Recommend activities OUTSIDE of the Orlando theme parks for a 3-year-old + family?

Question

We are doing 8 days in Orlando and would like to find some activities in addition to the theme parks / Downtown Disney / et al in the Orlando area. One 3 year old and several adults. Any recommendations?

Answer 1

Disney Alternative 1: Go to Sea World. Go early if it looks to be a hot day. Follow this plan and everyone will have a good day.

9:30 AM Arrival at the park. Buy your tickets at the kiosk outside the gates with your credit card for maximum convenience.
9:45 AM Go pet the stingrays.
10:15 AM Go to the dolphin pool. Stand in line right away at the stand on the left where you buy fish. ($5/ tray) Get each person a tray and then go feed / pet the dolphins. Great photo op and my 3 year old goes nuts every time he gets to touch a dolphin's nose.
11:15 AM Go up in the big tower to see all of SE Orlando.
11:30 AM As you exit the big tower, turn left. The restaurant around the corner has a great kids meal served in a whale-shaped carrying tray. (burger, grilled cheese or similar).
1:00 PM Go watch the Shamu show.
2:15 PM Get out of the park. Your three year old is tired and needs a nap. So will you. Trust me on this one.

Check the times of everything, as they do sometimes change.

Alternative 2: Go to the coast and see Kennedy Space Center. If you time it right, a space shuttle launch is awesome to see.

Alternative 3: See an amazing beach. I'd recommend the Gulf side for the best sand and surf. St. Pete is awesome.

Alternative 4: Play in the pool. If you stay at Horizon's by Marriott, they have a whole pirate ship in their pool and it's very kid friendly, with a beach bar and relaxing lounge areas set around it for parents. Alternatively, there are quite a few water parks in Orlando, but not great for most 3-year-olds.

Answer 2

Being a big kid myself, I would definitely take your kid to Downtown Disney. There are lots of Disney stores. Gatorland is something that you should visit, too. If you go on their website, you can print out an online coupon. Lake Eola park is always beautiful. There's a big playground in which your 3 year old can play. How about just visit the largest McDonalds and Checkers? It's on International Drive. Big playground for kids. That's all I could think of.

Answer 3

i live in orlando -- not a lot to do other than theme parks -- there are 2 outlet malls for shopping -- "dinnertainment" which is not cheap either. downtown disney has gloria estephan's restaurant "bongos" which is good if you like cuban food but most disney restaurants are completely avoidable. the swan and dolphin have the best food -- they are "epcot" resorts but not owned by disney. you can check out "celebration" -- its a disney owned neighborhood. think stepford wives meets main street. there is the holy land experience -- its a riot if singing crucifixions are your thing. kind of hard to make someones vacations plans in a paragraph. maybe drive to tampa/st. pete? its an hour away and st pete has a few museums like the dali. st pete has a quaint downtown area with decent local restaurants and vintage shops. there is also the space center if you go to the east coast.

Answer 4

Cypress Gardens was pretty neat. It has been updated and my 3 yo nephew went with us and was actually able to ride a good majority of the rides. Plus its cheap and less crowded then Disney. Also the is Forever Florida which is outside Disney but does trail rides and shows you how Florida looked before the mouse house, or even try air boating.

Answer 5

My family and I are flying down there tomorrow and have been told not to miss Gatorland. We have a 2.5 yr old, and I think he'll be interested. There is also Sea World and I'm sure once we get there, there will be plenty more! Have fun!

Answer 6

wow you certainly got s lot of suggestions, that's great.....you've got to take your child to the mcdonalds though...the play area is 3 stories

Answer 7

Gatorland is really nice.