Things To Do In Orlando With Kids
If there’s one city that was practically engineered for kids to have the time of their lives, it’s Orlando. Between castle-filled theme parks, splash-tastic water rides, and hands-on adventures, this place doesn’t just entertain kids. It blows their minds!
The real challenge? Figuring out where to start when every corner of the city screams, “Pick me! Pick me!”
Skip the boring tourist traps and get straight to the good stuff! These are the absolute best things to do in Orlando with kids. P.S. You’ll have as much fun as the kids!
1. Visit Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
If there’s one place in the world built for kids’ wildest imaginations, it’s Magic Kingdom. From the moment you step onto Main Street, U.S.A., everything feels like a storybook coming to life!
There’re Mickey-shaped balloons bobbing in the air, Cinderella’s Castle towering in the distance, and the faint sound of Disney tunes everywhere you turn. This is where fairy tales aren’t just told, they’re experienced.
For little ones, the classics never fail: Peter Pan’s Flight takes them soaring over London, It’s a Small World dazzles with colors and music, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant lets them control their own magical ride. The best part? Every night, the castle transforms into a glowing spectacle with Happily Ever After! A perfect end to a magical day, right?
2. Explore Universal’s Islands Of Adventure
You kids always wanted to be the part of their favorite movies? Islands of Adventure is the place to do it! This park takes imagination to a whole new level, with real-life dinosaurs, superheroes, and wizards waiting around every corner.
Little adventurers will go nuts over Seuss Landing! It’s a colorful world where The Cat in the Hat ride swirls them through Dr. Seuss’s wacky stories, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish turns a simple flying ride into a splashy surprise.
Older kids (and parents) won’t want to miss The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where they can pick a wand at Ollivanders, sip Butterbeer, and ride Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, one of the coolest coasters ever built. It’ll be the most exciting day of their, and your, lives!
3. Discover Marine Life At SeaWorld Orlando
At SeaWorld Orlando, kids don’t just see sea creatures, they get up close and personal with them! Whether it’s touching a stingray, standing face-to-face with a shark, or watching a killer whale soar through the air, this park makes marine life exciting for all ages.
Younger kids will love the interactive exhibits like Turtle Trek, where they follow a baby sea turtle’s journey through the ocean in a 360-degree theater. Meanwhile, Dolphin Cove lets them see playful dolphins up close. If you book a special experience, they can even feed them!
And don’t miss the all-new Sesame Street Land, packed with colorful rides, character meet-and-greets, and a parade that gets little ones dancing in the streets.
4. Enjoy The Magic At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
Yes, it’s great for kids, but let’s be real. You’ll love it too! For kids who dream of getting their Hogwarts letter, this place makes it feel real. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is packed with spell-casting, Butterbeer-sipping, and the most immersive rides in any theme park.
Start in Diagon Alley, where kids can pick their own wand at Ollivanders (watch out—it might choose them first!), shop for wizarding robes, and even send a letter with a real Hogwarts stamp. Then, board the Hogwarts Express for a magical train ride to Hogsmeade, where Hogwarts Castle towers over the landscape.
Inside, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a spellbinding adventure where kids fly alongside Harry through the castle’s most famous rooms. Believe me, just writing about this makes me want to grab my kids and go again!
5. Ride Thrilling Coasters At LEGOLAND Florida Resort
If your kids have ever built an entire world out of LEGO bricks, just imagine their faces when they walk into a real-life LEGO wonderland. LEGOLAND Florida Resort is made just for families, with rides, shows, and giant LEGO creations everywhere.
Little ones can take the wheel at Driving School, where they drive their own LEGO car, or go on a real-life safari. But instead of real animals, they’ll spot zebras, giraffes, and elephants made entirely out of LEGO bricks. Meanwhile, The Dragon is a family-friendly coaster that zips through a LEGO-built medieval castle.
You don’t want to miss Miniland USA. Here, the cities like New York, Las Vegas, and Washington D.C. have been recreated using millions of LEGO bricks. And when the Florida heat kicks in? LEGOLAND’s water park has lazy rivers, splash zones, and even a LEGO wave pool!
6. See Exotic Animals At Gatorland
For kids who love animals, Gatorland is a wild, one-of-a-kind adventure. It’s an up-close, action-packed experience where kids can see massive alligators leap out of the water, hold a baby gator, and even zip line right over a swamp full of them!
The Gator Jumparoo Show is a must-see, where massive gators launch themselves out of the water to grab food. Meanwhile, the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure takes families on a bumpy, swampy ride through gator territory.
And for little animal lovers, the petting zoo offers a chance to meet less toothy creatures, like goats and tortoises. A quick, useful tip: Bring a change of clothes! Between the splash zones and swamp adventures, kids will leave with great memories… and maybe a little mud.
7. Experience Interactive Fun At WonderWorks Orlando
Imagine walking into a building that’s completely upside-down! That’s the first clue that WonderWorks is not your typical museum. This hands-on “edu-tainment” center is packed with over 100 interactive exhibits, designed to make science, art, and physics fun for kids.
The Bubble Lab lets kids step inside a giant soap bubble, while the Hurricane Shack blasts 74 mph winds for a taste of storm-chasing. There’s even an anti-gravity chamber where water flows up instead of down.
And for kids who love a challenge? The Glow-in-the-Dark Ropes Course hovers 35 feet in the air, letting little adventurers test their balance while glowing under black lights.
8. Splash Around At Volcano Bay Water Park
Your kids just adore water parks? Take them to Volcano Bay! It’s the ultimate splash zone. Instead of endless lines and overcrowded pools, this tropical paradise has a virtual queue system, meaning you tap your TapuTapu wristband, explore the park, and come back when it’s your turn!
For your tiny swimmers, Tot Tiki Reef and Runamukka Reef offer mini slides, bubbling geysers, and splash pads. Meanwhile, daredevil kids (or parents) can take on Ko’okiri Body Plunge, a 125-foot drop through a clear tube that shoots straight through the heart of a volcano.
If that sounds a little too intense, Krakatau Aqua Coaster is a perfect family ride. Think a water slide mixed with a roller coaster. It’s a water adventure your kids will be talking about for days!
9. Explore Space At Kennedy Space Center (Nearby Day Trip)
Who hasn’t dreamed of being an astronaut when they were little? I know I have, and I’m sure your kids do too. Kennedy Space Center is the closest they’ll get to the real thing, without leaving Earth.
If you think this is only a museum, you’re wrong! It’s a working space facility, where real rockets are built, launched, and sent into the cosmos.
Start with the Rocket Garden, and your kids can see full-size NASA rockets up close. Then step inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which still has burn marks from its last mission.
They can even touch an actual moon rock—something most people never get to do in a lifetime!
10. Ride The Massive ICON Park Ferris Wheel
Sometimes, the best way to see Orlando is from 400 feet in the air. At ICON Park, kids can take a ride on The Wheel, a giant observation wheel that offers breathtaking views of the entire city, theme parks included.
The enclosed glass capsules are air-conditioned and big enough for the whole family. Little ones will love pointing out Disney’s fireworks, Universal’s roller coasters, and even rocket launches in the distance.
For an extra magical experience, ride at sunset when the sky turns pink and gold—or at night, when the city lights up like a theme park itself.