Things to do in Orlando with kids, theme parks included

The big theme parks: what each is best for

Orlando’s theme parks belong to three resorts plus LEGOLAND: Walt Disney World (four parks), Universal Orlando (three theme parks and Volcano Bay) and SeaWorld Orlando Resort (SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove). The mix you pick depends mostly on your kids’ ages and heights; our Orlando theme parks compared guide sets all ten parks side by side.

Walt Disney World: best for ages 3 to 10 and first-timers

Walt Disney World is still the default Orlando family trip, and 2026 brought more new things for kids than any year since Galaxy’s Edge opened. Disney raised ticket prices on October 6, 2026. One-day, one-park tickets are date-based and cost well over $100 per person on most dates, with Magic Kingdom on holiday dates the most expensive day and Animal Kingdom usually the cheapest. Kids 3 to 9 pay a little less, and under-3s are free. Multi-day tickets cost much less per day, so check Disney’s ticket calendar for your dates before you decide how many park days to buy.

What each park does best:

• Magic Kingdom: the castle, princesses, Peter Pan’s Flight and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The best park for ages 3 to 8, and the most expensive park day.
• EPCOT: Frozen Ever After (with new Audio-Animatronic Elsa, Anna and Kristoff since early 2026), Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for bigger kids, and the festivals. Best for ages 6 and up and for parents who like to eat.
• Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land and Slinky Dog Dash. Best for ages 5 to 14 and Star Wars families.
• Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Avatar Flight of Passage and now Bluey. Usually the cheapest Disney day, and often a shorter one because it closes earlier.

New at Disney World in 2026 (confirmed open):

• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reopened April 8, 2026 with handheld blasters and new ride vehicles.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened May 3, 2026 with new track, glowing “Rainbow Caverns” and a lower 38-inch height requirement, so more younger siblings can ride.
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run added a Mandalorian and Grogu mission on May 22, 2026.
• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets replaced the Aerosmith version on May 26, 2026. It is still an intense launched coaster, not one for nervous little ones.
• Soarin’ Across America (EPCOT) opened May 26, 2026 for America’s 250th, a limited-time film over U.S. landscapes.
• Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! opened at Hollywood Studios on May 26, 2026, and suits preschoolers.
• Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom’s Conservation Station has dance parties and play with Bluey and Bingo, plus a small Australian animal area.
• The Magic of Disney Animation returned to Hollywood Studios on September 14, 2026 after an 11-year absence. It is indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a good midday heat break.
• Hurly-Burly opened on Disney’s BoardWalk on October 1, 2026 with family games by day, and LEVEL99, interactive challenge rooms that tweens enjoy, opened at Disney Springs on June 29, 2026.

DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom closed for good on February 2, 2026, including the Dinosaur ride, to make room for Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions that have not opened yet.

Height minimums for the big rides (check the Disney app before you go): Big Thunder 38", Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 38", Slinky Dog Dash 38", Rise of the Resistance 40", Cosmic Rewind 42", TRON Lightcycle / Run 48", Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster 48".

If your kids are under 10 and you can afford one big resort, choose Disney. If they are 11 or older and have already done Disney, Universal is usually the bigger hit.

Universal Orlando and Epic Universe: best for ages 7 and up and Harry Potter fans

Universal Orlando is now a three-theme-park resort, and it suits thrill-seeking kids, tweens and teens better than Disney. One-day tickets are date-based and cost over $100 per person, with Epic Universe priced above Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Universal has also run a “3-day ticket + 2 days free” offer, so check current deals before you buy anything shorter.

Universal Epic Universe opened on May 22, 2025 with five worlds: Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Isle of Berk is the best land for younger kids, with gentle rides, Viking shows and a big play area. Nintendo is a must for ages 6 to 12, and Dark Universe is spookier and better for older kids. Height minimums include Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge at 40" and Stardust Racers at 48"; check the Universal app.

Universal Studios Florida has Diagon Alley, Gringotts, Despicable Me and kids’ areas such as DreamWorks Land. Islands of Adventure has Hogsmeade, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (48"), VelociCoaster for teens, Marvel, and Seuss Landing for little ones. You need a park-to-park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two.

