Kid-friendly places in Orlando

Seven water slides, a lazy river, a splash zone and a laser show at night, enough to fill a day off from the parks.

All suites, so kids sleep in their own room, with made-to-order breakfast and both an indoor and an outdoor pool.

Lakeside resort with a lazy river, three water slides and an aqua obstacle course to climb across.

Big lakeside resort with the Ritz Kids club and nature activities across the grounds.

Hotel built around a water park that is partly under a canopy, with splash play areas for smaller kids.

Villa resort with seven pools and a water park, and villas with room for everyone to spread out.

Two- and three-bedroom suites with kitchens and washer-dryers, and a zero-entry pool with water play for the smallest swimmers.

Rock-and-roll Universal hotel with a huge pool that plays music underwater, a slide and a game room.

Suite hotel with a large water park, toddler splash areas and an arcade.

Airport hotel with an outdoor pool, for the night before an early flight.

Universal hotel with a zero-entry pool that stays shallow for toddlers, a waterslide, a sandy beach and staff who bring out sand toys.

Hotel across from SeaWorld with a splash area for younger kids and water slides for bigger swimmers.

Resort with a sprawling lagoon pool and a lazy river, with more resort activities close by.

Suites that sleep six with a kitchenette, plus two pools, a lazy river and bowling for the evenings between park days.

All-suite resort with a waterfall pool and a 75-foot slide, an arcade and a small playground.

A themed grotto lagoon pool with caves, slides and a sandy beach, close to Disney.

A fenced play area split by age, then swans to watch along the lake.

Universal hotel with three pools, a slide built into a Roman aqueduct, Despicable Me kids' suites and a supervised kids' activity center.

Island-themed Universal hotel with a lagoon pool, a sandy beach and a water play area.

Shade over the play area and a splash area next to it, which counts for a lot on a hot afternoon.

Villas with themed kids' bedrooms and their own private pools, plus an arcade and a water park on site.

Universal hotel at Epic Universe with water play and kids' suites themed on How to Train Your Dragon.

Space-themed Universal hotel with a large pool, a splash pad and movies by the pool in the evening.

Compact modern Universal hotel with kids' suites and a splash area by the pool.

Universal hotel of two-bedroom suites that sleep six, with two pools and a big food court downstairs.

Universal hotel close to Epic Universe, with a splash pad by the pool and a game room.

A lazy river and several pools at a Bonnet Creek resort close to Disney.

Playground split into areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, in a lakeside park.

Inclusive play equipment with a splash area beside it, so kids of every ability can climb and then cool off.

Park playground with a splash area to cool off in.

Playground for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, in a big lakeside park.

Inclusive playground with a splash area in a community park.

Shaded playground with swings and separate areas for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.

Shaded playground with separate equipment for under-fives and older kids.

Neighborhood playground with a splash area.

Neighborhood playground tucked into a small park.

Neighborhood playground with lawn around it for running.

Forrest Gump-themed shrimp restaurant with the bus stop bench out front, movie trivia from the servers and a Run Forrest Run sign to flag them down.

Shaded playground with separate equipment for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.

Your kid wraps their own crayon, makes spin art and molds melted wax, and there's a play zone for the smaller ones.

Park playground with picnic tables close by.

Playground for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.

Neighborhood playground in a local park.

Neighborhood playground with a bit of park around it.

Thousands of gators including rare white ones, a walk-in aviary, a barnyard petting area, an animal show and a splash play area for cooling off after.

Neighborhood playground in a small park.

Chicago-style stuffed deep dish pizza, inches thick with the sauce on top, plus thin crust, sandwiches and salads.

Winding garden paths your kid can run ahead on, and story times and kids' events to look out for.

Shaded playground with equipment for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, next to a community center.

Shaded playground in a community park.

Built for ages 0 to 7: kids pick pretend oranges, build, climb and play with water.

Plain neighborhood playground with lawn on every side.

Neighborhood playground with lawn alongside.

Playground for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, with picnic tables nearby.

A 60-foot water fortress with a tipping bucket, a shallow cove of slides for kids under 4 feet, and a slide through a dolphin habitat.

Playground at a recreation complex, with open space around it for running.

Inclusive playground in a neighborhood park.

Shipping-container food counters around a playground for kids to play on while you wait.

Playground beside a neighborhood center, with a bit of open park around it.

Neighborhood playground in a local park, with grass to run on.

