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Taking the Kids: to Orlando this spring — safely

Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Content Agency on

“It is really fun to see the kids having such a cool interaction,” said Amy Ardelean, an entertainment general manager at Hollywood Studios.

Character meals have also been redesigned — think socially distant conversations and photos — and are as popular as ever, Ardelean said, with the Hollywood & Vine restaurant, which has lunch and dinners, adding breakfast to accommodate more guests.

There are literally hundreds of options for outdoor socially distanced dining and take-out, whatever kind of food you crave. (Take a picnic to the park, or poolside at your hotel, as well as to special events within the parks this spring.)

The Taste of EPCOT® International Flower & Garden Show (March 3 to July 5) boasts 17 special outdoor kitchens and food booths featuring bites from around the world to be enjoyed amidst the giant topiaries. Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Orlando Resort (Feb. 6 to April 11) showcases food from 13 countries, as well as music and dance (check out the performers on stilts!) while Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld® Orlando (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Feb. 5 to May 9) includes a concert series and more than 200 distinct food, wine, cocktail and craft beer offerings throughout the grounds, along with a new beer garden.

There is plenty new outside the parks too. Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival (through May) is being promoted as the first socially distanced music festival in the U.S., offering everything from music performances to comedy shows to big-name concerts.

The Museum of Illusions Orlando, an “edutainment” experience offering 50 interactive, immersive and mentally deceptive exhibits based on math, science, and psychology, and Dezerland Park, an all-new indoor attraction on International Drive, complete with a trampoline park and the longest indoor dual go-karting tracks in Florida.

There are also plenty of options for free things to do outdoors, from farmers markets (The Orlando Farmers Market on Sundays) the 43-acre Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando with Sunday morning yoga, the 20-plus mile West Orange Trail complete with playground equipment (rent bikes from West Orange Trail Bikes & Blades Co., which offers delivery to area hotels) and the Nemours Family Zone at the United States Tennis Association National Campus. (Play for free but you must pre-register!)

 

There’s no charge to watch the street performers at Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk or at Disney Springs where kids can build LEGO creations at the LEGO store. Universal Orlando Resort’s 30-acre entertainment complex (free parking after 6 p.m.) also has plenty of outdoor options for entertainment (free DJ parties!) and food.

Just remember, you can’t do it all, no matter how hard you try.

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, was published in 2020, with The Kid’s Guide to Camping coming in 2021.)

©2021 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


(c) 2021 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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