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Things to do in Icon Park Orlando Florida Family Guide

Located in the heart of Orlando’s International Drive, ICON Park offers several world-class attractions including The Wheel, a jaw-dropping observation wheel that stands 400 feet tall, the famous Madame Tussauds Orlando wax museum, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, In The Game, 7D Motion Theater, Museum of Illusions, and the toddler-sized Pearl Express Train for the youngest visitors to Icon Park!  That is just the beginning of the best parts of Icon Park in Orlando, Florida too - you could easily spend all day eating, enjoying the unique collection of shopping, and enjoying the 50+ attractions!  

Things to do in Icon Park Orlando Florida Family Guide

Icon Park Orlando, Florida is such an awesome entertainment complex on International Drive for the whole family. An Orlando vacation is not complete without the Icon Park attractions.  After you hit up the boutique shops you will need to choose from the diverse mix of restaurants to recharge. It is really the perfect place to visit with a family or large group because there are attractions for every interest! Icon Park's main attraction is arguably the jaw-dropping observation wheel where on a clear day visitors can see the heart of Orlando from a bird's eye view.  

There are so many great attractions in Orlando, Florida to do and Icon Park is such a great centrally located one-of-a-kind destination.  No matter your interests or age, Icon Park has something for you to enjoy. Whether you are looking for a full day for young children at the outdoor activities, looking for an indoor attraction to beat the Florida heat, or a date night with live entertainment then Icon Park is a must stop free admission Central Florida attraction.  

Main Attractions at Icon Park Orlando, Florida:

With 50 plus attractions, you cannot go wrong, but these are my recommendations for must do and experience while at Icon Park.

The Wheel at ICON Park.

Not your average Ferris wheel, this stunning 400 foot tall Observation wheel gives you a view of Orlando like no other. The Wheel is the ideal way to begin or finish your vacation. The adrenaline rush of a roller coaster, nothing matches the stunning views of the Orlando skyline and all the local attractions. Plus, The Wheel is an entirely family-friendly experience. It’s appropriate for all ages.  At 400 feet over Orlando, you can see a plethora of attractions from the comfort of your capsule.  This Orlando attraction opened in 2015, after three years of construction.  With air-conditioning and stability control in every private capsule, this Observation wheel far surpasses the experience of any smaller Ferris wheel

Sea Life Orlando Aquarium

  • Sea Life Aquarium is a staple and must visit attraction while visiting Icon Park in Florida.  Sea Life Aquarium is a one-of-a-kind experience in the heart of international drive.  This interactive and fun aquarium is a wave of underwater adventures waiting for your family to come and see the amazing marine creatures that Sea Life has to offer.  The diversity of marine life packed into this fascinating underwater world of sea animals is like no other we have seen!  Sea Life Aquarium Orlando is the only underwater 360-degree ocean tunnel in all of Florida!  It is absolutely stunning and such a great spot to get up close and personal with sea creatures like sharks, sea turtles and animals without getting wet!

    In The Game - Arcade

    boasts the latest in arcade games for some family-friendly competition during your ICON Park visit. Compete for prizes in this mega Arcade City!  This is the best place to have some family friendly competition inside!

    Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

    Madame Tussauds wax museum Orlando, Florida is a hit with visitors to the area as well.  This is the only place to get up-close and personal with the hottest celebrities and historical figures and enjoy the glitz and glamour of Hollywood life. Dazzle your friends with the ultimate selfie as you strike a pose with Taylor Swift, kick a GOOOAL with Neymar, fly back through history to meet our greatest leaders, and save the world with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. And you can join in the wax-tastic fun by making your own wax hand to take home!

    Icon Park Carousel

    It’s a 36-foot, hand-crafted masterpiece with detailed carvings and 30 figures of various animals, including horses, reindeer, rabbits, zebras, and more. The attraction also features two chariot benches, making it suitable for guests of all ages and accessible for people with disabilities.

     ICON Park’s Museum of Illusions Orlando

    Guests are in for a wonderful journey through this wacky world of the weird and unusual. You’ll be left wondering which way is up when you walk through an upside-down living room or a swirling vortex tunnel, causing your senses to swirl in unexpected and delightful ways. Be sure to keep your phone handy because these enjoyably eerie environments also make for perfectly brow-raising photo ops

Right next to Icon Park, is the Orlando Starflyer - The World’s Tallest Swing Ride standing at 450 feet. It is a unique attraction that appeals to both young and old, the adventurous and not so adventurous. Guests are in double seats next to their friend, family or partner and are secured in their seats with seat belts and an in between the legs harness that can only be unlocked by the ride operator. Moving up and down and rotating around the giant tower at speeds of up to 45mph, no other attraction combines safety and thrills like the StarFlyer.

