Visiting Orlando: Orlando Travel Guide For Families

Orlando is one of the most visited cities in the world, drawing families from all over the globe—and with good reason! It’s home to world famous attractions including magical Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, making it a theme park mecca catering to family members of all ages. 

That said, there is so much more to discover when visiting Orlando and so many places in this sunny city that will keep the whole family busy and entertained. If you’re planning on visiting Orlando, read on for info about some lesser-known (and some VERY well known!) local destinations to help you plan your itinerary and enjoy your time in this fun-filled, family-friendly city!

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1. Lake Eola Park

Located in Downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is a beautiful and clean attraction for tourists and locals alike. It draws families to its impressive fountain and beautiful waterfront location. Rent a swan shaped paddle boat to tour the lake and view the fountain up close, or stroll the one-mile sidewalk loop around that encircles it all. 

The Walt Disney Amphitheater, located on the west side of the park, is a fun venue where you can enjoy events like outdoor concerts, plays, and other performances.  Each Sunday you can stroll the Farmer’s Market for fresh produce and flowers. Over a dozen restaurants dot the perimeter of the lake, or you can choose to dine a la picnic lunch among the lush flowerbeds. 

Kids will love to explore the fun playground on the east side of the park. They will also enjoy the many, many birds that call this place home, especially the swans! Visiting Orlando’s downtown will give you an appreciation for what lies beyond the theme park gates.

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2. Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Almost every city has a zoo, and that’s great news for families with toddlers and young kids. The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located just north of Orlando and is home to over 350 animals representing over 100 species, and even houses some extremely rare and endangered species. Kids will delight in feeding the giraffes and interacting with endangered one-horned Indian Rhinos. 

This zoo has a lot more than just animals; there are lots of yummy food stands, a playground, a carousel, a train, AND a bungee bounce and ziplines for the older kids and adults! Other activities at the zoo include face painting, airbrush tattoos, and storytime for toddlers. Don’t forget to cool off in the Wharton Smith Tropical Splash pad! 

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3. SeaWorld

The whole family will enjoy a full day at SeaWorld Theme Park. With over a dozen rides (including roller coasters!), shows, and animal experiences, there is so much to sea (haha) and do! Toddlers are sure to love the Dolphin Nursery where mother and baby dolphins play, communicate and interact. Live shows include Orca Encounter, Dolphin Days, and Sea Lion High. 

The new Sesame Street Land will be a big hit with your Elmo lovers, and if you are visiting Orlando at Christmastime you’ll see the park transform into a holiday wonderland with over three million lights AND a Sesame Street Christmas Parade!

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4. Aquatica

Aquatica is an award-winning water park that has been rated the Nation’s Best Outdoor Waterpark by USA today. Kid-friendly areas designated for toddlers and young kids include Kata’s Kookaburra Cove featuring beginner body slides, water spouts and pools. Walkabout Waters is also geared towards the little ones and features slides, splash pools, squirting water and more!  

There are also tons of exciting pool and slide options for the older thrill seekers in the group, including side-by-side wave pools and Taumata, a super steep slide that lets 8 people race each other at once!  

Check in with visitor services if your toddler is interested in renting a luxurious private cabana, complete with chicken tenders and juice service (plus a specialty cocktail for the grown ups!).

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5. Disney Springs

Disney Springs is an outdoor dining, shopping, and entertainment waterfront promenade that has plenty of options for the whole family to enjoy while visiting Orlando. Kids will particularly love the LEGO store featuring many interactive activities for all ages. There is the Pick-a-Brick wall, hands-on play tables, and larger-than-life Disney models. 

Stop by the World of Disney store and enjoy the ultimate Disney shopping experience that will have your children mesmerized! Other incredible experiences include a beautiful carousel, a fun train ride, and hot air balloon ride that goes 400 feet into the sky!

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6. LEGOLAND Florida Resort

While we’re on the topic of LEGO, head just outside of Orlando and spend a day at LEGOLAND. Duplo Tot Spot is designed specifically for children under the age of two and features small slides and a colorful playhouse. Duplo Splash and Play offers interactive water elements set amongst larger than life farm animals. Creation Zone lets your childs’ imagination run wild while building and decorating the walls with LEGOS. There are also plenty of other LEGO themed attractions available to keep young minds entertained for hours!

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• A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Ultimate Family Vacation
• How to Rent Baby Gear for Your Next Getaway

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7. Orlando Museum of Art

The Orlando Museum of Art runs some great family programs that introduces little ones to art and encourages their artistic expression. Art Adventures are monthly workshops with varying themes that take place on select Fridays and Sundays for children of ages. The workshop features a gallery experience followed by a hands-on art activity in the studio.  

