Traveling to Orlando with Children

Orlando International Airport suggests allowing extra time when traveling with a family. It lists family or companion restrooms on each level and nursing rooms throughout the terminals, plus a sensory room in Terminal A for travelers with sensory sensitivities and their families.

Children under 18 are not required to show photo ID at the security checkpoint, but airlines have their own rules, so check with yours. Stroller rentals are listed on the airport's terminal maps.

SunRail's fare page says children 6 and under ride free with one paid accompanying adult, limited to three children per adult, and offers 50% discounts for youth ages 7 to 18 with proof of age. LYNX lists discounted fares for youth under its Youth & AdvantAge Discount policy, and asks riders using a reduced fare to show a LYNX-issued ID. Check current fares and rules on each agency's site.

Airport shuttle vans charge per person, so ask about children's rates before you board. If older children use shared scooters or bikes, the City of Orlando requires helmets for riders under 16.

The National Weather Service notes that young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness, because their bodies adapt less well than adults'. Ready.gov lists children among those at greater risk from extreme heat.

It is never safe to leave a child in a parked car, even in cooler months, according to the NWS. Take shade and water breaks, and stay alert to signs of heat illness.

When thunder roars, go indoors. Move children into a building or a car with a roof, and avoid driving through flooded roads. Orange County parks with lightning detection sound a horn when lightning is detected, so teach children that it means to leave open areas right away.

Wireless Emergency Alerts also reach children's WEA-enabled phones, and Ready.gov suggests parents talk with children about them. At the coast, swim only where lifeguards are present, because rip currents often form on calm, sunny days.

Each park publishes its own family services. One operator's guest services page lists baby care centers, stroller rentals and first aid, for example. Agree on a meeting spot and a plan if someone is separated, and learn where first aid and guest relations are when you arrive.

See our theme park planning guide for general tips, and check each park's website for height, age and ticket rules.