Planning a family trip to Florida but unsure where to start? Grab your luggage and travel along as we uncover the best things to do with kids in Kissimmee.
If someone says ‘Orlando’, I bet you think ‘Disney’ – it’s an almost Pavlovian response. And that’s no surprise because for 50 years (ever since Disney World opened in central Florida) this region has been a firm favourite with British families wanting to lose themselves in the land of Mickey and Donald.
You wouldn’t want your kids to miss the rollercoaster thrills and illuminated parades because these add up to a fantastical rite of passage. But Kissimmee – the pocket of the Sunshine State just south-west of Orlando, and actually closer to the theme parks – has other attractions too, which means it’s worth allowing extra time for other experiences when your Disney park passes have run out.
Here are some of my top recommendations for family fun in Kissimmee, Florida.
Fun things to do with kids in Kissimmee
Get snappy at Gatorland
Covering a sweeping 110 acres, the self-proclaimed ‘alligator capital of the world’ sets out its stall from the start, greeting visitors at the entrance with a vast set of steel gator jaws.
Inside the park, you can climb an observation tower in search of 14-foot alligators and crocs in the breeding marsh – look out for the rare white leucistic alligators.
But it’s not all sharp teeth and death rolls. Gatorland also has birds in a free-flight aviary, nature trails to follow, a train to ride, some breathtaking ziplines to zoom along (including an accessible one for those with restricted mobility), a splash park and a host of shows to watch.
Soak it all up at Island H2O Water Park
The newest waterpark in Florida, Island H2O has a host of flumes and slides, ranging from heart-stopping 300-foot headfirst plunges to more tranquil rides in rubber rings.
If you’re there in November and December, the park is decked out in magical illuminations each evening during its Night of a Million Lights attraction (which also raises money for a non-profit resort providing vacations for critically ill kids).
Sleep in style
Margaritaville Resort is an exceptional spot to base the family during your visit. The resort is a ‘village’ of impeccable cottages, with comfortable sitting rooms and spacious bedrooms, little terraces for al-fresco meals and well-equipped kitchens (containing cooking appliances, dishwashers and even washing machines, if that’s how you want to spend your holiday time…).
If you don’t fancy cooking, there are several places to eat at the resort, including the top drawer Euphoria Fish House, with its show kitchen and fresh seafood dishes. Some villas have their own pools, and others even rooftop hot-tubs, but there’s also an excellent complex of swimming pools and the resort hosts regular poolside entertainment, competitions and dinner shows.
You’re also a stone’s throw from the Island H2O Water Park if you want something a little more ‘high-octane’.
Test your nerves at Universal Orlando
Roll up, roll up (and down and all around) to ride the new and speediest rollercoaster in Florida. I can testify firsthand that the Jurassic World Velocicoaster is properly heart-stopping, an all-action attraction that climbs to 155 feet and includes a 360-degree spin.
The build-up to the ride is impressive too, drawing you into the story behind your journey through the velociraptor dinosaur paddock. This is in the Islands of Adventure section of Universal’s theme park, but you’ll also want to make a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Here you’ll board the Hogwarts Express – where clever screen effects make you feel like you’re on the train with Harry, Ron and Hermione – stroll the streets of Hogsmeade (stopping for a meal at the Hog’s Head), ride a Hippogriff with Hagrid, and take a fabulous, 3D dive into the vaults of Gringotts (this was our favourite ride of all, and a real must-do).
Tamer rides include a bicycle flight above the forests helping ET go home and a zany dip into the world of the Cat in the Hat in the Seuss Zone, while Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast pits you against other players to be as fiendish as possible, joining those notorious Minions, Belle Bottom and Jean Clawed in a rip-roaring quest to become a super-villain. An Express Lane pass will give you quicker access to most of the rides, although it more than doubles the cost of your park tickets.
Take a hot air balloon ride above the city
Bob’s Balloons (+1 407 466 6380) has been giving people a bird’s eye view of Kissimmee for decades – indeed, Bob’s been obsessed with hot-air balloons since he was a teenager, and logged his first official flight in 1981. ‘I used to be in real estate,’ Bob told me, as we floated at 1,500 feet, ‘but this is more relaxing – and I didn’t fancy having a heart attack like my dad!’
You’ll meet Bob at dawn, and the precise launch – and landing – sites depend on the wind conditions. Of course, the region is more developed than it once was, and you’ll look down over not only woods and swamps but more manicured gardens and golf courses, all the while keeping your eyes peeled for alligators.
But it’s still a wonderful way to start the day, and you’ll finish with a glass of bubbly. It’s rather better than a life in real estate.
Live out your Hollywood fantasies
One in the Disney franchise, Hollywood Studios has all the glitz and glamour you’d expect. This theme park celebrates Hollywood’s best, with a live Indiana Jones stunt show and rides across different themed zones, including Toy Story Mania, in which you test your aim by shooting targets with a laser gun at a high-tech fun fair.
