# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Orlando: the parent guide

> Orlando beyond the theme parks is easy with little kids: a hands-on science center, a downtown lake with a playground, big gardens and free storytimes at branches across Orange County.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 15 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Hash House A Go Go (International Drive, 5350 International Dr.)

- Huge farm-style breakfast and lunch plates in a big, loud room that’s used to families and groups.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Sun 8am–3pm; Mon–Thu 8am–2pm; Fri–Sat 8am–3pm
- Good for: A big, noisy breakfast where nobody minds a toddler.
- Skip if: you want a quick bite; plates are made to order and portions are enormous.
- Website: https://orlando.hashhouseagogo.com/

### Se7en Bites (Milk District, 617 N. Primrose Dr.)

- A bakery café known for pies and all-day brunch, with a kids’ menu for ages 10 and under.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: brunch plates ~$9–$23
- Hours: Thu–Fri 8am–3pm; Sat–Sun 9am–3pm
- Good for: Weekend brunch and a slice of pie.
- Skip if: it’s Monday to Wednesday; it’s only open Thursday to Sunday.
- Price source: https://www.se7enbites.com/menu-1 (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.se7enbites.com/

### Boxi Park (Lake Nona)

- An outdoor shipping-container food park with a big kids’ playground, so little ones can play while you eat.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Thu 5–10pm; Fri 5–11pm; Sat noon–11pm; Sun noon–9pm
- Good for: An early dinner outdoors with a playground right there.
- Skip if: it’s Monday to Wednesday; the park opens Thursday evenings to Sunday.
- Website: https://boxiparklakenona.com/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Orlando Science Center (Loch Haven Park)

- Orlando’s hands-on science museum, with exhibits for kids of all ages.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 2–12 $22 online, $25 onsite; adults $29 online, $32 onsite
- Hours: Daily 10am–5pm (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter)
- Good for: A rainy day of hands-on exhibits.
- Skip if: you’re trying to keep it cheap; parking is extra.
- Price source: https://www.osc.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.osc.org/

### Orlando Public Library (Downtown, 101 E. Central Blvd.)

- The main library, with weekend baby, toddler and preschool storytimes.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Free Saturday-morning storytimes downtown.
- Skip if: you’re after quiet; it’s a busy downtown library.
- Website: https://www.ocls.org/

### Kidiverse (Southeast Orlando, 7149 N. Frontage Rd.)

- A big indoor playground with a toddler area for ages 1–3, climbing walls and an arcade, all included.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids $17.99 all day (1–12); 12 months and under $10.99, or free with a full-price sibling
- Hours: Mon–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 9am–9pm; Sun 10am–7pm
- Good for: A rainy or too-hot day with mixed ages.
- Skip if: you forgot socks; Kidiverse socks are required ($4.50).
- Price source: https://www.ourkidiverse.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.ourkidiverse.com/

## Parks and outdoor play

### Lake Eola Park (Downtown)

- The downtown lake loop with a playground, home to the city’s big free events.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: A free stroller loop and playground.
- Skip if: it’s midday in summer; shade is limited.
- Website: https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Lake-Eola-Park

### Harry P. Leu Gardens (Audubon Park area)

- Big gardens with wide paths. Home to Dazzling Nights at the holidays.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (fall hours)
- Good for: A calm garden morning.
- Skip if: you need indoor space on a rainy day.
- Website: https://www.leugardens.org/

### Mead Botanical Garden (Winter Park, 1300 S. Denning Dr.)

- A free, wooded botanical garden with boardwalks and trails, a calm break from the theme parks.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free admission for everyone
- Hours: Daily 8am–dusk
- Good for: A free, shady morning walk.
- Skip if: it has just rained hard; low trails can be soggy.
- Price source: https://meadgarden.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://meadgarden.org/visit/

### Wekiwa Springs State Park (Apopka, 1800 Wekiwa Circle)

- Emerald springs feeding the Wekiva River, swimming, trails, canoe and kayak rentals, a playground and picnic pavilions, just minutes from downtown Orlando.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: $6 per vehicle; reservation required
- Hours: Daily 8am to sunset
- Good for: A spring swim or a picnic and playground morning.
- Skip if: you didn’t reserve; day-use entry now needs a reservation.
- Price source: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/wekiwa-springs-state-park (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/wekiwa-springs-state-park

### Dr. P. Phillips Community Park (8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd.)

- A 43-acre Orange County park with a splash pad and a loop trail.
- Price level: Free
- Hours: Park daily 8am–6pm in winter, 8am–8pm in summer; splash pad 9am–5pm in winter, 9am–7pm in summer
- Good for: A splash-pad afternoon on a warm day.
- Skip if: it’s late in the day; the splash pad closes earlier than the park.
- Website: https://www.ocfl.net/cultureparks/parks.aspx?d=66&m=dtlvw

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Sanford, 3755 W. Seminole Blvd.)

