Family friendly adventures

Whether your family enjoys spending quality time together by the pool or riding roller coasters and meeting cartoon characters in real life, Orlando offers plenty of activities for visitors of all ages.

Start your family vacation by relaxing in one of the poolside cabanas at Conrad Orlando or take a dip in the resort’s 8-acre (3.2-hectare) beach-style lagoon, complete with white sand and the option to rent kayaks or paddleboards. Ensure kids stay entertained with engaging games, activities and curated experiences at the supervised Kids Club or cool down at the splash pad. For the ultimate unwind, stroll through Conrad Spa’s lush water garden — alternating between the cold plunge and warm whirlpools — before indulging in a revitalizing treatment.

At Waldorf Astoria Orlando, children between the ages of five and 12 can spend the day at the WA Kids Club — with supervised arts and crafts, board games, swimming and more — while the parents treat themselves to a massage or Himalayan salt therapy at Waldorf Astoria Spa. There are also two pools with private cabanas to enjoy, and guests at Waldorf Astoria Orlando also have access to the lazy river and waterslides at nearby Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek for additional family fun.

For the most elevated and personalized theme park experience possible, the concierge at Conrad Orlando or Waldorf Astoria Orlando can arrange VIP tours offered by the various nearby theme parks. At certain parks, that means access to a guide who can provide you with red-carpet treatment, including priority access to all the most popular rides, behind-the-scenes experiences and reserved show seating. Walt Disney World® offers similar exclusive experiences, like a private safari or a nighttime fireworks cruise. As an official Walt Disney World® hotel, Waldorf Astoria Orlando also offers guests special benefits like early entry and complimentary transportation to the parks.

Adventuring in the outdoors

Adventurous families will find plenty of outdoorsy adventures to keep them busy in Orlando. Start with a challenge at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park, where you’ll find an aerial obstacle course with ziplines, swinging ropes, hanging nets, suspended bridges and more. Set amongst the treetops in a natural pine forest, the park has courses for smaller children and adults of all fitness levels.

To keep the active fun going, consider renting paddleboards or kayaks — either on your own or with a private tour guide — to explore the many lakes and natural springs in the area. Paddle around Lake Ivanhoe for an oasis just north of downtown, or head outside of the city to the even more serene Blue Spring, where hundreds of manatees enjoy Orlando’s mild winters every year. A trip to Florida is incomplete without spotting a few gators, so be sure to have your concierge arrange a private swamp airboat ride through a local company.

For a different kind of outdoorsy activity with minimal travel time, both resorts also feature top-notch golf courses. The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club features a unique five-tee system that accommodates golfers of all levels on its 18-hole championship golf course. Make the most of your tee time with a private golf lesson from a pro or a full-day bootcamp. Meanwhile at Conrad Orlando, guests can take advantage of group lessons or one-on-one training with the resort’s golf pro on the acclaimed Grand Cypress Golf course. Best of all, the concierges at Conrad Orlando and Waldorf Astoria Orlando can arrange all these activities and more for the most seamless stay away.

Family dining done right

With Orlando’s wealth of Michelin-recognized restaurants and kid-friendly dining options, families with both picky eaters and refined palettes will find something to satisfy their taste buds.

For elevated Italian bites, visit Pizza Bruno, where Neapolitan-style pizza gets a creative twist. Less adventurous eaters can enjoy a classic Margherita, while others can try the Dirt Nap pizza, topped with truffle parmesan cream, truffle burrata and truffle balsamic glaze. Orlando also has four Michelin-starred restaurants, where parents can enjoy a romantic dinner in a refined atmosphere.

At Waldorf Astoria Orlando, reserve a table at Bull & Bear, known for its incredible tableside presentations, impressive steak collection and handcrafted cocktails. The chic, chandelier-lit environment is more suitable for adults and older children, but for something the whole family will enjoy, don’t miss out on the Royal Tea experience at Peacock Alley. Prefer something more casual? Head to Aquamarine to enjoy poolside meals featuring kid-friendly favorites like grilled cheese and chicken fingers.

At Conrad Orlando, your family can go on a culinary journey from Southern Italy to the Mediterranean Riviera via the hotel’s five bars and restaurants. For a front-row seat to watch the nightly fireworks from nearby theme parks, be sure to visit the hotel’s Papaya Club, where you can take in the bright lights while also enjoying exotic fruits and spices.

From themed adventures to wildlife and relaxation, no matter what your family has in mind when they imagine the perfect vacation, Orlando will surely deliver.

Jessica Poitevien is an international storyteller with more than a decade of experience in writing and editing. Born in New York, she caught the travel bug throughout multiple moves that brought her to California, Spain, Colombia and her current home base in South Florida. She has visited over 40 countries (and counting!), including several solo trips, and also considers herself an expert in destination weddings and unique honeymoons — her own was two months long. When she's not traveling, she enjoys making social media content, trying new food and acting as a travel agent for friends and family.