The park’s biggest draw, though, is Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – an area devoted to all things Star Wars. You can stroll the streets of the Black Spire Outpost on Planet Batuu (be prepared to be asked to show your papers to stormtoopers on the hunt for rebels), captain the Millennium Falcon on a hair-raising smuggling excursion, and pitch in to fight the First Order in the park’s latest attraction – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
You can purchase Lightning Lane access to jump the queue, although you can only use this once every two hours.
Go wild…
Wild Florida aims to educate visitors about conservation, while serving up a good dollop of entertainment along the way. The park features various habitats for you to explore, containing not just reptiles but mammals like bobcats and two-toed sloths. You get the chance to speak to those who work there, and hear the challenges and rewards of looking after these animals.
There’s a boardwalk through a cypress swamp, a children’s playground, and the chance for ‘animal encounters’, where you join one of the team to feed the animals and take part in an activity designed to keep them stimulated and engaged. Best of all is the 170-acre drive-through safari park, containing giraffes, bison and many more species in different habitat landscapes.
Get boggling
Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures is a family business that started 25 years ago at a fish camp on Lake Tohopekaliga.
As the name suggests, there are airboat tours, but there’s now much more too, including a 60-foot-long butterfly garden (with a boardwalk so you can meander through and enjoy the flowers while the kids learn about the insects’ lifecycle) and a replica of a Native American village of the Jororo tribe that used to occupy this region, complete with chickee huts containing genuine artefacts.
Experience Disney’s educational side
From the outset, Epcot was the ‘instructive’ corner of the Disney empire. It’s here that you’ll find the World Village, offering a Disneyfied take on the architecture and cuisine of some great cities; Living with the Land, a gentle ride through a simulated rainforest and desert that ends at the Epcot greenhouse (where they are currently testing innovative techniques for growing sustainable produce); and Mission: Space, where you can join an astronaut training simulator on a journey to Mars.
But this is Disney, so there’s unapologetic fun too, including the newest ride – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a big-budget roller-coaster that launches backwards (the first coaster to do so) before hurtling at high speed through dark tunnels and past flashing lights.
At least I think it does – I had my eyes closed the whole time and braced so hard I gave myself stomach cramp…
Prefer the real thing to a simulation? Don’t miss our guide to the best desert railways in the US.
Try your hand at hang-gliding
No one’s done more hang-gliding than Malcolm Jones – he’s been taking people high above his Wallaby Ranch (+1 863 557 4600) for more than 30 years, which he reckons adds up to 50,000 flights or so. He’s a bright spark too, attaching wheels to his tandem gliders to smooth out the take-offs and landings.
There’s no experience required for tourists who want to try – Malcolm will strap you in beside him before you’re both towed up into the sky by a small plane to ride the thermals and soak up the views. His ranch also has camping facilities.
Join an anniversary celebration
The Magic Kingdom is the original Disney World park, and it’s just recently hit the big 50th anniversary. You know what to expect: the landmark Cinderella Castle, daily parades featuring all the old cartoon character favourites, lots of food, lots of rides and a whole lot more besides.
There are slicker parks on the scene now, and some of the Magic Kingdom’s rides feel dated by comparison, but I find this adds to the charm. And there are anyway some new attractions for thrill-seekers, including TRON Lightcycle/Run – one of Disney’s fastest rollercoasters – which is based on the futuristic film of the 1980s (and its 2010 sequel).
Eat well
For a slightly more upmarket take on Florida’s famous fast food restaurants, head to the well-heeled Doctor Phillips district for a meal at The Hampton Social. This funkily elegant spot, with its weathered floorboards and organic ceiling covered in living plants, is popular with youngsters but makes room too for families.
Choose from a range of options, including shrimp tacos, burgers and pizzas – stuff to satisfy the kids, but with sufficient refinement to please the adults too.
- Recommended reading: what food is Alabama famous for?
How to do it
America As You Like It offers a 7- or 14-night Florida fly-drive from £806/906pp (family of four total from £3,225/3,625), including flights from Heathrow to Orlando, car hire, and room-only accommodation at Maingate Lakeside, Kissimmee. Based on two adults, 2 children (2-11yrs).
Floridatix is a UK specialist that offers tickets to attractions all over Florida, including theme parks, airboat tours, sporting events, day trips and more. You can buy a Disney & Universal Combo Ticket (from £842/adult and £806/child) that gives holders unlimited access to nine theme parks across 14 days. All Floridatix tickets can be reserved with a £20 deposit and paid in instalments.
More information
For more information, check out the Experience Kissimmee and Visit Florida websites.
Or, see our guide to travelling the USA by rail.