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ICON Park – Escape the Expected!
What’s the first thing you think of when someone says “Orlando, Florida?” Disney? Universal Studios? Sea World? Yes, and with good reason. More people visit Orlando than any other city in the United States, including a record 75 million visitors in 2019! And the majority of them are en route to the theme parks. But whether you’re visiting Orlando [the vacation capital of the world] for the very first time or are a seasoned Florida resident, sometimes you just need a break from the hustle and bustle (and blisters and sunburns) of the Central Florida theme parks.
Enter ICON Park – the new kid on the block! Well, it not exactly brand new because it’s been around for a few years, but it is constantly evolving. ICON Park is located right in the heart of the world-famous Florida attractions, but allows you to slow down a bit, catch your breath, and experience a family friendly relaxed vibe while still creating iconic moments. In fact, ICON Park is the perfect place to escape the expected. After you’ve exhausted Orlando’s 7 major theme parks and 4 full-size waterparks, head over to ICON Park to unwind and uncover something different.
The ICON Park Complex
ICON Park encompasses 20 acres and is located less than two miles from the Orange County Convention Center, and close to all major resorts and hotels on famed International Drive (I-Drive, to us locals!). So what exactly is ICON Park Orlando? Well, it’s a tourist attraction, a state-of-the-art entertainment destination, a dining mecca, and a date-night favorite with locals, all rolled into one great venue. Forbes ranks ICON Park among the 7 Best Attractions in Orlando, and USA Today says it’s the #1 Attraction in Orlando For Tots, Teens & In-Betweens! Additionally, ICON Park has received TripAdvisor’s 2019 Certificate of Excellence, and TripAdvisor’s 2020 Travelers’ Choice Award. Pretty impressive, huh?
Dining and Shopping at ICON Park
For starters, ICON Park is home to a plethora of restaurants, 16 at my last count, with a wide variety of cuisines. For example, Darden’s Yard House (you won’t be disappointed with the Nashville Hot Chicken) and Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant (check out their one-of-a-kind chocolate piñata) are just a few that i’ve tried, both of which I highly recommend. Both had very good food, great service, and reasonable prices. (Left with a doggie-bag both places!)
Other restaurants include Tapa Toro Spanish Restaurant, Tin Roof, Shake Shack, Sugar Factory, iCafe de Paris, iLounge Istanbul, Mikado Japanese Res
***TIP: Many ICON Park restaurants offer Happy Hour deals on food and beverages. Yard House, for example, has 1/2 off select appetizers and all pizzas — and $2 off wine, spirits, cocktails, and draft beer (they boast the world’s largest selection of draft beer, with 130 on tap!). Check out their Happy Hour Menu and Hours here. And here’s a complete list of all ICON Park dining locations, some of which accept reservations through OpenTable.
And when it comes time to walk off those calories there’s no better place to stroll than ICON Park with its beautiful park-like setting. You’ll definitely want to browse the small boutique shops and outdoor merchandise kiosks, keeping an eye out for unique apparel, exclusive Florida plush, and souvenir items you won’t find in most Central Florida’s off-price cookie-cutter gift shops.
On a recent visit, my cousin from Pennsylvania was able to purchase all her souvenirs without even leaving the ICON Park complex. Yes, even a gift for her hard-to-please teenage granddaughter! On another visit my aunt found a special little gift for her newborn great-granddaughter from an outdoor kiosk. And after you’re feeling accomplished with the perfect keepsake souvenirs for friends and family, don’t forget to treat yourself by checking out the novelty candy (more than 300 varieties) at the Sugar Factory. Yes, they even have sparkly designer lollipops, called Couture Pops, made famous on the red carpet in the hands of celebrities!
