Top 18 AMAZING Indoor Activities in Orlando (So You Can Beat the Heat!)

Hey, there, MouseEars TV fans! We’ve whipped together something we think you’re going to love – a concoction of the best indoor activities in Orlando!

This might seem a little counterintuitive for a visit to Florida – AKA the ultimate outdoor paradise full of nature and the world’s best theme parks. Why would you come here just to stay indoors?? Well, for some visitors – and especially first-time visitors – the climate of our fair state can come as a bit of a shock.

In fact, visiting Florida in the summertime has been creatively described as: “Landing in an inferno; the surface of the sun; the devil’s playground; the center of hell itself!” (We love our Content Editor!) Oh, but don’t let that scare you off! This is why we’ve made a list of top indoor activities in Orlando to beat the heat and have a great vacation!

The Coolest Indoor Activities in Orlando

Keep cool and experience Florida at the same time when you visit these fun attractions! We’ve not ranked them in any particular order, as they’re all unique and don’t necessarily compare to each other. What you want to do the most will depend on your family’s taste in fun, but no matter which of these indoor activities you choose, you can rest easy knowing you’re walking into an air-conditioned wonderland.

1 – DEZERLAND Park

Let’s start with the first of two enormous indoor attractions on our list, both of which be found on International Drive in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district. DEZERLAND Park could be classified as an indoor theme park rather than a single attraction. However, you will need to pay a la carte for everything, unlike the simplicity of a single-ticket theme park.

Nevertheless, with over 800,000 sq. ft. of thrills, fun, and activities, you will never run out of exciting things to do here. The possibilities for guests can, at times, seem endless, with options like a state-of-the-art arcade, classic car museum, indoor go-karting, 007 museum & lounge, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, bowling alley, pinball room, bumper cars, laser tag, and much more. In fact, DEZERLAND offers a total of 16 different attractions, with 16 more unique shops and restaurants, as well as a full-size twelve-screen Cinemark movie theater!

Have some fun at Jump Start Trampoline Park or Axecelcior Axe Throwing. Stroll over to Bass Pro Shop for some great shopping, and then finish your visit with a stop at Amigo Burrito or Milk, the all-you-can-eat Cereal Bar. Best of all, you can do it all in the comfortable, cool breeze of a seventy-degree central air system. Ah, paradise!

2 – Splitsville Luxury Lanes

There are several luxury-style bowling allies throughout the Orlando area, all of which you and your family could well enjoy. However, our pick for a great afternoon of bowling is Splitsville at Disney Springs.

With 50,000 square feet of bowling, billiards, bars, and live entertainment, the whole crew is bound to have a great time here!

Splitsville also doubles as a full-service restaurant with great food and mixed drinks. They offer a fantastic selection of appetizers, healthy salads, gourmet pizzas, fresh sushi, sandwiches, main dishes, and delectable desserts. Some of our favorites include the BBQ Chicken Pizza, Golden Spider Sushi Roll, Blackened Chicken, and Southern Goddess salads. Also, be sure to end your visit with one of their great desserts. We suggest the Ghirardelli Brownie A La Mode. (A great way to cool down on a sweltering summer day!)

For those of you looking for more adult-oriented refreshment, try a Guava Lemonade made with Stoli Vodka, guava, fresh-squeezed lemon, simple syrup, and a splash of soda water. There’s no doubt that Splitsville at Disney Springs is one of the best indoor activities in Orlando!

3 – The Crayola Experience

Located in the comfort of the Florida Mall (one of Orlando’s premier shopping experiences), you can find the Crayola Experience, a four-hour magical journey into all things whimsical and colorful.

Be the star of your very own coloring page through state-of-the-art technology, learn how crayons are made through the fun of a live show, and even create, name, and wrap your own crayon creation! You and the kids will have a blast experiencing this one-of-a-kind colorful attraction located right here in the city beautiful.

When you are done, be sure to spend some time in the Crayola store! The largest store of its kind, you’ll find an amazing wall full of thousands of crayons here. Make your own custom packs with the kids to go with their new giant-size coloring books! The Crayola Experience is a great family outing where you can create colorful memories that you’ll cherish for years to come.

4 – iFLY Orlando

There’s no feeling quite like the thrill of indoor skydiving. Except, perhaps, actual skydiving.

However, far better than outdoor skydiving, iFly Orlando is safe for everyone, ages from 3 to 103. No matter your shape or size, a state-of-the-art wind tunnel will lift you up for an amazing skydiving experience before safely returning you back to earth! You will, however, need to be sure to wear some lace-up sneakers and comfortable clothing. From there, with a little instruction, you will soon be lifting off and soaring like an eagle, or maybe a little more like an albatross in Dad’s case, LOL!

