Things to do nearby besides Universal parks
Beyond Universal parks, you’re within easy reach of International Drive sights (ICON Park, SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds), small theme parks and attractions like Fun Spot America and iFLY, outlet shopping, and day-trip beaches or the Kennedy Space Center. Most nearby stops are a short drive or a brief shuttle/ride-share away; walking is practical only to a few close attractions such as Pirate’s Dinner Adventure and Titanic the Experience.
In this guide
- Close-by attractions on International Drive
- Small parks & family amusements nearby
- Shopping — outlets and International Drive retail
- Day trips: beaches and the Kennedy Space Center
- Getting around — shuttles, parking and rideshares
- On-site alternatives (if you want to stay close)
- Practical tips for planning non-park activities
Close-by attractions on International Drive
ICON Park and the surrounding I‑Drive cluster are the quickest non-park draws from Dockside Inn and Suites. ICON Park attractions listed nearby include the Orlando Eye observation wheel, Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.
Most of these are about 1–1.5 miles from the hotel; travel time will vary by traffic and whether you take a rideshare or hotel shuttle.
- ICON Park / Orlando Eye — roughly 1.2–1.4 miles away
- SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium — about 1.4 miles away
- Madame Tussauds & Ripley’s Believe It or Not! — similar distances around 1.4 miles
| Attraction | Typical distance from hotel |
|---|---|
| ICON Park / Orlando Eye | About 1.2–1.4 mi |
| SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium | About 1.4 mi |
| Madame Tussauds / Ripley’s | About 1.4 mi |
Small parks & family amusements nearby
If you want smaller-scale thrills or family arcade rides without going to Universal, Fun Spot America is just over a mile away and offers classic amusement-park attractions. Pirate’s Dinner Adventure and Titanic the Experience are both within easy walking distance of the hotel for a short-show or exhibit visit.
CoCo Key Water Park is also listed as a nearby option for water-play, roughly within a 15-minute walk or short drive depending on your starting point.
- Fun Spot America — about 1.1 miles
- Pirate’s Dinner Adventure — roughly 0.6–0.8 miles (about a 9-minute walk)
- Titanic the Experience — roughly 0.8 miles
- CoCo Key Water Park — roughly a 15-minute walk
| Attraction | How to get there |
|---|---|
| Fun Spot America | Short drive or rideshare (~5 min) |
| Pirate’s Dinner Adventure | 9-minute walk (0.6–0.8 mi) |
| CoCo Key Water Park | Short walk (~15 min) or quick drive |
Shopping — outlets and International Drive retail
Outlet shopping is close by: Orlando International Premium Outlets and Orlando Outlet Marketplace are within roughly 1.2–1.5 miles of the resort. Both are convenient by short rideshare or a quick drive.
International Drive itself has restaurants, souvenir shops, and casual dining options if you prefer to stay local instead of heading into a mall.
- Orlando International Premium Outlets — about 1.5 miles
- Orlando Outlet Marketplace — about 1.2 miles
- International Drive dining and souvenir shops — within a couple of miles
| Shopping | Approx. distance |
|---|---|
| Premium Outlets | ~1.5 mi |
| Outlet Marketplace | ~1.2 mi |
| I‑Drive shops & eateries | ~1–2 mi |
Day trips: beaches and the Kennedy Space Center
If you want an ocean day, Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral are commonly used day-trip beaches from Orlando; drive time ranges around 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and which beach you choose.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is often paired with Cocoa Beach as a day trip and generally takes about 50–75 minutes by car depending on route and traffic.
- Cocoa Beach / Cape Canaveral — roughly 55–65 miles; allow about 45–75 minutes driving time
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — roughly 45–55 miles; plan for about 50–90 minutes depending on route and traffic
- Day-trip durations vary with traffic; check current road conditions before you go
| Destination | Typical drive time from Dockside Inn and Suites |
|---|---|
| Cocoa Beach | About 45–75 minutes |
| Kennedy Space Center | About 50–90 minutes |
| Daytona / New Smyrna beaches | About 1–1.25 hours |
Getting around — shuttles, parking and rideshares
Dockside Inn and Suites provides complimentary shuttle buses to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, Universal Epic Universe, and CityWalk; shuttles typically arrive roughly every 15 minutes and start about an hour before park opening (aligned with Early Park Admission).
Walking directly to Universal’s parks is not practical because the hotel is across International Drive and I‑4 from the main Universal campus, so plan to use the shuttle or a rideshare for the parks. Rideshares and taxis are commonly used for other local stops and to reach Orlando International Airport.
- Hotel shuttles generally run every ~15 minutes and start about an hour before park opening
- Shuttle service runs late into the evening (some listings show service as late as 2:00 AM)
- Rideshare/taxi is the recommended option for some destinations (airport, certain I‑Drive stops) or when shuttle times don’t fit your schedule
| Trip | Recommended transport |
|---|---|
| Universal parks & CityWalk | Complimentary hotel shuttle |
| International Drive / ICON Park | Rideshare or short drive; some spots are walkable |
| Airport (MCO) | Rideshare/taxi (hotel airport shuttle is available for a fee) |
On-site alternatives (if you want to stay close)
If you’d rather stay at the resort, Dockside Inn and Suites has two outdoor pools (one at each tower), a children’s splash pad, poolside bars (The Oasis Beach Bar and Wave Makers Pool Bar), a quick-service food court (Pier 8 Market), a lobby Starbucks, a fitness center, and an arcade/game room.
Rooms and suites include Standard Room and Suite, 2 Bedrooms options, which can be handy for families who plan multiple park days but want downtime back at the hotel.
- Two outdoor pools and a children’s splash pad — pool hours vary by tower and season
- Pier 8 Market — quick-service food court open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Sunset Lounge (lobby bar) and two poolside bars — drinks-only venues; pool bars do not serve food
| On-site amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pier 8 Market | Market-style quick-service food court (breakfast starts at 7:00 AM) |
| Pools & splash pad | Two resort-style pools; children’s splash pad; lifeguards on duty |
| Fitness center | Complimentary equipment; typical hours 6:00 AM–10:00 PM |
Practical tips for planning non-park activities
If you’re heading off-property during peak hours, allow extra travel time — Orlando surface streets and I‑4 can be busy. For nearby short trips, rideshare is usually quicker than waiting for a hotel shuttle that serves the parks primarily.
If you want to do outlet shopping or visit ICON Park after park hours, check attraction opening times in advance. For day trips to beaches or the Kennedy Space Center, plan arrival times early to avoid afternoon traffic on FL‑528 or I‑4.
- Check shuttle schedules and rideshare surge times on busy days
- Confirm attraction opening hours before you leave the hotel
- Bring photo ID if you’ll be buying alcohol at pool bars or Sunset Lounge — minimum purchase age is 21
| What to bring | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Photo ID | Required to buy alcohol at hotel bars |
| Light rain layer / poncho | Afternoon storms are common in summer |
| Comfortable walking shoes | Better for short walks on International Drive and around ICON Park |
