Vacations Blog

Orlando Family Vacations

Orlando, Florida is well known as a family vacation destination.  However, one of the common misconceptions I hear from families is that they have to wait until the kids are “old enough to appreciate it” before they can invest in a family trip to the theme park capital of the world.

To a certain extent, I agree.  Places like Universal Studios and even Disney World are not great for kids under five.  They can’t go on roller coasters and a lot of young children are terrified of the rides that are supposed to be made for them.  My daughter was so scared of Magic Kingdom’s Snow White ride that we had to leave through one of the emergency exits.  And don’t even get me started on Universal Studio’s 3D Shrek experience.  (Note to attraction designers: small children are scared of the dark AND graveyards AND ghosts.  Duh.)

It makes sense to avoid these places until your children are old enough to appreciate the hundreds of dollars you’ll be spending in admission prices.

But what if you have one kid who is the perfect age to experience these things and another much younger child?  Can you plan an Orlando vacation that includes activities for younger children?

Absolutely.

Let’s discuss amusement parks first.  Sea World is a great park for kids of all ages.  There are plenty of things for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy while the older children are whooping it up on the new Manta ride.  Toddlers and preschoolers are certainly old enough to watch the animal shows, including the infamous Shamu attraction.  They can stand in awe for hours watching penguins and whales and manatees.  The bravest and most adventurous little ones will also get a kick out of being able to touch rays and dolphins as they swim in open tanks.

Dolphin and Whale Show at Sea World

Touching the rays at Sea World

The great thing about Sea World is that adults, teenagers, school-agers and preschoolers can all find something to be fascinated by.

Next up – the beach.  I am amazed how many people visit central Florida without ever heading to one of the beaches.  How amazing is it to show your child the ocean for the first time?

There is no minimum or maximum age for enjoying the beach.  Even babies can sit in the sand under an umbrella.  My daughter happily made sand castles and hunted for seashells for years before she got the courage to put her toes into the surf.  As a four year old, she spends hours running knee deep into the waves and giggling as they chase her back to the shore.

Venturing into the ocean for the first time

Children are never too young for the beach.

It’s never too soon to take your family to Orlando.  If you have young kids, just make sure to spend a few days doing activities that don’t require they be confined to a stroller.

Photo credit:  Britt Reints