5 – Main Event Entertainment

Their motto says it all: “Let’s do something awesome together.”

Who needs just another arcade when you can go to an arcade on steroids? Main Event Entertainment is what Chuck E. Cheese Mouse dreams of becoming when he grows up. One of the best arcades in Orlando, this place is brimming with billiard tables, bowling lanes, escape rooms, a gravity ropes course, the world’s largest Miss Pac-Man game, and more!

While visiting, you’ll definitely want to have a go at the virtual reality experience – VADER IMMORTAL LIGHTSABER DOJO. An immersive VR experience where you can train to be a Jedi master, you’ll take on droids and Storm Troopers to save the galaxy and enter into a climatic final battle against Lord Vader himself.

“Luke, I am your father.”
“Yeah, well, I guess it’s time to solve my daddy issues then.”

Phew! Now that you’ve saved the galaxy from the dark side, I think it’s time for a Triple Lava Burger and Loaded Fries!

6 – Wonderworks Orlando

Wonderworks has become an Orlando landmark. You may not know the name, but many of our readers may recognize it as “that wacky upside-down building on International Drive.” More than just a wacky building, Wonderworks is a terrific family science attraction/museum divided into fun-themed zones such as The Extreme Weather Zone, Physical Challenge Zone, Space Discovery Zone, The Imagination Lab, and more.

You can even play a game of laser tag or conquer the glow-in-the-dark ropes course! Finally, be sure to come back after the sun goes down to catch their Outta Control Comedy Show Dinner Theater. This Orlando landmark takes its rightful spot on our list as one of the best indoor activities in Orlando.

7 – Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum

Perhaps instead of wonder, you may be craving something a bit more, shall we say, macabre. Then we have the perfect place for you! Ripley’s Believe It, or Not Orlando is home to not one but two attractions: Ripley’s Odditorium and the Mirror Maze.

The Odditorium is where you will find the traditional Ripley’s Believe it or Not experience with fossilized alligators, a two-headed cow, and a shrunken head once owned by renowned author Ernest Hemingway. The property also has one of the best mirror maze exhibits you can find in America. Believe it! …or not.

8 – Launch Trampoline Park

The largest trampoline park in the Orlando metro area, Launch takes the idea of a trampoline park to the next level. With specific activities designed for all different age groups – from toddlers to teens to adults – Launch has something for everyone. While the kiddos hit the arcade or suit up for a game of laser tag, the teens in your group can head to the court for a one-on-one game of trampoline basketball or maybe take each other on in the battle pit. Meanwhile, Dad conquers the ninja course as Mom relaxes with an icy fresh margarita brought to her table by one of the friendly Launch bar hops.

9 – Reptile World Serpentarium

Located in nearby Saint Cloud, Florida, the Reptile World Serpietarium offers a great way to learn about Florida’s nature while staying, for the most part, out of the blazing Florida summer heat. While being one of the coolest indoor activities in Orlando, the Serpentarium also provides a great public service by providing much of the anti-venom to local hospitals, which saves the lives of many snake-bite victims in the state every year. During your visit, you can watch their Venom Extraction Show, hold non-venomous snakes, feed the turtles, and watch a live snake feeding. Also, don’t forget to check out the live iguanas before you go!

10 – Icon Park

The second of our two “mega attractions,” Icon Park is quickly becoming a must-do for anyone looking to venture outside of the typical theme parks. While DEZERLAND packs in a lot of smaller activities around two major attractions (the classic car and 007 museums), Icon goes BIG with a good half-dozen major attractions accented with a few smaller ones.

The star of the show is definitely The Wheel at Icon Park. A massive 400 ft. observation wheel takes riders high above the city to take in the sites of the Orlando skyline, as well as some great views of Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal. Icon Park also features the Sea Life Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, The Great Florida Road Trip experience, The Museum of Illusions, Max Action Arena, and The Star Flyer (the world’s tallest swing attraction).

You will also find great restaurants and live entertainment venues located here. Some of our favorites include Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips, Sugar Factory, and Tin Roof. Lastly, Icon Park also features a lovely carousel which should not be missed on your visit, especially if you have some little ones in your group!

11 – The Orlando Museum of Art

Want a little culture on your Orlando vacation? We suggest taking a self-guided tour of the Orlando Museum of Art. Their high-quality collection may surprise many who only think of Orlando only in terms of tourism and theme parks. Yet Orlando, “the city beautiful,” has more to offer than water parks and Mickey Mouse – if you know where to look.

Docent-guided group tours are also offered at the art museum; both the self-guided group and docent-guided group tours do require reservations before you arrive, so be sure to check with the museum for availability on the date you plan to visit with your party of 10 or more. Of course, you’re always welcome to take in the museum at your own leisure during operating hours any time you wish.

