WonderWorks Orlando

WonderWorks is the upside-down building at 9067 International Drive, at the Pointe Orlando complex. The story is that a secret lab from the Bermuda Triangle landed on its roof, and once inside you “venture up to the basement.” Behind the gimmick it’s a hands-on science center with more than 100 exhibits in six zones: Disaster, Physical Challenge, Space, Far Out Art Gallery, Light & Sound, and Imagination Lab. It’s open every day of the year from 9 am to midnight, which makes it one of the easiest Orlando attractions to fit around everything else.

All-Access entry: the full day

The WonderWorks All-Access entry ticket is the standard choice. It includes the exhibits, laser tag in a 10,000-square-foot arena, the motion theater and the glow-in-the-dark ropes course, and it’s valid all day. You can leave for lunch and come back.

The exhibits are what kids remember: standing in hurricane-force winds of 74 mph, feeling a 5.3-magnitude earthquake simulation, pulling a giant soap bubble up around yourself, lying on a bed of nails, and trying to land a space shuttle in a simulator. Allow three to four hours to do it all without rushing.

It’s best for families with kids from about 6 to 14, and for any group stuck indoors by an afternoon storm. Skip it if your children are very young, since several attractions have height limits, or if your group would rather look than touch. The All-Access Plus option adds an $8 arcade card and a case book; regular arcade games cost extra. Read our breakdown of the All-Access ticket for the full list of inclusions.

Nighttime entry: the same building, later

The WonderWorks nighttime entry ticket covers general admission, laser tag, the motion theater and the ropes course for an evening visit, and it usually costs less than All-Access. WonderWorks sells its own after-dark entry from 8 pm. Doors lock one hour before the midnight close, so arrive by 11 pm at the latest.

This is the smart buy if you’ve spent the morning at a theme park or the pool and want something for the kids after dinner. Evenings also tend to be when Orlando’s summer storms roll through, which is exactly when you want a roof. The trade-off is time: if you arrive at 8:30 pm you’ll have roughly three hours, enough for most of it but not for lingering. Note that the nighttime listing says it is not suitable for wheelchair users.

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show

The Outta Control Magic Dinner Show plays inside WonderWorks and is billed as Orlando’s longest-running dinner show. Tickets include unlimited cheese and pepperoni pizza, salad, dessert, beer, wine and soda. The show mixes magic, comedy and plenty of audience participation, with performers who rotate night to night. Shows are usually at 6 pm, with some 8 pm shows on weekends.

It’s a relaxed, affordable alternative to the big dinner shows, and it works well paired with a nighttime WonderWorks visit. It is not a gourmet dinner, and gratuities aren’t included. Children 3 and under are free but still need a ticket. If you want a bigger production, compare it with the luau and jousting shows on our Orlando dinner shows page.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition as an alternative

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, at 7324 International Drive, suits a different group. It holds hundreds of authentic artifacts recovered from the ocean floor, full-scale re-creations of the Grand Staircase and a First Class Suite, and a boarding pass naming a real passenger whose fate you learn at the end. Guided tours with costumed storytellers run several times a day. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours.

Choose Titanic over WonderWorks for adults, grandparents and history-minded teens. Choose WonderWorks when kids need to move.

Which one should you choose?

• Kids 6 to 14 and a whole afternoon free: All-Access.
• Evening only, or you’re coming from a park: nighttime entry.
• Pizza, a show and an easy night: the 6 pm Outta Control dinner show, followed by a nighttime visit.
• Adults or teens who prefer history to hands-on: Titanic.
• Toddlers: consider SEA LIFE at ICON Park instead, which is calmer and easier to do in an hour.

Practical information

Getting there: WonderWorks is on International Drive at Pointe Orlando, reachable on the I-Ride Trolley from most I-Drive hotels. See our Orlando without a car guide for trolley fares. Drivers park in the Pointe Orlando garage, which charges by the hour: $5 for the first hour and $2 for each extra hour, up to $10 a day. None of the WonderWorks tickets include parking.

Hours: 9 am to midnight, 365 days a year, with the last ticket sold and doors locked an hour before closing. The ropes course keeps shorter hours: 10:30 am to 11 pm Sunday to Thursday, and 9 am to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Height and age rules: the earthquake needs 36 in, the motion theater 40 in, and the ropes course 42 in with an adult or 48 in alone (closed-toe shoes required). Guests under 18 on the ropes course must be with someone aged 21 or older. Luggage and large bags aren’t allowed.

Best time to go: whenever the forecast turns, or after 8 pm for the cheaper night ticket. In summer, keep outdoor plans such as airboats for the morning and save WonderWorks for the afternoon, when storms usually build.

Alternatives nearby

ICON Park, a short trolley ride up I-Drive, has SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds and the Museum of Illusions. For more rainy-day ideas, read the indoor things to do in Orlando guide. If your kids are aged 12 and up, our Orlando with teenagers guide covers what they’ll rate higher than a science center.