21 Things to Do In Orlando for Kids (By a Local Mom)

Orlando is a kid’s paradise. From the many theme parks, outdoor spaces, and attractions, there are endless things to do in Orlando.

As a new mom, I’ve pivoted from spending late nights in downtown Orlando to finding the best activities for my son and the entire family to enjoy. Luckily for me (and all of you), Orlando is the perfect place to find fun activities and things to do for kids of all ages.

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Fun Things to Do in Orlando With Kids

Magic Kingdom

Explore the fantasy realm

The author's son sitting on a grass field and the Cinderella's Castle on his background — *My son in front of Cinderella’s Castle*

Magic Kingdom is one of the best theme parks for children. Most of the rides do not have height requirements, so even the younger ones can enjoy them (see my guide to Disney World with toddlers).

Meanwhile, the hard-to-please teenagers will love riding the famous “mountains” of the Walt Disney World Resort.

To ease the stress of preparing your visit, you can just follow my pre-planned 1 day itinerary for the Magic Kingdom.

👉 Pro Tip: We use this travel stroller for visiting the theme parks with kids. It is lightweight and easy to maneuver through crowds at the parks or Disney Springs.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Step into the movies

With the recent additions of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, this park offers even more fun for families with kids. The themed restaurants, like the 50’s Prime Time Cafe and the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, keep the fun going even during meals.

Need someone else to plan the perfect day at Hollywood Studios for you? Just follow my 1 Day Hollywood Studios Itinerary Planner.

👉 Pro Tip: Hollywood Studios has a lot of concrete walkways and outdoor attractions, meaning things can get hot throughout the day. This adjustable fan can be attached to strollers or backpacks to keep everyone cool.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Where kids can go wild

View of two bongo eating in Kilimanjaro Safaris — *Bongo on Kilimanjaro Safaris*

I worked behind-the-scenes at Animal Kingdom for 7 years, so this is my favorite park to bring my son to. Kids will love seeing all the exotic animals. For thrill-seeking families, attractions like Expedition Everest and Dinosaur will get the blood pumping.

Get planning your visit with my 1 Day at Animal Kingdom planner!

📚 Related Reading: Use my guide, Best Time to Go to Disney World, to find out when the Orlando theme parks see the fewest crowds.

Universal Studios

Travel through TV and movies

Universal Studios is the original Universal theme park in Orlando. It has movie and TV-themed attractions and lands, including multiple thrill rides. While there are a couple of activities for younger children, Universal is better suited for older kids.

🎟 Need Tickets? Purchase your park tickets in advance to avoid the long lines at the entrance.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Soar on thrill rides

View of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — *Hogwarts Castle at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter*

Islands of Adventure is a great balance of activities suitable for young children and fast rides to keep the big kids (including the adults) happy. The whole family can see their favorite superheroes, step into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and meet a dinosaur.

👉 Pro Tip: Take advantage of the “child swap” program so adults with young kids can still enjoy all the attractions.

SeaWorld

Splash into the aquatic world

The author with her husband and son posing for a picture with the sculpture penguins

SeaWorld is definitely one of the classic Orlando attractions. Similar to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, SeaWorld is a theme park that offers a mix of excellent animal experiences and fast-paced attractions. There are plenty of affordable experiences if you want to meet your favorite animal up close and younger kids can play in Sesame Street Land.

👉 Want More Aquatic Experiences? Discovery Cove is SeaWorld’s sister park. It is an all-inclusive, limited attendance day resort where you can float down a lazy river, relax on a sandy beach, and snorkel through tropical reefs.

LEGOLAND

Transform into a toy

Most kids go through a LEGO phase, so this is the perfect park to blow their minds. Not only is the park filled with LEGO creations, but there are also tons of LEGO-themed rides and attractions for the entire family.

📚 Related Reading: LEGOLAND is located between Orlando and Tampa. Several of my favorite Things To Do Around Central Florida are located near the park.

Crayola Experience

Create colorful memories

Kids will enjoy exploring and creating in the colorful Crayola Experience. From learning how crayons are made to making their own works of art, there are countless opportunities for kids to get creative and express themselves.

📚 Related Reading: Check out the rest of my favorite Stuff to Do in Orlando.

Orlando Science Center

Learn through hands-on experiences

Parents love the Orlando Science Center because kids can run around and enjoy themselves, but they don’t even realize that they are learning at the same time. Thanks to interactive exhibits and entertaining activities that are all about making science fun, kids and parents can learn and play together.

👉 Pro Tip: OSC is a favorite rainy day activity for local families with kids. Plan out the Best Time to Visit Orlando to minimize crowds during your visit.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Observe exotic animals

View of father carrying his daughter while feeding a giraffe — *(photo: KLiK Photography / Shutterstock)*

The Central Florida Zoo offers everything kids love from a trip to the zoo: a petting zoo, wild animals, a splash pad, and up-close experiences. I recommend doing the giraffe feeding and rhinoceros encounter to make your visit a memorable one.

