Orlando Science Center
4.6(7,180)4.6 out of 5 stars, 7180 reviews Orlando, FL
About Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center offers an interactive and hands-on learning experience, particularly engaging for children aged 5 and up. It provides a diverse range of activities from movie-making to science experiments, animal encounters, and fossil digs, serving as a robust alternative to larger, time-consuming attractions for a few hours of focused fun and education.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with children aged 5 and up seeking an interactive and educational experience.Kids aged 8 and above who enjoy creative, hands-on activities like movie production.Parents looking for an engaging, educational alternative to major theme park attractions.Shorter visits (a few hours) where the goal is to complete most activities before lunch.Families interested in science experiments, animal encounters, and intellectual challenges.
Why families love it
- Dedicated movie-making section on the third floor for kids aged 8 and up.
- Abundance of interactive, hands-on items and puzzles designed to challenge thinking.
- Variety of science-themed experiences including experiments, slime creation, and 'investigation escape room' elements.
- Exhibits featuring dinosaur bones, fossil digging areas, an airplane simulator, and egg drop challenges.
- Live animals, specifically alligators, located on the first floor, with feeding opportunities (times unspecified).
- Suitable for families looking for an engaging, shorter visit compared to major theme parks.
Insider tips
- Always double-check the Orlando Science Center's website for any exhibit closures, especially for popular areas like the dinosaur exhibit, before planning your visit.
- If interested in seeing the alligator feedings, inquire about specific times upon arrival or check their website in advance, as times are not readily known by visitors.
- Parents with children aged 2-4 should consider that there are limited age-appropriate activities for this group.
- If planning to eat at the ground floor cafeteria, be prepared for potentially long waits on busy days and varied food quality (some spicy, pizza not well-rated). Consider bringing alternative snacks or meals if your children are picky eaters or if you prefer healthier, non-spicy options.
Good to know before you go
- Bringing children aged 2-4, as activities are scarce for this age group.
- Visiting without confirming the status of specific exhibits, particularly if the dinosaur area is a key interest.
- Relying on the cafeteria for quick, non-spicy, or guaranteed child-friendly meals, especially during busy periods.
- If your children are easily bored by hands-on science or are older than 8 and not specifically interested in the dinosaur exhibit (when open).
- The dinosaur exhibit was reportedly closed in January 2025; visitors should double-check exhibit closures prior to arrival.
- Crowds
- The cafeteria experiences 'extremely long' waits on 'busy days,' suggesting general crowd levels can be high at peak times.
- Value
- While no specific prices are mentioned, one reviewer implies the entry price might be high relative to the perceived value, particularly for children older than 8, unless the dinosaur exhibit is a major draw. The value proposition appears strong for children aged 5-8, but potentially diminishes for older kids if specific exhibits aren't available or engaging.
- Food
- There is a cafeteria located on the ground floor. Reviewers reported long wait times on busy days and issues with food quality (e.g., pizza not good, most food spicy). No explicit policy on outside food is mentioned in the reviews.
- Accessibility
- The facility is equipped with elevators and designated areas for wheelchairs.
What parents say
"A fantastic spot where kids can both learn and have fun! The third floor features an exciting area for kids aged 8 and up to create and film their own one-minute movie. Highly recommend taking the kids to the movie-making section — it’s a must-visit!"
3 weeks ago
"This is an interactive science museum with more hands-on items than exhibits. This is great for keeping kids active as well as challenging them to think about how to solve the many puzzles. If you have a few hours, this is a great stop that is not one of the BIG attractions in the area. It is not big, so if there with middle aged to older kids, you can do everything before lunch. Before you go double-check exhibit closers as the dinosaurs exhibit was closed in January 2025."
3 months ago
"Well, IMHO, if you are older than 8 y.o. I think you will not find it fascinating (only exception: dinosaur exhibit). Quite honestly kinda' boring. For this (entry) price at least staff should be more helpful and polite. Just check out their Web site. After that no need to visit."
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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