The starter list

The countdown here counts eight of the best attractions to do in Orlando with kids — theme parks, animal encounters, water parks and hands-on science museums — a beyond-the-obvious first plan for families. The 4K greatest-hits tour opens somewhere more Florida than any theme park: Gatorland, 'the most Florida theme park in Orlando,' with its gator shows and natural swamp, before ranging across the headline attractions (and pointing coaster families toward Busch Gardens Tampa).

Things to Do in Orlando Florida With Kids: 8 BEST Attractions You Can't Miss

The Itinerant Traveler

The Itinerant Traveler counts down eight of the best attractions to do in Orlando with kids, spanning the famous theme parks, animal encounters, water parks and hands-on science museums — a beyond-the-obvious starter list for families.

Key takeaways
  • Eight kid-tested Orlando attractions in one countdown
  • Mix of theme parks, animals, water parks and science
  • A good first planning video for families

Best Rides for Kids at Epic Universe PLUS Tips and Tricks for the Best Day!

The Park Prodigy

Mike from The Park Prodigy works through Epic Universe with young kids in mind — seven of the park's 11 rides carry height requirements, so he flags what little kids can actually ride and how to build the best day around them.

Key takeaways
  • Height requirements decide most of the day with young kids
  • Ride-by-ride picks for younger children
  • Planning tips from a Universal-focused travel agency

Ultimate Guide for Kids & Toddlers to Universal Epic Universe: Rides, Activities & Shows more!

Magical Hijinx

Demi of Magical Hijinx breaks down everything kids and toddlers can do at Epic Universe — every ride, the activities between rides, and the shows — to answer whether Universal's newest park works for little ones.

Key takeaways
  • Rides, activities and shows covered separately
  • Toddler-friendly options called out
  • Pairs with her kids' guides to the other Universal parks

Epic Universe, with young kids honestly assessed

Two films work Universal's newest park for families. One notes that seven of Epic Universe's 11 rides carry height requirements and builds the day around what little kids can actually ride. The other breaks down every ride, the activities between rides, and the shows for kids and toddlers specifically — the answer to 'is it worth it with little ones' is yes, with the right map.

The calm counterweights

Leu Gardens gets a 'best kept secret' tour — the botanical garden founded on land Harry and Mary Jane Leu bought in 1936, a calm, stroller-friendly nature break in the middle of the city. The resort film stays at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village: animals outside a savanna-view window, free kids' activities around the resort, and a straight price comparison (about $960 a night renting DVC points vs. a $1,570 rack rate at filming). And Gatorland returns, filmed start to finish with a toddler: 2,000+ alligators, wrestling shows, hand-feeding — and a playground that steals the show for the under-5 crowd. A first-time Universal 2026 planner rounds out the page for families starting from zero.

Sources: the eight videos on this page — kid-tested attraction countdowns, Epic Universe family guides, a gardens tour, a resort stay, and a toddler's Gatorland day — summarized from their entries in our catalog.

Orlando's Best Kept Secret: Leu Gardens for Kids & Adults

ChadGallivanter

ChadGallivanter tours Harry P. Leu Gardens, the Orlando botanical garden founded on land Harry and Mary Jane Leu bought in 1936 — a calm, stroller-friendly nature break in the middle of the city, with seasonal exhibits and events.

Key takeaways
  • Botanical garden oasis near downtown Orlando
  • History runs from the Leus' 1936 purchase
  • A quiet counterpoint to theme-park days

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village! Best Resort For Kids! Animals, Free Activities & More!

TheTimTracker

The TimTracker family stays in a two-bedroom savanna-view villa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village — animals outside the window, free resort activities for kids, and a straight price comparison: about $960 a night renting DVC points versus a $1,570 rack rate.

Key takeaways
  • Savanna-view villa tour with animal sightings
  • Free kids' activities around the resort
  • DVC rental vs rack-rate price comparison

Best Things To Do in Orlando Florida 4K

Island Hopper TV

Island Hopper TV's 4K tour of the best things to do in Orlando starts at Gatorland — 'the most Florida theme park in Orlando' — with its gator shows and natural swamp, then ranges across the city's headline attractions, pointing at Busch Gardens Tampa for the biggest coasters.

Key takeaways
  • Starts with Gatorland's gators and swamp walks
  • Broad greatest-hits sweep of Orlando
  • Busch Gardens flagged for coaster fans

Watch: Things to Do in Orlando with Kids, guided

2 videos · summaries from the actual guides

Planning a Trip to Universal Studios Orlando For the FIRST Time in 2026? - Start Here

The Park Prodigy

Mike from The Park Prodigy lays out how to plan a first Universal Orlando trip in 2026 — his core warning is that the resort has changed so much in two years that planning like it's the old Universal wastes money and misses the best rides.

Key takeaways
  • Built for first-time Universal visitors
  • 2026-specific changes drive the advice
  • Money-saving planning framework

The Alligator Capital of the World With a Toddler | Gatorland Orlando, Florida

AikenAdventures

The Aiken family brings their toddler to Gatorland for his third birthday — the park is home to more than 2,000 alligators, plus gator wrestling shows, animal encounters and hand-feeding moments, and a playground that steals the show for the under-5 crowd.

Key takeaways
  • Filmed with a toddler, start to finish
  • 2,000+ alligators, shows and feedings
  • Playground time factored into the visit

More Orlando essentials

Share this page
X Facebook Pinterest Email