Closures that may affect trips in late 2026 and early 2027:

• Jurassic Park River Adventure has been closed since January 5, 2026. Chip and Co reported on October 19, 2026 that Universal’s ride page lists a December 17, 2026 reopening, pushed back from November 20. Check the Universal app.
• Hogwarts Express has a scheduled closure on November 4, 2026.
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is scheduled to close February 8–19, 2027.
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges closes January 4 to February 2, 2027.
• Fast & Furious: Supercharged has closed for good; Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a full roller coaster, is scheduled for 2027.

Universal Kids Resort is in Texas, not Orlando. It opened on July 1, 2026 in Frisco, near Dallas, with seven kid-sized lands (Shrek, SpongeBob, Jurassic World, Minions, Trolls, Puss in Boots and Gabby’s Dollhouse) and a 300-room hotel, aimed at roughly ages 3 to 9. Early reviews were harsh: the Dallas Observer called it “a $550M concrete carnival,” citing visitor complaints of “poor theming” and “no dark rides, no parade, no nighttime spectacular.” If you are flying to Orlando, the preschooler-friendly options here are LEGOLAND and Peppa Pig, Magic Kingdom and Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk.

Universal Volcano Bay: closed until spring 2027

Volcano Bay is Universal’s volcano-themed water park. Universal’s Volcano Bay page lists a maintenance closure from October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening “on or before April 1, 2027,” a later date than the March 24, 2027 it posted earlier. Universal notes the dates may change. If your trip falls in that window, plan on a Disney water park or Aquatica instead. Volcano Bay has also dropped its TapuTapu virtual queue, so you now wait in physical lines.

SeaWorld Orlando: best for animal lovers and mixed ages

SeaWorld Orlando works for families with a wide age spread: animal shows and habitats for little ones, and some of Orlando’s biggest coasters (Mako, Pipeline and Ice Breaker) for teens. One-day tickets bought online typically run around $70 to $99, and gate prices are much higher, so buy ahead. Sesame Street Land is the toddler area.

SeaWorld’s daytime Halloween Spooktacular runs on select dates from August 29 to November 1, 2026, included with admission. It has trick-or-treat stations (a reusable bag purchase is required), costumes and, for the first time, Hotel Transylvania characters, plus a separately ticketed Hotel Transylvania Monster Breakfast. The nighttime Howl-O-Scream is not for young kids.

Aquatica Orlando: SeaWorld’s water park

Aquatica sits next to SeaWorld and is the easiest water park swap while Volcano Bay is closed, with one-day tickets from $51.99 online on aquatica.com. Pair it with SeaWorld on consecutive days.

Discovery Cove: the splurge day for ages 6 and up

Discovery Cove is SeaWorld’s all-inclusive, limited-capacity day resort, with snorkeling, a lazy river and optional dolphin swims. As of October 2026, discoverycove.com lists packages from $195 without a dolphin swim and from $225 with one, and prices vary by date. They include food, drinks, gear and 14 consecutive days of admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica, so the price makes sense if you would visit those anyway.

LEGOLAND Florida and Peppa Pig Theme Park: best for ages 2 to 10

LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven is about 45 minutes from the Orlando theme parks, and it is the lowest-stress theme park day in Central Florida for young kids. It includes LEGOLAND, a water park, SEA LIFE Florida (opened June 2025) and Peppa Pig Theme Park next door, which has its own gate. LEGOLAND’s indoor, space-themed Galacticoaster opened on February 27, 2026. The LEGOLAND Florida Resort + SEA LIFE Florida ticket starts at $74 on GetYourGuide, with a 4.3/5 rating from 92 reviews.

