Things to Do in Orlando With Teens

By this age, your teenagers are probably ready to appreciate some of our more mature-oriented theme-park fare. Accordingly, EPCOT® is a perfect choice at Walt Disney World® Resort. Here, they can explore the planet at the World Showcase or take in the park’s world-famous food festivals. EPCOT has plenty of thrills, too, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Save on discount tickets: Orlando Theme Parks

You can also show your teenagers wonders of a different kind at Discovery Cove®. At this all-inclusive day resort, they can have close encounters with dolphins, exotic birds and other amazing animals. And any teenage daredevils in your family won’t want to miss SeaWorld® Orlando, aka the Coaster Capital of Orlando.

Featuring fast-paced rides based on popular film and television properties, Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort is another great choice. Universal Orlando is especially a must-visit for teens who follow the adventures of The Boy Who Lived thanks to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.

Your kids will soon be driving for real if they’re not already, so let them take the wheel at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, located in the International Drive Entertainment District. More go-kart thrills can be found at K1 Speed Orlando, Orlando Kart Center, Fun Spot America and Karting Orlando. The latter is part of Dezerland Park, which offers a full day of indoor attractions perfect for teens.

Discover: Orlando’s Best Go-Karting

Adjacent to Andretti is Topgolf Orlando, which pairs golf with a scoring system similar to darts or bowling. For games and fun food, hit up Kings Dining & Entertainment or Main Event Entertainment, part of Pointe Orlando.

Discover: Things to Do at Pointe Orlando

In the same area, iFLY Orlando Indoor Skydiving will give your teens the chance to experience flight in a safe, controlled environment. The area’s escape rooms are great for teens, too, including The Escape Game Orlando and Escapology.

Save on discount tickets: Orlando Attractions

About an hour from Orlando on Florida’s East Coast, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex presents a whole day of wonder and excitement for anyone who’s interested in a STEM career or space exploration. Back in Orlando, Gatorland has plenty to keep teens occupied, especially when you add the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line and Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure experiences into the mix.

Discover: Things to Do Beyond Theme Parks

If your teens love outdoor adventure, they’ll develop a deeper appreciation for Orlando with some of our more unique ecotourism attractions. These include off-roading at Revolution Adventures (get discount tickets) and airboat tours at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures (get discount tickets), Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides and Wild Florida (get discount tickets). Your kids might also enjoy Tank America — the only place in Florida where you can drive a tank without joining the military.

Discover: Orlando Ecotourism

This is also a great age for your kids to hit the West Orange Trail. Starting in Winter Garden, just minutes from Walt Disney World, this paved, 21-mile trail is perfect for hiking and biking, with plenty of amenities along the way. You can even rent bikes for every member of the family from West Orange Trail — Bikes & Blades Co.

As kids mature, so do their palates, which means yours are now ready to experience the best of the best in Orlando dining. Take a walking tour of celebrity chef restaurants at Disney Springs®, the dining, entertainment and shopping district at Walt Disney World Resort that’s home to Masaharu Morimoto’s MICHELIN Guide Recommended Morimoto Asia, José Andrés’ JALEO, Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Florida Kitchen, and Guy Fieri creations at Planet Hollywood and Chicken Guy!, among others. And even without a celebrity chef, themed eateries like Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar — based on the Indiana Jones films — are also great options.

Speaking of MICHELIN-recognized eateries, Orlando has 46 of them in total representing a wide range of cuisines and price points. Teens with refined palates will also want to experience Orlando’s top local chefs, including several James Beard Award nominees. 

Discover: Orlando’s Top Chefs

You’ll discover additional themed restaurants at Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort, and more celebrity eateries can be found throughout the area. Or, head to Winter Park to try some of Orlando’s best homegrown chefs. These include Julie and James Petrakis of MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand The Ravenous Pig, Brandon McGlamery of the MICHELIN Guide Recommended Prato and Luke’s Kitchen, and many others.

More great dining that your teens will love can be found all along International Drive and Restaurant Row, as well as downtown Orlando and its adjacent neighborhoods. In fact, the city’s Mills 50 district has more MICHELIN Guide honorees than any other part of Orlando, including Bib Gourmands Z Asian and The Strand Food & Drink, plus the MICHELIN Guide Recommended Black Rooster Taqueria, Hawkers, Shin Jung, Sticky Rice and Tori Tori.

Discover: Orlando Neighborhoods

Just as they have themed suite options for younger kids, Walt Disney World has some resorts with themed rooms that are fun for teenagers. For instance, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort have suites that are infused with music, movies and sports, as well as pop-culture icons. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort features 20 tropical luxury bungalows that sleep up to eight guests each.

Discover: Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

Maybe your progeny are eyeing careers as world-famous musicians? In that case, book them a stay at Hard Rock Hotel® at Universal Orlando, which boasts Future Rock Star suites. Each one features iconic celebrity memorabilia, liquid flooring and lights, and a twinkling, starlight canopy over the beds.

Discover: Universal Orlando Resort Hotels

If your teens are more interested in spending time in your hotel’s pool than in their suites, Orlando has some mind-blowing options in that regard. Margaritaville Resort Orlando has its own onsite water park, Island H2O Live! (seen on this page’s cover image). Orlando World Center Marriott has four heated outdoor pools and a nighttime laser show at its Falls Pools Oasis, which includes waterslides, whirlpools and a 600,000-gallon lagoon pool.

Bottom line is, there are so many unique ways to have a blast in the water at our resorts that you might have a hard time getting your teens out of the pool.