10 Things to Do in Orlando in January

Orlando is one of the most popular tourist destinations throughout the year in the United States, from visiting Disney World, to enjoying the different science and history museums in the city to see.

Undoubtedly, there are many things to see and do in Orlando throughout the year, but January has advantages such as a fairly mild weather, a lower tourist influx and several events exclusive to those dates, such as the Pirate Fest or Rock the Universe.

As every year, Universal Studio Florida organizes Rock the Universe, a Christian music-themed rock concert that you can attend, although I recommend you organize it with time, since prices, dates, times, as well as the bands that perform are always subject to change.

It is worth noting that if you go with a group of friends or a large family (more than 10), you can request a group rate, which makes the trip somewhat more economical than buying individual tickets.

The best part is that these concerts take place on 3 different outdoor stages inside the park, but in addition, if you have a Rock the Universe ticket, you can enter the park at Universal Studios Florida after 4:00 pm.

The event usually lasts at least 3 consecutive nights, so you can buy tickets for one, two or all three nights, depending on what you have planned. Of course, the more nights you attend, the higher the price will be.

Practical information

• When: usually the last weekend of January.
• Where: at Universal Studios Florida
• Prices: depends on the number of days you want to attend.

Do you feel like traveling through space, but are terrified of riding in a spacecraft? How about taking a trip to the Kennedy Space Center on vacation? Located in Cape Canaveral, it is one of the most important NASA bases in the country.

You will have the opportunity to discover in a guided tour how is the procedure of rocket launches and space missions. If you go with your family, you can be sure that your children will love this experience. And, moreover, in a month in which you will find a lower influx of visitors.

It offers different rooms to visit, both for children and adults. Among them, the following stand out:

• Hall of heroes and legends: exhibition of the best legends of the first NASA programs.
• The shuttle for kids: climb aboard Atlantis, one of the three shuttles on display at the Kennedy Space Center.
• Behind the Doors: a chance to relive and learn about some of the most important moments of the launch at Kennedy Space Center.
• Race to the Moon: also known as Apollo Center or Saturn V, dedicated to the Apollo landing mission on the moon.
• NASA Now + Next: the opportunity to get to know in depth what a trip in a spacecraft is like in an unparalleled exhibition.

If you're looking for things to do with kids in Orlando during the month of January, you should look for information about Sesame Street Kids' Weekend, a celebration exclusively for the youngest members of the family.

It is held annually at SeaWorld Orlando and aims to help children develop thinking skills while having fun. Highlights include:

• Storytime with Big Bird: children will sit in Big Bird's nest and listen to Big Bird himself read some of their favorite stories.
• Sesame Street Party Parade: the award-winning Sesame Street Party Parade will be held at select times throughout the weekend.
• Oscar's trash can activity: kids can take discarded materials and transform them into beautiful works of art.
• Everyday Hero Badges: take your kids to collect badges that reward them for showing off their great traits. Courage, kindness, patience and other virtues.

Of course, if you go with kids to Orlando you can also entertain them elsewhere. One recommendation: get tickets to the Crayola Experience and let them spend several hours enjoying the activities.

Practical information

• When: usually the last weekend in January.
• Where: at SeaWorld
• Prices: included in regular park admission

Do you love antique cars? Then you can't miss the exhibition of antique and collector cars, as well as the Mecum auction that is organized at the Osceola Heritage Park.

This event has to be one of your first mandatory visits if you are planning a trip between the first 2 weeks of the month and you are going to be in Orlando for about 5 days. You will have the opportunity to see amazing cars that are true classics of history.

All in all, a great opportunity for car lovers, which can be perfectly completed with the tickets to drive for a while at the Andretti Indoor Karting.

Practical information

• When: in the first two weeks of January
• Where: at Osceola Heritage Park on Silver Spur Lane
• Prices: adults pay about 20 €, while children under 12 years old can enter for free.

