Things to do at ICON Park Orlando with Reviews. If you’re heading to Orlando and fancy a break from the theme parks, make sure you put ICON Park on your list!
Located on International Drive, ICON Park is a fantastic open-air entertainment complex packed with attractions, restaurants, shops and places to simply sit and soak up the Orlando atmosphere. And the best bit? You can wander around ICON Park without needing an admission ticket – you just pay for the attractions you want to visit.
We’ve found ICON Park to be a brilliant option for families because there really is something for everyone. Whether you want spectacular views, celebrities, optical illusions, sea creatures, live entertainment or a very large portion of dinner, you’re pretty much covered!
The Orlando Eye
You can’t really miss The Orlando Eye – it towers 400 feet above International Drive and is the centrepiece of ICON Park.
Hop into one of the air-conditioned capsules and enjoy 360-degree views across Orlando. On a clear day, the views are fabulous, and it’s a lovely way to get your bearings before exploring the rest of the area.
The ride takes around 20 minutes, so it’s not an enormous time commitment either.
I’d particularly recommend doing this towards sunset if you can. Orlando looks rather spectacular as the lights start coming on! It does close if there are storms (naturally!) so bear this in mind before you make the trip.
Blue Man Group
One of the newest additions to ICON Park is Blue Man Group, which has returned to Orlando with a brand-new 500-seat theatre.
If you’ve never seen Blue Man Group before, expect something completely different! It’s part music, part comedy, part theatre and part sensory extravaganza – with plenty of drumming, colour, lights and audience interaction.
The new theatre has been designed specifically for the show, with sophisticated lighting, video and sound. It’s a great choice if you want an evening of entertainment that isn’t another theme-park attraction. And yes, the blue men are still very, very blue!
We visited and reviewed Blue Man Group here.
Madame Tussauds Orlando
If your family loves taking photos, Madame Tussauds Orlando is great fun.
This is one of those attractions where you’re encouraged to get involved rather than simply walking around looking at exhibits. You can pose with famous faces, take ridiculous selfies and generally have a bit of fun.
There are celebrities, musicians, sporting stars, historical figures and superheroes to discover, with plenty of opportunities for photographs. (Some more famous than others for us UK folk!)
It’s also indoors and air-conditioned, which in Orlando is something I am always happy about! Allow around an hour or two, depending on how long you spend perfecting your photographs.
We visited and reviewed Madame Tussauds here.
Museum of Illusions Orlando
Prepare to have your brain thoroughly confused at the Museum of Illusions!
This is another brilliant indoor attraction and is packed with interactive optical illusions based around science, maths and psychology. There are more than 50 illusions and lots of opportunities to get involved.
It’s not really a museum where you wander around quietly looking at things. Instead, you become part of the exhibits.
Expect upside-down rooms, optical tricks, unusual perspectives and photographs that will have everyone asking, “How did you do that?”
My advice? Make sure your phone is charged because you’re going to take A LOT of pictures!
We visited and reviewed The Museum of Illusions here.
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
If you have little ones who love anything underwater, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is definitely worth a visit.
You can see sharks, turtles, rays, eels and tropical fish, with the 360-degree ocean tunnel being one of the highlights. It’s a lovely change of pace after the bigger and noisier Orlando attractions.
I also love the fact that it’s completely indoors, so it makes a good rainy-day or very-hot-day option.
We visited and reviewed SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium here.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Just around the corner on International Drive is Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, so it’s worth adding this to your ICON Park day even though it isn’t actually located inside the ICON Park complex itself.
If you’ve never been to a Ripley’s before, think bizarre, weird and downright unbelievable exhibits all under one roof!
There are unusual objects, strange stories and plenty of things designed to make you say, “Surely that can’t be real?”
It’s a particularly good option if you have older children or teenagers who enjoy the weird and wonderful.
We visited and reviewed Ripley’s Believe it or Not! here.
Ripley’s Crazy Golf
And if you fancy something a little more competitive, Ripley’s Crazy Golf has now arrived at ICON Park.
