Orlando Memorial Day Weekend 2020 - Fun Things to Do in May

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024

Spending Memorial Day Weekend in the central Florida area? There are lots of fun activities to enjoy this holiday weekend. Whether you're all about theme park thrills or prefer to take in scenic vistas, there's something for everyone to love in Orlando. If you’re looking for Orlando Memorial Day Weekend 2020 ideas, check out some of these local activities and fun things do in Orlando in May, including...

  • Visit the exciting I-Drive 360 Complex
  • Explore Lake Eola Park
  • Take a trip to the Kennedy Space Center
  • Check out the animals living in the Everglades
  • Visit Lion Country Safari
  • and more...

Save on Attraction Admission

Regular admission to a number of these attractions are included on the Go Orlando pass. Choose as you go from dozens of Orlando attractions & activities and save up to 50% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes and Orlando attractions – Learn more. Please note, some of these special May and Memorial Day weekend events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go Orlando pass.

Head to a Theme Park

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Celebrate the start of the summer season at one of Orlando's many theme parks. Spend some time enjoying classic theme park rides at Fun Spot America Theme Park. Kids and adults alike can take their turn on the famous, multi-level Go Kart tracks, knock around on the bumper boats, take a spin on The Revolver wheel, and more. Getting In: Fun Spot America tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

LEGOLAND Florida

Another top theme park option is LEGOLAND® Florida. This 150-acre park is filled with attractions that are just perfect for kids 12 and under. Your kids can go on over 50 rides, see a show, and explore the Miniland cities in Miniland USA. Don't forget to visit LEGO Heartlake City, where you can meet new friends and play around with the whole gang. Then, there's the "LEGO Movie 4D: A New Adventure," which allows fans to continue their love for the LEGO Movie. Getting In: LEGOLAND Florida tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

The I-Drive 360 Entertainment Complex

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Check out the exciting area all the locals are buzzing about. Filled with shops, restaurants, and attractions, this fun-packed entertainment complex right in Orlando, promises visitors a memorable time. Be sure to take a ride on ICON Orlando (formerly Coca-Cola Orlando Eye), take pictures with your favorite celebs at Madame Tussauds, walk through the 360-degree underwater tunnel at SEA LIFE Aquarium or discover a new appreciation for anatomy at Skeletons: Animals Unveiled! Getting In: ICON Orlando tickets and Madame Tussauds tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

Visit Kennedy Space Center

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Visit one of the world's greatest hubs of technology and discovery, the Kennedy Space Center, and explore where many of mankind's greatest accomplishments have taken place. Tour NASA's launch and landing facilities, play around with interactive simulators, and meet a real astronaut! Getting In: Kennedy Space Center tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

Lion Country Safari

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Visit America's first wildlife preserve where over 900 animals (lions included) roam free over two safari parks. Families and animal lovers will want to visit Lion Country Safari, where you can drive the four-mile route through hundreds of zebra, rhinos, giraffes, wildebeest and of course, lions. There's also a walk-through safari with a chance to feed giraffes and visit a petting zoo. Getting In: Lion Country Safari tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

Explore Central Florida Everglades

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Explore the Everglades on a Boggy Creek Airboat tour and see gators, turtles, birds, and more in their natural environment. Glide across the surface of the water between walls of tall grass. To help you plan, it's important to know that the best time to see the most wildlife is in the morning between 9AM and 11AM. Getting In: Boggy Creek Airboat tour tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

Tour Winter Park

One of the most beautiful suburbs of Orlando is Winter Park, a city filled with indie shops, tasty restaurants, delightful gardens, and lovely architecture. In addition to popping in a few local businesses, why not take a boat tour of Winter Park's peaceful canals and lakes? It's a great way to spend a relaxing hour. Getting In: Winter Park Boat Tour tickets are included with the Go Orlando pass.

Explore Lake Eola Park

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Located right in the heart of downtown Orlando, the scenic Lake Eola Park is a great place to spend a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend with friends and family. Visitors will enjoy seeing the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain which is the "official" icon of the City of Orlando. Take a stroll on the scenic walking paths, pack a picnic and toss a Frisbee around, or rent a swan-shaped paddle boat and paddle around Lake Eola. Getting In: It's free to explore Lake Eola Park.

