Discover ICON Park in Orlando: Guide, Attractions, Dining, Shopping And 8 Tips Before You Go in 2025. Is it Worth It?

Yo! I just got back from ICON Park in Orlando and can’t wait to tell you all about it! This place is SO COOL with tons of fun things to do. If you’re planning a trip to Orlando but don’t want to go to the big theme parks every day, ICON Park is perfect! Let me share everything I learned so you can have the best time ever.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about ICON Park in Orlando

Entry to ICON Park is totally FREE! You only pay for the attractions you want to try. You can walk around, listen to music, and enjoy the atmosphere without spending anything.

Hours vary by attraction and restaurant, but most places open around noon and stay open until 10 PM or later.

Yup! Kids love the aquarium, the carousel, the train ride, and watching The Wheel. There’s also a Build-A-Bear Workshop. Kids under certain heights get reduced prices on attractions.

Yes! StarFlyer and the Slingshot offer high-adrenaline experiences for thrill-seekers.

Yes! Many bars and restaurants allow you to take drinks to-go within the park.

Absolutely! Icon Park is a great alternative to Disney and Universal, offering a mix of attractions, dining, and entertainment without the high ticket prices.

Prices change, but expect to pay around $25-30 per person. Look for combo deals if you want to do multiple attractions!

About 20 minutes for a full rotation. The wheel moves very slowly at about 1 mph.

Yup! The outdoor areas are open for everyone. You can bring your own food to enjoy at the tables outside.

For just 1-2 attractions, plan about 2-3 hours. If you want to do several attractions and have a meal, you could easily spend a whole day here! My friend said the wax museum and aquarium each took “about 45 minutes to an hour” to explore.

Both are fun, but many people prefer the evening when it’s cooler and The Wheel is all lit up. The live music venues also get more exciting at night!

Sure! You can buy tickets online and sometimes get discounts. Check the ICON Park website for deals.

VERY scary for some people! My friend said: “For me, that’s already an attraction that’s too hardcore.” But if you love thrills, you’ll have a blast!

Right on International Drive (I-Drive) in the heart of Orlando’s tourist area. It’s close to Universal Orlando and not far from Disney World.

Attractions – What To Do

  • The Wheel – This is the giant observation wheel that you can see from all over Orlando! You ride in air-conditioned glass capsules that take about 20 minutes to go all the way around. From the top, you can see everything – Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, SeaWorld, even the construction of Epic Universe! “We got on at about 7:40, 7:45, and we watched the sun dip below the horizon. We saw the Epcot ball light up. We saw Epic Universe. It’s actually been nice.”
  • Madame Tussauds Wax Museum – This is where you can see super realistic wax figures of famous people! They have different sections: History and leaders (like Neil Armstrong on the moon, Albert Einstein, and Walt Disney); Sports stars (like Shaq, who is SUPER tall!); Music stars (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and more); DC Superheroes (Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman); Movies and TV stars
  • Sea Life Aquarium – The aquarium has nine different areas with cool sea creatures! You can: Watch colorful jellyfish swim around; Walk through a 360° ocean tunnel with sharks and turtles all around you; See weird creatures like axolotls (they’re like water salamanders); Touch sea anemones (they feel super squishy!) “I’ve never seen that many colorful anemones. And there’s a ton of interactive stuff for like small children.”
  • Museum of Illusions – This place will totally mess with your brain! It’s full of cool optical illusions and weird photo spots that make you look like you’re defying gravity or growing tiny or huge.
  • Starflyer – This is the TALLEST swing ride in the world! It’s 450 feet tall and spins you around at 45 mph. Pretty scary, but the views are amazing!
  • Other Fun Stuff – Orlando Slingshot: Shoots you 450 feet into the air at 100 mph! (Super scary!); Carousel: A pretty merry-go-round with hand-carved animals; Pearl Express Train: A cute little train that goes around the park; Max Action Arena: Axe throwing, VR games, and escape rooms; In The Game Arcade: Lots of arcade games
Icon Park Orlando Guide Florida Attractions Tips Before You Go Is it Worth It Sea Life
Icon Park Orlando Florida Guide Attractions Tips Before You Go Is it Worth It Wax Museum

Dining – What to Eat

  • Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips: Famous chef Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant with yummy fish and chips. “I think for an Orlando fish and chips, this is pretty solid. It’s beer battered. It’s cod. It’s flaky. It’s really good.”
  • Yard House: Great for groups because they have lots of different food options and TONS of beer choices. “If you’re traveling with a group of people and they all have different tastes, Yard House could be a really good option.”
  • Tin Roof: Live music venue with food and drinks. “We love to come for happy hour at some of the spots, but we just love to come here and have some drinks and listen to some live music.”
  • Blake Shelton’s Ole Red: Country music restaurant. “This is a fantastic venue if you’re a country music lover.”
  • Sugar Factory: Known for crazy big desserts and sweet drinks. “This is where you’re going to get those mega crazy milkshakes and desserts.”
  • Brother Jimmy’s BBQ: Tasty barbecue place.
  • Shake Shack: Famous burger fast-food.
  • Sloppy Joe’s Key West Bar & Grill: Florida-themed restaurant voted “best new restaurant.”
Icon Park Orlando Florida Guide Attractions Tips Before You Go Is it Worth It Dining Sugar Factory

Shopping & Other Activities

There aren’t tons of shops, but you’ll find:

  • Build-A-Bear Workshop
  • ICON Park Gift Shop (souvenirs and Orlando stuff)
  • Sugar Factory candy store
  • Some smaller kiosks with sunglasses and touristy items

8 Tips for Visiting – Before You Go

1. Parking is FREE!

Park on levels 4-7 of the parking garage for free parking. Lower levels cost money.

2. Come in the evening

when it’s cooler, especially in summer. “It’s not crowded at all. You’re not going to see a lot of people, and that’s because we’re here in the middle of the day… not as crowded as it will be in the evening.”

3. Check attraction hours

before you go. Some attractions close earlier than the park itself, especially during slower seasons.

4. Buy combo tickets

to save money if you want to do multiple attractions. “We got a Florida resident discount. We’re going to do all three of those attractions today. And it was about $45 a person.”

5. Visit The Wheel at sunset

for the best views: “I think we picked the perfect time, sunset. We got on at about 7:40, 7:45, and we watched the sun dip below the horizon.”

6. Prepare for Florida weather

it gets HOT! “I think it’s almost 95° today on a beautiful July day.” Bring water and sunscreen!

7. Save time for live music

in the evening. Tin Roof and Ole Red both have great bands.

8. Reserve restaurants ahead

for dinner times, especially on weekends when it gets busy.

EXTRA TIP

Serving Orlando and nearby communities, we provide top-quality carpet cleaning services (steam cleaning) in Orlando. We also offer upholstery and mattress cleaning services.

Icon Park Orlando Florida Guide Attractions Tips Before You Go Is it Worth It Sign

Summary

I hope this helps you plan an awesome visit to ICON Park! It’s a super fun place where you can do as much or as little as you want, and it’s way more relaxed than the big theme parks. Have fun! – wish you ShinyandSpotless team

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