When it comes to family vacations, few places in the US are as beloved as Orlando. Many people have fond memories of their first trips to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, this writer included.
Parents have just as wonderful memories of seeing their little ones beaming at Mickey Mouse or marveling at a fireworks display. While Disney World and Universal Orlando surely belong on the list of the best things to do in Orlando with kids, there’s quite a bit more to see and do in the Theme Park Capital of the World than, well, theme parks.
We’ve compiled a list of the best kid-friendly things to do in Orlando to help you plan a trip filled with family fun. Pick your favorite activities from this list, and you’re bound to have an amazing vacation your kids won’t ever forget!
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The 15 Best Things to Do in Orlando with Kids
1. See the Animals at the Central Florida Zoo
There’s so much to the Central Florida Zoo beyond the zoo itself, although animal lovers are bound to enjoy exploring its many exhibits featuring more than 350 animals. The Central Florida Zoo includes many of the best Orlando activities for kids.
Check out the many botanical gardens and keep your eyes peeled for pollinators. Enjoy a relaxing train ride around the zoo. Or, for something more adventurous, you and your little ones can take to the sky on the aerial adventure course.
And if you’re visiting during a hot Florida summer, kids can cool off in the splash ground. Plus, kids will love getting up close to the animals during the zoo’s encounter opportunities, such as feeding the barnyard critters at the petting zoo!
2. Play Around Nona Adventure Park
Exploring Nona Adventure Park is one of the coolest things for kids to do in Orlando, although adventurous parents will definitely enjoy a day here, too. You and your family will get out on the waters of Lake Nona for a one-of-a-kind challenge. Maneuver through tons of inflatable obstacles on the Aqua Park, or take to the sky on the Climbing Tower, which will have you conquering more aerial challenges.
With Wake Nona Cable Park, you can also learn wakeboarding. But, if you’d rather relax while the kids run free, there’s also space for you to just enjoy the beach.
3. Go Back in Time in Old Town
If you’re visiting Orlando with kids, consider taking a little detour to nearby Kissimmee to check out Old Town. This entertainment district is fun for the whole family, with oodles of shopping and dining options, classic amusement park rides, an obstacle course that’ll test your limits, and a nostalgia-filled arcade. Old Town also offers frequent events, which ensures that there’s always something to do here when you visit.
4. Ride the Rides at Fun Spot America
Orlando is the Theme Park Capital of the World, which might make you think of some of the major theme parks in the area, but there are also other amusement parks in and around Orlando that feature plenty of family fun while still being a bit more budget-friendly. That’s why visiting Fun Spot America is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Orlando.
Fun Spot America has locations in Orlando and nearby Kissimmee, with different ride offerings at each spot. But no matter which one you go to, you’re guaranteed rides that are perfect for all ages. The Orlando location also features additional offerings, like a splash pad filled with interactive water features and the Gator Spot Exhibit.
5. See the Mouse at Walt Disney World
You really can’t talk about the best things to do in Orlando with kids without talking about Walt Disney World. Walt Disney was inspired to create a place that parents could enjoy with their little ones, which is why the Disney Parks have attractions for kids of all ages.
Over at Magic Kingdom, your little one will get to meet princesses, marvel at fireworks displays, and ride classic Disney favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, thrill-seekers will find a home at rides like Tower of Terror. But Pixar and Star Wars lovers will also love the immersive attractions for them here.
Meanwhile, older kids will love rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Test Track at EPCOT, while little ones will enjoy the fun, kid-friendly activities that will take them through different cultures and into the future. Over at Animal Kingdom, everyone loves getting close to the majestic animals that call this park home, but thrill-seekers will especially enjoy rides like Expedition Everest.
6. Head Out to the Quidditch Pitch at Universal Orlando
Like Walt Disney World, it’s rather hard to list all the fun things to do in Orlando with kids without mentioning Universal Orlando. Universal Orlando has two parks, Islands of Adventure and the original Universal Studios Florida.
Although these parks are often talked about as being for bigger kids who are growing to love coasters and other thrill rides, both parks have plenty of activities for kids of all ages. Whether they’re at the age where they’ll enjoy screaming their heads off at Island of Adventure’s Incredible Hulk Coaster or cracking up at Universal Studios Florida’s Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, your family will find a lot to love at these two parks.
7. Have your Mind Blown at WonderWorks Orlando
As an indoor amusement park focused on “edutainment,” WonderWorks Orlando is filled with some of the best activities for kids in Orlando. Through more than 100 interactive exhibits, kids can learn about the world around them and the worlds beyond our own. Plus, they can have even more fun with laser tag, motion simulators, a ropes course, and a magic show that’s as funny as it is mesmerizing.
8. Learn at the Orlando Science Center
For more Orlando activities for kids who love science, head over to the Orlando Science Center. This hands-on science museum features exhibits for kids of all ages, allowing them to learn about the circle of life, uncover what it takes to protect our planet, and create their own works of engineering genius.
9. Take Off at the Kennedy Space Center
If you have an aspiring astronaut in your group, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a must-visit. Located in Cape Canaveral, this interactive complex dedicated to all things space travel lets you train like an astronaut, experience a shuttle launch, immerse yourself in the history of some of our greatest missions, and even meet real astronauts.
10. Play at Dezerland Park
Featuring over 800,000 square feet bursting with activities, Dezerland Park is the biggest indoor attraction in Florida and one of the most fun things to do in Orlando with kids. What’s there to do here? From bowling to bumper cars, arcades to axe throwing, perhaps a better question is what isn’t there to do because this place is jam-packed with family-friendly activities.
11. Meet the Manatees at Blue Spring State Park
If you’re visiting Orlando with kids during the winter and want a one-of-a-kind experience, take a trip over to Blue Spring State Park, where you’ll find hundreds of manatees have settled in for the winter.
You can get a great view from the park’s overlook, and you can also enjoy a scenic nature cruise down St. Johns River to get up close to even more wildlife.
12. See Gators at Wild Florida
Wild Florida offers some of the best activities for kids in Orlando, including epic airboat tours, a gator park filled with a lot more than gators, and a drive-thru safari park with more than 150 native and exotic animals roaming freely. All of these options are bound to create a memorable day for you and your little ones!
13. Get Colorful the Crayola Experience
If you have a little artist in your midst, visiting the Crayola Experience is one of the coolest kid-friendly things to do in Orlando. Your little one will enjoy a colorful adventure that’ll have them making their own masterpieces, placing themselves inside a coloring book, creating a one-of-a-kind souvenir out of crayon wax, and much more.
14. Go Under the Sea at the SEA LIFE Aquarium
Over at ICON Park, you’ll find another excellent family-friendly attraction: the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. Explore nine different zones that’ll introduce you to more than 5,000 animals, from sea turtles to sharks. Kids will especially enjoy all the interactive features, like the Coastal Rockpool touch tank.
15. See the Peanut Butter Matinee at Enzian Theater
Enzian Theater is a single-screen cinema café that offers one of the best Orlando activities for kids. If you’re in town for the fourth Sunday of the month, head here for their Peanut Butter Matinee Family Film Series!
You and your little ones will be able to enjoy a family-friendly movie while the café offers a special kids’ menu. The best part? The movie ticket is totally free for kids 12 and under!
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Orlando with kids. What are your favorite kid-friendly Orlando activities? Let us know in the comments!
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