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

By Katie Sagal

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

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Heading to a new city on vacation and seeing all experiencing all the top attractions is all well and good, but sometimes, you want to head off the beaten path and check out an area's hidden gems. Not only will you have smaller crowds and shorter queues, but it also gives you bragging rights when discussing said vacation with friends and family. That's why we're here to help. Check out our picks of Orlando's hidden gems, and get ready to blow people away. Including: Boggy Creek Airboat Tour Congo River Adventure Golf Gatorland Lion Country Safari and more! Boggy Creek Airboat Tour Orlando is known for many things; giant seaside properties, massive theme parks, and much more. But what Orlando also boasts is swamp land, and a lot of it. So, if you're in the city and want to see the side of it untouched by people, why not take an airboat tour of Orlando's swamps? With your expert pilot/guide in tow, you'll dash across murky waters in one of the most desolate places in America. Keep a camera or phone on hand because you'll need to take photos of alligators, turtles, birds, and many more species that call the swamp home. But let's be honest; the 'gators are the star of the show. If you want to almost guarantee you'll see them, you best take one of the earlier tours, because the best times to see them are before 10AM. Sure, that's an early start for a vacation, but it's worth it. Then when your tour ends, head to the gift shop for some 'gator-themed souvenirs. Congo River Adventure Golf There are many small joys in life. And while plugging a USB cable in the right way first-time is unarguably top of that list, right beneath it is mini golf. Nothing quite beats putting balls in holes without the pressure of impressing wealthy people. But have you ever mini-golfed in the Congo? No, of course not. Well, at Congo River Adventure Golf, you absolutely will. Featuring a full course of 18 challenging yet fun holes to overcome, you and some buddies will slowly work your way to the end, all the while surrounded by waterfalls, caves, and sneaky gorillas watching from behind rainforest. And, because it's in Orlando, you can also pet alligators, because of course you can. Congo River Adventure Golf is arguably one of Orlando's hidden gems, but it's absolutely worth a visit for a fun-filled afternoon. Gatorland What were we just saying about Orlando and alligators? While often overshadowed by the likes of Kennedy Space Center, SEALIFE, and a certain rodent-faced theme park, Gatorland may not be considered one of Orlando's hidden gems by locals or alligator enthusiasts. But for the rest of us, it probably is, and it more than earns its place on our list. For more than 50 years, Gatorland has brought the joy of alligators to the masses. And what joy is that, you ask? Well, you can watch a 'gator feeding frenzy at the Gator Jumparoo Show, watch death-defying shows of bravery at Alligators: Legends of the Swamp, and even pet some of the less-toothy animals at a petting zoo. There's plenty more to enjoy here, but you'll have to head there yourself to see it all. Lion Country Safari Orlando - and Florida in general - clearly has a love for wild and dangerous creatures. It must be from growing up so close to all them alligators. But the Lion Country Safari is 'gator-free, so if you're looking to see some exotic wildlife in their unnatural habitat - yes, including lions - then head on down for a rip-roaring time! You'll see giraffes, zebra, rhinos, and wildebeests all wandering around, doing what they do. And those are just some of the many wonderful beasts you'll encounter on your trip. Some will even come right up to your jeep, so prepare to snap some close-ups! 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Founded by famous cartoonist Robert Ripley, this one-of-a-kind museum showcases oddities, curiosities and artefacts from around the globe. Built into an off-level structure that appears to be falling into a sinkhole, this kooky odditorium houses over 16 galleries and hundreds of displays which are sure to amaze. Walking through the museum, you’ll get to see peculiarities including a genuine shrunken head, a two-headed calf, and one of the world’s only vampire killing kits. From the strange and the beautiful to the weird and the wonderful, this place has it covered. A little bit kitschy and a whole lot of fun, we love this stop because it embraces a whole other world of crazy we never knew was possible. Sometimes, the Orlando heat can get a little much for some people (Okay, fine - most people). But don’t fear! We’ve found the answer – and yup, you guessed it, it’s right in the center of International Drive. 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