Kid Friendly Rainy Day Activities in Orlando

If you are planning to visit Central Florida in the summer, there is a good chance you might need to find some indoor things to in Orlando. While Florida is called the Sunshine State, known for its warm weather and sunny skies, it actually gets a good bit of rain, especially in the summer months!

In fact, if you are visiting Orlando in the summer months through September, you can expect rain once a day. And not just a drizzle – it often thunderstorms every afternoon!  Packing a poncho in your suitcase in case you want to brave the theme parks in the rain is always a good idea.

Another Reason to Head Indoors? The Florida Heat

It is also pretty hot that time of year, so having some indoor things to do in Orlando on your itinerary will make sure you can suck up A/C when you need it. As a former resident, I can tell you that Floridians spend time indoors in the summer afternoons to beat the heat and rain. And, finding some reprieve in the air conditioning can be much-needed during the hottest times of the day, especially for the youngest kids.

And then there are the winter months. While you may not find snow in Orlando, it can have some chilly days.

But don’t worry! The rain, heat and cold don’t need to disrupt your Florida vacation.

TravelingMom Tip: Check out these fun things to do in Orlando with kids when it isn’t raining!

Kid-Friendly Indoor Things To Do in Orlando

There are so many indoor Orlando attractions, you’ll find plenty of things to do! You can definitely enhance your Central Florida vacation with one of Orlando’s awesome indoor attractions. Here are our TravelingMom tried and true favorites!

2021 Update: Please check with each of these locations prior to visiting. They may require advanced, online reservations and have requirements like mask-wearing in place, limited capacity or limited hours. 

The Crayola Experience

The Crayola Experience is by far our favorite indoor kid-friendly Orlando activity. I personally believe it is the most underrated activity for kids in central Florida. I’m constantly telling friends and family about how much fun it is and people rarely know it’s there.

Located in the Florida Mall, it’s in a central location, making it an easy drive for anyone visiting the Orlando area. I’m not kidding when I say that my 4-year-old has told me he likes “Crayon World” more than Disney.

If you are looking for a fun way to entertain kids that are 10 and under on a rainy day, The Crayola Experience should be on your list. You can easily spend 2-4 hours at The Crayola Experience if you have a kid that loves arts & crafts. Learn even more here.

 

M&M’s at Disney Springs

M&M’s huge store is located at Disney Springs, part of Walt Disney World. My kids loved enjoying an immersive M&M experience there. What kid wouldn’t want to curate their perfect colors of M&Ms? M&M’s is where you can do that and have an interactive experience with M&M’s chocolates.

TravelingMom Tip:  While trips to Disney World and Universal are well worth doing on your trip to Orlando, it is always nice to have a day off. These indoor activities in Orlando are perfect to fill those days and get a break from the heat!

Splitsville

An indoor thing to do in Orlando with teens is a couple of rounds of bowling at Splitsville at Disney Springs. Enjoy some strikes and turkeys, then have a meal at this super fun, thematic bowling alley and diner.

Epic Movie Theaters

While there are a few AMC Movie theaters around Orlando, one of the nicest and easiest to get to from the theme parks is the AMC Movie Theater at Disney Springs. Universal also has a movie theater called  Universal Cinemark at Universal City Walk (near Universal Studios). It’s a good indoor thing to do on a rainy day and maybe catch the latest Disney or Marvel superhero flick! Looking for an IMAX? Check out Regal Pointe Orlando for IMAX and 4DX movies.

Shopping And Dining At Disney Springs and Malls

If spending a day mostly outdoors at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando is not on the list for the day, you can still get your magic and spend time (mostly) indoors by shopping and dining at Disney Springs. There are plenty of wonderful restaurants and shops, both Disney-themed and non-Disney-themed. You may need an umbrella to get from place to place on a stormy day, but it is still a great indoor activity to do in Orlando, rain or shine.

If you are looking for an indoor shopping experience, check out The Florida Mall or the Mall At Millenia for a premium mall shopping experience. Want to grab some deals? The Premium Outlets on International Drive are a great stop on your indoor itinerary.

Orlando Science Center

This is a must-visit for kids of all ages, even if you aren’t visiting Orlando on a rainy day.

The Orlando Science Center has four stories of interactive exhibits and hands-on learning activities, including digging for fossils, Toddler Town, Kids Town, Planet Pioneers, Science Live and more. This interactive experience will keep kids busy for hours.

