Universal Orlando Resort: Where to Stay & Play for a Few Days

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My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to … [Read More...]

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

By

I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

By

I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

Food

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Orlando Food Trucks Near the Theme Parks: A Traveller's Guide

Coming from Australia, most of us plan a Florida holiday months in advance, and we usually lock in our theme park tickets before we even start thinking about meals. By the time the queue for the Space Mountain photo starts winding through the building, the last thing anyone wants is another plastic-wrapped turkey leg. That is where the food trucks that park near Orlando's major theme parks come in. They offer a breather from the crowds, a chance to stretch your legs, and a taste of local Florida flavour that you simply cannot get inside the gates.

For travellers landing at MCO and driving straight to International Drive or Kissimmee, the mobile food truck scene is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to eat well between park days. Some trucks are permanent fixtures in nearby parking lots, others rotate depending on the season, and a few even follow specific event calendars tied to marathon weekends, conventions, or school holiday rushes from the Sunshine State itself.

Food Trucks Around Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World property covers such a massive stretch of land that it attracts its own mini economy of mobile kitchens. Along State Road 535 and the back roads near Disney Springs, you will find trucks that set up for the dinner crowd between 5pm and 9pm. Most of them post their weekly location on Instagram, which is the easiest way to track them down if you are staying off-site in a villa.

One regular in the Disney Springs overflow is a taco truck serving al pastor straight off the spit. Another favourite is a barbecue rig that smokes pulled pork and brisket for twelve hours before opening. The portions are huge, which suits families who have been walking around EPCOT since rope drop and need something hearty.

If you are staying at a Disney resort and relying on the buses, getting to these trucks requires a car or a rideshare. The buses do not run late enough to catch the evening rush, and rideshare fares can sting after a long park day. Some Aussie families plan one or two non-park evenings around these trucks to avoid the extra transport cost.

Universal Orlando and the Surrounding Area

Universal Orlando has a smaller footprint than Disney, which makes its food truck options more concentrated. Just outside the main gates, particularly around the Universal Endless Summer Resort area and along Turkey Lake Road, a handful of trucks gather during the late afternoon. They tend to lean heavily on handheld food that you can eat while standing, which suits the pace of people dashing back for evening shows.

A great option in this stretch is a burger truck that does a solid smash patty with American cheese, pickles, and a proper toasted bun. Nearby, a Vietnamese banh mi truck sets up several days a week and pulls a loyal crowd from the local hospitality workers finishing their shifts. The prices here are noticeably friendlier than anything inside Universal CityWalk, and the food tends to be more generous.

For Australian visitors who are used to a strong banh mi culture in places like Sydney and Melbourne, finding a decent one in Orlando feels like a small homecoming. The owner of the truck we visited even knew what a "cob" was when I ordered one, which is one of those tiny wins that makes a long-haul holiday feel less far from home.

SeaWorld Orlando and the I-Drive Corridor

SeaWorld sits in the middle of the I-Drive tourism strip, one of the busiest food truck zones in central Florida. Trucks line up along stretches of International Drive during the dinner hour, often near ICON Park. Many specialise in one or two dishes, which usually means those dishes are exceptional. You will find loaded fries, lobster mac and cheese, and Cuban sandwiches pressed on fresh bread.

A standout near SeaWorld is a seafood truck that does a mean shrimp po'boy and a fish sandwich that tastes like it came straight out of a coastal kitchen. There is also a Caribbean jerk truck that sets up a few nights a week and fills the area with the smell of scotch bonnet peppers and allspice. Both have been around long enough that locals trust them, which is generally a good sign when you are choosing where to spend your dinner money.

Because SeaWorld often closes earlier than Disney or Universal, the food trucks in this area can be a relaxed dinner stop on a half-day park visit. It also gives you a chance to sit at one of the outdoor tables along I-Drive and watch the trolleys roll by, which is a different kind of Orlando experience than being inside a queue for a roller coaster.

Legoland Florida and Kissimmee Spots

If you are travelling with younger kids and basing yourself near Legoland in Winter Haven, the food truck scene thins out. Still, there are reliable options if you drive twenty minutes towards Kissimmee. A cluster of trucks sets up near the Old Town entertainment complex on weekend evenings, which lines up perfectly with a Legoland day that ends mid-afternoon.

The Kissimmee trucks often lean into Latin American flavours, with empanadas, arepas, and chicharrón sandwiches leading the line-up. There is a particular Venezuelan arepa truck that has been a local favourite for years and is well worth seeking out. For Australian families used to enjoying South American food at home, this is a lovely way to break up a week of theme park burgers and churros.

One practical tip for anyone staying in the Legoland area is to fill up your petrol before heading out for an evening of truck food. Winter Haven does not have many late-night options, and driving back on an empty tank after a feed is never ideal. Most rental cars in Florida run on regular unleaded, which is good to know if you are used to premium back home.

Practical Tips for Aussie Travellers Hunting Down Food Trucks

Following a few local truck accounts on Instagram before you fly out is the easiest way to plan your food stops. Most trucks post their weekly schedule, and a few let you pre-order through DMs. Prices are in US dollars, so keep a conversion app handy. Most trucks accept cards, though smaller ones still prefer cash.

Here are a few practical pointers worth keeping in mind:

For anyone travelling during our June or July holidays, remember that Florida in summer is hot and humid and most trucks lack air-conditioned seating. Eating early and retreating to your hotel for the worst of the afternoon is what seasoned theme park regulars swear by.

Seasonal and Special Event Trucks

Orlando runs on an event calendar, and the trucks follow it closely. During the Disney Marathon weekend in January, dozens of trucks line the race route and feed runners and supporters. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival pulls in extra trucks in autumn to handle park overflow, and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal attracts a smaller, late-night vendor crew.

For Australians travelling during our June or July holidays, summer in Florida brings its own rhythm. The trucks rotate more because some owners take time off, but the regulars stay put. Following a few local truck accounts before you fly out is the best way to know what will be running during your dates, saving you from driving across town to find an empty car park.