You can't just sit in the waiting room and wait for your flight to take off. You can visit many places near the airport where you can enjoy time with your children and relax from all the chaos of traveling.
Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, so it's no surprise that there are many things to do on the ground while you wait for your next flight! Here are some fun activities that will keep everyone entertained and happy while they wait for their next flight to board.
Location
The airport is about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of downtown Orlando and just off Interstate 4, which links the city to Tampa and Daytona Beach.
Things To Do Near Orlando Airport Mco With Kids - Fun Things To Do
We had the plan to visit Disney World in December last year. It was get together of old high school friends after getting married to our kids. We were lucky to have an early flight from Orlando Airport MCO; the place where we could go together was Universal Studios.
It was our first time visiting Universal Studios with our kids; our flight landed at MCO Orlando. Instead of reaching Universal Studios, we decided to wait for our friends at the airport. I started looking for places where we could kill time. I read somewhere that when your flight is delayed, you must get to engage in doing Things Near Orlando Airport Mco With Kids. The airport is one of the most boring places to stay, especially if you have kids. You can't just go home because you must carry them back when it is time for boarding. So, there are things that you can do near the airport to kill some time and make it more interesting for your kids, who will be bored otherwise.
We took a cab from the hotel lobby and went straight to this restaurant called The Rusty Bucket. It's not far from the airport, and it has delicious food! It's very family-friendly, so don't worry about bringing your kids along too! The menu has all kinds of American favorites like burgers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes that even your picky eaters will love! Plus, they have a lot of options for vegetarians too!
List To Do Things
Here are some other best things to do near Orlando Airport Mco with kids:
Explore the Terminal
The first thing you should do when your flight is delayed is to explore the terminal where you are.
Check out the Duty-Free Stores
If you need to buy some gifts for loved ones, then this is the best time for you to go and check out the Duty-Free stores in your airport terminal. A duty-free store is where items are sold at duty-free prices, meaning that they are sold without tax or tariffs being added by government authorities or other organizations like airport authorities. This means that they are cheaper than they would be outside of an airport terminal. You can also find many items like perfumes, cigars, cigarettes, and alcohol, among others, being sold in these stores. If you are interested in buying these items, make sure you have enough money when exploring a duty-free store because if not, you might end up spending more than you had planned!
Visit Disney Springs Marketplace
If you love Disney, visiting Disney Springs Marketplace is essential in Orlando. It is close to the Orlando International Airport and has plenty of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options for kids and adults alike. Check out their website for details of everything on offer at this amazing place.
Gift Shops
There were two Disney stores at the airport, two Universal Studios gift shops, and a Sea World gift shop.
Disney Shops
There are dozens of shops at Orlando Airport MCO, including a Disney Store, a candy store, and several boutiques.
Restaurants
There are more than 15 restaurants at Orlando Airport MCO, including Chili’s Grill & Bar, California Pizza Kitchen, and Wolfgang Puck Express. You can also grab snacks from Auntie Anne’s Pretzels or Starbucks Coffee Company.
Spas
Relaxation is key when you’re traveling with kids! Visit the Bliss Spa for a manicure or pedicure, or take advantage of The Salon by XpresSpa for blowouts or massages. You can even get a facial at Clarins Beauty Lounge if you need extra help recovering from jet lag.
Things To Do In Hyatt Regency Mco Hotel
The Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport hotel is just minutes from Orlando International Airport. The hotel is connected to the airport terminal, so getting from one place to another is easy. This makes it a great option for families who want to spend time at the airport before or after their flight. You can have breakfast at the hotel restaurant or grab a snack before heading to your gate. There are also plenty of attractions nearby that kids will love, including Legoland Florida and Disney Springs.
Visit SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are both located near the airport, making them great options for families who want to visit one or both parks during their stay in Florida. SeaWorld has dolphin shows, animal encounters, and rides like Journey To Atlantis. At the same time, Busch Gardens offers roller coasters like SheiKra and Falcon's Fury and animal attractions, including Howl-O-Scream at night (which includes mazes based on film franchises such as Twilight). Both parks offer discounted tickets during slower times of the year or if you're staying at a nearby hotel.