Peppa Pig Theme Park is the only one in Florida and is built for ages 2 to 5. Online tickets start at $32 on the official site, against $64 to $69 at the gate, and the 1-Day with Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida ticket starts at $34 (4.2/5 from 28 reviews, a small sample). Most families spend three to five hours at Peppa, so combine it with LEGOLAND’s DUPLO Valley on the same day. Our Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida guide covers rides, heights and the splash pad, and LEGOLAND Florida with kids covers the bigger park, and our LEGOLAND Florida guide has the ticket prices, Fastrack tiers and every ride by land.

If your youngest is 10 or older, LEGOLAND usually feels too young. Spend that day at Kennedy Space Center or Universal instead.

Beyond the theme parks: Orlando attractions families love

The best days away from the theme parks are Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, ICON Park, the springs and manatees, and a handful of indoor attractions on International Drive. Many cost about $35 or less per person and take half a day. Our Orlando with kids besides Disney page sorts them by age, season and drive time.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center is the best non-park day trip from Orlando for kids 6 and up, with real rockets, the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a Saturn V and a bus tour past the launch pads. Gate prices are $77 for adults (12 and up) and $67 for kids 3 to 11, and a 2-day ticket is $91 per adult; seeing everything does take two days. Our Kennedy Space Center ticket guide lists every ticket type and add-on. The “Adults at Kids Rate” deal ($67 per adult) could only be bought through October 4, 2026, according to OrlandoAttractions.com, and those tickets stay valid for visits through December 18, 2026, so watch for the next offer. The complex is about 50 miles east of Orlando, so plan on about an hour each way from International Drive. Standard tickets are generally not valid for launch-viewing packages.

Kids remember standing under the Saturn V moon rocket, the Shuttle Launch Experience simulator and the add-on Chat with an Astronaut, sold with admission as the Chat with an Astronaut ticket from $137 (4.5/5 from 42 reviews).

For the self-drive day, the Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral Admission ticket is on Viator, and on GetYourGuide the Kennedy Space Center Trip with Transport from Orlando, from $89 with a 4.8/5 rating from 899 reviews, adds the coach ride. Our Kennedy Space Center with kids page covers ages, heights and how to pace the day.

Gatorland

Gatorland is Orlando’s best-value classic attraction: 110 acres of alligators and crocodiles, the Gator Jumparoo show, rare white leucistic gators, a petting zoo and a small train. Official gate prices are $34.99 for adults (13 and up) and $24.99 for kids 3 to 12, with $3 off one-day tickets bought online. The Greater Gator Package (admission plus Meet-A-Gator, unlimited train rides and gator chow) is $41.99 / $33.99, and the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line with admission starts at $79.99. Gatorland is on South Orange Blossom Trail, 15 to 20 minutes from the Disney area. Plan three to five hours. Florida residents should check for half-price resident offers, which ran through summer 2026.

The Gatorland Skip-the-Line Ticket starts at $37, and the Gatorland Zipline Adventure with full-day park access starts at $75 (4.8/5 from 98 reviews). More in our Gatorland with kids guide and our Gatorland tickets, shows and airboat combo guide.

Wild Florida: airboats, a gator park and a drive-through safari

Wild Florida in Kenansville, about 34 miles from Disney, combines airboat rides on the headwaters of the Everglades with a drive-through safari of zebras, giraffes and more. The Drive-Thru Safari costs $35 for adults and $25 for kids 3 to 12 (Florida residents $25 / $20), and every safari or airboat ticket includes the Alligator Park. The Half-Day Adventure Package, a 1-hour airboat ride plus the Alligator Park, is $96 / $82. Airboats stop in bad weather, while the safari usually stays open.

The Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife Park Ticket at Wild Florida starts at $36. Our Wild Florida with kids page covers the safari and animal-encounter age limits.

Airboat tours

An airboat ride is the most “only in Florida” 30 to 60 minutes you can give your kids, with gators, birds and cypress swamps. Boggy Creek in Kissimmee, Wild Florida and several Lake Tohopekaliga operators run them; expect roughly $35 to $60 per adult for 30 to 60 minutes. Ear protection matters for little ones; most operators provide it. Book morning slots in summer.

The Kissimmee Everglades Airboat Adventure Tour starts at $53, with a 4.7/5 rating from 387 reviews. Our airboat tours with kids page compares ride lengths, noise and pickup options.

