When you think of the weather in Orlando, Florida, many jump immediately to the state’s nickname – The Sunshine State. What you may not be aware of is the incessant amount of rain Florida seems to receive in the summer on an almost daily basis. Sometimes these rain storms can last a few minutes, up to a few hours, which can become an inconvenience for many if plans are not able to be adjusted timely and accordingly. Fortunately, there’s plenty to see and do indoors during your vacation to Orlando, which means that no matter where you are when the rain hits, there’s an indoor attraction waiting for you. These are just a few of our rainy day attractions around Orlando that you may or may not have ever heard of!
1. Hidden Mickey Safari and Scavenger Hunt at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge near Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this free activity offers a challenging hunt for guests interested in discovering something new and exciting at the Walt Disney World Resort. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves you and your party exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge on a hunt for the plethora of Hidden Mickeys located across the many different sections of this resort. From Mickeys in vines, to Mickeys in rocks, there’s no shortage of Hidden Mickeys to find for hours on end. If you happen to complete the Hidden Mickey Safari Hunt, there’s an additional Scavenger Hunt that follows. Expect to spend one or two hours on this experience, as it does involve a lot of searching both high and low, across multiple locations within the Lodge. Our pro tip for this experience would be to ask a Cast Member for assistance in helping you find an elusive Hidden Mickey.
2. Bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Conveniently located seconds away from the Orange Garage Parking at Disney Springs on Walt Disney World Resort property, Splitsville Luxury Lanes is a 50’s soft-themed bowling alley, with two separate levels packed with bowling lanes for maximum occupancy. Each bowling lane comes with a menu offering quality food at a Disney price. In addition, each lane is equipped with HDTV’s overhead, allowing guests to watch their favorite sporting show or event. The cost for a lane at Splitsville varies depending on the time of day, and the amount of time in which you are allowed to bowl is determined by the size of your party.
3. Orlando Science Center
Established just minutes from downtown orlando in Loch Haven Park, this award-winning, hands-on museum offers exhibits and attractions unlike any other experience in Orlando! With four floors of theaters, exhibit halls, labs, and more, there’s something for every member of your party to see, do, and experience at the Orlando Science Center. One of the most unique offerings in Florida – in addition to it being one of our favorite experiences at the Science Center – is taking a peek through Florida’s largest publicly accessible refractor telescope. If conditions allow, this telescope enables you to take a look into space, while offering such spectacular views as: the moons of Jupiter, rings of saturn, neighboring galaxies and more! When visiting the Orlando Science Center, expect a full day of exploration, as there is plenty of entertainment to be had within this impressive center.
4. Topgolf Orlando
Located on Universal Blvd. just down the street from Universal Orlando Resort, Topgolf is a multi-level entertainment destination that offers fun, food, and music for all ages; no golfing experience required! Each golf bay allows up to 6 guests to play at a time, and is climate controlled for year-round comfort. HDTV’s are in every golf bay with the added functionality of allowing guests to change the channel to their desired sports show or game. Dining is a must when visiting Topgolf Orlando, with a wide variety of familiar foods, in addition to a unique twist added to each item that fully compliments each meal, thanks to an experienced executive chef and a talented team. Play time is pay by the hour, so be sure to carve out an hour or two during your day to make the most of your time at this attraction.
5. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology
Conveniently located on International Drive in Icon Park Orlando, next to The Wheel (formerly known as the Orlando Eye) Skeletons: Museum of Osteology is a museum offering a wide variety of animal skeletal remains that you may or may not be familiar with. Focusing on appreciation for the natural world and an emphasis on conservation, this family-owned museum is only one of two skeleton museums in America, and features hundreds of animal skeletons from all over the world, including: elephants, tree pangolin, javan rhinoceros and more! Expect to spend a half day within this attraction as there are some fascinating exhibits that you must see for yourself!
When Florida storms decide to rain on your parade, don’t let Mother Nature win out! Be sure to visit one, some, or all of these unique experiences that Orlando has to offer. You never know what fun and memories might come about after a day of play outside of the Orlando Theme Parks. We look forward to seeing your photos from these one-of-a-kind experiences in the future!