BEYOND Iconic Gift ShopICON Park Attractions & Discounts
ICON Park has become my new go-to destination with out-of-state friends and family who want a change of pace from the BIG-3… Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. With seven different attractions at ICON Park, you can spend an hour, half-day, or a full day — the choice is yours. This venue has a nice set up in that you can purchase a single ticket for one attraction or a money-saving combo ticket for a better value. I was able to take advantage of special Florida resident ticket pricing on multiple attractions, just by showing my Florida driver’s license. Additionally, buying tickets in advance online will always get you a better price, Florida-resident or not. Most times the tickets will not expire for a full year (always check the terms and conditions). And sometimes you may find good deals on Groupon as well (just be careful of any restrictions or expiration dates if purchasing from this website).
The bottom line is this: There are enough avenues offering discounted tickets and packages that you should NEVER have to pay full retail price for any attraction at ICON park! There are group rates (7 guest minimum), combo tickets (choose 2, 3, or all 7 attractions), Florida resident rates, Georgia and Alabama resident rates, annual pass for Florida teachers, military discount, Orange County Convention Center attendees (show your badge), and Park Topper discounts (simply show your theme park ticket). And if you’re an Orlando hospitality worker, you and your immediate family can enjoy special discounts and some freebies during Hospitality Mondays (workplace ID required), including $5 tickets to The Wheel! Here’s a link to all the current deals and specials.
Madame Tussauds Orlando
I especially like the indoor attractions at ICON Park for a really hot or rainy day in the Sunshine State (and we do get our fair share of both!). A good choice is Madame Tussauds Orlando Wax Museum where selfies with your favorite celebs are commonplace. In addition to all the star-studded beautiful people, I was excited to see a special limited-engagement Justice League exhibit the day I visited. I was transported to the streets of Metropolis and Gotham City with incredible 4D effects that literally blew my mind! Each Superheroes set was hands-on and created a unique challenge for me. Some I conquered, but a few flat-out conquered me! I teamed up with legends like The Flash, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Aquaman. Then I happened to be at the right place at the right time because Superman needed help lifting a REAL helicopter! Yeah… definitely unforgettable!
SEA LIFE Orlando
Another great indoor option when it’s blistering hot is SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium where you’ll come face-to-fin with sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, and other marine life. This is a popular attraction for all ages, but especially those with smaller children. Kids are fascinated by Florida’s ONLY 360° walk-through tunnel, and moms and dads love the amazing photo opportunities of the underwater world. Instagram-worthy for sure! And for the adventurous-spirit in your household, don’t leave without a visit to the Coastal Rockpool where your brave one can touch real sea creatures. Educational dive shows also occur periodically throughout the day (inquire about schedules at the admissions desk). And for a really special treat, upgrade your ticket to include a 25-minute (or 60-minute) behind-the-scenes tour with expert scuba divers who will show you how the aquarium is run.
***NOTE: Certified teachers in the State of Florida teaching grades PreK-12 can receive a FREE Annual Pass to assist with planning and researching potential field trips. Click here for valid ID requirements. Florida Teacher Pass also available for LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Madame Tussauds Orlando.
7D Dark Ride Adventure
Another indoor attraction is the 7D Dark Ride Adventure. I’ll be the first to admit, I was not brave enough to try this. It’s a state of the art shooting game with seven dimensions including light, wind, sound, motion, smell, and user interaction, all while playing a 3D video with zombies and a robot creating mad scientist. The adrenaline rush is definitely real if gauged from the ear-piercing screams I witnessed every time the ride was in motion. For me, mustering up the courage to go on The Wheel (400 feet above the earth) was about all my heart could handle!
Arcade City
For those with a competitive-spirit but looking for something a little less dramatic than the 7D Dark Ride Adventure, Arcade City is an indoor option with enough challenging feats for the whole family. Put on your best game face and you’ll not only break records, but also win prizes.
Pearl Express Train
In addition to the four indoor attractions, ICON Park has three outdoor choices — one for kids (or kids-at-heart), one for the whole family, and one for adventure enthusiasts. You can hop on the Pearl Express Train for a train ride that will take you on a tour of ICON Park. You won’t miss the train station, it’s located right in the courtyard. And if you’re lucky enough to be at ICON Park during the holidays, check out the holiday display right beside the Pearl Express Train.
