Fun Things to Do in Orlando With Kids (That Won’t Make You Hate Summer or Yourself)

Look, I love my kids. I also love air conditioning, personal space, and not hearing the phrase “I’m boooored” before I’ve even had my second cup of coffee. So when summer rolls around and I’m expected to be Cruise Director of Childhood Joy, I panic. Hard.

But because I live in Orlando (land of humidity and overpriced frozen lemonade), I’ve managed to round up some fun things to do in Orlando with kids that won’t drain your soul, bank account, or emotional bandwidth. You’re welcome.

Crayola Experience: Chaos, but make it contained

This place is 100% sensory overload, but here’s the deal: it’s indoors, the kids love it, and there’s air conditioning strong enough to give you goosebumps. You can melt crayons, name your own color (mine is "Avocado Green" [duh!]), and let your toddler paint things that aren’t your walls. Is it loud? Yes. Will you question your life choices? Also yes. But it’s colorful, contained chaos — and sometimes that’s all we need.

And if your kid melts down in the gift shop because you won’t buy a $42 stuffed crayon? Just know we’ve all been there. I once offered my child a Tic Tac as a consolation prize and he still talks about it in therapy. That’s parenting, baby.

Leu Gardens: Nature without screaming squirrels (unless they're your children)

If your kids can handle walking without turning it into a full-body collapse every three feet, Leu Gardens is your girl. There’s shade, flowers, and actual silence — unless you bring your own tiny screamers. Bonus: they sometimes host scavenger hunts or family storytime events, which means your kids are occupied and you can pretend to be the kind of mom who appreciates plants.

Also, there’s something oddly healing about letting your toddler “lead the way” on a path that literally just loops in a circle. You’re outside. They’re tired. You can breathe in that humid Florida air and pretend it’s eucalyptus-scented mindfulness. Close enough.

Old-school movie day at Enzian Theater

Yes, it’s technically a theater, but it’s also a restaurant. So your kids get a movie, you get wine, and no one has to wash dishes. This is what I call family bonding with benefits. And the best part? It feels elevated enough to trick you into thinking you’re a cultured parent instead of the snack-fetching gremlin you’ve become.

They sometimes show throwback films, which means you can rewatch The Sandlot and The Princess Bride while whispering “this is cinema” into your mozzarella sticks. Bonus: your kids learn the classics and you get to emotionally reattach to your former self.

Splash Pads: The Lazy Mom’s Waterpark

Find your nearest splash pad (Lake Eola, Downtown Winter Garden, or basically any Publix-adjacent suburb) and let your kids run feral in chlorinated hope while you sit with a drink and contemplate your life. It’s wet, wild, and free, which is also how I describe most of my parenting style in July.

Just don’t forget extra clothes, snacks, towels, sunscreen, backup towels, and your will to live. If you manage to leave without at least one tantrum and a mystery Band-Aid floating in the water, congratulations—you’re doing amazing, sweetie.

Coffee & Connection: For you, not them

You didn’t think I’d make a list without sneaking in a little mom community therapy, did you? If you're in the Orlando area and need to talk to someone who also forgot picture day and is pretending to care about lunchbox variety, come to one of my Coffee & Connection meetups. And this summer we're meeting once a month and doing a Beach Day! Bring the kids. Or don’t. Just show up in whatever state you’re in. We’ll get through it together — with iced coffee and solidarity.

It’s not a support group, exactly — but if it accidentally turns into one, no one’s complaining. There’s something magical about being in a room where everyone gets the joke without you having to explain it. Also, you might leave with a new friend who also hasn’t booked the dentist.

Keywords hit: mom meetups Orlando, building community as a mom, local events for moms in Orlando

Final thoughts (AKA my reward for finishing this article)

Summer with kids is a lot. But it doesn’t have to suck. There really are fun things to do in Orlando with kids — you just have to know where to go, how to bribe your children, and when to wave the white flag in exchange for drive-thru chicken nuggets.

And if you do nothing but keep them alive and slightly sunblocked? That counts. In this house, surviving summer is the win. We’ll aim for thriving when school starts again.

P.S. I actually wrote two articles on indoor activities for Orlando Mom: Attractions Edition and Low-Budget Edition.