Two family amusement parks with free entry, multi-level go-kart tracks and real roller coasters, the easy middle ground between a backyard and a theme park.
Fun Spot America runs two family amusement parks near Lake Nona: one at 5700 Fun Spot Way in Orlando, off International Drive, and one at 2850 Florida Plaza Boulevard in Kissimmee. The Orlando park is about 19 miles from Lake Nona. Admission and parking are free at both parks; you pay for rides individually or buy a day or season pass. The parks are known for multi-level go-kart tracks, roller coasters and SkyCoaster towers, and the Orlando park has White Lightning, a wooden roller coaster. Fun Spot is best for older kids and teenagers, with smaller family rides for younger children.
Theme parks are a full-day commitment and a serious ticket price. For a family with a teenager who wants to drive a go-kart and ride a coaster for a couple of hours, that is overkill. Fun Spot America fills the gap: free to walk in, pay for what you ride, and done by dinner.
Fun Spot has two Central Florida parks, one in Orlando near International Drive and one in Kissimmee. Both are a reasonable drive from Lake Nona, and which one you choose mostly depends on what else you are doing that day.
Where are Fun Spot's parks, and how far are they from Lake Nona?
Fun Spot America Orlando is at 5700 Fun Spot Way, off International Drive, about 19 miles from Lake Nona; Fun Spot America Kissimmee is at 2850 Florida Plaza Boulevard, in the US 192 tourist area.
| Orlando park | 5700 Fun Spot Way, Orlando, FL 32819 (International Drive area) |
|---|---|
| Distance from Lake Nona | About 19 miles to the Orlando park |
| Kissimmee park | 2850 Florida Plaza Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34746 (US 192 area) |
| Admission and parking | Free at both parks |
| How you pay | Per ride, or with a day pass or season pass |
| Known for | Multi-level go-kart tracks, roller coasters, SkyCoaster towers |
| Best for | Older kids and teenagers; family rides for younger children |
The Orlando park sits in the International Drive corridor, so it pairs easily with other I-Drive stops. The Kissimmee park is in the US 192 area near the Disney side of town.
How does admission work at Fun Spot?
Walking in and parking are free; you pay only for the rides, either one at a time or with a day or season pass.
That model is the main reason Fun Spot works for families. Parents who do not want to ride can come along at no cost, and a family can stop by for an hour without buying a full-day ticket. For a longer visit, a day pass covers unlimited rides, and season passes are sold for repeat visitors. Fun Spot also offers a rain guarantee: if it rains soon after you buy, you get a rain check for another visit. Current prices and pass terms are on Fun Spot's website.
What are the best rides at Fun Spot?
The go-kart tracks are the main draw, followed by the roller coasters, including White Lightning, the wooden coaster at the Orlando park.
Fun Spot built its name on go-karts, and its multi-level tracks, with ramps and spirals stacked over one another, are what most visitors come for. White Lightning, at the Orlando park, is a wooden coaster about 70 feet tall that reaches roughly 44 mph, and it is often described as Orlando's only wooden roller coaster. The Orlando park also has Freedom Flyer, a suspended family coaster.
Fun Spot's SkyCoaster towers, which swing riders in a harness, are billed as the two tallest in the world. Both parks also have family and kiddie rides, and Fun Spot runs a small alligator and wildlife exhibit, Gator Spot.
Is Fun Spot better for teens or young kids?
Fun Spot is at its best for kids roughly 10 and up, who can drive the go-karts and ride the coasters; younger children have a smaller set of family rides.
Height and age requirements apply to the go-karts and the bigger rides, so check them against your children before you go. For a group with mixed ages, the pay-per-ride model helps: older kids ride the thrill rides while younger ones stick to family rides, and nobody pays for rides they cannot use.
For very young children, an indoor outing such as Crayola Experience or Lake Nona's own Terra Play Center is usually a better fit.
Which Fun Spot should Lake Nona families choose?
Choose the Orlando park for White Lightning and an I-Drive evening; choose the Kissimmee park if you are already near US 192 or the Disney side of town.
From Lake Nona, the Orlando park pairs naturally with an evening on International Drive: ICON Park and Pointe Orlando are close by for dinner afterward. The Kissimmee park makes more sense when it is part of a day in the US 192 area.
Either way, go in the evening in summer. The tracks and coasters are fully exposed to the sun, and both parks are more pleasant after the heat breaks.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- Free admission and free parking at both parks
- Pay only for what you ride, so short visits are inexpensive
- Multi-level go-kart tracks and a wooden roller coaster you will not find at the big theme parks
- Two locations, so it fits either an I-Drive or a US 192 day
Cons
- About 19 miles from Lake Nona, so not a quick stop
- Best for older kids; small children have fewer rides
- Fully outdoors, so summer afternoons are hot
- Ride costs add up quickly for a large family without a pass
Our Take
Fun Spot is the right outing when you want a couple of hours of thrills without a theme-park day. For Lake Nona families with older kids, it is the go-kart and coaster stop; pair it with dinner on I-Drive and it is an easy evening out. Families with only small children can skip it until the kids are tall enough to drive.
What the Neighbors Know
Lake Nona families mostly save the big theme parks for visiting relatives and annual-pass weekends; Fun Spot is the outing teenagers ask for in between. Neighborhoods closest to SR 417 and the Beachline, such as Laureate Park, Northlake Park and Randal Park, have the most direct route west to International Drive.
More regional outings are on the Explore Orlando hub, and you can 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
Is admission free at Fun Spot America?
Yes. Admission and parking are free at both Fun Spot America parks. You pay for rides individually or buy a day or season pass.
How far is Fun Spot America from Lake Nona?
Fun Spot America Orlando, at 5700 Fun Spot Way off International Drive, is about 19 miles from Lake Nona.
Where are the Fun Spot America parks in Central Florida?
Fun Spot America has two Central Florida parks: one at 5700 Fun Spot Way in Orlando, near International Drive, and one at 2850 Florida Plaza Boulevard in Kissimmee.
Does Fun Spot Orlando have a wooden roller coaster?
Yes. White Lightning, at Fun Spot America Orlando, is a wooden coaster about 70 feet tall that reaches roughly 44 mph.
Is Fun Spot good for young children?
Fun Spot is best for older kids and teenagers because height and age requirements apply to the go-karts and bigger rides. Both parks have family and kiddie rides for younger children.
