We love Orlando winters. They are our favourite time of the year in the Sunshine State. But, just occasionally, the weather throws a spanner into the works and makes it necessary to avoid the theme parks for a day or two.
When that happens, we are happy to say that you still have plenty of options for a family-friendly day out that keeps you dry and warm (and we say that as we just had an hour’s thunderstorm followed by the temperature “plummeting” to a distinctly chilly 56F, or barely 13C!).
Rain is not usually a worry during the winter months as we get barely two inches per month on average from December to February. But, when it arrives, it is more of a nuisance as it is harder to warm up afterwards and, with so many rides outside, it can make things uncomfortable. Getting wet on the Jurassic Park River Adventure is fine for much of the year, but it’s just plain miserable on a cold day in January.
So, with that in mind, we thought we’d highlight 10 great alternatives that avoid any weather miseries but still provide plenty of entertainment, our Indoor Hits, if you like.
9. Splitsville
This Disney Springs location is ideal for a few frames of 10-pin bowling in a fun and lively atmosphere. Open from 11am to 11pm daily (11.30pm Fri and Sat), it features 30 lanes of bowling, as well as plenty of TV screens showing sports, live entertainment most evenings, indoor and outdoor bars and some seriously good food. This could easily be a half-day out of the weather, including either lunch or dinner.
8. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
When you’re ready for some fast-paced indoor action, head to this major complex on Universal Boulevard close to the big International Drive Convention Center. With three courses, including one for junior kart drivers aged 4-7, and state-of-the-art electric karts, this is guaranteed racing fun for all abilities. It is also just the start of an activity adventure that offers racing simulators, bowling, laser tag, virtual reality shoot-em-ups, arcade games and an excellent full-service restaurant.
7. Crayola Experience
For parents with younger children, this fun activity centre at the Florida Mall is an absolute godsend. It takes the basic Crayola idea of crayon creativity and features a range of activities and interactive play stations, from 10am to 6pm daily (8pm on Sat). There are more than two dozen different games and hands-on opportunities, including a soft-play climb and crawl playground and various modelling challenges. It should easily keep pre-schoolers engaged for 3-4 hours, and also has its own café.
6. WonderWorks
The famous upside-down building on International Drive is another challenging centre of activities and games that allows kids to let off steam and try their hand at a variety of exhibits and tests, including the Bed of Nails, Bubble Lab and Astronaut Training Challenge. Then there are the 4-D Motion Theater, glow-in-the-dark Ropes Course and Laser Tag. Stay for the evening Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show and you have a full day’s entertainment.
5. Main Event
Here’s another keen entertainment centre in the heart of I-Drive that offers a wide range of possibilities under one roof. Located in the Pointe Orlando shopping/dining complex, Main Event features 10-pin bowling, a gravity ropes course, arcade games and pool tables, as well as a very attractive bar and restaurant, packed with TVs if you want to watch the day’s sport. It’s also open until midnight every night, so you can even head here after any of the others.
4. The Magic Kingdom Monorail
Yes, really. OK, so you still need a raincoat or umbrella to get from your car to the monorail but, once you’re aboard this fancy railway, you have the option of getting off – under cover – at each of the Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Polynesian Village resorts, where you are free to stroll, shop and enjoy the many food and beverage options in each hotel, from a full meal to a decent cup of coffee. And, during the Christmas period, the Grand Floridian is packed with eye-catching Christmas decorations – including the signature full-size Gingerbread House – that provide terrific photo and selfie appeal (NB: You need to take the Resort Monorail at the Transportation & Ticket Center, not the Express line to the Magic Kingdom).
3. Madame Tussauds Orlando and SEA LIFE Orlando
This is really a two-for-one choice as they are both located in the heart of ICON Park on I-Drive. They are separate venues and appeal to different audiences, but there is definitely crossover appeal here. Madame Tussauds offers the classic celebrity waxworks experience, featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, Kung Fu Panda and Lionel Messi, as well as an interactive section devoted to the Justice League. For selfie fans, it takes some beating. And then the SEA LIFE aquarium provides a more natural, relaxed touch with its series of 13 ocean-themed exhibits and animal habitats, notably for sharks, turtles, stingrays and seahorses. There’s even an indoor play area for younger children and a neat gift shop. Add in the neighbouring Museum of Illusions and the numerous dining options in ICON Park and you have a full day’s worth of ideal indoor entertainment.
2. Orange County Regional History Center
In the heart of downtown Orlando, the History Center is a brilliant introduction to the full story of Central Florida and how it became the Theme Park Capital of the World. From the First Peoples and the city’s time as a cattle town to early tourism and its part in the Space Race, this is a fascinating look at all the different ways Orlando has developed in the past 200-plus years. Park at the library car park and you only have two blocks to walk, and you’ll also encounter a great selfie opportunity with the bronze sculpture of Bunk Baxter, alligator wrestler, in the plaza outside.
1. Orlando Science Center
Although this is the furthest place from all the theme parks, families that discover it quickly fall in love with its style of edutainment, and it is especially good for primary school age children. With four storeys of well-presented exhibits, hands on activities, the giant screen cinema of the Dr Phillips CineDome and state-of-the-art Digital Adventure Theater, this is an ideal introduction to STEM concepts and captivating fun for young minds. The new Life exhibit tells the story of our planet from the viewpoint of the animals that call it home, with a focus on nature and conservation via a series of immersive habitats. The food at the 4Roots Café is also well above average and well worth stopping in for on its own.
PS: As a final thought on what you need to bring, don’t forget to pack a coat and/or sweater for Orlando at any time of the year. You might just need it indoors rather than outdoors, as many places turn up the air-conditioning to Arctic levels!
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