Orlando

We’ve finally arrived! And now that we’re here I’ve been solo with the kids for a few days while Hubby works. We are saving the big exciting splurge Orlando stuff (like Disney parks) for when he’s done so I’ve been trying to keep the toddlers entertained without going into serious debt. While I was a little worried about being on my own, it’s actually been really nice exploring with them – and Grandma is coming down soon for some pool time too! Though we have a great pool where we are staying, I for one am not brave enough to take three 2 year olds swimming by myself.

So here’s what we’ve been up to, my toddlers and I, during our time in Orlando. My bit of advice for all of you looking for some vacation fun that doesn’t break the bank!

Day One: Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden

“We’re going on a bear hunt…”

We absolutely loved this one! A whopping $20 got us all in so I wasn’t too stressed if they didn’t last long, but there was so much for them to do we ended up staying much longer than we meant to. The giraffes were a particular favorite and my kids were really excited to feed them. Despite being a bit small to actually do it they had a lot of fun watching everyone else try. The playground was a big hit and we found animal after animal to enjoy and learn about. They had lots of indoor animal areas when we needed a little break from the sun or rain showers and I really can’t say enough about how incredibly lovely all the employees were – super happy to show the kids different things about the animals and answer any question from “Why is the snake sticking its tongue out?” to “Do you have a snowblower?”

Day Two: Castle Playground

The next day we hit up a fabulous castle playground and gorgeous park called Community Playground in Winter Park. It was nice and shady (although we’ve been lathered in sunscreen since we got here anyways) with great picnic areas for snack time. The playground was perfect for climbing and playing with no spots where my two year olds could decide to jump off from endangering heights. I have to admit it was better than most of the playgrounds back home and the castle theme really engaged my princess fans! They did so much climbing and singing from the towers it could’ve rivaled any Disney movie, plus come on you can’t beat free entertainment.

Day Three: Disney Springs

We also had a great time at Disney Springs! It’s all the fun without the admissions price. This is a Disney sanctioned area for dining and shopping which meant every resturant was as open to kids as you can get and the walkways were full of fun things to do and see. Musicians in every corner we could stop and dance to, lizards and frogs along the waterfront, and even a giant hot air balloon which mesmerized my girls! We didn’t partake but they also had movie theaters and bowling to keep the older kids in your group entertained. While I’m sure you could spend plenty of money here it was an easy place for us have some fun without going crazy.

Today with Grandma’s help we’ll be hitting the pools and finally letting them enjoy the splash pads that are everywhere down here! We’ll wrap up our Florida trip with some actual Disney parks and then start our next “vacation” home! While we drive I’ll be posting some of our favorite spots to stop with kids along I-95 for any of you planning your own East Coast family road trip!

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