Playground next to a neighborhood center.

A huge indoor park on International Drive with go-karts, bumper cars, bowling, an arcade and an auto museum for the car-obsessed kid.

Neighborhood playground with space to run around it.

Playground beside a community center, with some open park around it.

Playground at a neighborhood center.

Neighborhood playground with a stretch of open grass.

Playground at a soccer complex, with fields all around.

Playground beside a neighborhood center, with lawn nearby.

Playground at a recreation complex, with open space nearby.

Kiddie rides, go-karts and an arcade, plus a free splash pad with a soft, non-slip floor that needs no ride ticket.

Neighborhood playground, plain and close by.

Neighborhood playground in a small local park.

Playground beside a neighborhood center, with a bit of lawn.

Playground for ages 5 to 12 and 13 and up, with an obstacle course, next to a neighborhood center.

Neighborhood playground in a park square.

Neighborhood playground with grass around it.

Trampolines, dodgeball, foam pits, an arcade and laser tag under one roof, so every age in the group finds something.

A local playground with climbing and sliding, and open grass beyond.

Neighborhood playground in a park with open space.

Small park playground, close to home for a quick hour outside.

Playground beside a recreation center.

Park playground with open space nearby.

Art museum with changing exhibitions and hands-on programs for kids on selected days.

Playground next to a neighborhood center, with some park around it.

Neighborhood playground with open lawn alongside.

Neighborhood park with a playground and grass for running laps.

Neighborhood playground with lawn nearby.

Playground on the grounds of a neighborhood center.

Neighborhood playground with open lawn.

Playground beside a neighborhood center.

Neighborhood playground with grass to run on.

A 360-degree ocean tunnel, so sharks, rays and turtles swim right over your kid's head.

Local playground with equipment to climb and slide on, and room to run.

Freestyle jump, a foam zone, dodgeball and a warrior course, with a toddler zone just for the youngest.

Playground at a recreation center, with open space nearby.

Playground at a youth sports complex, with fields around it.

Inclusive play equipment in a small local park.

Net swing, mini rebounder and gentle sensory play, set up for 6 months to 8 years, so crawlers aren't dodging big kids.

Neighborhood playground with open grass to run off energy.

Climbing frames and slides in a neighborhood park.

Smokehouse barbecue near the university, with small sliders and sides.

Smokehouse barbecue with sliders and nuggets for kids.

Dolls, brought or borrowed, get their own tiny seat and dishes at the table.

Indoor go-karts and arcade games with a restaurant, for older kids.

A walk past rescued animals, more than 25 species of native and exotic ones, that kids can take at their own pace.

Quick custom pizzas between shopping and rides.

Pizza made to order with your own choice of toppings, ready in minutes.

Build-your-own pizza, fired in a few minutes, with each kid picking their own toppings.

Build-your-own pizzas, one per person, with toppings each kid chooses.

Burgers and gelato shakes, a quick counter between rides.

Counter serving hot sandwiches that are easy to share.

A shaded, fenced playground right off the deck.

The largest Hard Rock Cafe in the world, in a Colosseum-style building packed with music memorabilia.

Brunch spot with huge pancakes and plates big enough to share, in a farm-themed dining room.

Restaurant inside the store with small meatball plates and plenty of familiar food.

Seafood shack with a pirate-themed playground beside the patio.

Breakfast and lunch café with kid-sized plates.

Breakfast café with kid-sized pancakes and waffles.

Hibachi restaurant where the chef cooks at your table as a lively show.

Family-style Italian on International Drive with big shareable platters and a kids menu, so a table of mixed appetites is easy to feed.

Vintage fire trucks, gear and photos inside a 1926 fire station, with picnic tables under the oaks outside for after.

Irish pub with live music and Irish dancers performing while you eat.

Restaurant set in a rainforest, with animatronic animals and jungle sounds around the tables.

Optical illusions and hands-on puzzles among the odd stuff. School-age kids get the most out of it.

Sesame Street Land with kid-sized rides and a parade, plus a stingray touch pool and an underwater window onto the dolphins.

Bowling alley with a restaurant serving American food and sushi.

Italian restaurant serving pizza and pasta on the lake.

Fondue restaurant where you dip dinner at the table and finish with melted chocolate.

A family-owned bistro that has been around since 1991, with chicken fingers on the kids menu and a relaxed, easygoing room.

The building is upside down, which sells it before you're even inside. Giant bubbles, light and sound play, and science exhibits to poke at.

