Top 5 non-Disney things to do with kids

[Cameo]

What would you say are the top 5 non-Disney things to do with kids around Orlando? I am traveling for a training session in August and DH and kids (DD8, DS6) will be coming along. We are Disney veterans and were just there in March. Dad and kids would like to do something besides the parks on the days that I am in class. What do you recommend?

 

[spoiltrotten12]

We always like to drive down to Kissimmee's Old Town and browse some of the shops on the 192.

 

[isla bonita]

Shopping for me and my daughter, go karts for my sons and husband, lots of swimming for all of us, picked our own fruit and the we could not believe how hard it was to pull a grapefruit off of a tree, mini golf, and again more swimming.
Our group never has enough swimming.

 

[ms.ojo]

Sea World is very different from Disney Parks...we love to incorporate it every other trip or two.

When dh or I are at a conference usually the other spends time w/ the kids at the hotel pool. Perhaps venturing for DTD or shopping at the outlet mall Disney store. Minigolf might be fun. Or a water park if your dh is game. I've heard good things about Gatorland from friends too.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

5) WonderWorks
4) Pirate's Dinner Adventure
3) FunSpot
2) Gatorland
1) Kennedy Space Center

 

[HappyLawyer]

shucks, just read my signature!

 

[gw_lit]

Orlando Science Center

They have a ton of great exhibits for the age of your kiddos, plus a planetarium and Cinedome (think giant, domed IMAX).

 

[JRButtercup]

Where do they have go carts?

 

[isla bonita]

You can find it next to the ferris wheel on I Drive.

 

[skater]

Gatorland! So much fun and laid back compared to the Disney World parks. Its a good "down" day. The shows are interesting and funny. There's a fun "sprayground" for the kids. Be sure to spring for a picture of your family holding an alligator or snake - its one of our best sourvenirs. Also, the petting zoo is fun, and the staff interaction with the kids is great.

 

[spiceycat]

www.old-town.com

www.gatorland.com

www.universalorlando.com

www.seaworld.com

shopping at LBV factory mall
http://www.orlandotouristinformationbureau.com/shopping/malls.htm

http://www.amazingexotics.com/

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art5523.html

http://www.greenmeadowsfarm.com/

http://www.boksanctuary.org/

http://www.jungleadventures.com/

http://www.cypressgardens.com/

http://www.silversprings.com/

for more stuff see
http://www.floridakiss.com/do/index.php

http://www.orlandoinfo.com/
this one is harder under Orlando - there is a list of things to do - you must click on each selection (attractions, dinning, nightlife) individual.

 

[spiceycat]

you can get discount tickets for must of the above here

www.ticketmania.com

go on mousesavers and get on her mailing address.

 

[mugsy]

I was in Orlando last week (off-site) and found a very nice change from Disney with my 5 year old son. We went to a wonderful breakfast at the B-Line Diner in the Orlando Peabody Hotel (fun atmosphere, great, if not cheap, food, and an excellent duck-themed coloring book). We hung around until 11am, and then watched the duck procession from the elevator to the marble fountain in the middle of the lobby (done on a red carpet). Very charming. The hotel is hard to miss -- it's the one with the big duck symbol on the tower on International Drive (near the convention center). Best part of all -- seeing the ducks was free!

 

[darkacre]

Want a fun trip for an all-day non-Disney activity? Road trip to Caladesi Island.

It's about a two hour drive to the Gulf Coast, just north of Tampa/St. Pete.
You have to then park the car and take a ferry to the island. Once there, you have the beach to yourselves and maybe 40 other people. You can rent an umbrella and chair on the beach. The water is warm and full over seashells for the kids. There are nature trails. Showers. A snack shack and gift shop. All the comforts of a developed beach, but all the flavor of a deserted island.

After four hours, you catch a ferry back, tired but happy. With drive and all, its an 8-9 adventure. Oh, and Caladesi Island was just named the #2 beach in the United States according to something I saw on Yahoo last week.

('course, if I was in a seminar, I'd want them to wait until I could go, too)

 

[RedAlfalfa]

Try Festival Bay Mall if you like shopping. There is an indoor skate park (my 3 yr old loved watching the skaters), a glow in the dark mini golf place, and other fun stuff. We easily spent a day just walking around the mall. It's off International Drive.