Discover top travel tips and recommendations for visiting Orlando with kids 5 and under.
Orlando is for everyone, so even the tiniest tot can explore our theme parks, attractions, eateries, resort pools and outdoor adventures. Grown-ups can relax as well thanks to family-friendly features like rider swap, themed family suites, resort-provided childcare and even free attraction admission for the youngest travelers in your party.
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We teamed up with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners to get the answers to your most pressing family travel questions, from what to pack to where to feed your baby in the theme parks. Discover some of our top-rated activities for an unforgettable family getaway with young children, then read on for more top tips from our pros.
Additional reporting by Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners.
Orlando vacation planning made easy — and free. Make a complimentary appointment with Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners at a time and date of your choosing for the latest insider advice, special offers and more ahead of your next visit.
Visiting Orlando Theme Parks With Young Kids
In Orlando, there’s no height restriction on fun. Our theme parks feature immersive attractions and seasonal wonder for all ages, from mouthwatering food festivals to play zones, rides and even entire themed lands built just for kids. Best of all, kids under 3 years old enjoy complimentary admission to most Orlando theme parks! You and your littles will have a ball at these family-friendly getaways.
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LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
LEGOLAND® Florida Resort was built with kids in mind, with two theme parks, a water park and three awesome hotels for a fantastic family stay. Infants and toddlers will especially love Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida, where you’ll find tons of oinktastic fun with activities perfect for little ones and very few height restrictions. Plus, kids under 2 get in free!
Discover: An Oinktastic Day at Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida
LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park also has several areas that are ideal for very young children, including DUPLO® Valley, MINILAND USA, the Imagination Zone and the historic botanical gardens. Minimal height restrictions elsewhere mean older toddlers and pre-kindergartners can ride almost anything they see, with plenty of kid-friendly eats and hands-on build zones to round out the day.
Discover: Things to Do at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Walt Disney World® Resort
Walt Disney World® Resort boasts four incredible theme parks, two water parks and endless opportunities for family fun across 25+ hotels. Kids can leap into classic stories — and discover new favorites — with immersive themed lands, attractions, shows, parades, and of course, characters.
Discover: Things to Do at WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort
Dance and play with Disney Junior characters like Vampirina and Doc McStuffins at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, dine with royalty at Magic Kingdom® Park, earn Wilderness Explorer badges at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, and savor a 4-D culinary adventure at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT®.
And that’s not all. With incredible festivals, seasonal events, playgrounds, character dining, themed hotel rooms and more, your kiddo can be fully immersed in their favorite fandoms, from pirates and princesses to far, far away worlds — all right here at Walt Disney World® Resort.
SeaWorld® Orlando
Kids can play all day at Sesame Street Land™, part of SeaWorld® Orlando, where pint-sized attractions, daily parades, character meet and greets, interactive elements, and more make learning a blast. Meet beloved characters like Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird, then venture on to explore all this park has to offer our youngest visitors.
Discover: Things to Do at SeaWorld Orlando
Not only can kids spot their favorite animals — like dolphins, beluga whales, sharks and penguins — they can also touch and feed stingrays, dine with orcas, and soak up the views aboard an all-ages flamingo paddle boat. Kids 3 and up can also join daily shark and dolphin encounters and beluga whale tours (plus penguin encounters for ages 5+) for an up-close experience they’ll never forget.
Universal Orlando Resort
Home to four amazing theme parks, including Universal Epic Universe opening on May 22, 2025, Universal Orlando Resort boasts family fun for even the youngest explorers. Splash and play at Camp Jurassic, Seuss Landing or Me Ship the Olive in Universal Islands of Adventure, then head to Universal Studios Florida to explore the all-new DreamWorks Land featuring characters from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda and more DreamWorks Animations films.
Discover: Things to Do at Universal Orlando Resort
And that’s just the beginning. Universal Epic Universe will bring even more fun for kids and families in 2025, including incredible attractions, shows, restaurants and more in Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ — Ministry of Magic™ and How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk. See you there!