ICON Park: The Orlando Eye, SEA LIFE and Madame Tussauds

ICON Park is the walkable entertainment hub in the middle of International Drive, with the 400-foot observation wheel (now branded The Orlando Eye), SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium with Florida’s only 360° ocean tunnel, and Madame Tussauds. Official online prices start at $29 per adult for SEA LIFE, which currently comes with a free ride on The Orlando Eye, and at $39 per adult for SEA LIFE plus Madame Tussauds, with the Eye still included. Plan two and a half to three hours. New in 2026: a Blue Man Group theater (opened May 1, 2026), Ripley’s Crazy Golf and a multi-level flagship Build-A-Bear Workshop. Our SEA LIFE Orlando tickets and family guide covers every ticket type and the add-on tours.

SEA LIFE on its own is the best choice for under-5s, and the two-attraction ticket with Madame Tussauds suits ages 5 and up. Ride the wheel at sunset.

On GetYourGuide, the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium ticket starts at $31 (4.4/5 from 495 reviews), the Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE combo at $42, and The Orlando Eye with optional attractions at $31 (4.4/5 from 344 reviews). Our indoor family activities page compares them with the other indoor options.

More International Drive attractions

International Drive packs Orlando’s densest cluster of indoor and evening attractions into a few miles served by the I-Ride Trolley.

• WonderWorks, the upside-down building, has hands-on science exhibits, a ropes course and laser tag. The WonderWorks All-Access Entry Ticket starts at $40 (4.4/5 from 444 reviews). Ages 5 to 14; two to four hours.
• Fun Spot America has free entry and free parking; the unlimited-ride Fun Pass has been reported at $59.95, with go-karts, coasters and a gator zone. Ages 6 and up; evenings are best.
• iFLY Orlando offers indoor skydiving from age 3. The iFLY Orlando First Time Flyer Experience starts at $105, rated 4.8/5 from only 18 reviews. A real thrill for ages 6 and up.
• The Museum of Illusions (from $30, 4.5/5 from 232 reviews), Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Andretti Indoor Karting and Topgolf are all good rainy-day or teen options; check current prices on the operators’ sites.
• Dezerland Park Orlando is a large indoor entertainment center with go-karts, bowling and the Orlando Auto Museum; the Orlando Auto Museum ticket is from $30 (4.7/5 from 200 reviews). Capone’s Dinner & Show moved here in October 2025 and now runs as Capone’s Underground, with a larger stage.
• New on International Drive in 2026: Society Park, a 2.4-acre padel, pickleball and entertainment complex that opened in spring and suits teens. Museum of Ice Cream is coming to Pointe Orlando but has no opening date yet, and Sloth World, announced for I-Drive, was shut down before it opened.

Crayola Experience Orlando

Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall is the best rainy-day pick for ages 2 to 8, with more than 20 hands-on stations (name your own crayon, melt-and-mold, drip art). Admission starts at $30.99 online for ages 3 and up, with $3 off when you book a future date, children 2 and under are free, and an annual pass is $49.99. “Colorful Christmas” runs November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Plan two to four hours.

Orlando Science Center

Orlando Science Center in Loch Haven Park, about 20 to 25 minutes from International Drive, has four floors of hands-on science, a dinosaur hall and the KidsTown area for under-8s. Tickets are $29 for adults and $22 for youth (2 to 12) online, or $32 / $25 at the door, and families with EBT or WIC cards pay $5 per person for up to six people. It is closed on Wednesdays except during Orange County school breaks. Plan three to four hours; it is an easy rainy afternoon.

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, about 35 to 45 minutes north of International Drive, is a manageable, shady half-day zoo that suits toddlers better than a huge park. Adult tickets are $21.95 online on non-peak days ($23.95 on peak days and weekends), kids 3 to 12 start at $16.95 and under-3s are free. SNAP EBT holders pay $4 per person. The Central Florida Zoo Skip-the-Line Ticket starts at $22 on GetYourGuide (4.0/5 from 128 reviews).