Expect to spend at least four hours. The onsite cafe is the perfect place for lunch.

Laser Tag and Escape Rooms

When looking for indoor activities for preteens and teens, laser tag and escape rooms are all the rage! There are several options in Orlando. The Escape Game is right on International Drive, and a great one for kids ages 13 and up.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is a great indoor game center that includes laser tag, indoor mini Mario Kart go-karts, virtual reality video games, arcade games, a bowling alley and more. It has an endless supply of fun things for kids to do indoors. Kids will love it as much as the theme parks!

Titanic Artifact Museum Orlando

Orlando is all about thematic attractions, and the Titanic Artifact Museum is no different!  It is a unique museum experience that takes you back into 1912 as you learn about what happened on the Titanic. The experience includes guided tours, costumed actors, interactive exhibits, a look at artifacts and more. It is suitable for kids of all ages, and definitely a unique indoor thing to in Orlando!

 

Explore the Attractions on I-Drive

There are so many different things to do on International Drive, nicknamed I-Drive. You can pick one main activity or if you really need to fill up your rainy day in Orlando, do everything on this list!

I-Drive 360

The easiest way to entertain kids on I-Drive is to hunker down at I-Drive 360, home of The Orlando Eye. While you probably won’t get to experience The Orlando Eye on a rainy day, you can still have fun exploring the other family-friendly attractions.

While at I-Drive, check out these attractions that are great for entertaining kids on a rainy day:

Sea Life Orlando Aquarium

If you aren’t planning on visiting Seaworld, spend a few hours exploring the Sea Life Aquarium at I-Drive. This includes a touch tank, daily shows with feedings and even behind-the-scenes tours.

 

Madame Tussauds Orlando Wax Museum

I know what you’re thinking. Are kids who love amusement parks actually entertained by a wax museum? Yes, the answer is, absolutely, if your kids love taking pictures with TV and movie characters. Stop in to get a picture with Shrek, E.T. and Kung Fu Panda. The Madame Tussauds is actually a popular family-friendly attraction.

 

Skeletons: Museum of Osteology

If your kids love science and learning, then you will definitely want to entertain them with 500 real skeletons.

TravelingMom Tip: Ticket prices for I-Drive attractions are cheapest when you bundle them together. Go ahead and buy a ticket for The Orlando Eye to bring down the price. If the weather is too bad for a ride, you can get a rain check to use over the next 30 days.

Additional I-Drive Attractions

WonderWorks

If the famous upside-down house doesn’t entertain your kids from the get-go, the inside attractions will. There are nine different attractions inside WonderWorks that are even fun for teenagers, including an indoor ropes course! Expect to spend at least four hours exploring everything they have to offer.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

If you are looking for an attraction that will also entertain the adults, this is the place to go. There are all sorts of weird things to learn at Ripley’s.

Expect to stay for 1-2 hours, but don’t expect the young kids to enjoy this as much as the hands-on experiences in Orlando.

Medieval Times

If the kids have their hearts set on a fireworks show at one of the amusement parks, but it gets rained out, try a dinner show instead. Medieval Times is a ton of fun for kids, even young ones. We even took our 6-month-old and he was entertained during the show.

 

Kennedy Space Center

About an hour’s drive from Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee and Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center is well worth it if you are looking for something to do on a rainy day.  While some of it is outdoors, most of the attractions are actually indoors (you just have to walk outdoors to get from building to building.)

It is an excellent place to visit with kids to learn all about space, space shuttles and even see the launch pads where rockets are being launched regularly!   My space loving kids had an amazing time, and it is very educational as well! The Kennedy Space Center is definitely one of our family’s favorite indoor things to do in Orlando.

 

TravelingMom Tip: Plan to spend a full day there. There is a lot to see!

Even Rainy Days are Fun in Orlando

Here are some more tours and activities from Get Your Guide:

 

 

With so much to do in Orlando, even a rainy day can be fun. There are so many different indoor activities geared to kids that you’re sure to find something to lift your spirits on a gloomy day. The best part about all of these attractions is that they are always changing.

We go to Orlando often and end up visiting the same attractions over and over again and rarely get bored since the attractions are good about adding in new entertainment. It’s enough to keep us visiting all of these Orlando places, rain or shine!