A huge indoor playground and arcade upstairs, with pizza and pasta alongside the usual menu.

Barbecue and sandwiches on a quirky patio full of eclectic decor.

Café at the science center with fresh food and educational science displays.

Classic roast beef sandwich counter with generous sandwiches big enough to split.

Breakfast spot with pancakes, sweet brunch dishes and ice cream in a colorful dining room.

Chicken tenders with a long list of dipping sauces, quick and easy for picky eaters.

Pizza and an arcade with 54 games, the classic birthday party spot.

18-hole mini golf with live alligator feedings, gemstone mining and an arcade room.

Cuban counter with empanadas, stuffed potato balls and sandwiches to share.

Arcade games with a restaurant attached, for older kids and teens.

Market hall of local food counters and bakeries, where everyone picks their own snack.

Burger restaurant done up as a vintage garage, with old cars and one hanging over the bar.

Two themed 18-hole mini-golf courses at CityWalk, one with aliens and one with classic monsters.

An entertainment complex with The Wheel, a carousel, a train, an aquarium, the Museum of Illusions and restaurants.

A three-level jungle gym and a ninja course for bigger kids, plus a toddler zone so the smallest aren't underfoot.

Conveyor-belt sushi with tablet ordering and a prize dispenser game as you eat.

Lakefront park with playgrounds for ages 2 to 5.

Seafood restaurant with a big fenced playground of slides and tunnels beside the dining room.

Sub shop with straightforward sandwiches in portions big enough to share.

Casual pizza place known for its huge slices.

Pizza by the oversized slice, made for sharing.

Pizza by the giant slice, big enough to split, near the university.

Neighborhood park with a playground.

Island-themed restaurant with a veranda and a kids' menu of junior cheeseburgers, fish and chips and fried shrimp.

Small art museum with an outdoor sculpture garden by the lake, a manageable size for kids.

Indoor play with a pirate ship, slides, castles, ride-on cars, train sets and a light-up dance floor, a section for ages 2 and under and a cafe.

Indoor inflatables, slides and arcade games, for ages 12 and under, with a separate toddler area.

Brazilian restaurant serving potato dishes, with potato-head decor all around the room.

Optical illusions, tilted rooms and photo puzzles to step into, a short indoor visit at ICON Park.

Pretend town with toy cars and small-world play spaces, plus gated soft play for babies.

A pretend town with a road for toy cars and a market to shop, plus a gated baby zone so the youngest play apart.

Neighborhood center with a pool, a playground, pavilions and fitness stations.

Hands-on history exhibits inside an old courthouse. A good indoor break between theme-park days.

Barbecue with a small Little Piglet dinner for kids.

A stunt show on a full-size ship in an indoor lagoon, with acrobatics, sea lions and kids pulled into the act, over dinner.

Hot dogs and chocolate cake shakes in a diner setting.

Hot dogs and chocolate cake shakes in a garage-themed dining room.

Hot dogs, sandwiches and milkshakes, quick and casual.

Detroit-style square pizza by the slice, plus plain hot dogs.

Restaurant known for oversized, colorful milkshakes and desserts.

Restaurant on the lake with a breezy dining room and a cookie bar.

Outdoor restaurant with lawn games and room to roam between the tables.

Restaurant on the water with boats to watch and a nautical dining room.

Sushi and burgers side by side, with a kids' menu of nuggets and fruit or edamame sides.

A cat cafe where kids meet adoptable rescue cats over coffee and snacks.

A casual neighborhood spot with yard games and a patio where the kids can wiggle between bites.

Steampunk chocolate factory with roaming inventor characters and towering milkshakes topped with whole slices of cake.

Golf games at your own bay, including an Angry Birds game, with food brought to you.

Pho restaurant with a dining room drawn like a black-and-white comic book, a hit with tweens and teens.

Diagon Alley, the Minions and DreamWorks Land, a whole area of gentle rides and play zones with Shrek and the Trolls.

Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts Express, a Dr. Seuss land of gentle rides, and the climbing paths of Camp Jurassic.

Water park under a 200-foot volcano, with two shallow kids' areas, Tot Tiki Reef and Runamukka Reef, and a lazy river.

Cuban café with pressed sandwiches and breakfast all day.

Cuban café with sandwiches and a patio for breakfast or lunch.

Quick Cuban comfort food with smaller plates for kids.