Kennedy Space Center

Blast off to space

Take your young space enthusiast on an adventure they’ll never forget! Tour the grounds of Kennedy Space Center, see a real space shuttle, and meet an astronaut. It is truly an out-of-this-world destination.

See my full guide to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex for more.

Considering a Tour?

Best Kennedy Space Center Tours

Sometimes you just want someone else to take care of the logistics for you. The easiest way to visit the Kennedy Space Center is to just pre-book one of these popular tours (they’ll pick you up & handle everything!)

Browse Top Tours on Viator

👉 Pro Tip: The Visitor’s Center is located one hour from Orlando, but it is one of the top day trips you can take in the Orlando area.

The Wheel at ICON Park

Take in aerial views

(photo: NavinTar / Shutterstock)

Head into the air 400 feet to get fantastic views of all the fun things in the area, including Disney Springs, SeaWorld Orlando, and the Epcot center ball. The Wheel at ICON Park even lets you play your music in your capsule to personalize the experience.

📚 Related Reading: International Drive is one of my recommended areas to stay during your vacation. Find out my other recommendations on The Best Areas To Stay in Orlando.

SEA LIFE Aquarium

Dive into exploration

Located next to The Wheel at ICON Park, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is one of the best family-friendly attractions in town. Instead of a boring hall of fish tanks, the aquariums are beautifully blended into colorful and educational decor that kids love. In addition to their diverse collection of fish, you can see sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays.

Water Parks

Get soaked on rides

View of people with their inflatable floater in Seaworlds Aquatica — *Seaworld’s Aquatica (photo: Mia2you / Shutterstock)*

If you visit Orlando with kids, I highly recommend bringing them to a water park, like Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Disney’s Blizzard Beach. There are several kids’ activities at each water park and relaxing experiences for parents as well.

Fun Spot

Speed away on go-karts

Fun Spot America is one of the few Central Florida attractions that offer free admission. This can help you save money on your trip to Orlando with kids because you only have to pay for the activities and rides that you want to enjoy. In addition to the free entry, children who are too short to ride certain attractions by themselves will receive a free chauffeur pass to bring the required adult along with them.

👉 On a Budget? Read my guide to Visiting Orlando on a Budget to see what other affordable attractions I recommend in addition to Fun Spot.

Medieval Times

Joust into fun

View of a horseman holding a spear for a Knights Tournament

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 935-6878 | Website | Entrance: $65 adults, $37 children | Recommended for Ages: 3-14

This unique dining experience will have you travel back to medieval times with your family. Eat with your hands while you watch a tournament, complete with knights on horses and a beautiful queen.

Orlando Watersports Complex

Speed through the water

View of a man having fun in wakeboarding in Orlando

Orlando is the wakeboarding capital of the world thanks to the many lakes in Central Florida. You can get in on the action with a visit to Orlando Watersports Complex (or OWC to kids in Orlando). Wakeboard lessons and the aquapark add a unique element to your family vacation.

Gatorland

Chomp down on the action

Step away from a theme park and step into an Old Florida roadside attraction. Gatorland has grown since it opened as a small park for visitors to hold alligators. You can see lots of native species and older kids can enjoy ziplining over the gator ponds. For a fun night, take the kids on the Gator Night Shine tour to see the reptiles after dark.

Dinosaur World

Step back in time

Dinosaur World is a simple but fun park filled with life-sized dinosaurs. Wander through boardwalks and lovely gardens. Let the kids get out their energy on the dino-themed playground.

👉 Pro Tip: If you want to check out some beautiful foliage without the prehistoric creatures, take a family trip to Bok Tower Gardens and Kraft Azalea Garden.

De Leon Springs State Park

Retro Florida fun

For a distinctive experience with your kids in Orlando, spend a day at De Leon Springs State Park. This is one of the many springs in Central Florida, but it is the only one with a pancake house located next to the water. Flip your own pancakes on the personal griddles before enjoying the cool water and warm sunshine.

👉 Prefer your water salty? Find some beautiful beaches on our list of the Best Beaches in Florida, some of which are only an hour away from Orlando.

WonderWorks

Discover wacky science experiments

Visiting WonderWorks Orlando with kids allows the entire family to explore the magical world of science through hands-on exhibits and play areas. Add some extra fun to your visit with laser tag or a glow-in-the-dark ropes course.

📚 Related Reading: Explore other epic activities throughout Florida.

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So grab the kids and make your way to Orlando. There’s no shortage of fun things to do and family memories to make.

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