Seventy thousand square feet of hands-on crayon, clay and color activities inside The Florida Mall, the closest big indoor attraction to Lake Nona.
Crayola Experience Orlando is a 70,000-square-foot indoor family attraction inside The Florida Mall at 8001 South Orange Blossom Trail. It is about 12 miles from Lake Nona Town Center. It has more than 20 hands-on activities, including naming and wrapping your own crayon, melted-wax drip art, Model Magic clay and a two-story color playground. Crayola recommends planning three to four hours, and kids leave with the things they make. It opens daily at 10 a.m., sells annual passes and hosts birthday parties.
Every Lake Nona parent eventually has the same afternoon: it is 95 degrees or pouring, the kids have been inside since breakfast, and the community's best outings are all outdoors. Crayola Experience is one of the answers, an air-conditioned building full of things to make, about 12 miles away at The Florida Mall.
It is not a theme park and does not try to be. It is a few hours of hands-on activities aimed at young children, inside a mall you may be driving to anyway, and it is close enough to treat as an ordinary weekend errand rather than a big day out.
Where is Crayola Experience, and how far is it from Lake Nona?
Crayola Experience Orlando is inside The Florida Mall at 8001 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, about 12 miles from Lake Nona Town Center.
| Address | The Florida Mall, 8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809 |
|---|---|
| Distance from Lake Nona Town Center | About 12 miles |
| Size | About 70,000 square feet |
| Activities | More than 20 hands-on stations |
| Plan for | 3 to 4 hours, per Crayola |
| Hours | Opens daily at 10 a.m.; closing times vary by day |
| Parking | Free mall parking |
| Phone | 407-757-1700 |
It is in the wing of The Florida Mall near the southeast entrance. Of the bigger Orlando attractions, it is one of the closest to Lake Nona, with no theme-park traffic or parking fees.
What do kids do at Crayola Experience?
Kids make things: they name and wrap their own crayon, create melted-wax drip art, sculpt with Model Magic clay and play in a two-story color playground.
The activities are stations rather than rides, and most are self-paced. Children can watch a crayon-making demonstration, design a coloring page, make a wax hand mold and color a Scribble Scrubbie pet. The World's Largest Crayola crayon is the obligatory photo stop.
The appeal is that most of it goes home with you. A visit ends with a bag of custom crayons, art and keepsakes rather than a souvenir you had to buy.
What ages is Crayola Experience best for?
Crayola Experience works best for children from about 3 to 10; older kids tend to get through it quickly.
Preschoolers and early-elementary children get the most out of it, because the activities match what they already like to do. Children who can read and follow simple instructions will be more independent at the stations. Teenagers are usually done well before the three-to-four-hour estimate; for them, Fun Spot America is a better fit.
Is a Crayola Experience annual pass worth it for Lake Nona families?
An annual pass can make sense for Lake Nona families with young children, because the attraction is close enough to use as a regular rainy-day stop rather than a once-a-year outing.
The math is simple: if you expect to go more than twice in a year, compare the pass with the price of individual tickets on Crayola's website. Lake Nona's long, hot summer makes repeat visits more likely than they would be in a cooler climate. If you only expect one visit, buy tickets online in advance instead. Prices change, so check the current rates before deciding.
How do you make a day of it?
Pair Crayola Experience with lunch or shopping at The Florida Mall, or, on a dry day, add a nearby outdoor stop such as Gatorland.
The simplest plan is a morning at Crayola and lunch at the mall, home by early afternoon for naps. If the weather clears, Gatorland is a short drive farther along South Orange Blossom Trail for an afternoon of animals.
Closer to home, Lake Nona's own indoor option for small children is Terra Play Center, which is better for active play while Crayola is better for making things. More regional outings are on the Explore Orlando hub.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- Fully indoors and air-conditioned, the right call for a hot or rainy day
- About 12 miles from Lake Nona with free mall parking
- Hands-on activities with things kids take home
- Annual pass is an option for families who will return
Cons
- Best for roughly ages 3 to 10; older kids finish quickly
- Busy on rainy weekends and school holidays, when every local family has the same idea
- Some activities can have lines at peak times
Our Take
Crayola Experience is a dependable, close-to-home indoor outing for young children, not a destination worth a special trip for older kids. For Lake Nona families with preschoolers, it belongs on the short list of places to go when the weather rules out the parks.
What the Neighbors Know
Lake Nona parents treat Crayola Experience the way they treat Terra Play Center: a reliable answer to summer afternoons and rainy weekends. The drive west to The Florida Mall is straightforward from any Lake Nona neighborhood, and residents in the communities nearest SR 417, such as Laureate Park and Northlake Park, have the shortest trip.
For more things to do close to home, see the Nona Fun attractions and entertainment hub, and compare communities on the Lake Nona neighborhoods page.
Official Sources
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crayola Experience in Orlando?
Crayola Experience Orlando is inside The Florida Mall at 8001 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809, about 12 miles from Lake Nona Town Center.
How long does Crayola Experience take?
Crayola recommends planning three to four hours. Families with older children often finish sooner.
What ages is Crayola Experience for?
It is best for children from about 3 to 10. The activities are designed for young children, though adults can take part alongside them.
Does Crayola Experience Orlando have an annual pass?
Yes. Crayola Experience Orlando sells annual passes with member perks. Check Crayola's website for current prices.
Is parking free at Crayola Experience Orlando?
Yes. Crayola Experience is inside The Florida Mall, which has free parking within walking distance of the attraction.