Orlando StarFlyer
Another outdoor attraction is the Orlando StarFlyer. But since my inner thrill-seeker seems to have disappeared years ago, I couldn’t even entertain the thought of flying high on the world’s tallest swing. If I’m going to feel the wind in my hair and the breeze on my face it’s going to be with my feet planted firmly on the ground! (Having visions of a semi-tropical ocean breeze right now with feet sinking in the sand! Not extraordinarily exhilarating, but with all fear-factor deliberately removed. Anxiety is simply not my cup of tea!) Towering 450-feet tall, on the StarFlyer you’ll be seated in a double seat next to your friend with seat belts and a harness that can only be unlocked by the ride operator. The giant swing moves up and down while rotating around the tower… at speeds of up to 45mph! Tickets are fairly inexpensive at around $11. Nonetheless, I much rather view the Central Florida skyline from inside a secure capsule on The Wheel!
The Wheel at ICON Park
A trip to Orlando is not complete until you see The City Beautiful at 400 feet! Unquestionably the crown jewel of ICON Park, The Wheel (formerly called the Orlando Eye) is a super-sized Ferris wheel right in the center of the shopping and dining complex. You may have cringed a little when I said “Ferris wheel.” Initially, I did too! I’m not usually a fan of traditional Ferris wheels, but The Wheel at ICON Park is anything but a traditional amusement park ride.
After being ruthlessly pestered by my visiting relatives, I reluctantly gave in to their desire to go on The Wheel. Can I tell you something? I am super happy that I did! In fact, I’ve been on it multiple times now. I barely felt it moving! The ICON observation wheel rotates at less than one mile per hour, taking 18-23 minutes to do one complete revolution (it may stop periodically to accommodate guests with mobility issues). Now that’s a speed I can handle! And there’s absolutely no rocking or swaying with the capsules, unlike most smaller Ferris wheels. No wonder… each capsule weighs a whopping 6,600 pounds! Because ICON Orlando is in Florida, The Wheel was built extra strong. During a major storm it is locked down, and can [reportedly] withstand a category 5 hurricane. (Hopefully we never have to put it to the test!) But you get the idea of how sturdy the capsules are if they can withstand winds of 156-mph!
And not only are the capsules sturdy,
From the top of The Wheel you can see the Downtown Orlando
Of course, if you’re doing date-night at ICON Park you’ll definitely want to ride The Wheel at sunset or after dark. Splurge on the “private capsule” where you and your date will have the capsule all to yourself. What could be more romantic than a Florida sunset, or watching Disney fireworks while 400 feet high in the sky — softly swaying to love songs playing in the background and city lights sparkling in the darkness? Add a champagne toast (from the snack and beverage bar right before boarding), and you’ve just created the perfect romantic evening!
***TIP: The Wheel made the list of 9 Unforgettable Places to Propose in Orlando! Or how about this… a Gender Reveal on The Wheel? Yes, the gloating parents-to-be can choose to reveal their babies’ genders at The Wheel. As their friends and families are gathered on the central lawn, The Wheel can light up pink or blue on cue for all of Orlando to see!
***TIP: The Wheel easily accommodates those with mobility issues, as two people in our group did. One used a cane, the other used a walker, and had no problems getting on or off. The capsules are even spacious enough for wheelchairs.
***TIP: A photographer will take pictures of your group immediately before boarding The Wheel. For a money-saving tip, I suggest purchasing only one (your group can split the cost) photo package because you will then receive a website code to view and download the photos online.
In Conclusion
ICON Park is open 365 days a year, and with free admission and free parking (I prefer the outdoor parking lot verses the cramped parking garage with lines of cars fighting for a spot) I highly recommend a visit. The atmosphere is great, the light show is really cool, the complex is clean, and all Staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. Additionally, I’m pretty sure this place is Mickey-approved!