It’s a fun way to break up a day of sightseeing – although be warned, family mini golf can become surprisingly competitive!
ICON Park describes it as a family-friendly experience, making it an easy addition to your day if you want something that everyone can do together.
Other Things to Do at ICON Park
There are plenty of other attractions dotted around ICON Park too.
You’ll find the Orlando SlingShot for those who like their entertainment at the more terrifying end of the scale, as well as In The Game, a family entertainment centre with arcade-style attractions.
There’s also the 7D Motion Theater, the Carousel on the Promenade and the Pearl Express Train.
And if you’re visiting with younger children, it’s nice to have some less adrenaline-fuelled options alongside the bigger attractions.
ICON Park Restaurants
One of the things I really like about ICON Park is that you don’t have to get back in the car when you’re hungry.
There are loads of restaurants and places to grab a snack, so it’s very easy to turn your visit into a full day or an evening out.
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips
Fancy some ‘British’ food while you’re in Florida?
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips serves exactly what the name suggests, along with other British-style favourites. It could be a good option if you’re travelling with anyone suffering from a little homesickness for proper fish and chips!
Yard House
Yard House is another popular choice, with a huge menu and plenty of options for families and groups.
It’s particularly handy when everyone wants something different because there’s plenty of choice.
Sugar Factory
For something a little more OTT, head to Sugar Factory Orlando.
This is definitely one for anyone with a sweet tooth. The desserts are enormous, colourful and designed to words, this isn’t the place to visit if you’re trying to behave yourself make an impression.
In other words, this isn’t the place to visit if you’re trying to behave yourself!
Ole Red
For live music and a lively atmosphere, check out Ole Red, the Blake Shelton-inspired restaurant and entertainment venue.
It’s a great option if you fancy dinner with a bit more entertainment thrown in. ICON Park has several venues offering live music, so it can be a fun place to spend an evening.
Tin Roof
For live music, food and a lively atmosphere, Tin Roof is another option at ICON Park.
And if you just want something quick, there are plenty of casual choices too, including Shake Shack and The Wheelhouse Food Hall.
Don’t Forget the Snacks
You are in Orlando, after all, so there are plenty of opportunities for something sweet!
ICON Park has cafés and sweet treats including Starbucks, Häagen-Dazs, Juan Valdez Colombian Coffee and iCafe de Paris.
Sometimes you simply need an ice cream after all that sightseeing.
How Long Do You Need at ICON Park?
This really depends on how many attractions you want to do.
If you’re just visiting for The Orlando Eye, having something to eat and wandering around, you could easily spend a couple of hours here.
However, if you want to do The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds, Museum of Illusions and SEA LIFE, I’d allow a good chunk of the day.
Add in lunch, a wander around the shops, Crazy Golf or one of the other attractions and you could quite happily spend most of the day here.
Is ICON Park Worth Visiting?
Yes!
I think ICON Park is a really useful addition to an Orlando itinerary, particularly if you want something to do away from Disney and Universal.
It’s easy to get around, there are loads of restaurants and you can mix and match attractions depending on your family. It also works brilliantly when Florida decides to throw one of those afternoon rainstorms at you, thanks to the number of indoor attractions.
And because you don’t need a ticket just to enter ICON Park, you can simply turn up, have a wander and decide what takes your fancy.
Things to do at ICON Park Orlando with Reviews
If I were planning a family day at ICON Park, I’d probably choose:
The Orlando Eye – for those fabulous views.
Madame Tussauds – for the silly family photos.
Museum of Illusions – brilliant fun and very Instagrammable!
SEA LIFE Orlando – a calmer attraction and great for younger children.
Blue Man Group – for a fun evening show.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – for something completely bonkers!
Sugar Factory – because holidays are definitely the time for enormous desserts.
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips – because sometimes you just need a taste of home!
There really is plenty to keep you occupied at ICON Park, and it makes a great change of pace from the huge theme parks.
