ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER PRESCHOOL REVIEW!!!! . Where do I even begin? I want to start with Ms. Juanita. She is one of those educators who you immediately know is doing what she was meant to do. She is incredibly passionate about STEM, education, and learning, but more than that, she is passionate about creating experiences for children that they simply cannot get anywhere else. She goes above and beyond every single day, and you can feel how much she truly cares about the children and their experience at school. I was incredibly lucky to have my oldest son accepted into the Orlando Science Center Preschool when some of our school friends decided to leave our previous preschool for what they felt was a better program. We had heard so much about the Science Center Preschool and knew what an incredible opportunity it would be if we could get a spot. And I am SO grateful we got that spot. My oldest son, who is now 7, truly developed his personality at this school. He wore dinosaur shirts constantly, brought his favorite animal figurines for show & tell every week, and fell completely in love with science, space, engineering, nature, and everything around him. But what I loved most was that the school gave him the freedom and confidence to just be himself. The preschool also taught him something I value tremendously: respect. They celebrated different cultures, values, backgrounds, and perspectives and taught children to appreciate what makes each person unique. That kind of foundation is priceless. My son is now enrolled in one of the top ranked charter schools in the state, and while I am incredibly proud of him and happy with his education and grades, I truly credit the Orlando Science Center Preschool with giving him the fundamentals and confidence that helped prepare him for where he is today. And I have to admit... I miss the dinosaur shirts. I miss the silly Mohawk. But most of all, I miss those daily updates with pictures and videos showing us exactly what our child was experiencing, learning, discovering, and enjoying throughout the day. Fast forward a few years, and I am reminded of all of those things again because my baby, now 3, is officially a Science Center Preschool student. There was absolutely no question in my mind that he would attend this school. He was enrolled in the 3 year old program as soon as we had the opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Before starting at the Science Center, my youngest attended a part time church preschool. I want to be very clear that we loved that school and the people there. They were incredibly loving and sweet and will always hold a special place in our family's heart. But having now experienced both environments, I can already see such a difference in the learning style and opportunities when comparing the two side by side. (Ms. Chau, Ms. Michaela my baby loves you!) He WANTS to go learn. For a three year old, I can't think of a better gift than that. My oldest still remembers all of the things that made the Science Center so special. When I asked him what he thought about his little brother going there, his only wish was that he could still go there himself as a second grader. And that says everything. Ms. Juanita somehow always seems to be pulling strings and creating opportunities for our kids, from getting them into special events and theater experiences across the street, opd firetruck surprises, to sending home books, creating incredible show and tell experiences, plays/events for parents and finding ways to make learning exciting and memorable. I still have books that were given to us during my oldest son's preschool years. I still remember the excitement of his weekly show and tell. I remember the daily photos and videos, the weekly take home agendas with curriculum information, and all of the ways the school kept us connected and involved in our child's learning even when we weren't physically there. As a parent, that means so much. You aren't just dropping your child off and hoping they had a good day. You get to SEE it. You get to be part of it. You get to watch them discover something new, make friends, explore, ask questions, and grow. My oldest had such an incredible experience here that there was never a question about where his little brother would go. And now, only two weeks into this new chapter, I am already seeing that same excitement for learning beginning in him. I truly cannot give this school enough credit. Orlando Science Center Preschool is hands down the best preschool in Florida in my eyes. It is so much more than a preschool. It is a place where children are encouraged to be curious, confident, kind, creative, and completely themselves Thank you, Ms. Juanita, and thank you to the entire Orlando Science Center Preschool team, for giving my boys such an incredible foundation and for making school a place they genuinely love. My baby is already so in love! read more

We attended a birthday party here and had such a great time. The kids got to do two hands-on science experiments, and everyone was completely engaged -- my kid was still talking about it days later. After the experiments, we were free to explore the entire science center, and there's so much to see that we could have stayed for hours longer. The T-Rex theater show was the highlight -- genuinely amazing, and just as fun for the adults as it was for the kids. The staff really made the day. Every person we interacted with was helpful, courteous, and clearly enjoyed being there. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Highly recommend this place, whether you're going for a party or just visiting for the day. We'll definitely be back. read more