Manatees: Blue Spring State Park and Crystal River

From mid-November to March, seeing wild manatees is the most memorable low-cost outing near Orlando. Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, about 45 to 60 minutes north, is a designated manatee refuge where the spring stays at 72°F. You watch the manatees from a boardwalk along the spring run, and cold snaps bring them in by the hundreds. Save the Manatee Club reported that a February 2026 cold front, with lows of 23°F, brought “a record count of 859 manatees in a single day,” although CBS and NPR reported a count of 932 on January 21, 2024, so sources disagree on the record. Entry is $6 per vehicle, but day-use reservations have been required since July 15, 2026, and all water activities in the spring run close from November 15 to March 15, or later if manatees are present. In winter, book ahead and arrive early. The Blue Spring State Park St. Johns River Cruise starts at $27 (4.4/5 from 50 reviews).

Crystal River and Kings Bay, about one and a half to two hours west, are where you can legally swim near manatees with permitted guides, a bucket-list morning for kids 6 and up who can snorkel. Go with a guided tour such as the Crystal River Manatee Swim Group Tour, from $69 with a 4.7/5 rating from 616 reviews. Our manatee tours from Orlando page compares Crystal River, Blue Spring and Silver Springs for swimmers and non-swimmers.

Springs: Wekiwa Springs and Kelly Park (Rock Springs)

Central Florida’s springs stay at 72°F year-round and make the best low-cost summer day near Orlando, but both popular ones now need planning ahead.

• Kelly Park / Rock Springs (Apopka) is known for slow tubing down a clear spring run. Since August 11, 2026 entry is $5 per vehicle, sold online only (no cash) through Orange County’s portal, with a cap of 280 tickets a day. Bring your own tube; no pets or alcohol.
• Wekiwa Springs State Park (Apopka) has a swimming area, paddling and trails. Entry is $6 per vehicle, and day-use reservations are required, bookable up to 60 days ahead.

Lake Eola Park and the swan boats

Lake Eola in downtown Orlando is a free park with a playground and a 0.9-mile loop, and the swan-shaped paddle boats make a cheap, sweet hour for little kids. A swan boat costs $15 for 30 minutes for up to five people, first come, first served, card only. Combine it with the Sunday farmers market.

Harry P. Leu Gardens

Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical garden near downtown, good for a calm morning with small kids or grandparents. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for ages 4 to 17, free under 4, with free parking, and it is free for everyone on the first Monday of each month (November 2 and December 7, 2026).

Disney Springs

Disney Springs is free to enter and free to park, and it makes a good no-ticket Disney evening: LEGO Store builds, the World of Disney store, live music, restaurants, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life, and the LEVEL99 challenge rooms for tweens.

Dinner shows

Orlando’s dinner shows suit a second night or a rainy evening, and the two classics are Pirates Dinner Adventure and Medieval Times. Pirates Dinner Adventure, near International Drive, is $69.95 for adults and $43.95 for kids in 2026 at the box office, with a three-course meal and a full-size galleon in an indoor lagoon; it suits ages 4 to 10. The Pirates Dinner Adventure Show Deluxe Package starts at $67 on GetYourGuide (4.5/5 from 42 reviews). Medieval Times in Kissimmee has a jousting tournament and free parking, and suits ages 8 and up and mixed-age groups; the Medieval Times Dinner and Show Ticket starts at $84 (4.5/5 from 213 reviews). Capone’s reopened at Dezerland Park with a gangster-comedy theme that works for older kids.

What’s new or changed in 2025 and 2026 (outside the parks)

• New: Blue Man Group at ICON Park (May 1, 2026), Society Park, the Build-A-Bear flagship at ICON Park, and Capone’s Underground at Dezerland (since October 2025). Announced but not open, with no date: Museum of Ice Cream at Pointe Orlando and Round1 bowling and arcade at The Florida Mall.
• Changed: Blue Spring and Wekiwa Springs now require reservations, and Kelly Park moved to online-only tickets with a daily cap.

