A Kids Guide to Orlando

Amazing adventure rides, a thriving art and culture scene, the lush green wilderness and of course, home to a host of entertainment opportunities, Orlando is the hottest summer destination of all time! Your kids are sure to enjoy meeting their favourite cartoon characters and as for you, you cannot be too old for Mickey Mouse, can you?

One of the most sought after travel destinations of the world, when it comes to family holidays Orlando is the perfect place to be. Sit back and enjoy the joyride. Here is a selection of things to do:

Our Favourite Theme Parks for the Family

Popularly known as the “Amusement Capital of the World”, Orlando has a plethora of theme parks, each one better and more captivating than the others. Choosing amongst them is going to be a tough task, so make sure you do your homework in advance, before booking your flights to Orlando. Also, we’d warn you: it is estimated to take 67 eight-hour days to tour them all!

We recommend you start your tour with Walt Disney’s massive theme park complex, which houses the Magic Kingdom, easily the most visited theme park in the world; Animal Kingdom, with a zoo-meets-Disney ambience; Epcot, a classy cultural meeting pot of the world’s civilisations and Hollywood Studios, a theme park that celebrates Hollywood.

Next up is Universal Orlando, home to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World, Universal Studios and the Island of Treasure, offering you adrenaline pumping coaster rides and excitement. At this point, we’re sure you won’t be able to tell which one’s better: seriously, they are all that good!

Your other choices are Seaworld Orlando, where you can cuddle with sea animals like dolphins and manta rays; Aquatica and Typhoon Lagoon for slides you can enjoy with your kids, Legoland, located just an hour away from Orlando, for kids learning to play with bricks and Wet n Wild for crazy adventurous roller coasters for adults. If skydiving is one of your passions, do not miss this fabulous indoor experience at SkyVenture Orlando! Have fun exploring them all!

Let’s Talk Science and Nature For Kids

If you’re thinking Orlando is just about fun and frolic, you’re wrong! There’s definitely more to this fantastic city than its theme parks. Check out the following science-y attractions your kids could be interested in:

To begin with, the Kennedy Space Center is a symbol of America’s space exploration programme and national pride. Your children would be thrilled to get a sneak peek into rockets, launch pads and perhaps, you could sign up to meet and have lunch with an astronaut! Wow! Orlando Space Center is another destination you should consider visiting.

Would your kids be interested in archery? If yes, book a training session at the Fort Wilderness Archery Experience at Disneyland. Another attraction in Orlando is Gatorland, home to more than 3,000 alligators and approximately 50 crocodiles in their natural habitat. The Eco Safaris at Forever Florida is another activity your kids would love. You could also visit the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum too.

Outdoor Attractions for Side Trip Ideas

There are myriad of opportunities for side-trips from Orlando. If you’re an outdoorsy family, we recommend visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park for swimming and canoe rides. The Ocala National Forest is a fun place to ride horses, camp and hike.

If adventure sports are your thing, Orlando offers you a wide variety of activities to pursue: from airboating at the Everglades National Park to hang gliding in Davenport, to rodeo riding in Kissimmee and hayrides at Fort Wilderness. Florida Springs is a charming place where you can snorkel, scuba dive and swim to your heart’s content.

For those who are interested in beaches, Sarasota is your nearest destination. Spend a whole day frolicking at the Lido Beach, Siesta Beach and the Turtle Beach, a nesting ground for turtles from May to October every year!

The Everglades: A Must Visit Outside Orlando

Spread across hundreds of acres, the “river of grass” in Florida, as it is called, Everglades is replete with flora, fauna, and yes, the gators! The best experiences include hiking along the Big Cypress National Preserve, where you can watch birds, flowers, mangroves and aquatic life, boating along the river, where you can watch bald eagles, flamingos and baby alligators, and snorkelling at Biscayne National Park, where you can watch beautiful fish and the corals under the sea!

The Best Hotels and Resorts in Orlando For Your Family

There are two choices you have when it comes to family resorts Orlando has to offer: stay in the Park or stay away from the Park. Let’s explore both:

Staying at the Park:

For families who want to have the ultimate Disney experience, staying in the Park is a great option, albeit highly expensive. Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort have become landmarks in their own right. Also consider Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Four Seasons Orlando Resort and the Cabana Bay Beach Resort for accommodation in style.

Staying away from the Park:

There is a huge assortment of resorts available outside the Disneyworld complex: the Nickelodeon Suites, Grande Lakes JW Marriott, and the Crowne Plaza Orlando Resort to name a few! Staying outside the Park is great for families looking for more than just the Disney experience at Orlando.

Experience Theme-based Fine Dining Amenities at Orlando

Although there are more than 5,000 restaurants in Orlando serving delicious cuisine and offering you a wonderful ambience, we’re only highlighting the ones your kids are going to love! The character themed buffets at the Disney resorts are worldwide favourites: Chef Mickey’s Breakfast and Cinderella’s Royal Table are popular ones. The Whispering Canyon Café, the Rainforest Café and the T-Rex Café are other places your kids would adore!

There are many more overlooked experiences in Orlando like museums, romantic getaways, and shopping malls: this makes Orlando a fantastic place to vacation. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and book your family flights to Florida soon.

We’re waiting for you to experience the magic and share your experiences with us!