Fun Things to Do this Winter in Orlando with Kids

1. Dinner Shows

Enjoy family entertainment and a delicious meal at the same time with an Orlando area dinner show. Travel back to the time of castles and knights at Medieval Times or set sail on a nautical experience at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure.

See if your kids can spot the manatees in Central Florida. Photo by Charlotte Blanton

2. Manatees

During the winter months, these gentle giants congregate by the hundreds in spring waters to stay warm. For all the details about local manatee sightings, check out the best places to see manatees near Orlando.

3. Ice Skate

Grab your skates (or rent at the venue) and glide around the ice. Ice skating rinks in Central Florida include the Orlando Ice Den in Maitland, The Ice Factory in Kissimmee, and Daytona’s Ice Arena.

4. Snowcat Ridge Snow Park

Go snow tubing and build a snowman in an Arctic igloo at Snowcat Ridge, Florida’s first and only snow park. There is also an Alpine Village with vendors and a nightly choreographed light show.

5. EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Head over to EPCOT for the annual International Festival of the Arts, January 16-February 23, 2026, which features a variety of culinary, performing, and visual arts, as well as art activities for all ages. 

6. Strawberry Picking

December through March are prime strawberry-picking months in Central Florida. Find information about all the u-pick strawberry farms near Orlando in our Strawberry Picking article. 

7. Outdoor Playgrounds

Enjoy the cooler weather outdoors and let the kids expel some energy at Orlando playgrounds. We suggest mapping out a few great playgrounds and packing a picnic lunch to make for a full day of family fun.

8. Orlando Tours

These Orlando tours offer fun, kid-friendly ways to explore Central Florida and make lasting memories for the whole family.

9. Orlando Solar Bears

Watch a live hockey game with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears at the Amway Center. Kids are sure to love Shades, the Solar Bears mascot.

10. Miniature Golf

Make some memories on the green and practice your putt with a family game of mini golf. We’ve rounded up a list of miniature golf courses around Central Florida. 

Hop on one of the many trains to explore destinations around Florida. Photo by the author

11. Scenic Train Rides

Hop on a train to explore many fun destinations throughout Florida this winter. Whether you're looking for a day trip by train or a themed train ride, we've got a list of 18 great train rides in Florida for families.

12. Botanical Gardens

There are beautiful outdoor gardens to experience around Central Florida, including Leu Gardens in Orlando, Mead Garden in Winter Park and Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales (kids can spend hours playing at the interactive Hammock Hollow Children's Garden).

13. Farmers Markets

Support local growers and artisans at fun farmers markets. On Saturdays, try out Winter Park Farmers Market, Winter Garden Farmers Market, or Lake Mary Farmers Market. On Sundays, visit Maitland Farmers Market, Downtown Orlando Farmers Market, or Mount Dora Village Market. There are also a couple of indoor markets open daily, including Plant Street Market and East End Market.

14. Swan Boats at Lake Eola

Tour downtown Orlando’s Lake Eola on a pedal-powered swan boat. Boats are available daily for rental on a first-come, first-served basis.

15. Scenic Bike Rides

Get fresh air and exercise while enjoying the sights on a family bike ride. Popular paved bike trails around Central Florida include West Orange Trail, Cross Seminole Trail, Seminole Wekiva Trail, and Spring to Spring Trail.

16. Animal Adventures

Visit with bears, rhinos, giraffes, snakes, and more with these Orlando Zoos and more places to see animals around Central Florida.

17. Showcase of Citrus

Take a famous monster truck tour and pick fresh citrus at Clermont’s Showcase of Citrus. Kids can also visit with the resident farm animals and pan for gemstones at the gem mine.

RELATED: 35 Fun Things to Do with Orlando Toddlers

Thrill to the gators and more at Gatorland. Photo courtesy of Gatorland

18. Gatorland

Visit the alligator capital of the world! Gatorland’s 110-acre theme park is home to more than 2,000 American alligators, as well as crocodiles, wild cats, birds, and snakes. Check Gatorland's website for monthly Florida resident deals.

19. Winter Staycation

Orlando is famous for family-friendly hotels and resorts —plan a winter weekend staycation and enjoy all the amenities they have to offer. Check out our guide of some of the best Orlando hotels for families.

20. Hiking Trails

Take the kids on a nature walk on one of these local kid-friendly hikes around Orlando. You can even paint some rocks ahead of time to bring and hide for others to find.

21. Florida's Cowboy Culture

Go glamping at a dude ranch, see a rodeo, and more at these places for kids to play cowboy in Florida.

22. Bonnet Springs Park

Located in Lakeland, Bonnet Springs Park is a beautiful, free outdoor destination perfect for a family day trip. The cooler winter months make it an ideal time to visit and explore the park without the heat.

23. Popcorn Flicks in the Park

The City of Winter Park and Enzian Theater team up to host this FREE monthly outdoor movie event in Central Park.

24. Scottish Highland Games

Celebrate Scottish culture at the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games in Winter Springs or the Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival.

25. Character Meals

Make mealtime silly and dine with Mickey, Minnie, and their pals at these character dining options in Orlando.

Battle it out at an indoor play space like Altitude. Photo by the author

26. Indoor Play Spaces & Entertainment

When it's too rainy or cold to go outdoors this winter, head to an indoor entertainment center, with options including arcades, go-karts, and trampoline parks. For little ones, check out the top indoor play spaces for kids in Orlando.

27. Escape Rooms

Work together as a family to see if you can beat the clock at one of these Orlando escape room attractions.

28. Universal's Epic Universe

Check out Universal Orlando's newest theme park, Epic Universe. With fewer shady spots, cooler weather makes it the ultimate time to experience everything this epic park has to offer!

29. Camping

Pack up the camper for a getaway at great Florida campgrounds. Gather around the campfire, make s'mores, and enjoy great amenities at these campsites.

30. Disney Springs

Get your Disney fix while avoiding the big park admission prices at Disney Springs, which offers tons of great things to see and do with kids.