Why do so many people choose Orlando for family holidays? In fact, the answer is quite simple. In addition to excellent sunny weather and mild climate, the area around Orlando is literally packed with all kinds of amusement parks, thus neither you nor your children will be bored there.
We have prepared a small overview of the best family-friendly places around the city so that you can choose exactly what you like. The easiest way to get to them is to rent a car. With the help of Value car rental Orlando reviews you will have the opportunity to choose the desired rental car at an affordable price.
Universal Studios Resort
This is an amazing theme park in the US state of Florida. It consists of 2 major amusement parks – Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, as well as related attractions, including Volcano Bay Water Park, several luxury hotels, and the Universal CityWalk Orlando shopping complex.
The Universal Studios Florida Amusement Park features 8 separate themed lands located around the lagoon – Central Manufacturing Site, New York, Springfield, Diagon Alley, San Francisco, World Expo, Hollywood Children’s Zone and Woody Woodpecker. Each zone offers the selection of attractions inspired by well-known films, TV and music shows.
It’s interesting to know that a great number of the local attractions were developed with a direct participation of the creators of the prototype films. For example, Steven Spielberg was a creative consultant for designing several attractions at once.
A 21-hectare Volcanic Bay is another worthy place – it was opened in 2017 at the site of the Wet ‘n Wild water park. The water park consists of 4 thematic zones with the 61-meter-high artificial volcano. During the day, waterfalls fall from the volcano, and in the evening a special light turns water into lava flows. There are several water slides on the mountain.
In addition, the water park has other slides for adults and small visitors, several pools, 2 rivers and playgrounds.
Legoland Florida
Legoland Florida is situated in the town of Winter Haven near Orlando. This is a huge brand theme park of the LEGO, which is the second largest park after Legoland in the UK.
The area of the amusement park is 60.7 hectares, where you’ll find more than 50 attractions, a botanical garden and a water park, show grounds, shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as a hotel.
It has its own knightly kingdom called the Land of Adventures with attractions in the scenery of fantasy Ancient Egypt. Also, there’re the adventure World of Chima, the universe of LEGO Star Wars, a game zone for everyone who likes to create new things from designer’s blocks, a pirate bay and a visual 4D ride. Legoland Florida amusement park was created in the image of the first LEGO chain parks, aimed at children from 3 to 12 years old and accompanying adults.
Legoland Park is divided into several thematic zones, each of which has its own peculiarity and is equipped with special attractions. Already at the entrance, visitors are greeted by figures of giant dinosaurs. They allow immersing in an atmosphere of fabulousness. Similarly to most of the park’s art objects, they are made from the LEGO bricks.
Walt Disney World Park
Walt Disney World is a large entertainment complex with the area of over 100 square kilometers situated 34 kilometers southwest of Orlando, Florida. It consists of 4 theme parks, 4 golf courses, 2 water parks, and the Disney Springs shopping complex.
Walt Disney World was opened on October 1, 1971 and is currently the world’s largest and most visited amusement park accepting more than 52 million visitors per year. At the time of the opening, only the Magic Kingdom was operating. The Epcot Park was opened in 1982, Hollywood Studios in 1989, and the Animal Kingdom in 1998.
The Magic Kingdom dedicated to Disney cartoon characters was established in 1971 and it’s the most visited part of Walt Disney World with more than 20 million visitors a year. It’s an improved copy of Disneyland in Anaheim and consists of 6 thematic lands – Main Street, Frontierland, Adventureland, Freedom Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a huge area of 163 hectares, which is the 2nd largest and the 6th most visited zoological park in the world. In addition to attractions and entertainments, the kingdom is home for more than 2,000 animals of 250 species.
The Disney Springs shopping complex is another interesting destination of the park. It was opened on March 22, 1975 and currently consists of 4 zones – the market square, the landing site, the city center and the western part. There are many shops, restaurants, cafes, entertainment for adults and small visitors. In addition, entertainment events and concerts are often organized on the streets of Disney Springs.
