Orlando Science Center- Anyone Gone Before?

[HeatherC]

Hi - Just wondering if anyone has been to the Orlando Science Center and what they thought of it?

We will be in Orlando over President's Week for 12 days and were thinking of checking it out since we have free admission through the Boston Museum of Science Passport Program.

If you have been...would you recommend it? How far is it from Disney? (Staying at Bonnet Creek)

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

HeatherC

 

[makinorlando]

DD and I have been there several times - it's a big birthday party location for kids here in Orlando. She loves it - (I think once or twice was enough but I'm not a kid...) It is definitely worth the trip with the free admission. Make sure when you are there you check out the Cinodome schedule - they show some pretty interesting movies in an incredible theater! Right now they have shows on Roving Mars and Wild Safari. I would go just for some of the movies!

There are four floors worth of exhibits - http://www.osc.org/exhibits/index.htm

Lots of hands on stuff - I just let DD do her thing and follow where she wants to go! They are going this year for a class trip!

OSC is located more in downtown Orlando - off of I-4 - not too far -

I checked mapquest - and if you are talking Bonnet Creek Resort it is 21 miles - most of that drive (19.5) on I-4 so pretty quick in most cases (without any traffic tie ups!) - less than 1/2 hr.

Leu Gardens is right next to OSC which is supposed to be very nice - one of the places I personally have not been buy my DD has been with summer camp - and she loved it.....

 

[ReallyFunMom]

It's $4 to park but I think its worth if especially for your length of stay. Its a bit of a drive distance wise but goes quick b/c on I-4. I really think my kids should be too old for the kiddie play area on the first floor but they are able to play there for over 1.5 hours while we almost fall asleep on a bench waiting. (6 & 7 year old boys)

We did it in the afternoon after a couple of hours in a waterpark, could do the same idea with pooltime. Its a nice break from themeparks. You could always make it the backup rainy day plan.

We went on a Monday afternoon when we could also book Family Fun night at a chocolate factory very close to OSC. (Do a mapquest type point to point.) If you could get into a Monday night reservation, this was a big non-themepark highlight for my kids, but they love sweets. If you decide to do that I can give you a route that takes you by a bunch of restaurants from OSC to Faris and Fosters. We ate at UNO's pizza since they don't have them near us. It was good chocolate too!

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/funnights.htm

 

[noodleknitter]

One of our favorite places! They even have those machines that will make a plastic dino right before your eyes! We are members at the science museum here, and were able to get in free, which made it even better!

 

[tinaluis]

Definitely worth a trip. It's a must see for us each and every trip (our DDs are 10, 8 and 5). We, too, have a museum membership so our admission to the Science Center is FREE!!!! (Music to a parent's ears while on vacation!!!). We were able to see the planet Venus last time we were there (and it coincided with my oldest DD's lessons at school (which she missed since we were on vacation)) so her teacher let her give a presentation to the class instead of making up missed work. An extra bonus for her.

 

[HeatherC]

Thank you all so much! Now I'm excited to see it. I may have to check out the chocolate place as well!!

It's funny...we joined the Boston Museum of Science this year because we were going to take the kids for the day. When we priced the one day admission for a family of 5, it was a better deal to join for the year. Plus the benefits of getting FREE admission at other museums and zoos is really a bonus. FREE admission cannot be beat when you are vacation. Plus we go to Disney at least once a year so it will be nice to try something new.

Thanks again for all your suggestions!!!

HeatherC