Stroll the Beaches

Whether you want to head all the way to New Smyrna or Cocoa Beach, or feel like exploring the tiny but delightful Winter Park Beach, there are fabulous beach options to fulfill your Memorial Day summer dreams. Get to the beach early to get a great spot, grab a towel and you're pretty much set to go! Getting In: Beach admission is separately ticketed and is not included with the Go Orlando pass. For more information, please visit the website of your chosen beach.

Remember to Save on Admission

There you go - plenty of fun ideas for things to do in Orlando in May to help you plan your Memorial Day weekend itinerary. Remember, many of these great ideas are included on the Go Orlando pass, where you can save up to 50% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. We really hope you consider adding a few of these popular options to your upcoming plans. Enjoy!

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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So, you’ve wrangled your fill of alligators at Gatorland? Keeping the energy high, the price tag low, and the explorer spirit alive is easy in this part of Orlando. Believe it or not, there’s a world of free adventures in the neighborhoods around Gatorland that many travelers zoom right past. Whether you’re looking for shady trails, quirky parks, artful strolls, or spirited local culture, we’ve got a list of the best no-cost attractions to help you stretch every vacation minute (and dollar). Let’s head out beyond the gators and see what else this sunny corner of Orlando has hiding just beyond those toothy grins.  Orlando’s best free things to do near Gatorland include:  Shingle Creek Regional Park  Kissimmee Lakefront Park  Disney Springs  Celebration Town Center & Lakeside Boardwalk  Dr. P. Phillips Community Park  Orlando Vintage Market  Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum  Old Town Kissimmee’s Classic Car Cruise  The LOOP’s Public Art & Colorful Murals  Kissimmee Lakefront Park  Just twenty minutes from Gatorland’s entrance and you’ll find Kissimmee Lakefront Park, a lovely slice of Florida charm with absolutely no cover charge. As soon as you enter, palms sway overhead, sun glints off Lake Tohopekaliga (locals just say “Lake Toho”), and the pathways invite both aimless strolling and determined rollerblading.  The waterfront setting is the park’s heart—there’s a pretty marina, a lively boardwalk, and wide lawns for picnics or cloud-watching. If you’ve got children in tow, they’ll disappear into the awesome splash pad, modern playground, or the unique “fossil dig” sand pit designed for little paleontologists.  On the weekends, the park buzzes with activity: free concerts, seasonal festivals, outdoor movies, and weekly farmers’ markets featuring fresh produce, local crafts, and food trucks with tempting samples. Walk out on the fishing pier for pelican spotting and epic views at sunset—or stay longer to catch the soft glow of the illuminated promenade after dusk.  Bring your camera for the palm-framed Lake Toho views (yes, keep an eye out for wild gators, sunning much farther away than at Gatorland). It’s a relaxing, authentically Floridian spot to unwind, people-watch, and enjoy the outdoors after the animal excitement.  Disney Springs  You might expect nothing but luxury shopping and themed dining at Disney Springs, but here’s the scoop: you can explore this entertainment district for free, soak up the buzz, and find a ton of fun without spending a dime. Parking? Also free! (Not something you get at every Orlando destination.)  The star of the show is the atmosphere: live music spills from every corner, street performers juggle and dance, and the architecture is all gleaming lakeside boardwalks and jazzy Florida details. Window shop down long promenades, watch artists handcraft sweet treats in the candy stores, and duck into the LEGO Imagination Center, where dozens of brick-made sculptures (think: fire-breathing dragons, superheroes, and Cinderella herself) are selfie hotspots for families.  Don’t miss the regular “Springs” events—live concerts at the Waterview Park stage, pop-up art exhibits, and seasonal decor that goes all-out (Christmas and Halloween are especially popular). This is where you’ll see Orlando teens on first dates, families resting between theme park sprints, and seasoned locals enjoying the music and water views. Snap a photo on the waterside bridge at sunset, then cap off your visit with the free samples at Ghirardelli for an extra sweet bonus.  Celebration Town Center & Lakeside Boardwalk  Just down the road from Gatorland, Celebration is Orlando’s answer to small-town nostalgia—tree-lined streets, pastel cottages, and the friendliest ducks you’ll ever meet. 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Phillips Community Park  Convenient, friendly, and chock full of local energy, Dr. P. Phillips Community Park is one of Orlando’s best-loved green spaces—and it’s delightfully zero-cost for casual visitors. Located along the banks of Big Sand Lake just minutes from the theme parks, this park gives you the best of both worlds: sweeping lake views, shady lawns, and a slice of real community spirit.  