Visiting Orlando with the family will no doubt mean a trip to Disneyland. But did you know that there are many more family friendly attractions that you can visit during your stay? I’ve asked some UK bloggers for their top recommendations of places to visit if you are staying in a villa near Disneyland and here they are;
“We loved Disney Springs for a nice relaxing meal. There are so many restaurants to choose from and unlike the rest of Disney, parking is free. There are also great shops too.”
“A visit to Boggy Creek Air Boat Rides a la CSI Miami style is great for all ages. We went with our two and 5 year old who loved seeing the wild gators and feeding baby ones too. You can also enjoy prospecting for semi precious stones whilst you wait for your ride or grab a bite to eat at the onsite restaurant.”
Flying With A Baby
Adventures of a Mum says not to miss Pandora, Animal Kingdom.
“Best known for the most incredible ride experience of the past few years, Flight Of Passage, Pandora also has a lot to offer small children. As a family we wandered, wide mouthed, in awe at all of the incredible theming throughout the Animal Kingdom park. Greeted by cast members so deep in character you’d be forgiven for wondering if they actually do come from another planet. Enjoy the marvel of the florae of Pandora, touching interactive parts of the plant life and discover the secret ways to get them to light up, these will be memories that last a lifetime.”
There isn’t a better place to see alligators and crocodiles of all sizes, from babies, also known as grunts, to 14-foot monsters. But that’s not all, there is also an aviary, breeding marsh with observation tower, petting zoo, nature walk. Then for the more adventurous try the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line and new Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure.
Want to cool off from the heat? Then head to Volcano Bay with a spectacular volcano towering over a sun swept beach. Swaying palm trees line your path through a picturesque island escape. It’s a South Seas oasis right in the heart of Universal Orlando. From thrilling water slides to secluded waterfalls it’s the perfect place to get away from it all, a beach paradise.
Have you ever wanted to go behind the gates of NASA? Then head to the Kennedy Space Centre where you can get an up-close look at all things Space.
You can walk through the giants of space travel in the famous Rocket Garden. Learn about the men and women who’ve lived and worked among the stars at our Heroes and Legends exhibit and stand nose-to-nose with the actual Space Shuttle Atlantis. But if that’s not enough, you can also watch an actual rocket launch.
Perfect for movie-loving kids, park-goers at Universal get their fill of themed rides and experiences featuring their favorite characters.
Pick a Universal park to explore (there are three to choose from!), then to get your fill of Harry Potter adventures (The Hogwarts Express, Flight of the Hippogriff), check out Men in Black Alien Attack (you can use lasers to blast pesky aliens!), ride with the Simpsons or clean up the house with Cat in the Hat before mother gets home.
For a real family adventure visit Busch Gardens, combining world-class thrill rides, live Broadway-style entertainment and one of North America’s largest zoos with over 12,000 animals.
KiddyCharts says;
“We loved it, and it isn’t that obvious. It has lots of thrill rides for the older kids, but there is also loads to do and see for the younger ones as well. It isn’t just about the thrills! I’d definitely go back there when we go to Florida again.”
Sophobsessed recommends Legoland for a great family day out. Even though they had visited it here in the UK before and almost didn’t go, she says it was one of their favourite days!
From thrilling roller coasters and rides to creative play areas and building zones, Lego lovers will have a great time visiting the 14 distinct lands. There is even a separate Legoland water park.