Best things to do in Orlando by age

Toddlers and preschoolers (0 to 4)

The best Orlando attractions for toddlers are Peppa Pig Theme Park, LEGOLAND’s DUPLO Valley, Magic Kingdom, Crayola Experience and SeaWorld’s Sesame Street Land. Under-3s are free at Disney, Universal and Kennedy Space Center (under-2s at Peppa Pig), which makes this the cheapest age to visit. Add Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and Bluey’s Wild World at Disney, SEA LIFE, the Lake Eola swan boats, Central Florida Zoo and Gatorland’s petting zoo. Skip Epic Universe and Islands of Adventure as main days; too many rides have height limits.

Ages 5 to 9

This is the easiest age for Orlando: tall enough for most family coasters and still young enough for character meetings. Plan on Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios (Toy Story Land and Slinky Dog Dash at 38"), Big Thunder Mountain now that it takes riders from 38", Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk and Super Nintendo World, Kennedy Space Center (from about 6), Gatorland, WonderWorks and Pirates Dinner Adventure.

Tweens and teens (10 to 17)

Tweens and teens get the most from Universal (Epic Universe, VelociCoaster, Hagrid’s), plus SeaWorld’s coasters, iFLY, Fun Spot, Society Park and Kennedy Space Center. Our Orlando activities by age guide has more picks for this age.

Orlando on a budget: free and cheap things to do

The best free things to do in Orlando with kids are Lake Eola Park, Disney Springs, Leu Gardens on the first Monday of the month, Fun Spot (free entry) and riding Disney’s monorail and boats between resorts. The best cheap days, at $5 to $35, are Blue Spring, Kelly Park and Wekiwa Springs ($5 to $6 per car), Gatorland, Crayola Experience and Central Florida Zoo.

Money-saving tips that work:

1. Buy multi-day theme park tickets. Disney’s per-day price drops sharply once you buy several days.
2. Never buy at the gate at SeaWorld, Gatorland, Crayola, Peppa Pig or ICON Park; online is cheaper.
3. Use combos. The ICON Park two-attraction ticket ($39 per adult online, with The Orlando Eye included on the current deal) and Discovery Cove’s bundled SeaWorld and Aquatica admission save real money.
4. Visit in late August or September for the cheapest Disney dates, if you can accept the heat and the storm risk.
5. Florida residents should always check resident pricing: Disney, Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland and Wild Florida all run resident deals.

Rainy-day and hot-day plans

On rainy or very hot days, head indoors: Orlando Science Center, Crayola Experience, WonderWorks, SEA LIFE and Madame Tussauds, iFLY, Dezerland, and Disney’s The Magic of Disney Animation. Afternoon thunderstorms are close to daily from roughly June to September, and outdoor rides close for lightning, so plan indoor attractions for about 2 to 5 p.m. and do outdoor parks early. Our indoor family activities page has the full list.

When to visit Orlando with kids

For lower crowds and pleasant weather, aim for late January to February (outside Presidents’ Day), late April to May before Memorial Day, and early November or early December weekdays. September has the cheapest Disney dates but is the hottest month, at the peak of hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).

Seasonal events, late 2026:

• Halloween: SeaWorld Spooktacular runs through November 1, 2026, and Crayola’s Halloween event runs September 19 to November 1.
• Disney holidays: the holiday season runs November 13, 2026 to January 6, 2027. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs on select nights from November 8 to December 22, 2026 at Magic Kingdom (7 p.m. to midnight, separately ticketed). Disney Jollywood Nights runs at Hollywood Studios on select nights from November 7, 2026 to January 5, 2027, the first time it continues into January.
• Manatee season: mid-November through March at Blue Spring and Crystal River.
• Volcano Bay: closed from October 26, 2026 until on or before April 1, 2027.

Sample Orlando itineraries for families

These plans alternate big park days with easier days, the most reliable way to avoid a mid-trip meltdown.

