Fun things to do outside the Big Three!

[mom2rose&john]

Since there is so much to do in Orlando and the surrounding area I thought it would be fun to start a thread on what you like to do outside the Big Three theme parks. What do you do when you are there other than Disney, Universal or SeaWorld?

We have gone to Gatorland and LEGOLAND. They were so much fun and would recommend if you have boys.

Kennedy Space Center was good but very expensive. The kids liked it but would rather be at a beach.

We went kayaking in the inter-coastal waterway (near Cocoa Beach). This by far was the highlight of our last trip. We were inches from Manatee and feet from Dolphins. We took a tour and the guide was great.

We have also shopped at the outlet mall. If you love to shop it will occupy an evening.

 

[Mom2SamandJames]

We visited the Clearwater Marine facility to see Winter and took their ocean life discovery boat ride also. That was a great morning. We decided to spend the rest of the day at the beach there. Our boys really loved that.

 

[missnic]

WonderWorks is pretty cool, and some friends with small children really enjoy the Crayola Experience at the FL Mall.

 

[Heffalump2761]

Giraffe Ranch - every one loved this and it is the first thing they have asked to do on our next trip

 

[Ametista]

Dade City's Wild Things looks really cool but we haven't been there yet. It's on my long list of things to do.

 

[glassslippergirl]

We had immense amounts of fun with DS3 at Crayola Experience, and we've practically become regulars at Legoland. Legoland Mid Storm classes are great (even for grown-ups) and not something most people think about doing, though you have to sign up early in the day. Legoland has announced that it will have fireworks every weekend evening this summer. I saw their Fourth of July fireworks show last year, and it was good-- not as good as Magic Kingdom's, but better than I would have seen in my home city. We will probably head back there this year. I would not recommend either of these locations for any kid over 10, but for the pre-school and elementary school crowd and their families, Crayola Experience and Legoland were both great ways to spend a day. In both cases, if you plan to go more than once in a year, an annual pass is your best deal. After Crayola Experience, we headed to the M&M store in the Florida Mall; that was lots of fun, too, for a store.

I look forward to going on the Orlando Eye this summer, which is included in our AP's to Legoland.

 

[Barbydoll8]

Some fun things
http://chocolatekingdom.com/

Disney's Wild life preserve.
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...sweprotect/the-disney-wilderness-preserve.xml

http://www.leugardens.org/

https://www.arc4raptors.org/

http://www.cwgdn.com/visitor/

Plus a bunch I probably can't think of right now. LOL Yes, I'm a local.

 

[msdroz]

Dade City's Wild Things looks really cool but we haven't been there yet. It's on my long list of things to do.

This sounded really interesting to me so I researched it a bit and apparently they are being accused of mistreatment of the animals I also couldn't find pricing for anything on their website, a little strange.

 

[Ametista]

This sounded really interesting to me so I researched it a bit and apparently they are being accused of mistreatment of the animals I also couldn't find pricing for anything on their website, a little strange.

That's too bad if they are mistreating animals. Where did you read that? They list their prices here, but you have to click on some of the links. It's not the greatest website. Basically for an adult the jungle tour plus 4 animal encounters is $79.99. I am still on the fence about going on our trip later this month.

 

[msdroz]

That's too bad if they are mistreating animals. Where did you read that? They list their prices here, but you have to click on some of the links. It's not the greatest website. Basically for an adult the jungle tour plus 4 animal encounters is $79.99. I am still on the fence about going on our trip later this month.

sorry didn't mean to be the bearer of bad news... and I don't think anything has been proven yet but I didn't like to hear it:

http://www.tbo.com/pasco-county/dade-citys-wild-things-faces-complaints-from-feds-20150926/

 

[Barbydoll8]

Yes - locally DCWT is boycotted. I wouldn't patronize them. Try this place in Sarasota if you want a great animal experience. http://bigcathabitat.org/

 

[Grumpy92]

Lakeridge Vineyard. Leu Gardens, the Orlando Science Museum, the Orange Co History Museum, Winter park scenic lake tour, Morse Museum (Winter Park), Airboat ride, Kissimmee State Park Cracker Cowboy Camp. West coast the Florida Aquarium, Bok Tower & Gardens, Fort Desoto Beach & Park and if you want a little drive the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota. East coast - St Augustine

 

[busyshrew]

Following this thread ... we are habitual returnees to Orlando. Did our first Disney trip when DD was 4 and have gone back 7 times. This will be the first year we won't be visiting one of the big 3.

 

[dalmatian7]

subbing. We are looking at going to Legoland in Nov and maybe ditching Disney for Sea World the other day we are in Orlando. We spend the rest of our trip in Daytona Beach. There is a new NASCAR attraction at the raceway, but we haven't been there. We have been to the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences. Hidden gem and much better than our local museum at home. They have an amazing planetarium. And it was only $20 for the three of us (I believe DD was free). We had the place to ourselves and she had a blast in the kids area (so did we). I enjoyed the more adult exhibits including two full size train cars. It was all indoors and air conditioned too.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Some of the non-park attractions we have enjoyed on previous Orlando vacations:

Ø Showcase of Citrus

Ø Gatorland

Ø Wild Willy’s Airboats

Ø Titanic: The Experience

Ø Outta Control Dinner Show

Ø ICE! at Gaylord Palms

Ø Cocoa Beach

Ø Gator Golf

Ø Volcano Island Mini Golf

Ø Hawaiian Rumble Mini Golf

Ø Pirates Cove Mini Golf (2 locations)

Ø Congo River Mini Golf (2 locations)

Ø Mighty Jungle Mini Golf

Ø Haunting of Ghostly Greens Mini Golf

Ø Kissimmee Go-Karts

Ø Orlando Magic Game (Amway Center)

Ø Premium Outlets (Vineland)

Ø Premium Outlets (International Dr.)

Ø Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlets

Ø Nike Clearance Store & Nike Outlet (both in Kissimmee)

Ø Ron Jon Surf Shop (Cocoa Beach)

Ø Daytona Beach

Ø Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum

Ø Makaio Watersports – Jet Skiing (Lakes Minneola & Minnehaha)

Ø Orlando Eye

Ø Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum

Ø Sea Life Aquarium

Ø Skeletons: Animals Unveiled

Ø World of Chocolate Museum & Café

Ø Wild Florida (animal park & airboat tour)

Ø Fun Spot America

Ø Dolphin Landings, St. Petersburg (dolphin sailing cruise)


The only one that was a bit of a disappointment was Ripley's Believe It Or Not. We only paid 1/2 price for our tickets, so that wasn't so bad....but had I paid full price, I'd have been rather annoyed.

 

[mom2rose&john]

Thanks gina-gin-bo-bina. I was hoping you would post. You are such a wealth of information