Families come for the huge splash pad, which is free to use most weekdays, while fitness fans jog the grassy trails and shoot hoops at the basketball courts. There are picnic tables and pavilions galore, plus a waterfront boardwalk that serves up smile-worthy sunset views, the kind that make you forget you’re just a mile from Orlando’s buzziest attractions.  Kids love the imaginative playgrounds—think climbing walls, swings, and super-soft turf safe for little knees. Pet owners gather in the dog park, so you’re guaranteed adorable pooches if you’re missing your own four-legged companion. Don’t miss the fitness stations tucked along the walking loops—push-ups with a lake breeze beat any outdoor gym.  If your crew needs to burn off energy or rest up in the shade before heading back to Gatorland, this park is one of Central Florida’s best kept secrets.  Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum  History lovers, this freebie is for you. Located just south of Gatorland, the Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum is packed with hands-on exhibits and fascinating little artifacts that reveal Orlando’s wilder roots.  The building itself is bright, airy, and surprisingly cool on Florida’s sunniest afternoons—a great place to regroup with the family. Inside, you’ll walk through exhibits that bring Central Florida’s natural habitats to life, from cypress swamps and scrubland to the cattle-driving ranches that shaped Osceola County. Kids and grown-ups can get up close to animal models, old-timey tools, and “frontier” photo backdrops for some silly selfies.  Local volunteers staff the museum and love to share stories—just ask if you want some insider tales or dining recommendations for after your visit. There’s even a free-to-use hiking trail out back, winding through wildflowers and bird-filled forests for a dose of outdoorsy fun after your history fix.  Old Town Kissimmee’s Classic Car Cruise  Anyone with a soft spot for nostalgia, classic cars, or eye-popping Americana will love Old Town Kissimmee’s Classic Car Cruise. This magical throwback happens every Friday and Saturday night, and you don’t pay a cent to enjoy the show.  Rows and rows of vintage rides—think cruisers, convertibles, and chrome-heavy Fords—line Old Town’s brick-paved streets. Owners are always smiling and ready to chat about their prized machines, and it’s perfectly fine to take photos, point out your dream vehicle, or just soak in the friendly retro energy. The music matches the mood, with 50s and 60s rock ‘n’ roll pumping through the speakers and happy crowds dancing in the street.  Beyond the cars, Old Town’s neon-lit storefronts and carnival games beckon. There are often street performers, free concerts in the plaza, and costumed “Greaser” characters out for a laugh or a selfie. This is pure Americana—and the kind of fun you can stumble onto just minutes after swapping gators for chrome at Gatorland.  The LOOP’s Public Art & Colorful Murals  If you’re in need of an afternoon that mixes retail therapy with a dose of public art, The LOOP in Kissimmee is your spot. Here, large-scale murals burst with rainbow hues, local artists’ sculptures pop up where you least expect them, and benches are painted to double as selfie stages.  Wander with a coffee in hand and take in the constantly evolving public art. New murals are added seasonally, each nodding to Orlando’s local culture—think: playful alligators, orange blossoms, rocket ships, and nods to Central Florida’s Latino heritage.  Even if you breeze past the shops, the art makes for a fun photo scavenger hunt or just a vivid backdrop to a lazy afternoon. Pop-up performances and art walks happen regularly, especially in spring and fall. And during the holiday months, The LOOP’s plazas light up with free fountain shows, twinkling lights, and the joyful buzz of the community enjoying their own public living room.  Wrapping Up  Alligators may draw the headlines, but Orlando’s world of free adventures begins just outside Gatorland’s gates. With a little curiosity, you can fill your days with untamed nature trails, lakeside sunsets, creative neighborhoods, upbeat festivals, and the friendliest local scenes—without ever reaching for your wallet. From sandy boardwalks to vintage streets, Orlando’s real treasures are waiting for anyone who knows to look beyond the theme park signs. Happy exploring—you’ve got plenty of free fun just around the bend.    Check out our guide to magnificent mornings in Orlando, and why not explore the fascinating Museum of Illusions?  Step up your sightseeing with Go City®  We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  See more, do more, and experience more with Go City®– just choose a pass to get started! 

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