WonderWorks

WonderWorks in Orlando is truly an International Drive icon! If you’ve ever been driving down International Drive and spotted the upside-down building and were curious about what’s inside, we’ve got you covered. This interesting looking building has over 100 hands-on exhibits and interactive displays. Here is everything you can see or do at WonderWorks!

The Story

There’s a story behind how the famous WonderWorks building became the upside-down icon it is today. As legend has it, there is a top-secret research laboratory on a remote island in the mysterious Bermuda triangle, led by Professor Wonder. While he was working on an experiment to harness the power of a tornado, something went wrong. The wind grew stronger than Professor Wonder anticipated. When he tried to stop it, the swirling vortex spun out of control and was too strong to be stopped. The power of the tornado was unleashed into the laboratory and ripped the building right from its foundation. Due to this, the tornado carried the lab hundreds of miles away and landed upside down in Orlando! Since the building is upside down, you must walk through an inversion tunnel to be turned right side up!

The Wonder Zones

Extreme Weather Zone

Images by WonderWorks

Tesla Coil – In 1891, Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla Coil to investigate the electrical realm of high-voltage, low-current, and high-frequency. At this fun station, you can become a human lightning rod as you place your hand through the mesh, steel armor glove and watch the Tesla Coil emit 100,000 volts!
Earthquake Café – Relive the earthquake of 1989 that struck the San Francisco Bay area of California. At this station, you’ll be able to relive this earthquake and feel the power behind a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. *Guests must be at least 36 inches to ride.
Hurricane Shack – The hurricane is one of the most common natural disasters in the world. Some hurricane winds can reach a speed of 155 mph! At this station, you’ll enter the hurricane shack to experience category 1 hurricane force winds of 74 miles per hour. Hold on tight!
How Cold Is It? – The Titanic was the largest ship to ever sail in the early 1900’s. Sadly, it collided with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912, causing one of the most devastating disasters in modern history. At this station, you can see how cold the water was that night by putting your hand under icy water. See how long you can handle the chilling temperature of 28-degree Fahrenheit water.

Physical Challenge Zone

Images by WonderWorks

Bed of Nails –Test the principle of pressure and see what happens when you lie down on a bed of 3,500 nails!
Bubble Lab –One of the most fun exhibits for guests of all ages! Create bubbles of all sizes here, whether it’s the size of a basketball or a bubble big enough for you to fit inside!
Pulley Power –Take a seat on one of the chairs and use the rope to pull yourself up to see how pulleys work! Pulleys make lifting heavy items easier by magnifying force or changing the direction of force!

Light & Sound Zone

Images by WonderWorks

Recollections –Dance and move in front of this screen and watch in amazement as your shadow multiplies into different colors and patterns!
Strike a Pose –Find out what your shadow really looks like! Stand in front of the wall and when the flash appears, the portion of that wall that your body is on will freeze in place! Your shadow will appear before your very eyes!
Giant Piano –Run, skip, and jump from key to key on this large piano and play some of your favorite tunes!

Space Discovery Zone

Images by WonderWorks

Space Suit – Explore a life-size replica of an EVA suit that the astronauts wear when they need to do work outside of their spacecraft. These suits are worn to protect astronauts and keep them safe in the extreme environment of outer space.
Astronaut Training Challenge –This two-person gyroscope will spin and rotate in multiple, random directions to simulate the effects that outer space has on humans. You’ll experience weightlessness and the rolls and tumbles that astronauts feel in outer space.
Mercury Capsule –Climb into a replica of one of the launched capsules from Project Mercury. You’ll find out what it’s like to lay inside of this one-man vehicle.
Wonder Coasters –Create your dream coaster and virtually ride it while still feeling all the adrenaline of a real coaster! You’ll rotate 360 degrees and feel the pitch and roll motion of this amazing attraction!

Imagination Lab

Images by WonderWorks

Wonder Brite –Come create a masterpiece on this gigantic version of the popular children’s toy, Lite-Brite! Your picture will glow as you place each of the colored sticks into the wall!
Dig it Sandbox – Dig Ocean trenches, build enormous mountains, or create whatever you choose in this interactive sandbox that lets you create your own landscape!
Gear Works –Rearrange the gears in the wall so that they are all interlocking and slowly spin them to see what happens! Watch how gears work right in front of your eyes!

Wonder Art Gallery

Images by WonderWorks

Illusion Art Gallery –Do your eyes deceive you? Come check out the illusion gallery and see if you are seeing what you are actually seeing! WonderWorks Orlando features some of the world’s most renowned illusion art.
Dr. Seuss’s Unorthodox Taxidermy –Come and see seventeen sculptures that were inspired by Dr. Seuss’s fictional characters. These sculptures include real bills, horns, and antlers!

Other Activities

There are many other activities to enjoy here like the 4D XD Motion Theater. This one-of-a-kind experience combines 3D film with special effects and full motion seating! It will feel as if you were transported right into the movie! There is also the Glow-in-the-Dark Ropes Course which is three stories of over 20 different glow-in-the-dark obstacles where you will scale to heights of 36 feet! There is also an amazing laser tag course that is one of the best in Orlando!

Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show

Come and enjoy Orlando’s longest-running dinner show! This interactive, entertaining, and funny show is sure to delight you and your family! You don’t have to just watch the show, you can also be a part of it! In addition to the show, you also get served unlimited dinner that includes fresh, hand-tossed cheese and pepperoni pizza, beer, wine, soda, and dessert.

Overall

WonderWorks is a very educational, fun, and hands-on experience that is worth doing whether you live here or are touring around Orlando. You will be amazed from the moment you step inside the one-of-a-kind building and all throughout your stay. With over 100 hands-on exhibits, there is no shortage of fun things to do here!

Have you ever been to WonderWorks? What was your favorite exhibit?

If you’re looking for other fun activities and locations on International Drive, check out some of our past articles!