The annual EPCOT Festival of the Arts is an annual event held at Walt Disney World Resort every January. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy food, activities, entertainment and buy special souvenirs. The activities change every year, so if you are planning your visit for these dates I recommend you to check the Festival of the Arts activities so you don't miss the most interesting ones.

Some examples of activities are the Food Studios, which serves food throughout the park, the Animation Academy to draw Disney characters, the Disney on Broadway concerts and the scavenger hunt. All this without forgetting that it is held in one of the best theme parks in Orlando, of course.

Every year Disney holds a marathon that takes place between the first and second week of the first month of the year. The event consists of several races, among which the 42-kilometer marathon stands out, although there are also races designed for children, all of them related to the Disney theme.

This is an event that attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the world every year, so if you are interested in participating, you must book your participation in advance.

Undoubtedly, a different way to spend your family vacations, since you will find several different modalities each year. Do not miss the opportunity to participate disguised as your favorite character.

Practical information

• When: first or second week of January.
• Where: at Walt Disney World Resort
• Prices: starting at around 100 €, although it depends on the event.

One of the best excursions that can be made from Orlando is to go to Legoland park. Although it is an hour away from the city, it is a time that is worth it for the fun you will have every minute of the day. In January, in addition, the PirateFest is organized there.

During the days when this event takes place in Legoland, children (and not so children) can feel like real pirates. They will be able to search for treasures, sail across lakes in a ship or, of course, play with pirate legos.

Without a doubt, this is an experience that you should enjoy if you are a fan of any of the Lego lines. A tip: if you have collectible figures, you can take them with you to exchange them.

Practical information

• When: end of January
• Where: at Legoland Park in Winter Haven
• Prices: included in the general admission to the park

Have you ever dreamed of swimming in a protected coral reef with dolphins? In Orlando you can make this dream come true. Discovery Cove is a water park made up of lagoons and natural pools, rocks and coral reefs. Doing it in January, when in other places it is very cold, is a real luxury.

It is the perfect place where you can relax in a calm river, but also jump into the waves on one of the best beaches in Orlando. Not for nothing is it considered one of the best water parks in the whole city.

Also, if you don't like to vacation because there are too many people, let us tell you that in Discovery Cove only 100 people enter per day, which makes everything quieter if you can.

If swimming with dolphins is too quiet for you, you can always go to Gatorland, where you can watch alligators and even feed them.

This date is celebrated on the third Monday of every year and is a holiday that attracts hundreds of tourists from the city, other regions of the country and the world, as it is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all the events that take place on this day.

Generally, establishments hold hundreds of activities and stores offer discounts on all kinds of products, from clothing to appliances and accessories. Even though you are on vacation, you could take advantage of this day to buy and take home several things at an excellent discounted price.

In addition, you can go downtown or take a guided tour of Orlando to enjoy some of the parades organized every year on Martin Luther King Day.

Even if you spend your evenings watching some of the shows taking place in Orlando andpart of your vacation days at the theme parks, there is always time for a more educational experience for you or your children: the Science Center, an ideal place to learn regardless of age.

This natural science museum cannot be compared to those you can find in other places, such as New York or London, since it focuses on hands-on education for children between 3 and 11 years of age. In its facilities you will find interactive rooms, workshops, theaters or laboratories.

These rooms are divided into 4 floors, where you will always find something to do for children to test their skills and take their first steps to become scientists.

Despite the dates, the weather in Orlando in January makes it an excellent time to visit the city's theme parks, especially if you plan to visit a pool or beach.

Temperatures are pleasant, ranging from 22° to 11°. A recommendation for tourists traveling for the first time is to be well hydrated, especially if you plan to spend a day downtown visiting some tourist attractions.

Something to keep in mind is that if you plan to travel during these dates, you should always pack a good sunscreen, hat and sunglasses in your luggage, as the sun is intense in Florida.

As for prices, you should keep in mind that this is one of the best times to visit Orlando, so prices can go up a lot, so be prepared.

If you can plan your trip in advance, it is best to book tickets, rooms and everything you need in advance to make your trip to Orlando much more economical.