We are going on a cruise from Orlando in August and we're going to tack on a few days before the cruise for some Non-disney fun. Where should we stay and what should we do? Our kids will be newly 3 and 5.
SeaWorld?
I feel they are probably too young for Universal?
LegoLand?
Just the beach? (Suggest a place)
What do you recommend? Favorite hotels? (Suites preferred) We haven't decided on a time frame, so it could be 3 days or more.
pear / 1788 posts
Orlando is about an hour or more from the beach, and you will get plenty of beach time on your cruise. I would recommend the Crayola Experience, the Central Florida Zoo, and possibly Gatorland. There is also a chocolate factory and museum as well.
I personally don't like SeaWorld, and Universal Studios is Amazing, but is better suited to kids at least 6 or 7 years old.
pear / 1809 posts
I'm taking my two boys to Legoland next week! We've never been, but my kids love legos, and I heard that theme park is great for that age group. They have lots of rides for the little ones as well as playgrounds and characters experiences. We are staying at the Legoland Hotel in a pirate themed room.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
How much of the characters do they know? Universal has some fabulous kids play areas, but the rides are all similar in that they're those movie screens with moving cars that you ride.
We were just there and my 7 year old loved The Simpsons, spent an hour in the Curious George Ball factory where they launched balls at each other in a 2 story building, there are numerous splash pads and age appropriate rides in Suess Land, such as merry go rounds and the like. Harry Potter was over my son's head, though.
We also do the Kennedy Space Center, but my son has a specific interest in space, and it was a launch for a SpaceX rocket, so, I think it depends on their interest in the subject.
My son wants to go to the Crayola Experience, but this time around, we didn't have any time for it. We also love Disney Springs, they have decent restaurants and the Dino Dig is fun, as is the play area in the Lego Store there.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
We really like Reunion Resort when we stay off site. Their splash pad/lazy river/pool area is amazing.
Other than that the outlet malls are fun, and Disney Springs ! I’ve heard great things about Volcano Bay, Universal’s water park
persimmon / 1345 posts
We had fun at Legoland too! The only thing is the wait times at Legoland was looong.
We wanted to the the crayola experience but wasn’t sure if it was worth it. @mrs.microsope is it fun?
coconut / 8483 posts
My friend loves legoland. She's gone two years in a row now with her almost 5 year old and almost 3 year old.
eggplant / 11716 posts
I've been to the crayola experience near us (in PA), and I'm not in a big hurry to go back. Does anyone know if the one in FL is better?
coconut / 8472 posts
I second Reunion Resort. You can get a 2 or 3 bedroom condo and the water park is included. The kids loved it. They have a ton of regular pools and a stand-alone splash pad too.
We also loved Disney Springs and like Universal City Walk.
Are you going on a Disney cruise? We just did one a couple weeks ago and it was awesome. We’re already planning to do another in 2020.
eggplant / 11861 posts
Lego land
Sea world
Sea life aquarium on I drive
Crayola factory
City walk
Disney springs
Gator land
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Charm54: Okay, tell me more about Reunion resort. I finally found a hotel map and it seems huge. And some reviewers say you have to get into your car and drive to the water park area--is this true? It seems very spread out--is it not walkable at all?
I've narrowed it down to 2-3 places. We don't necessarily need something fancy, just a suite and a really nice pool--so Reunion might work, but not if we have to get into a car just to eat breakfast or to swim, etc.
I also found the former Nickelodeon hotel (now Holiday Inn) and those suites look cute and the water park look great for kids out age. Has anyone on this thread been there?
eggplant / 11716 posts
@FaithFertility: tell me more about CityWalk and Disney Springs. Is it mainly just restaurants and stores? What do you do with kids there?
eggplant / 11716 posts
@FaithFertility: out of SeaLife aquarium, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and Gator land, which would you most recommend for a 3 and 5 year old?
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
@Anagram: it is MASSIVE. We drove to get to the big water park. But there were lots of little pools scattered throughout. One in particular was close to our room and had a seperate splash pad/waterslide for kids that we would walk to. I’m not sure about the restaurants to be honest, we ate breakfast and lunch in our room and then ate dinner out somewhere in Orlando. The suites are absolutely gorgeous and the grounds are lovely but if you’re looking for a compact resort this definitely isn’t it.
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