Adults-Only Science Night Live was a BLAST! This was my husband and my second time at Orlando Science Center and I gotta say we love the adults-only nights. This time, we stayed basically from open to close, and while we definitely didn't manage to do EVERYTHING, there was plenty to keep us entertained the entire evening. Parking was a little confusing based on the event information, but we arrived about 15 minutes before opening and found a spot pretty easily. We waited maybe 10 minutes to get inside, so overall entry was very smooth. HOT TIP: If you're sensitive to loud noises, earplugs are a good call. There was a dedicated DJ music area in the dinosaur exhibit, but other places were maybe a bit too loud, too, but still so fun! The Optical Illusions exhibit was probably one of my favorite parts-- There were so many fun photo opportunities, and even the house of mirrors was a blast -- coming from someone who is absolutely not usually a house-of-mirrors person. We also stopped in one of the hands-on areas and played with a circuit activity, did trivia, explored the exhibits and caught Kaboom (a fun show, but YES, earplugs are a must there). Trivia was also a great little break in the night. We grabbed drinks, sat down and played a round. I loved that they had a no-phones-at-the-table rule. If your phone came out, you were disqualified until the next round, which made everything feel much more fair. Food and drink prices were surprisingly reasonable for a special event. A beer was around $5-$6, and a big cookie from a local vendor (Sapanguita--the BEST) was around $4-$5 -- definitely better than what I'd expect to pay at a concert or sporting event. I also loved that several of the food options came from local businesses. HOT TIP: One thing to keep in mind if you have accessibility or mobility concerns: getting between floors via elevator can take some time, especially when they're crowded. I'd build a little extra time into your plans rather than trying to race from one scheduled activity to another. Speaking of scheduled activities: GET YOUR SHOW TICKETS EARLY! Both Kaboom and the laser show required tickets during our event, and it sounded like you could grab tickets for your preferred showtime near the beginning of the night. We got very lucky and snagged some of the last Kaboom tickets, and only made it into the laser show because other guests turned theirs back in. The one thing I'd personally skip next time was the laser show. The concept was cool, but ours was around 45 minutes long and ended after midnight. From where we were sitting, I felt like I was craning my neck quite a bit and the lasers eventually started bothering my eyes. Even with earplugs, it was still pretty loud, too. It also didn't feel especially easy to leave once the show started because of the dark theater and needing to exit up the stairs! The soundtrack was very '90s rock/grunge, which my husband recognized and enjoyed much more than I did. Overall, though, this was a really enjoyable night and I'd absolutely consider doing another adults-only event here -- especially if there were a new temporary exhibit to explore. read more

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An Intellectual Playground for Curious Minds Finding a destination that manages to be both profoundly educational and genuinely captivating for children is rare, yet the Orlando Science Center, featured in image_2.png, achieves this balance with remarkable success. It is an ideal environment to dedicate an entire day to exploration, offering a depth of engagement that holds the attention of young minds while remaining intellectually stimulating. The facility's approach to hands-on exhibits is sophisticated and well-structured, fostering a genuine interest in scientific inquiry. From the intricacies of the planetarium shows to the immersive nature of the giant-screen and 3-D films, every element of the museum is curated to facilitate active learning. It is an impressive example of how to make complex subjects accessible and exciting for a broad audience. For any family seeking an environment where curiosity is not just encouraged but actively facilitated, this center stands out as a highly rewarding experience. read more

We were only here for two hours and spent most of the time in kidstowne which was such a fun place for the kids! Pretty aire they had more fun there compared to disney. I wish we had more time to check out the rest of the museum! read more

Took my son to OSC for the first time to see the Dinos in Lights for the holidays and we had an absolute blast. This was such a fun family outing that I've been dreaming about for years. I'm glad my son is finally old enough to start enjoying all the fun activities and exhibits at the science center. The Dinos in Lights show happens every 30 minutes and it was so cool to see them all lit up. He loved the excavation/dig pit and just being able to run free all over the place. We really enjoyed the toddler soft play area and the water tables. We hung out in the Kidstown Theatre for a bit where he loved dancing on the stage with other kids. There are so many interactive elements for children (and adults, too). I love that the exhibits rotate and there's always something new happening. I also appreciate that they have a little cafe for lunch as well as a coffee counter. We spent about 3 hours total and we could have done more, but we're looking forward to many more visits. I'm sure a membership is in our future. read more

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The science center is always a fun time! I enjoy going for events. There's so much to see, from the dinosaurs to even lifting your weight on the swing! Very cool to experience for the adult only nights. Also, the rooftop is so romantic read more

This has to be the best science museums in Florida. I became a member of the Orlando science center over Christmas break because we had so much fun on our first visit and now I get emails all the time about fun new events going on at the museum. One of them happened to be the mess fest that was going on this past weekend. So we decided to head out to Orlando and let me tell you it was so much fun!! They transformed one of their rooms into a fun place for the kids to get messy. You were catapulting scrunchie balls covered in paint onto a canvas sheet. There was another area where they were doing little bottle rockets with paint and Alka-Seltzer. That my kids absolutely LOVED. They also had scribble bots, a raffle painting for canvas paintings but that's not all because they had other stuff going on different floors. We got to make our own slime and we even got to go outside and watch them use liquid nitrogen to cause a bubbly explosion that the kids got to play afterwards. This was a 10 out of 10 experience. read more