- A shady, manageable zoo about 30 minutes north of downtown, small enough for little legs.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 3–12 $16.95–$17.95 online; adults 13–54 $21.95–$23.95 online; Ages 2 and under free. Weekend (peak) prices are the higher figure; onsite tickets cost more.
- Hours: Daily 9am–4pm; last admission 3:30pm
- Good for: A zoo morning that doesn’t take all day.
- Skip if: you don’t want the drive; it’s up in Sanford.
- Price source: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/visit/

### The Mennello Museum of American Art (900 E. Princeton St.)

- An American art museum with a sculpture garden, free for kids under 6.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 6–17 $3; adults $8; Under 6 free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10:30am–4:30pm; Sun noon–4:30pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A short, low-cost art stop with a stroller.
- Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.mennellomuseum.org/visit (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.mennellomuseum.org/visit

### Orlando Museum of Art (Orlando)

- OM°A is open late (10am–8pm) on third Thursdays for Access for All.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 6–17 $8; adults $20; 5 and under free
- Hours: Tue–Fri 10am–4pm; Sat–Sun noon–4pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A third-Thursday evening visit.
- Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://omart.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://omart.org/visit/

### Orange County Regional History Center (Downtown, 65 E. Central Blvd.)

- Four floors of exhibits on 12,000 years of Central Florida history, with elevators on every floor.
- Price level: $
- Good for: A downtown rainy-day stop; park in the garage across from the library.
- Skip if: your kids need to run; it’s a look-and-learn museum.
- Website: https://www.thehistorycenter.org/visit/

## Free things to do

- Orlando Public Library
- Lake Eola Park
- Mead Botanical Garden
- Dr. P. Phillips Community Park

## Best for under 3s

- **Orlando Public Library**: Baby and toddler times.
- **Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens**: Ages 2 and under are free.

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby to Five Tales** (Orange County Library System): Thursdays at 10:15am · Eatonville Branch.  https://attend.ocls.org/events
- **Baby Tales** (Orange County Library System): Wednesdays at 11:15am · Horizon West Branch. Birth to 18 months https://attend.ocls.org/events
- **Baby Tales** (Orange County Library System): Wednesdays at 11:15am · North Orange Branch. Birth to 18 months https://attend.ocls.org/events
- **Baby Storytime** (Orange County Library System): Mondays at 10:30am; Saturdays at 11:30am · Orlando Public Library. Birth to 18 months. Build baby’s first literacy skills with songs, rhymes and stories. https://attend.ocls.org/events
- **Baby Tales** (Orange County Library System): Thursdays at 11:15am · Windermere Branch. Birth to 18 months https://attend.ocls.org/events

### Babies get in free

- **Kidiverse**: 12 months and under $10.99, or free with a full-price sibling. https://www.ourkidiverse.com/
- **Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens**: Ages 2 and under free. https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/visit/

## Library storytimes

- **Orange County Library System**: Most weekdays, plus Saturday at the main library. Free Baby Tales, Toddler Tales, Preschool Tales and play groups at branches and community sites across Orange County. https://www.ocls.org/


## Happening this week

- **Eolaween at Lake Eola Park** (Sat 4–9pm) at Lake Eola Park. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/#e-eolaween_lake_eola
- **Zoo Boo Bash at the Central Florida Zoo** (9am–5pm) at Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Included with zoo admission ($16.95–$17.95 ages 3–12 online, $21.95–$23.95 adults; 2 and under free); passholders $5. https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/#e-zoo_boo_bash_central_florida_zoo
- **Trunk-or-Treat at Prince of Peace Orlando** (Sun 4–6pm) at Prince of Peace Orlando, Family Life Center. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/#e-trunk_or_treat_prince_of_peace_orlando
- **Music and Story Time at the Mennello Museum** (Wed 11–11:30am) at Mennello Museum of American Art. $8 per family; members free. https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/#e-music_story_time_mennello
- **Family Fun: Design a Haunted House (Horizon West)** (Sun 2–3pm) at Horizon West Branch. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/#e-family_fun_design_a_haunted_house_horizo

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Orlando: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Orlando for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/christmas-lights/index.md)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What can we do in Orlando with a toddler besides theme parks?
Try the Orlando Science Center, Lake Eola Park, Leu Gardens and free library storytimes.

### Are there free things to do with little kids in Orlando?
Yes. Orlando Public Library, Lake Eola Park, Mead Botanical Garden and Dr. P. Phillips Community Park are free or have a free entry. See [the free list](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/#free).

### What can we do in Orlando on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Orlando Science Center, Orlando Public Library and Kidiverse. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.

### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Orlando?
Orlando Public Library: Baby and toddler times. Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens: Ages 2 and under are free. Free for the littlest: Kidiverse (12 months and under $10.99, or free with a full-price sibling), The Mennello Museum of American Art (Under 6 free) and Orlando Museum of Art (5 and under free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/#under3).

### Where are the free storytimes in Orlando?
Orange County Library System: Most weekdays, plus Saturday at the main library. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Orlando weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/).

### How do you choose the places in the Orlando guide?
Every one of the 15 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 8 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Ages 2 and under free; kids 3–12: $16.95–$17.95 online; adults 13–54: $21.95–$23.95 online (weekend (peak) prices are the higher figure; onsite tickets cost more). We checked this on [its official site](https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/visit/) on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.