3-day Orlando itinerary

• Day 1: Magic Kingdom (arrive at opening, take a midday hotel break, come back for the fireworks).
• Day 2: Kennedy Space Center (ages 6 and up) or LEGOLAND and Peppa Pig (under 6).
• Day 3: Gatorland in the morning, then ICON Park and dinner on International Drive.

5-day Orlando itinerary

• Day 1: Magic Kingdom.
• Day 2: Gatorland in the morning, the pool in the afternoon and Disney Springs in the evening.
• Day 3: Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.
• Day 4: Kennedy Space Center.
• Day 5: Epic Universe (ages 7 and up) or SeaWorld (mixed ages).

7-day Orlando itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive; Lake Eola swan boats or Disney Springs.
• Day 2: Magic Kingdom.
• Day 3: Animal Kingdom (Bluey) and the resort pool.
• Day 4: Kennedy Space Center.
• Day 5: Epic Universe.
• Day 6: Blue Spring manatees (winter) or Kelly Park tubing (summer), then Pirates Dinner Adventure.
• Day 7: Universal Studios Florida or SeaWorld and Aquatica, then fly home.

For more ideas, our family day trips from Orlando page compares the longer outings, from St. Augustine to Clearwater Beach.

Practical logistics

Where to stay with kids

With young kids, the Disney area around Lake Buena Vista is the easiest base. With older kids focused on Universal, stay in the Universal and International Drive area. Large groups often do best in Kissimmee vacation homes with private pools. Our best family hotels in Orlando guide compares water park resorts, Disney and Universal hotels, and the fees each one adds.

Getting around

Most families need a car for non-park days. From Orlando International Airport (MCO), Mears Connect (the former Sunshine Flyer, merged in 2023) runs 24/7 to Disney-area hotels from about $16 per adult and $13 per child each way before fees, or about $17.60 / $14.30 with the airport fee. Brightline trains connect MCO to Miami roughly hourly; an MCO to Tampa extension is still only in planning. On International Drive, the I-Ride Trolley runs 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily for $2 a ride ($1 for kids 3 to 9) or $8 for a one-day unlimited pass.

Heat and storm safety

Heat ruins more Orlando days than anything else. Carry water, use shade, take a midday break, and leave the pool or open ground as soon as you hear thunder, because lightning strikes well ahead of the rain.

Accessibility

Disney and Universal both offer disability access services; check their official sites before your trip.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best thing to do in Orlando with kids?

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, especially with kids under 10. For teens, Universal’s Epic Universe is now the strongest alternative, and Kennedy Space Center is the top non-park day.

How many days do you need in Orlando?

Five days is the minimum for a satisfying family trip (three park days and two non-park days). Seven days lets you combine Disney, Universal and a Kennedy Space Center or manatee day without rushing.

What is there to do in Orlando besides Disney?

Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, ICON Park, Wild Florida airboats, the springs and manatees, Crayola Experience and dinner shows.

What are the best things to do in Orlando for free?

Lake Eola Park, Disney Springs, Leu Gardens on the first Monday of each month, Fun Spot (free entry) and riding Disney’s monorail and boats.

What are the best Orlando attractions for toddlers?

Peppa Pig Theme Park, LEGOLAND’s DUPLO Valley, Magic Kingdom, Crayola Experience, SEA LIFE Orlando and Central Florida Zoo.

What are the best things to do in Orlando with teens?

Epic Universe, Islands of Adventure (VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s), SeaWorld’s coasters, iFLY, Fun Spot, Society Park and Kennedy Space Center.

Is Orlando expensive for families?

Theme park days are. A family of four can spend well over $400 on tickets for a single Disney park day, but non-park days at $5 to $35 per person keep a week affordable.

What’s the best area to stay in Orlando with kids?

The Disney area around Lake Buena Vista for young kids and Disney-focused trips; Universal and International Drive for Universal-heavy trips and walkability.

Is Universal Kids Resort in Orlando?

No. Universal Kids Resort opened on July 1, 2026 in Frisco, Texas.

Is Volcano Bay open?

Not until spring 2027. Universal lists a maintenance closure from October 26, 2026, with reopening planned on or before April 1, 2027.