There's no need to wait until kids are in elementary school to bring them to Orlando-not when every park has plenty to wow the littlest park goers and their parents, including big, interactive play areas designed just for them.
Come when older kids are in school-like in May or September and you can save significantly!
 |
| And if you're visiting Virginia's Historic Triangle this summer, Kingsmill is the place to stay! |
Use my Kids Guide to Orlando to plan with the kids.
Families with young kids are trekking to LEGOLAND Florida, about 45 minutes from Orlando where the entire park is geared to young kids:
DUPLO VALLEY, scheduled to open this month, is designed so even toddlers can drive a tractor and help farmers plow a field. There's an adjacent splash area set among larger than life farm animals. I love the Fresh from Florida that shows kids how food goes from farm to table and LEGO City allows kids to explore a town scaled down just for them, even attending a junior driving school.
At Disney World: The Magic Kingdom has the classics like "It's a Small World," celebrating its 50th anniversary and new attractions like The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the family-style coaster that's the newest attraction in The New Fantasy Land. That's also where the kids have the chance to meet their favorite princesses at A Princess Fairytale Hall, walk through the Enchanted Mirror in Belle's cottage to the Beast's castle and cool off at the Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak station.
Let your little paleontologists dig for fossils at the The Boneyard at Dinoland U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom; literally Turtle Talk with Crush, that loveable animated creature at Epcot's The Seas with Nemo & Friends, or play in the amazing Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure at Disney's Hollywood Studios which recreates the set from the classic Disney movie as a huge playground.
At Sea World: Shamu's Happy Harbor includes a four-story play area of climbing nets, tunnels, water slides and a water maze, a Sea Carousel, and more. Young kids especially like the always hilarious sea lions Clyde and Seamore and Pets Ahoy!, where dogs and cats take the stage.
If the lines aren't too long, Antartica: Empire of the Penguin" starts with an adorable animated Penguin Puck taking you on a tour of the South Pole and ends with a visit to a live Penguin colony.
Universal of course is famous for its thrill rides but there is a lot for young kids, starting with Universal Island's of Adventure, Seussland especially. The Olive is three-story boat-themed play area where kids can run around and shoot water cannons.
Next door, at Universal Studios Woody Woodpecker's KidZone is complete with Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster. And Curious George Goes to Town offers a water playground with pipes, spray guns, giant roof buckets that dump water on those below, a foam-ball playground with chutes, tubes and more.
But when the kids have had enough, head back to the hotel-and the swimming pool!
