Orlando with a toddler is a different trip than Orlando with school-age kids. The theme parks are designed for height minimums that cut most 2-year-olds out of the signature rides, the crowds are relentless, and a child who missed their nap at a $700-per-day theme park is a particular kind of misery. The good news: Orlando has an excellent collection of toddler-appropriate activities that don't require walking 8 miles through a theme park. Here's how to actually enjoy it.
Top Toddler Picks in Orlando
Millie Moo's is the best toddler-specific indoor play space in the Orlando area. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms available. Session pricing ~$8–12 per child; adults often free or nominal. Sessions run 2 hours, capacity is limited, and the soft-surface environment is built exclusively for the under-4 crowd — no big kids overwhelming the space. Book ahead because morning sessions fill fast. Rated 4.6.
Play Paradise in Winter Park. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms on-site. Cost: $40–70 for a family of 4 (typically $12–18 per child; adults free or discounted). Age-separated play areas mean toddlers aren't getting knocked over by 8-year-olds. Open 7 days a week. A 4.8-star rating from early visitors is a strong signal for quality. Bring snacks.
Kissimmee Lakefront Park is one of the best free outdoor options for toddlers in the region. Stroller-friendly with paved paths. Nursing/changing rooms on-site. The splash pad is the main toddler draw — free, open during park hours, and a great way to burn energy before nap. Cost: $0. Budget $10–15 for nearby waterfront restaurants if you stay for lunch. Rated 4.8.
Funtastic Depot in east Orlando. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms available. Cost: $60–100 total ($15–20 per child; adults often free). Toddlers get dedicated padded areas separate from the bigger kids, and the indoor rides — mini roller coasters, carousels, spinning rides — are sized for small children. This is the call when you need 2–3 hours of fully indoor entertainment with mixed ages. Rated 4.6.
Harry P Leu Gardens is a stroller-friendly 50-acre botanical garden with nursing/changing rooms on-site. Cost: $30–50 total (adults ~$10–15; children 3–17 ~$3–5; under 3 free). Paved paths work well for strollers throughout most of the garden. The butterfly garden section holds toddlers' attention well. The lakeside rose gardens are beautiful. This is a calm, sensory-rich outing that doesn't overstimulate. Rated 4.7.
Community Playground in Winter Park — $0, stroller-friendly, though no nursing/changing facilities on-site. One of the best-rated free playgrounds in the Orlando area at 4.8 stars. The play structures cover the toddler age range well. Winter Park's Park Avenue is within walking distance for coffee and a restroom if needed.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is the best Disney park for toddlers — stroller-friendly throughout, nursing/changing rooms in every section of the park. Cost: $600–800+ total for a family of 4 (2-year-olds and under are free with admission). The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride is open-air, has no height requirement, and puts toddlers face-to-face with actual giraffes and elephants. The It's Tough to Be a Bug show may frighten sensitive toddlers (dark theater, sensory effects). Plan around nap — most families do mornings at Animal Kingdom, leave by 1PM before afternoon crowds and toddler meltdowns align.
Free or Cheap Toddler Activities (Under $50)
Dr Philips Playground — $0. Stroller-friendly. No nursing/changing rooms on-site. Perfect 5.0 rating from local families. A quiet neighborhood playground with zero crowds on weekday mornings. Bring everything you need — no vendors.
Lake Eola Playground — $0 for the playground. Stroller-friendly (paved lake path). No nursing facilities at the playground itself. Toddlers love feeding the swans from the lake path — budget $10–20 if you want to rent a swan paddle boat.
Laureate Park Zipline Playground — $0. Stroller-friendly. No nursing rooms. The mini zipline is a genuine hit with toddlers who are old enough to hold on. Free and rarely crowded.
Blue Jacket Park — $0. Stroller-friendly. No nursing/changing rooms. Large park in Baldwin Park with a playground, ample shade trees, and green space. Pack a picnic from nearby Publix in Baldwin Park Village.
Loch Haven Park — $0 for the grounds. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms available in the Orlando Science Center building. The outdoor lakeside areas and sculpture garden are beautiful for a stroller walk even if you don't pay to enter the museums.
McKee Botanical Garden — $40–60 total. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms on-site. Children under 5 are free. This is exceptional value for toddlers specifically — the parent pays, the under-5 gets in free.
Bok Tower Gardens — $50–80 total. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms on-site. Children under 5 are free. The children's garden splash fountain section is the main toddler draw — plan around the 3PM carillon concert for a memorable finishing moment. Rated 4.8.
Indoor Options (Nap-Schedule Friendly)
These are fully indoor and work for the post-nap afternoon slot.
- Millie Moo's — 2-hour sessions, $8–12 per child. The ideal nap-schedule-compatible format. ($30–50 total)
- Play Paradise — Open access, no session limit. Good for flexible timing. ($40–70 total)
- Terra Play Center — Lake Nona's indoor play option. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms available. $40–70 total. Note: Saturday has a session gap in the middle of the day.
- Children's Planet — Small-scale, neighborhood feel. $30–60 total. Good for easily overstimulated toddlers.
- Funtastic Depot — 2–3 hour capacity. Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms. $60–100 total.
- Central Florida Zoo — Stroller-friendly throughout. Nursing/changing rooms available. $80–120 total. Smaller and more walkable than a major zoo — toddlers can handle the full loop without melting down.
- Orlando Science Center — Stroller-friendly. Nursing/changing rooms on-site. $80–120 total. The KidsTown section is specifically designed for under-5 explorers.
What to Pack for a Day Out with Toddlers in Orlando
This list is a composite of what the listings actually recommend, and nothing on it is optional:
- Sunscreen and a hat — Florida sun is relentless even in winter
- Water bottles — bring your own; vendor water runs $4–6 per bottle at attractions
- Packed snacks — most free parks have no vendors; most paid attractions have overpriced ones
- Change of clothes (at least one set) — for splash pads, unexpected puddles, or the inevitable food incident
- Stroller — even if your toddler "doesn't need it anymore," they'll need it by 2PM
- Diapers and wipes for at least 2 extra changes — restroom distances at parks can surprise you
- A small first aid kit — band-aids earn hero status when a playground stumble happens
- Sunglasses for the kids — surprisingly rare in kids' packed bags, surprisingly useful in Florida
Practical Tips for Visiting Orlando with Little Ones
Start before 10AM. Florida temperatures and crowds both escalate after 10. Free parks, botanical gardens, and indoor play centers are notably better in the early morning — cooler, quieter, and full of locals rather than tourists.
Build in a real nap. A hotel-room nap produces a happier afternoon than any paid activity. Orlando traffic during afternoon school pickup (3–5PM) is real — plan activities that end before then or after 6PM.
Don't skip the free parks. Kissimmee Lakefront Park, Community Playground, and Dr Philips Playground will genuinely satisfy most 1–3 year olds for 90 minutes at zero cost. The theme park premium is entirely for older kids.
Stroller logistics at theme parks: All major Universal and Disney parks are stroller-friendly and have stroller parking areas at ride entrances. Bring a stroller tag (label it clearly) — strollers occasionally get moved by staff.
Nursing: All major attractions and parks in this guide have nursing rooms. Millie Moo's, Play Paradise, the Science Center, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Loch Haven Park all confirmed nursing/changing facilities.