Want to know what to do in Orlando for kids? Read on to find out our pick of the top ten things to do in Orlando, that are suitable for the whole family, and especially the little ones...
1. Soak up the fun on one of Florida's top beaches
Just an hour’s drive from Orlando is Florida’s beautiful coastline. So why not take a break from the theme parks and head out to the coast? Spend the day with the family relaxing and recharging your batteries on a Floridian beach, while the kids play in the sand. There are tons of beaches to choose from and you will be spoilt for choice, but our favourite is the breathtaking Clearwater beach.
2. Visit Wonderworks
If time allows, make sure you fit in a trip to Wonderworks on International Drive. This is an extremely popular spot for families and it is not hard to understand why. Your kids (and you of course) are guaranteed to have heaps of fun getting involved in many of the 100 interactive exhibits including laser tag! You can also step inside an incredible Bubble Lab and feel the force of 65mph winds.
3. Have a splash at one of Orlando’s Water Parks
Orlando is hot hot hot, so visiting one of the theme park capital's many water parks is a fun way for you and the family to cool down. Most of Orlando's major theme parks have their own water parks too. At Walt Disney World, thrill seekers can slide down the terrifying Summit Plummet (a 120 foot waterslide) at Disney’s Blizzard Beach, or take it easy and float down the lazy river at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
Head over to Universal Orlando Resort to explore the new water theme park Volcano Bay. Unlike anything you’ve experienced before, Volcano Bay offers something totally unique, combining exciting water slides with tranquil relaxation experiences. The park’s must-try ride is the 'Krakatau Aqua Coaster', that sends you shooting through the centre of a 200-foot-tall volcano!
If you have a marine life lover in your family, another amazing option would be to check out SeaWorld’s Aquatica, which incorporates animal encounters in its water rides!
4. See the movies come to life at Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are great fun for all age groups but if you and your kids love rollercoasters then the latter is definitely for you. You can experience the famous Incredible Hulk Coaster which has recently undergone an 'incredible' makeover, with a new story, new ride vehicles and a new queue experience. Reach speeds of 67mph and face the wrath of the legend if you dare!
Of course, the most exciting feature to come to life at the parks in recent years has been the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Diagon Alley at Universal Studios includes the action-packed ‘Escape from Gringotts’ ride that allow you and your kids to truly feel like wizards, while 'Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey' at Universal's Islands of Adventure actually takes you through the famous school of Witchcraft and Wizardry- Hogwarts. Sip on an ice cold glass of Butterbeer (non-alcoholic), journey on the Hogwarts Express and even get your chosen wand from Ollivanders. Both kids and big kids alike will absolutely love this!
5. Build the excitement at LEGOLAND Florida
There is certainly a lot of buzz around this park at the moment, with lots of exciting new attractions coming soon! A captivating new show called ' LEGO-NEXO Knights 4-D The Book of Creativity' as well as a Build-A-Boat attraction that encourages kids to get creative has already opened at the park this year and there's lots more in store.
Make sure you check out the immersive LEGO NINJAGO World, themed on the popular series 'LEGO NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu'. The main attraction in the area is LEGO NINJAGO The Ride, something the whole family can enjoy together, where you can blast fireballs and bolts of lightning at your enemies using just your hands!
The LEGOLAND Beach Retreat will also be opening next year. The new LEGO-themed hotel will be made up of 83 colourful condos, providing familes with the perfect place to stay.
6. Have a Mucky Ducks adventure
If your kids are slightly older, an off road Orlando adventure is a great family bonding activity to book. Everyone can jump in and speed around over 240 acres of Florida countryside along amazing trails and lake entry points. Be prepared to get dirty and to have a ridiculous amount of fun!
7. Watch the Blue Man Group live in action
The Blue Man Group show is a comedy, theatre, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one spectacular performance. The stars of the show are three bald characters painted in blue from head to toe. There’s no chance of the kids getting bored at this one, but a word of warning, you might come out of the show covered in paint!
8. Shopping spree at Orlando's outlet malls
You don’t want to travel home empty handed especially when you can get some great value clothes for yourself and the family! There are some great deals to be taken advantage of in the city’s malls and lots of top brands to bag including Michael Kors, J.Crew and many more. Even better than that, if you book any Orlando tickets with us you will receive a complimentary coupon shopping booklet worth $300! Happy shopping!
9. Experience the magic of the Walt Disney World Resort
Talk about stating the obvious…but not going to Walt Disney World with your kids when you are in Orlando will mean missing out on creating arguably some of the happiest holiday memories EVER! The Walt Disney World Resort is made up of four major theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood studios, as well as two thrilling water parks, Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.
Not to mention the entertainment district, Disney Springs (which is now home to over 100 shops!), a state of the art sports complex, Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports, plus tons of dining and shopping experiences. Walt Disney World is a place where dreams come true and your kids are guaranteed to never forget their magical escape.
10. Meet your favourite characters:
The final entry on our list of the top ten things to do in Orlando with kids, can't be missed! If you’ll be visiting the Orlando theme parks, meeting your heroes (and even a few villains!) should definitely be at the top of your ‘to-do’ list. At Walt Disney World, you can meet princesses like Anna & Elsa, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Ariel- the list just goes on! You can also snap selfies with the likes of Disney royalty Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Buzz & Woody from Toy Story, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Kylo Ren & Chewbacca from Star Wars.
At the Universal Orlando Resort, get up close to the stars of your favourite movies and meet the Minions, the Simpsons, SpongeBob, Spider-Man and Shrek to name just a few. Make sure you’ve got your autograph book handy!
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