12 – Top Golf Orlando

Thinking about getting in a round or two during your vacation, but 98 degrees in the shade has you reconsidering? Well, we have the perfect solution! Top Golf Orlando.

What is Top Golf? Nothing less than a multiple-story facility featuring over 100+ climate-controlled hitting bays, Toptracer shot tracker, full-service restaurant & bars, private event spaces & meeting rooms, rooftop terrace with fire pit, over 200 HDTVs, and free Wi-Fi!

So, as you can see, a visit to Top Golf is much more than your average trip to the driving range. Offering an array of unique games and challenges, you and your crew are sure to have a blast! Best of all, you’ll never find yourself hot and thirsty on the 13th hole, as food and drinks are delivered right to your driving bay! Enjoy those Top Golf Wings with a tall American Mule, ice cold bottle of Modelo Especial, or a simple frosty Barq’s Rootbeer. Fore!

13 – The Orange County Convention Center

The Orange County Convention Center is the second largest convention center in the United States and offers visitors and vendors over 7,000 ft. of convention space. There is always something interesting going on here, such as car shows, pop-culture conventions, public expos, trade shows, sporting events, and of course, various business conventions. Be sure to check their website, as you never know what great event may be in town!

14 – Andretti Indoor Karting and Games

“Andretti” has become synonymous with racing royalty, and who else would you expect to own the largest indoor go-kart track in Orlando? The motto here is “excitement at every turn,” and there’s plenty of it!

The Karts here are all electric, so they are cleaner, greener, quieter, and faster than their competitors found nearby. In addition to the go-karting, you will find other great activities as well. A video game arcade, laser tag, 7D experience, and boutique bowling alley are among a great selection of fun activities sure to keep you entertained for hours.

15 – Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

For those history lovers out there, this is the perfect selection for our list! With over 300 authentic artifacts along with costumed actors and full-scale recreations, this exhibit becomes a living history museum, preserving the legacy of the RMS Titanic and the story of her tragic sinking in April 1912.

While general admission is a little less expensive, we highly suggest a guided tour to help you better take in the history all around you. Be sure to get a family photo on the grand staircase, and if it’s within your budget, come back later in the evening for the Titanic Dinner Gala. We’re sure that you won’t soon forget this incredible journey into a historical tragedy.

16 – Escape Game Orlando

Orlando has no lack of high-quality choices when it comes to escape rooms, and you can have a great experience at many of them. Our personal selection is Escape Game Orlando, located on International Drive in the tourist corridor.

Consistently ranked at or near the top of every list of Orlando escape rooms, this fan favorite rarely (if ever) disappoints its guests. As of writing, Escape Game Orlando offers seven different experiences.

• Prison Break
• The Depths
• The Heist
• Special Ops: Mysterious Market
• Gold Rush
• Mission: Mars
• Playground

Be sure to check their website and see what experiences they are offering when you visit!

17 – The Orlando Science Center

This is a great interactive museum for both kids and adults. Explore various exhibits on science and nature and learn through fun, hands-on activities. From atmospheric experiments to discovering what makes the miracle of life possible to digging for dinosaurs in the Dinodigs exhibit and just having fun with your preschooler at Kids Town, the museum is designed for the whole family to have fun. Some of our personal suggestions include Fusion: A Stem Gallery, and everyone’s favorite, Dogs: A Science Tail. Science rocks, ya’ll!

18 – The Chocolate Museum and Cafe

Talk about a sweet ending – boys and girls, this is it! One of the most reasonably priced attractions in all of Orlando, this is our selection that gets you the most bang for your buck. Little and non-discrete, this museum is tucked away inside of a generic-looking strip mall, but it punches well above its weight class.

What appears to be a high-end chocolate shape hides a fascinating little museum. Find out how chocolate was first discovered by Spanish explorers in South America. Learn the process of fine chocolate making and see incredible chocolate sculptures replicating Mount Rushmore, The White House, The Tower of London, and the Taj Mahal. Most importantly, taste of some of the finest chocolate around from Belgium, Switzerland, and Peru! For a truly wonderful and unexpected treat, we highly recommend taking an hour or two during your vacation to visit this great little Orlando spot!

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Well, that’s it, folks – eighteen great places to escape the summer heat in Orlando! Keep in mind that we only included indoor daytime experiences, so many things like water parks and dinner shows (as well as other types of nightlife and entertainment) were intentionally left off our list.

We hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful for planning your next Orlando vacation! May you survive our empire of summer heat, and the force of central air be with you!

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Featured photo: Kelly Verdeck via Flickr