Guests will also be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the entertainment with some adult beverages at the I-Drive Star Bar before, or after you ride, or just taking in the excitement while watching.

Dining at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida

ICON Park is perfect for singles, couples, and families with many amazing full-service restaurants and dazzling international dining options. Mornings always seem a little bit brighter after a visit to iCafe de Paris, which serves up delicious French crepes and other sweet and savory breakfast fare. Nightly flamenco shows at Tapa Toro spanish restaurant will have your toes tapping while you enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine shared around a paella pit. Some of the best fajitas and margaritas in town can be found at Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant. Uncle Julio's is hands down my favorite restaurant at Icon Park!  At Sloppy Joe’s Orlando, they are all about the tropical and relaxed vibe of the Florida Keys, and some awesome live music to bring it all together.

If American fare is more your speed, ICON Park has many familiar favorites such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Outback Steakhouse, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Orlando boasts some of the hottest country acts, although the real star of the show is their made-from-scratch fried chicken. You can satisfy your sweet tooth with a stop at Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips, Shake Shack, or Sugar Factory. Looking for the best place to bask in Happy Hour? Yard House boasts 140 taps of local, craft, and import draft beers and an array of handcrafted cocktails on their vast menu.  There is also a food hall located inside by the Sea Life Aquarium that is easy casual for families as well. Find your favorite restaurant on our ICON Park Map!

Shopping at Icon Park

ICON Park has a number of casual boutiques and kiosks whose offerings range from stylish sunglasses to gift items. The unique collection of shopping and dining options will delight you as you explore each location while strolling under the festoon lights along ICON Park’s brick promenade.  Stopping in the Wheelhouse gift shop or other options for shopping are perfect for kids' items or for souvenirs to take home to family and friends!

Ways to Save at Icon Park Orlando, Florida

Teachers in the State of Florida can receive unlimited access to ride The Wheel at anytime for a full year! Active and retired members of the U.S. military can receive 25% off admission to The Wheel at ICON Park with valid ID.  Orange County Convention Center attendees can Show Your Badge & Save up to 50% on admission to The Wheel at ICON Park during the dates of your convention.

The Play pass is a great deal to consider as well.  Experience 10 of our most popular attractions, including The Wheel, The Great Florida Road Trip, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, Museum of Illusions, Max Action Arena, 7D Motion Theater, Pearl Express, and more! Plus enjoy exclusive shopping and dining discounts up to 20% off!

The best way to save at Icon Park is to look at the website and plan out which attractions your family or group really would like to do.  Looking at the deals online and packaging various attractions save a ton of money.  There are lots of fun things to do, so I recommend breaking up the attractions into various days or doing them at different visits to Icon Park.   For example, buying a summer family pack to the wheel saves 50% on the cost.  Planning ahead is a great way to save money and plan your day better.  

Parking at Icon Park Orlando, Florida

 Parking is really easy in the seven-story covered parking garage right on-property. Valet parking on the first floor, premium parking on floors 2 and 3, and FREE parking on floors 4 through 7.  Guests at Icon Park can also park in the lot by the hour as well.  Icon Park offers multiple parking options that make it easy to get in and out of ICON Park: 

. For guests staying on International Drive, Icon Park Orlando is easily accessible by walking. The Orange County Convention Center is 1.3 miles from the attraction.

Everyone knows that Orlando, Florida is a busy East Coast destination.  Be sure to add Icon Park Orlando to your list of Central Florida landmarks for cannot miss attractions.  Icon Orlando is in the heart of the Orlando entertainment district and a great option for Orlando visitors and locals alike.  Have fun!

Are you looking for other family friendly activities nearby? My kids loved the Crayola Experience.  The dozens of hands-on colorful adventures of Crayola experience help kids explore the magic of color at Crayola's premier one-of-a-kind family attraction.  From the world's largest Crayola crayon to creative activities around every corner, this Orlando area attraction created colorful family memories.  We spent 3-4 hours experiencing creative play and completing fun art projects at Florida's most colorful family destination.  This is a way to experience color in a whole new way and a great way to escape the Florida heat for both local families and those visiting from out of town.