Charlotte Blanton
Charlotte Blanton, a Central Florida native and mom of three, holds a business degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After a career in corporate finance, she pivoted to stay home with her kids and found her passion for writing through Mommy Poppins. She loves exploring local theme parks and discovering fun activities for families in Central Florida.
Latest posts by Charlotte
It's no surprise that Orlando has an abundance of indoor playground spots and indoor entertainment centers for families, but these can get pricey, especially if you have more than one child. Luckily, Orlando also has FREE indoor playground areas that allow kids to let loose and explore at no cost. From soft indoor playground spots at the mall, to a dino dig and real train car to explore, you're sure to find something for kids of all ages to enjoy. And who doesn't love FREE entertainment?!
Get your budding paleontologists and little dinosaur fanatics ready! The Jurassic World Live Tour returns to the Amway Center January 13-16, bringing the thrills of Jurassic World to audiences of all ages. Watch as your favorite dinosaurs from the hit film franchise take center stage in this live arena production. Fans can see Blue, everyone’s favorite Velociraptor, as well as a 40-foot-long Tyrannosaurus Rex and dozens more life-size dinosaurs operated by animatronics and performers.
Central Florida is starting the New Year with lots of fun things to do with your family in January. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Orlando this January.
Grab tickets to take your little dinosaur fan to the Jurassic World Live Tour, coming to the Amway Center this month. At the theme parks in January, celebrate Elmo's Birthday and Sesame Street Kids' Weekend at SeaWorld and stroll the Festival of the Arts at Epcot. Join Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in Kissimmee, Oviedo, Winter Garden, and a parade in downtown Orlando. Plus, enjoy the Scottish Highland Games in Winter Springs, a chili cook-off in Orlando, and so much more. Read on for all the details!
Find more top winter fun in our Winter Activities Guide, including where to pick strawberries, things to do beyond the theme parks, and more.
We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters. Plus, be sure to follow us on Facebook!
It’s been a great year for new attractions in Central Florida! New in 2022 in Orlando were the openings of a brand new amusement park – Peppa Pig Theme Park – as well as new coasters such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Ice Breaker at Sea World. We’ve rounded up a "best of Orlando" list of what was new in 2022.
Orlando families looking to develop strong language skills in young kids can choose to enroll in dual immersion and bilingual preschool programs. Between the ages of three and five, a child's vocabulary grows rapidly, making preschool kids extremely receptive to learning new languages. Research suggests that the long-term benefits for kids that learn a second language in these bilingual preschools and dual immersion programs are numerous, including higher scores on standardized tests, advanced reading skills, and greater opportunities for college and the work force.
We've rounded up a list of Orlando preschools that offer dual immersion and bilingual school programs, with languages like Spanish, Chinese, French, and more.
Legoland Florida was built for kids, so there’s no question that Legoland’s Brick-or-Treat is an ideal fall outing for families. This year’s Brick-or-Treat theme is Monster Party, and plenty of Lego monsters are on site to party with guests! I visited the theme park with my 4-year-old and 9-year-old, and we all had a great time. Guests can trick-or-treat through the park, enjoy special themed shows and activities, partake in a costume parade, and more. The best part? All activities are included with regular park admission, so no separate ticket is needed!
For more Halloween fun around Central Florida, check out our Mommy Poppins Orlando Halloween Guide.
Looking for the perfect family vacation destination in the mountains? My Florida-based family loves the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN area, home to endless kid-friendly attractions and outdoor recreation opportunities. We've visited this beautiful southern vacation spot several times in the last few years and always find new activities for all ages to enjoy, from toddlers to grandparents.
It helps that both of these Tennessee towns are just moments away from two of the area's top attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood, a mega theme park. And with so many family-friendly Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hotels, you won't have trouble finding a great place to stay while you're in town.
My family and I visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. As a Central Florida native, I've been to Disney many times but never visited for a special party event, so I was excited to experience this for the first time! For those who don’t know, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate ticketed event that takes place select nights, starting in mid-August and running through Halloween. Many guests go all out in costume for this special event, which features enchanting shows, character meet-and-greets, a themed parade, Halloween fireworks, and of course, trick-or-treating!
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