Go to the Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center is about 45 minutes from Orlando International Airport, so it's a great option for those who have time before their flight home. Visitors can tour the Vehicle Assembly Building, where rockets were constructed, and see historic rockets, including Apollo 11's Saturn V rocket which launched man to the moon in 1969. There are also exhibits about space exploration throughout history, such as an early space suit worn by astronauts during missions into orbit around Earth (or "low earth orbit" since we've been back).
Visit Legoland Florida
Legoland Florida is about 20 miles from Orlando International Airport and has plenty of activities for children of all ages, including rides, shows, and hands-on crafts. There are also live shows featuring characters like Lego Batman throughout the day and evening hours, so kids will never be bored while they're there!
Go on a Cruise
Many cruises depart from Orlando, but Disney's Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular. The ships are themed after popular Disney movies like Toy Story and Frozen. There are activities for kids of all ages and shows featuring characters from their favorite movies, including Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Belle, and more.
Titanic Exhibition Near The Airport
This museum is dedicated to the Titanic and has interactive exhibits that will fascinate both children and adults alike. The museum offers free admission, so it's a great way to spend an hour or two before your flight home.
Nona Adventure Park
Nona Adventure Park is also within walking distance of MCO airport (about 10 minutes). This large park features a ropes course, mini golf and paintball, and other activities, including laser tag, batting cages, and go-karts. Nona also has a restaurant on-site, so you can grab lunch or dinner before returning to the airport.
This is one of the most popular theme parks in Orlando. It has many rides for children of all ages, and its location makes reaching most hotels in the area easy. There are also many restaurants nearby, so there's no need for lunch or dinner inside the park. You can also visit their website for more information about what's available at this park, including ticket prices.
Water Parks
There are two water parks near Orlando Airport: Wet 'n' Wild and Aquatica. Both offer rides that go up, down, and around. The park at Wet 'n' Wild is located within walking distance from the airport; Aquatica is further away but still an easy drive.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
For something quick and casual, try one of these kid-friendly restaurants nearby:
Wolfie's Restaurant
This family-friendly restaurant has multiple locations outside Orlando airport, including Winter Park, Kissimmee, and Sanford/Lake Mary. It's open 24 hours a day, so it's a great option for those who arrive late at night after flights or have early morning departures. The menu includes burgers, salads, sandwiches, and more!
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is another popular chain restaurant that serves steaks, ribs, and other classic American dishes like chicken tenders and salads! You'll find locations all over Florida, including this one near Orlando Airport!
Other Things
Other things to do include walking through the Rocket Garden and seeing all the rockets on display there. You can also ride on one of two full-size shuttles still in operation, Atlantis and Endeavour, which were used for space shuttle flights before being decommissioned by NASA. The kids might enjoy seeing Mission Control, where all of these missions were coordinated, and learning more about how they worked with American and Russian counterparts (if they're old enough).
Free Things To Do Near Orlando Airport Mco With Kids
But there are also plenty of free activities you can enjoy with your family while waiting for your flight.
Airport Lakes Parks
South Port Community Park is located at 901 South Port Boulevard, about two miles from MCO. The park has playgrounds, picnic areas, and basketball courts. It's open every day from 6:30 am-10 pm, except Monday when it closes at 8 pm because of mowing schedules.
South Port Community Park
Orlando International Airport has two lakes — Lake Marie and Lake Bryan — that are part of its wildlife management program. The lakes are stocked with fish, allowing anglers to enjoy fishing without venturing far from home.
Lake Bryan
Lake Bryan is located at the end of the North Terminal's Concourse B, while Lake Marie is located between Concourses A and C in front of the baggage claim area. Both lakes have boat ramps allowing boaters to access Lake Bryan from the north side of Lake Marie from the south side.
Frost Art Museum
The Frost Art Museum is a wonderful place to take visitors and locals alike. It has some amazing works of art that will impress anyone who visits. You can also take a guided tour of the museum, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at some of its most popular exhibits and some of its most unique pieces in storage. If you want something educational, this museum is perfect for you.
Wind Up
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