What to Do with Kids in Orlando at Night (And How to Get a Night Without Them)
The theme parks close. The kids are still wired. And you are standing in your hotel room at 7 PM wondering what to do for the next three hours before bedtime.
This is the part of the Orlando vacation that nobody plans for. You spend weeks mapping out your park days, but the evenings? Most families wing it. Some end up at the hotel pool. Some end up at a dinner show. Some end up ordering room service and letting the kids watch a movie while the parents stare at the ceiling wishing they were at a restaurant.
Here is a real guide to what families can do in Orlando at night, including the option most parents do not know about: getting a character babysitter so you can actually go out.
Evening Activities for Kids in Orlando
Before we get to the part where you get a night off, here are the best things to do with kids in Orlando after the parks close.
Disney Springs. Open until late, no park ticket required. Kids love the LEGO store, the World of Disney shop, and the Void (if it is operating). Parents can browse, eat, and walk around without time pressure. It is the most popular evening activity for families staying near Disney World, and for good reason. It is free to enter and there is something for every age.
Resort pool time. If you are staying at a Disney, Universal, or other major resort hotel, the pools are often open until 10 PM or later. After a hot day in the parks, an evening pool session can be exactly what everyone needs. Some resort pools have slides, splash pads, and themed areas that kids love almost as much as the parks themselves.
Mini golf. Orlando has some genuinely excellent mini golf courses. Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk, Fantasia Gardens near Disney, and the various I-Drive courses are fun for the whole family and usually open until 10 or 11 PM.
Dinner shows. Medieval Times, the Pirate's Dinner Adventure, and Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Shows are all popular with families. They combine dinner with entertainment, and kids tend to love the interactive format. These are typically two-to-three-hour events that fill an entire evening.
ICON Park. The Wheel, the aquarium, and Madame Tussauds are all on International Drive and open into the evening. It is a solid option if you want something to do that is not a theme park but still feels like an outing.
Fireworks from outside the parks. You do not need a park ticket to watch Disney's fireworks. The beaches at the Polynesian, the docks at the Grand Floridian, the bridge near the Contemporary, and several spots around the Seven Seas Lagoon offer views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. EPCOT fireworks are visible from the BoardWalk area. It is a free, low-effort evening activity that kids love.
The Evening Problem Nobody Talks About
Here is the truth about Orlando evenings with kids: no matter how many activities you line up, at some point the kids need to go to bed, and the parents need to go out.
You did not fly to Orlando to eat room service every night. You want at least one real dinner, one real evening, one real experience that does not involve cutting someone's chicken into tiny pieces. But finding childcare on vacation feels impossible, so most families just skip it.
According to travel surveys, over 60 percent of parents traveling with young children say they wish they could have a night out during their vacation but do not because of childcare concerns. In a city with 74 million annual visitors, that is a staggering number of parents going to bed at 8 PM every night of their trip.
The Character Babysitter Option
This is the part most families visiting Orlando do not know about yet.
A character babysitter is a vetted, background-checked sitter who arrives at your hotel room or vacation rental dressed as a princess or superhero. She stays for the entire evening, takes care of your kids, and stays in character, all the way through bedtime. The parents leave. The character stays.
For kids who just spent all day at Disney World or Universal Studios meeting characters for 90 seconds at a time, having a princess or superhero come to their room for the entire evening is the highlight of the trip. Parents consistently report that their kids talked about the character babysitter night more than any day at the parks.
And for parents, the benefit is simple. You get a real night out with someone you can trust watching your kids, and you do not have to deal with the guilt and tears of leaving them with a stranger. Your kids are not just okay with you leaving. They want you to leave so they can have the princess all to themselves.
What Orlando Parents Do While the Character Sitter Is There
Three hours of childcare opens up a lot of options in Orlando. Here is what parents actually do.
Fine dining. Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian, Capa at the Four Seasons, Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs, and the restaurants along Sand Lake Road (Restaurant Row) are all incredible and nearly impossible to enjoy with young children. A character babysitter gives you the time to actually sit down, order a bottle of wine, and eat at a pace that does not involve someone throwing bread.
Disney Springs without kids. Sounds counterintuitive, but Disney Springs is a completely different experience without a stroller. Browse the shops, grab cocktails at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, have dinner at The Boathouse or Morimoto, and enjoy walking around at your own pace.
BoardWalk and EPCOT area. If you are staying near EPCOT, the BoardWalk entertainment district has restaurants, bars, and a carnival atmosphere that is best experienced without kids. Walk over to the World Showcase for dinner and drinks if EPCOT is still open.
Universal CityWalk. Restaurants, bars, a movie theater, and nightlife, all without needing a park ticket. CityWalk is designed for adults and teens, and it comes alive in the evening.
Winter Park. A short drive from the tourist areas, Park Avenue in Winter Park has wine bars, boutiques, and a small-town vibe that feels like a different world. It is a favorite among locals and a great escape from the theme park bubble.
How to Book a Character Babysitter in Orlando
Visit enchantedchildcare.com, browse the princess and superhero characters, and join the waitlist. Pick the character your child is most obsessed with, select your dates, and you are set. The base booking is $199 for three hours with up to three children.
Enchanted Childcare serves the entire Orlando area, including all Disney World resorts, Universal Studios resorts, International Drive, Kissimmee, Celebration, Lake Buena Vista, Dr. Phillips, and Winter Park. We also serve the Tampa Bay area.
Every sitter has passed a comprehensive background check and completed a safety orientation. Read more about finding a babysitter near Disney World or check our FAQ page for details on pricing, safety, and how it all works.
Your kids have had their magical day at the parks. Now it is your turn to have a magical evening. Let someone in a tiara or a cape handle bedtime while you go remember what it feels like to be an adult for a few hours.