# Visiting Orlando with toddlers and little kids: the plan

> Downtown has Lake Eola and the main library; the Science Center is a few minutes north in Loch Haven Park, and Leu Gardens is just east. Here’s a day or two away from the parks, with nap time built in.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- One- and two-day plans with a nap in the middle
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/visiting/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/index.md
- City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/llms.txt

## Top 4 can’t-miss spots

- **Orlando Science Center** (Loch Haven Park): Opens at 10; plan a full morning. Cost: $22 online, $25 onsite kids, $29 online, $32 onsite adults. Site: https://www.osc.org/
- **Lake Eola Park** (Downtown): Walk the loop and stop at the playground. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Lake-Eola-Park
- **Harry P. Leu Gardens** (Audubon Park area): Go in the morning while it’s cooler. Site: https://www.leugardens.org/
- **Orlando Public Library** (Downtown, 101 E. Central Blvd.): Weekend baby and toddler storytimes run Saturday mornings. Cost: Free. Site: https://www.ocls.org/

## If you have one day

1. **MORNING**: Orlando Science Center (Opens at 10 · Loch Haven Park · $22 online, $25 onsite kids, $29 online, $32 onsite adults). https://www.osc.org/
2. **LUNCH**: Se7en Bites (Brunch until 3 (Thu–Sun) · Milk District). https://www.se7enbites.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Lake Eola Park (Playground time · Downtown · Free). https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Lake-Eola-Park

## If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

1. **MORNING**: Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Opens at 9 · Sanford, 3755 W. Seminole Blvd. · $16.95–$17.95 online kids, $21.95–$23.95 online adults). https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/visit/
2. **LUNCH**: Hash House A Go Go (Big breakfast plates · International Drive). https://orlando.hashhouseagogo.com/
3. **Nap**: Back to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
4. **AFTER NAP**: Mead Botanical Garden (Shady garden walk · Winter Park, 1300 S. Denning Dr. · Free). https://meadgarden.org/visit/

## Where to stay

- **Downtown / Thornton Park** (walkable): Near Lake Eola and the main library. Near Lake Eola Park and Orlando Public Library.

## Easy restaurants near the big stops

- **Hash House A Go Go** (Breakfast, International Drive): . https://orlando.hashhouseagogo.com/
- **Se7en Bites** (Brunch, Milk District): entrée ~$9–$23. https://www.se7enbites.com/
- **Boxi Park** (Food park, Lake Nona): . https://boxiparklakenona.com/

## Rainy-day backup plan

- **Orlando Science Center**: All indoors.
- **Orlando Public Library**: Indoors.

## Practical tips

- Heat: Do outdoor stops early; afternoons get hot most of the year.

## Free and cheap wins

- **Lake Eola Park**: Free.
- **Orlando Public Library**: Free.
- **Mead Botanical Garden**: Free, every day.

All free things to do in Orlando: https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/#free


## 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

### Is Orlando kid-friendly?
For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Orlando guide lists 15 places we checked for little kids, plus 4 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 3 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 27 dated outings for ages 0–6. See [free things to do in Orlando](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/guide/#free) and [this weekend’s list](https://littlesweekly.com/orlando/).

### Where should we stay in Orlando for a non-theme-park trip?
Downtown or Thornton Park keeps you near Lake Eola, the library and the Science Center.