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If you haven't been to one of the Orlando Science Center's 21+ events, you're seriously missing out. These nights are the perfect mix of fun, learning, and socializing -- think science experiments meets nightlife vibes. You get to explore the exhibits without the usual daytime crowds, grab a drink, and actually take your time diving into hands-on activities and cool demonstrations. It's such a refreshing way to spend an evening with other adults who are there to have fun and learn something new. Every themed event I've been to (especially their Halloween one!) has been creative, well-organized, and full of energy -- from crime scene setups to interactive science displays and photo-worthy backdrops under the dinos. Whether you're going with friends or on a date, OSC After Dark events are a must-do for locals and visitors alike. It's proof that science isn't just for kids -- it's for anyone who loves a good time with a smart twist! read more

Orlando Science Center - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

There Orlando Science Center had an adults only event last night from 8-11:30p where we could enjoy various fun, entertaining presentations such as a mirror maze, a gif creator, paper airplane launcher and trivia events. They had drinks and some snacking foods and sweets on sale as well. The viewing of the night sky via telescope was one of the events listed but it was not available which was a bit disheartening but we still got to do lots of other fun things. It was nice seeing the aquatic area which is normally closed for the other events I've visited the OSC for, the fish were lovely. read more

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I went last month for the food and science event which was so much fun at night to enjoy it for an adults only event! Lots of yummy food to try and there are 3 floors to explore too! This event does come with free parking so that's a nice perk. read more

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Visited for Memorial Day, kids had the best time, we stayed until closing! From 20am to 5pm, endless activities, kids didn't want to leave! Great for both my 3yo and 5yp, even the grandparents loved it.combination of animals, aquarium, museum, science, dj issue area, planet areas shows! An entire play area, the list just goes on and on! Cannot recommend enough! read more

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Such a fun experience at Orlando science center. We were able to spend half the day exploring, playing, creating and watching the Dome. Great for all ages. read more

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My goodness, I felt scammed when I went here because the only reason I did was because of several reviews saying it's for adults too - not a kid-centric museum. But that was total bullshit, because it was 75% kids and 25% adults. Kids touching everything, running, screaming, etc. All the exhibits looked catered to kids, too - very rudimentary things like sensory learning and random basic motor skill stuff. Also, an entire area dedicated to making kids roleplay as a spy - filler since they don't have anything else to put there. The museum is also way smaller than I thought it'd be. Maybe I'm spoiled because the museums back home are bigger, and the last ones I visited were in Chicago. I didn't even really take a picture of anything because there was nothing interesting to take pictures of except that T-Rex and the cypress tree in the middle. So many things are hands-on, which basically means thousands of kids have touched or slobbered on the exhibits every day. People don't know how to tame their kids here. For the amount of kids and touching going on, no one was sanitizing or wiping anything. After looking through what they offer, the exhibits are definitely simplified for child education and I absolutely do not enjoy this as an adult. I went on a Sunday, so maybe there are less kids here on a weekday? Even so, I wasn't too interested in anything. I guess it's only for locals because you have to be satisfied with it if you live here. read more

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More for younger, not teenage kids, but still fun. We enjoyed the dogs show on the big screen and the interactive exhibits.

I absolutely love this place. I've been here for quite a few events including a couple of whiskey festivals and a yelp event. All of the floors are spacious but full of interesting exhibits. It is clean and it is always easy to find a bathroom. I especially enjoyed the dinosaur area. read more

Orlando Science Center - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Had a great time at the Taylor Swift Laser show. It was about 50 minutes long. Which I wasn't expecting. $30 to get in was a little steep but overall it was a fun thing to do while my bestie was visiting. read more

Orlando Science Center - The Dome - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Great visit with my daughters! Easy parking garage access straight into the second floor (paid). Tickets run about $25-$28, with discounts for kids and free under 2. Lots for kids to do--hands-on exhibits, crafts, and presentations across four floors. A bit crowded even on a Monday, but still easy to navigate. Bonus: the first-floor restaurant was surprisingly good--$6.99 bowl was totally worth it! read more

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Good museum for kids, but going as an adult I found that there was less for me to do than at my local science museum in Boston. They had a couple things, like activities in the Hive and free movies so those were good. I enjoyed the wood burning class it was very hands on and enjoyable. read more

