Orlando Family Vacation Ideas

An Orlando family vacation has lots of possibilities. Here are a few vacation ideas for the trip you are planning to central Florida.

Blizzard Beach is one very cool place to visit in Orlando. This Disney Water park has a simulated blizzard all year round, even in the hottest of weather. You can also try the world’s longest family raft ride. Or ride an inner tube on the continuously flowing creek that encircles the entire Park.

Discovery Cove is a part of SeaWorld and caps the number of visitors to 1,000 at a time so you can enjoy the park without being crowded and waiting in any lines. Snorkel in the simulated coral reef. Float around in the tropical river. Swim and play with the dolphins.

Disney-MGM Studios brings the movies to your Orlando family vacation with movie classics, movie rides, and movie stars. There’s an afternoon parade. Ride the exciting Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. See some of the worlds best animators at work at The Magic of Disney Animation.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a vacation idea that combines a theme park with a nature preserve. Visit the “Boneyard,” a prehistoric playground in DinoLand. The “Tree of Life” is 14 stories high and carved with over 325 images of animals. The 3D “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” show will have you jumping in your seat.

Gatorland, The Alligator Capital of the World, is one of the more low-tech places to visit in Orlando. This Orlando family vacation idea is a nice break from the theme parks. You’ll find lots of alligators and crocodiles plus a train ride, aviary, breeding marsh and bird sanctuary, petting zoo, nature walk, and one-of-a-kind shows such as the world famous Gator Jumparoo.

Magic Kingdom is the top attraction for Disney. It is huge and includes a fireworks extravaganza, Space Mountain roller coaster, The Haunted Mansion, 3D magic and live entertainment. With four theme parks and two water parks there is a lot to this kid-friendly vacation idea.

The Orlando Science Center is a great family vacation spot with fun for all ages. Hands on exhibits stimulate and teach about the human body, lasers and optics, the solar system or the Florida Ecosystem. The CineDome features IMAX movies and planetarium shows on a screen eight stories high, with a state-of-the-art sound system.

Wet’n Wild is America’s number one water park. A splashdown here will be the highlight of every kid’s Orlando family vacation. There are thrill rides for older kids and adults and also a Kid’s Park with great water fun for the smaller kids.

Another one of the many places to visit in Orlando is on I-drive, not too far from Wet’n Wild. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium. It’s a huge collection of weird, fun, strange and bizarre artifacts from around the world. Like the 26 ft. tall by 20 ft. wide mural of Van Gogh made from 3,000 postcards depicting 115 different Van Gogh paintings and drawings. Or the shrunken heads from Ecuador, South America.

If you are vacationing near Disney World, Florida, the kids will love staying at the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn. They’ve got fun characters, events, special shows and the kids can have their own cartoon decorated room. The Lagoon Pool features a four-story waterslide, 7 waterslides and flumes, climbing nets, water jets and giant family-size whirlpool spas.