{"id":527,"date":"2007-11-29T20:50:00","date_gmt":"2007-11-30T02:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2007\/11\/fabulous-free-orlando-vacations-part-1\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T23:26:16","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T05:26:16","slug":"fabulous-free-orlando-vacations-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2007\/11\/fabulous-free-orlando-vacations-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Fabulous & free: Orlando vacations, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Samantha Chapnick<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Craft_table_2\"<\/a>The Orlando Science Center<\/a> may not have \u201cchildren\u201d or \u201cmuseum\u201d in its name, but that doesn\u2019t stop it from serving as one for locals.<\/a> <\/p>\n

The science center is must-do, in my opinion, for families with kids (11 & younger) seeking amusement beyond the theme parks or on a rainy day during an Orlando vacation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It’s a blend between a children\u2019s museum with exclusively science-related exhibits and a science center targeting kids 11 and younger, and it does both well enough to intelligently amuse the average kid for at least 6 hours.<\/p>\n

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Right now, the top floor is the hub of scientific exploration with four main exhibits. <\/p>\n

\"Dinosaur_exhibit\"<\/a> The two that occupied our 6-year-old the longest were the dinosaur room with life-size casts of several species, two pits where she dug for bones, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton that roars and moved at her command; and the BodyZone where she was thrilled to enter a giant mouth, play with \u201cblood\u201d and learn why evil mom\u2019s always forcing her to eat more fruits and veggies. <\/p>\n

She enjoyed milking a cow in The Dairy Science center as a gaggle of tweens was screaming while experiencing a full force hurricane.<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t spend much time at the one place that is more relevant to older children, Dr. Dare\u2019s Lab. It was intriguing with numerous computer workstations, microscopes and other interactive equipment. \"Water_table_in_kids_town_2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

That is set to change with the opening of two new exhibits: The Titanic Experience and discover The Daytona 500<\/a>. Both are mega-exhibits with ample artifacts to engage a wider age range.<\/p>\n

The bottom floor is kid-dom, part children\u2019s museum and part zoo. Kid\u2019s Town is basically an indoor playground for preschoolers with a water table, \u201cspace shuttle\u201d and an orange packing \u201cfactory.\u201d <\/p>\n

NatureWorks is a habitat for live alligators (small, young ones), turtles, and other reptiles and bugs.<\/p>\n

There were two activity centers that attracted crowds of kids. One was a\u201cgross\u201d workshop making things like scabs, slime and other untouchables. This was filled primarily with older boys. The other was a crafts corner where kids were decorating holiday cutouts with crayons and markers. Many a tense moment passed in this spot when kids were called on to share their color.<\/p>\n

Like most dual-purpose facilities, there are a few compromises. Where a children\u2019s museum is focused on getting energy out through playspaces, aside from Kid\u2019s Town I couldn’t find a playspace for older kids.<\/p>\n

By the same token, some of the exhibits are a bit dated or in need of upgrading. A continually looping documentary on twins was clearly shot in the ’70s.<\/p>\n

Still, for members of any reciprocal Association of Science Technology Centers<\/a> (there are 280 children\u2019s museums and science centers on the list) admission is  free. For others the fee is minimal and of course, anyone can join and get in free to the other 279.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Do you have a favorite children’s museum or science center? <\/strong>
Please share it with us in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

Related resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n