TM & © 2025 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. Dr. Seuss properties TM & © 2025 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All rights reserved. Jurassic World TM & © Universal Studios and Amblin) © 2025 DreamWorks Animation LLC. © Nintendo. Nintendo trademarks are properties of Nintendo. HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & TM Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling. How To Train Your Dragon © 2025 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All rights reserved.
Orlando Attractions for Young Kids
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Spot over 500 animals and play your way through 23 acres of native gardens at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, just 30 minutes north of our main tourism districts. With keeper chats, a petting zoo, a train, splash pad and up-close animal encounters, the zoo offers plenty of fun for kids of all ages. There’s even a Seminole Aerial Adventures kid’s zipline course (ages 5+) for the boldest pre-kindergartners.
Discover: Orlando Zoos
Crayola Experience
Spark creativity and let your little one’s imagination soar at Crayola Experience, a hands-on attraction with a playground, cafe and over 30 exciting activities inside The Florida Mall®. Kids can create custom art, meet characters, see how crayons are made, and explore age-appropriate technology while the tiniest tots have a ball in Toddler Town.
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Gatorland
Affordable, family-friendly and quintessentially Floridian, Gatorland has been wowing families for 75 years. Kids can feed birds, spot thousands of alligators and crocodiles, take a ride on the Gatorland Express train, and be amazed by action-packed shows and stunts. There’s also a petting zoo, playground, Gator Gully Splash Park, and up-close animal encounters with gators, capybaras, reptiles and more — not to mention thrilling zip lines and swamp buggy tours for guests at least 36 inches in height.
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Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center boasts several fascinating exhibits, including a special KidsTown designed for children under 7. Here, kids can star in their own play, explore cause and effect, and learn how oranges travel from farm to table. A new Life exhibit features three immersive ecosystems — rainforest, ocean and swamp — complete with animals and hands-on learning opportunities. And with permanent exhibitions dedicated to dinosaurs, the solar system, sustainability, kinetics and conservation, your kids will have so much fun, they’ll hardly realize they’re learning.
Discover: Orlando STEM Attractions
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Dive into a world of underwater fun and come face-to-fin with over 250 types of animals at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. This immersive attraction features animal talks, shows, a children’s play area and the only 360-degree ocean tunnel in Florida, plus coastal rockpools where kids can touch anemones and starfish. For even more family fun, bundle your ticket and enjoy special savings on additional ICON Park® attractions like The Orlando Eye and Madame Tussauds.
Discover: Things to Do at ICON Park
WonderWorks Orlando
Let your kid’s imagination run wild at WonderWorks, a fascinating upside-down building that’s home to over 100 hands-on attractions. Enchanting options for tots include a giant piano, an augmented reality sandbox, an enormous interactive Lite-Brite, a magic harp with no visible strings, a life-size replica spacesuit, a whimsical collection of animal sculptures created by Dr. Seuss, and many more mind-bending exhibits for a unique edutainment experience.
Discover: Things to Do at WonderWorks
Orlando Hotels & Resorts for Traveling With Young Kids
Hotels With Family Suites
Rest easy in Orlando with incredible hotels and vacation rentals designed to appeal to kids of all ages. Little ones will love unique options like the new How to Train Your Dragon kids suites at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel, featuring a separate bedroom with imaginative themed decor just for kids. Several Orlando hotels feature full family suites, including incredible themed options with separate bedrooms at Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort. Crib or pack and play rentals are also available by request at select Orlando hotels.
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Resorts With Kids Clubs
Several Orlando resorts also feature babysitting services or onsite kids clubs, perfect for keeping children engaged while you enjoy an adult night out. For example, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort offers a complimentary kids camp for children ages 4 – 12, a complimentary Pasta & Play service for guests dining at Ravello, and paid babysitting services available via the concierge.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and JW Marriott Orlando at Grande Lakes also feature kids clubs for children ages 4 – 12, while Conrad Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort have special programming for children ages 5 – 12. Check with your resort for scheduling requirements ahead of your visit.