Orlando Science Center - Wood burned drawing done at the hive at the Orlando science center - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Went for an event that was held at the science center I'll say that there's always something magical don't do at the science center whether it's an event or just a Sunday exploring all the exhibits if you're able to learn so much with hands-on experience 10 out of 10 read more

I stopped in to check out the Orlando Science Center as Bank of America card holders are offered free museum weekend at the beginning of the month. I knew since it's summer it would be packed with kids but wow, so much was going on for a Saturday. From birthday parties to people just checking out the exhibits - it's definitely a kid friendly place. I hopped around to different floors that had a Marvel themed exhibit through the fall to a cool weather exhibit which made me feel like a kid. Everything was educational and hands on which was amazing. They even had live demonstration shows and short film viewings throughout the day. I really like the flow of the science center and it had something for everyone. At the bottom or first floor, that's where you get to see the live animals! From gators, turtles, burrowing owls, and fish - I was mesmerized. They did have an area where you can touch stingrays like SeaWorld and the kids loved that. I would say you can get caught and spend a few hours here if you come with kids or the whole family. I am grateful that I was able to experience this science center as it was provided a learning experience and an understanding of science. read more

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I enjoyed visiting the Orlando Science Center on a regular day, but it was even more exceptional during the Yelp event! There was a wide variety of vendors to choose from and the event was very well organized. I will aim to attend every year! read more

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The food was amazing so many interesting drinks and small plates to try. I didn't get there and with enough time to try everything unfortunately but I did make it and it was an amazing time and I met a lot of really interesting people. At this year's yelp event.!! look forward to next year!!!! read more

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An entire days worth of engaging and fun stuff to do, perfect for kids of all ages but some of the most fun our toddler has ever had anywhere. You can tell the purpose of this place is to make science fun for kids and they accomplish that in a huge way! There are water play areas, the dinosaur area has a place where kids can dig around in "soil" for fossils and bones with shovels and brushes, and a really cool life exhibits with nice aquariums and a South American habitat with monkeys, parrots, and even a SLOTH! They're always putting new stuff out and changing things up. An annual pass if your local makes it worth it if you go more than 3 times in a year and if you're from out of town, a one day visit at full price is well worth it, especially if your kids are smaller and you want something to do indoors. My favorite part is that they have affordable entry for families part of different programs ($5 admission if you have EBT!) making it accessible for everyone! read more

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I wanted to be intentional about adding education to our fun on this vacation. We spent almost an entire day at the Orlando science center and it was a highlight of our trip! We went on a weekday and had no problem finding a parking space in the attached garage. I know they sale tickets on their website, but we went to the ticket counter instead. It was early so there was no wait there either. Once inside, we took the elevator down to see the animals. It was perfect timing to catch an interactive session with a python. Super cool!! We did just about every activity offered. There was a movie, a lab where you could do experiments, a touch tank with some aquatic species, dinosaur fossils and a cool Robotics and physics area. I packed some snacks and juice boxes, so we did not stop by the Cafe. There we family bathrooms on each floor, which I really appreciate! I will say that as the day went on and the crowd increased, the only downside was that there was a wait for the elevator. Other than that, this was an ideal way to spend a day in Orlando, learning and engaging in creative activities. read more

The Orlando science center is an absolute cornerstone of parenting in the city beautiful. 4 floors of curated fun for pre-k and up. Arts and crafts? Check. Fun run around play zones? Check. Educational opportunities? Check. I use this place for play dates, weekend lulls, and air conditioned playground space. My kids can engage with staff or other children about space, animals, and physics. Some weekends have special events and guests. Reps from NASA explained missile launch and air resistance well enough that my 4yo could explain it the next Monday to his class. 10/10. Become a member and live it up. read more

I absolutely love coming here both as an adult & also bringing children along. The best way to learn is by doing hands on experiences. All the employees are super helpful and excited to get the kids involved "hands on". My fave exhibit is seeing all the Dino bones. It's also quite fun to be an archeologist for a day and sit for some Dino bones. There are passes available if you'd like to be a frequent flyer. There are also many different packages available for a bargain if you want to go with a large group or school field trip. Show this place some love. It's quite a local gem that we're so lucky to have. read more

Amazing experience for the Unveiled bridal show today!! Free tickets and came with my two best friends. This was a reputable expo, a different one I went to was full of timeshares and felt scam-y. I knew coming here were all trusted vendors with the Science Center, so that made me feel even better walking in. They had almost every need in vendors available, I really appreciated that they had more than one option for some categories. The samples from the vendors were tasty and we appreciated the complimentary wine/champagne upon entry. It wasn't overly full, giving us good opportunity to connect with the vendors. I had an amazing time and appreciate the organization of the event!! read more