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8. Sealife Orlando Aquarium

Sealife Orlando Aquarium is a great experience any day of the week, but try to plan your visit around Toddler Time which takes place on Tuesdays. Toddler time offers age-appropriate activities such as toddler sing along, animal interaction, fun facts, storytime, and weekly sea creature topics. This aquarium features a breathtaking 360° underwater tunnel that will mesmerize people of all ages. Watch turtles, rays, and tons of beautiful fish swim over and around you as you stroll through!

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9. Daytona Beach

If you are visiting Orlando be sure to take a day trip to kid-friendly Daytona Beach located an hour outside of Orlando. Believe us, the drive will be worth it! With 23 miles of gorgeous beach, kids can romp around in the aquamarine ocean while parents enjoy the famous Florida sun. Head over to the Boardwalk and let the kids play in one of the arcades or enjoy the rides at Screamer’s Park.  You can also stroll down the 1,000 foot pier and watch all of the fishermen. Check the local calendar because there is always something going on here! If you don’t want to travel with a bunch of beach gear, consider renting a Beach Package from BabyQuip that provides necessities like sand toys, wagons, beach chairs, umbrellas, tents, and more!

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10. Orlando Science Center

Kids will love everything offered at the Orlando Science Center. The KidsTown exhibit is specifically geared to children seven and younger. With over 11,000 square feet of skills-based activities, there will be no shortage of exploration at all! Activities include imaginative role playing, experimenting with cause and effect, as well as other play that encourages cognitive development. Dino lovers will be pumped on the DinoDigs exhibit that showcases fossil replicas!

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11. Crayola Experience Orlando

The Crayola Experience, located at the Florida Mall, is a must when visiting Orlando. It’s a hands-on creative experience that encourages kids to explore art and technology. Kids learn how crayons are made, and can even make their own label design and wrap a crayon in it! Be sure to check out the crayon melting station where children turn their colorful creations into 4D adventures. 

Snack bars are available if you’re hungry, and shopping includes a variety of more Crayola products than you could ever imagine! Plan on spending about 3-4 hours in this fun and colorful little spot.

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12. Universal Orlando Resort

With over 20 million visitors per year, this place is packed with adventure! The resort consists of two well-known theme parks (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure) as well as an insane tropical-themed water park, Volcano Bay, set around a 200 foot artificial volcano. Universal CityWalk is part of the 840-acre spread too, featuring tons of restaurants, movie theaters, and lodging options—it’s kind of like Universal’s answer to Disney Springs.

Kids will be enchanted by all of their favorite movie characters and the movie-themed attractions and rides at Universal Studios. Enjoy Character Encounters with Minions, SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek and more. Kids Play Areas include Curious George Goes To Town, Fievel’s Playland and Barney’s Backyard.  

Next, jump on the Hogwarts Express train and head over to Islands of Adventure! Harry Potter fans will love exploring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Jurassic World is not to be missed. You’ll find more rides, more shows, more eating and shopping. 

Universal Orlando offers SO much to visitors of all ages, so be sure to dedicate at least one full day to this incredible spot—two if possible! And you can plan on visiting Orlando again in 2023 when Epic Universe plans on opening. It’s yet another theme park that is expected to double the size of Universal’s Orlando footprint!

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13. Walt Disney World

A trip to Orlando wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Walt Disney World! If you thought Universal’s 840 acre situation sounded overwhelming, hold on tight– Disney covers more territory than Manhattan at a whopping 25,000 acres!  

The famed Magic Kingdom is home to plenty of rides, shows, and entertainment geared towards toddlers and young kids, so you will have a full day (or many more!) of magical family fun. The littlest visitors will love spotting their favorite Disney characters (and fainting at the sight of Princess Elsa) and enjoying rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Bigger kids will be enchanted by the classic ride experiences Disney offers, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and It’s a Small World. Hold on tight for thrilling roller coasters like Splash Mountain and Space Mountain!

Epcot Center, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom also make up Walt Disney World, in addition to two huge water parks (Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach), 27 themed hotels, and so much more!  With over 58 million visitors each year, Disney World is the most visited vacation spot in the world.

Little legs are sure to get worn out on this epic Disney adventure so make sure to rent a stroller where the kiddos can rest throughout the day. Keep in mind that Disney has stroller requirements for size so if you plan to bring your own, make sure they’ll let you through the gates with it. Quality Providers who deliver to Disney World know exactly what’s allowed in, so no need to worry!

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There is no denying that world-class theme parks are what draws most families to the idea of visiting Orlando, but some of these lesser known attractions are also definitely worth checking out!  

There are so many places to see and things to do in this exciting and popular Florida city, making it a favorite international travel destination. No matter what kind of experience your family is looking for, you’re sure to find something amazing while visiting Orlando!