Full Home Vacation Rentals
It can be hard to take infants, toddlers and prekindergartners away from the comforts of home. Make the transition a little easier and enjoy even more room to spread out with spacious full-home rentals from Villatel Orlando Resort, Margaritaville Cottages Orlando, Conrad Orlando and many more amenity-packed options. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to stay in Orlando, so you can discover family suites and vacation homes to suit your budget.
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Orlando Dining With Young Kids
Themed Restaurants for Kids
Orlando’s dining scene is a dream come true for little ones. After all, where else can they dine with superheroes, share a sundae bigger than their head, spot hundreds of real sharks, and share a hug with their favorite film and TV characters?
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Well, for starters, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort all feature character dining, meals with beloved animals, or other themed culinary experiences throughout the year. And you’ll find even more to love at our attractions, from hilarious dinner shows to tastings with a real astronaut.
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Family Dining on a Budget
If you’re looking for budget-friendly places where you can feed a crowd, Orlando has plenty of those as well! Check out our top picks for Orlando bites on a budget, featuring kid-approved options like pizza, tacos and burgers, plus more adventurous fare.
Discover: Eat & Drink in Orlando
Orlando FAQs: Traveling With Little Ones
Ready to book your trip? Consider these frequently asked questions and top tips for traveling with kids 5 and under from Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planners. Have more questions? Contact them directly — they will even be happy to set a one-on-one appointment at a time and date of your choosing.
©SeaWorld
Are there any specific things I should pack when visiting Orlando with kids?
We recommend packing rain gear for summer and hurricane season, portable fans and/or cooling towels for the hot months, reusable water bottles to stay hydrated in the parks, any favorite snacks, sunscreen, and bathing suits year-round as pools are heated!
Is there a quiet place to feed and change my baby while at Orlando’s theme parks?
Yes! At Walt Disney World, we recommend checking out a Baby Care Center. Each has quiet rooms with rocking chairs, high chairs and changing rooms. They also sell any products you might have forgotten for your little one, like diapers and wipes.
Universal Orlando has nursing facilities at Family Services, located inside the main First Aid station at each park. SeaWorld Orlando has a childcare center and a dedicated nursing area in Sesame Street Land, plus additional nursing areas near Infinity Falls and Journey to Atlantis. And LEGOLAND Florida Resort has a Baby Care Center complete with changing tables, bottle warmers and a nursing area inside the DUPLO Valley Schoolhouse.
What can I do if one of my children is too short to ride?
The major theme parks let families with young kids take turns riding attractions. One adult rides while the other stays with the child. Afterward, the second adult can skip the line and ride as well. Speak with the cast members or team members prior to joining the line to set this up.
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Can I bring my own cooler to the theme parks?
Policies vary by theme park. Some allow snacks and small, soft-sided coolers, and others do not permit any outside food and drink. Exceptions can be made for baby food and formula or special dietary needs. Please note that there are no microwaves or refrigerators available to store your food, so we recommend packing easy-to-carry items like Goldfish, crackers, or similar snacks.
Are there any sensory-friendly activities I can enjoy with my little one?
Absolutely! Many attractions offer sensory guides on their websites to help you plan ahead. For example, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, the Orlando Science Center, and the theme parks offer helpful resources like attraction guides for families with sensory needs. Some attractions also offer sensory-friendly days throughout the year.
Discover: Sensory-Friendly Vacation Resources
All SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND Florida Resort theme parks and water parks are Certified Autism Centers, which means they provide specialized services and sensory-friendly options for visitors of all ages.
Are there any half day activities so I can plan for nap times?
Gatorland is a great option for a half-day park, and they will even hold onto your luggage while you explore the park. Disney Springs is another great option as it has numerous options to eat and shop. Some little ones may even enjoy a themed restaurant like T-REX Cafe or the live entertainment in the evening.
Other fun options include ICON Park, with several attractions to enjoy for a few hours like SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium or The Orlando Eye. Additionally, if you stay on an onsite hotel, you can easily head back to your hotel via the provided transportation.
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