Orlando Science Center - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Hi everyone, I had a great time today at the Orlando science center. The museum is many interesting exhibits for kids and adults. There are four levels. They also have a movie theater with 3-D movies that is free with the ticket purchase. read more

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Our toddler absolutely loved this place! Lots to see and explore. Got to dig for dinos, meet some fish, play in the water, work at the farmers market, dance on the stage, learn about gravity and so much more! The tickets felt a little expensive ($80 for two adults and one kid), but ultimately we had a great time and I recommend it for an interactive day out. They also offer easy and affordable parking garage across the street, connected by a pedway on floor 2 read more

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Just walked out early on the $30 Queen Laser show. Not only did the seats stink, the laser show was ridiculously bad. They gave this HUGE dome and tiny boring images. It SUCKED. I sat there thinking my 5 yo could have drawn better images. The images they did have were tiny, childish etc. I was expecting a WOW! Especially with Queen's music. Oh and the beat was off. I got a wow alright as in Wow, that sucked. Unbelievably terrible show all around. read more

Wow! Sorely disappointed! I attended the Queen laser show expecting an exciting, immersive experience, especially in the newly renovated Dome. Unfortunately, it was a major disappointment. The music itself was fine, but the laser show was not. The laser designs were childish, extremely small, rarely taking advantage of the full dome, and most of the patterns were unimaginative and repetitive. Even more distracting, the laser effects were frequently out of sync with the beat and energy of the music. And the seats not too comfortable. Queen's music is theatrical, powerful, and dynamic. It deserves a laser show that is equally bold, creative, and precisely choreographed. Instead, the visuals felt disconnected from the music and failed to create the "wow" factor I expected. The Dome is an impressive venue with incredible potential. I hope you'll consider redesigning this show to better showcase both the technology and the music. As it stands, the laser show simply doesn't do either justice read more

Orlando science center is the perfect spot to take kiddos. Not only is it educational but actually fun for the whole family! It also doesn't get old as one of the exhibits is always changing! Also there is heavy discounts for families that are on WIC/SNAP. read more

Definitely So educational and fun. Great balance of excitement and hands on activities. This is the kind of place that a parent can bring their children and also enjoy themselves. I felt like a kid myself. The food was a bit costly so I might do breakfast before or lunch after leaving the science center because the portions are not really big. You can't do it all in one day. We came as a group and had a guided experience and we only really scratched the surface! I will be back soon to stimulate the minds of my little people read more

Please do the annual yelp event. It is so worth it and definitely brought the vibes. The vendors are always top tier and I go every year. I recommend starting at the top level. read more

Orlando Science Center - Pork sushi bowl - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I've been to a ton of children's museums in most cities I travel to, and this museum was WOW. First, it's huge. Every room was exciting and fun. My son would run from one room to another, and it seemed like every room was bigger and better than the last. This museum is like an indoor playground, water room, aquarium, mini zoo, space exploration, and dinosaur space all in one! My favorite spot was the builder area where we played with little rollercoaster tracks. What a great place. They thought of everything. read more

I had a great time visiting the Orlando Science Center. I would like to point out that parking can be challenging if you want to avoid paying. There are free parking around the park next to the parking building, but most of the time is full. The science center had a lot of interactive alternatives starting with a game area that mix fun and knowledge. It also has a exhibit where you can see monkeys, birds, and other tropical animals going around. I was surprised to see that they even have a small area where baby alligator are shown. There is also staff that explain some interesting topics of them. They also have a exhibit with dinosaur that were decorated with lights for the Christmas holidays and a light show! A lot of fun! read more

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Went to a Yelp Flora and Fables event here. Great venue. Can't wait to go back to see the exhibits. read more

Orlando Science Center - Museums Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This was a a super cool place. We bought tickets online. There were various floors of fun. From dinosaur fossils to stem experiments. There was something for everyone of all ages. We were there about two hours and could've stayed longer but we had lunch reservations elsewhere. However the wristband allows for reentry. read more

A glass bridge takes you across from the parking lot to theentrance. They were quick letting everyone in. There are four floors to explore, something for everyone. Life has animals such as alligators, Turtles, monkeys, birds, sloth, fish acouti, etc. The games are a lot of fun and educational. The Dinosaurs are impressive. They're lit up for the holidays. Definitely worth taking the whole family. read more

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