10 Things to Do in Orlando in January

Orlando is one of the busiest year-round tourist destinations in the United States, from visiting Disney World to enjoying the many science and history museums in the city to see.

There are undoubtedly many things to see and do in Orlando throughout the year, but January has advantages such as mild weather, fewer tourists and several events exclusive to these 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 in advance, as prices, dates, times, as well as the bands that perform are always subject to change.

It's 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 cheaper than buying individual tickets.

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

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

Fancy a trip into space, but terrified of riding in a spacecraft? How about taking a trip to the Kennedy Space Center this holiday? Located at Cape Canaveral, it is one of the most important NASA bases in the country.

You will have the opportunity to discover on a guided tour how rocket launches and space missions are carried out. If you go with your family, you can be sure that your children will love this experience. And, what's more, in a month when there are fewer visitors.

It offers different rooms to visit, both for children and adults. These include the following:

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

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

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

• Story Time with Big Bird: children will sit in Big Bird's nest and listen to Big Bird himself read some of their favourite 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're bringing 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 vintage and collector cars and the Mecum auction at the Osceola Heritage Park.

This event has to be one of your first must-visits if you are planning a trip within the first 2 weeks of the month and you are going to be in Orlando for 5 days or so. 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 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, Silver Spur Lane
• Prices: Adults pay around €20, while children under 12 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. Not to mention that it's held in one of Orlando's best theme parks, 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-kilometre 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.

Without a doubt, a different way to spend your family holidays, as you will find several different modalities every year. Don't miss the chance to take part dressed up as your favourite 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 you can take from Orlando is a trip to Legoland. Although it's an hour's drive from the city, it's well worth it for the fun you'll have every minute of the day. In January, the park also hosts PirateFest.

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 treasure, sail across lakes in a ship or, of course, play with pirate legos.

Without a doubt, this is an experience that you should treat yourself to 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 general park admission

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 natural lagoons and pools, rocks and coral reefs. Doing it in January, when elsewhere it's freezing cold, is a real treat.

It's the perfect place where you can relax in a calm river, but also ride the waves at one of Orlando's best beaches. It's not for nothing that it's considered one of the best water parks in the city.

Also, if you don't like crowded holidays, let us tell you that Discovery Cove is only 100 people a day, which makes it a little quieter if you can get there at all.

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

Celebrated on the third Monday of every year, this holiday attracts hundreds of tourists from the city, other parts 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.

There are usually hundreds of activities and shops offer discounts on everything from clothing to appliances and accessories. Even though you are on holiday, you could take advantage of the day to buy and take home several things at a great discounted price.

You can also head downtown or take a guided tour of Orlando to enjoy some of the parades that take place every year on Martin Luther King Day.

Even if you spend your evenings at one of Orlando's shows andpart of your holiday 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 found in other places, such as New York or London, as it focuses on hands-on education for children between the ages of 3 and 11 years old. In its facilities you will find interactive rooms, workshops, theatres and laboratories.

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

Despite the dates, the weather in Orlando in January makes it a great 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 first time tourists is to stay well hydrated, especially if you plan to spend a day in the city centre visiting some of the 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.

When it comes to prices, keep in mind that this is one of the best times to visit Orlando, so prices can go up quite a bit, so be prepared.

If you can plan your trip in advance, it' s best to book tickets, rooms and everything else you need in advance to make your trip to Orlando much cheaper.