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Adventure awaits you around almost every corner in Orlando. You could spend weeks in Orlando and still not see or do everything it has to offer. With the theme parks, attractions, shows and interesting places to dine, how could you go wrong on your vacation in Orlando?
 What to Do:
Disney Parks and Attractions:
Universal Parks and Attractions:
Busch Parks:
- Seaworld: Get wet, get wild and have fun at Seaworld Orlando. The shows are exciting, the rides are thrilling and the wildlife is amazing. The three main types of attractions are the shows, the rides and the marine wildlife exhibits.
- The best show in the park has to be Believe, starring the famous Killer Whale, Shamu. Get an up close and personal experience when you sit in the front rows. Getting wet is the main objective here, so if you have any expensive electronic devices such as cameras, definitely do not sit in the front rows. Be sure to arrive early to get good seats. Seaworld really puts on a dreamy show between trainer and whale as audience members are asked to simply Believe. We also really enjoyed the Clyde and Seamore Show staring several sea creatures in a pirate ship setting.
- The older children will enjoy the thrill rides of Kraken and Journey to Atlantis. Kraken is a floorless roller coaster which makes twists and turns and goes upside down several times! For a cooler ride, try Journey to Atlantis for a boat ride with a roller coaster feel. You are sure to have a splashing good time.Throughout the park you will have opportunities to interact with all sorts of sea creatures. Touch stingrays, feed the dolphins and the sea lions and watch the penquins have fun.
- The smaller children have a special place to play and a show just for them. The Elmo and Friends show and photo opportunities are a must for the little Sesame Street Fans but get to the photo opportunities early or you may miss out. Smaller children will enjoy Shamu’s Happy Harbor where they can play in the water playground, ride the various rides and even get lost in the climbing zone. There is also a clean and comfortable changing/nursing area for the littlest visitors. Make sure to bring along a bathing suit and an extra set of clothing for the kids.
If you really want to show off to your friends, try the hands on experiences with the Shark Encounters and Beluga Whales Encounters (extra fee).
- Discovery Cove: A private (maximum 1000 guests), reservation-only water park. We are not talking water slides here but more of a personal experience with the underwater world. Here is your chance to swim with the dolphins, snorkel among various marine life and interact with the tropical birds in the aviaries. Discovery Cove should definitely be on your list of places to visit if you want a one of a kind experience. Although this park can be very expensive they do offer a non-dolphin package which brings down the price. Children age 5 and under are not allowed to participate in the dolphin encounter.
- Aquatica: Seaworld's newest water park is here. Aquatica opened in the spring of 2008 to a world of 36 waterslides, 6 rivers and lagoons and an amazing wave pool with a real beach area. The two very popular attractions to this park are the Walkabout Waters and the Dolphin Plunge. You will be talking about the fun your kids are having when they experience the Walkabout Waters playground which is 15,000 square feet of water fun. The Dolphin Plunge is a unique slide experience as you plunge down through clear tubes into a dolphin habitat. There are height restrictions. For those who cannot ride the ride be sure to take them to the lookout area. Ages two and under are FREE.
Gatorland: Get up close and personal at this gator attraction. There is a petting zoo, bird aviary and lots of alligators, of course.
Petting Farm at Green Meadows: Enjoy the whole farm experience with over 300 animals to see and touch, hay rides and even milk a cow.
Miniature Golf Courses: You will find a miniature golf establishment almost every place you look. Take a break from the theme parks and hit the green with your family. Most places offer smaller clubs for the littlest of putters. Our daughter enjoyed it, even at only 15 months.
Off the Beaten Path:
 Kennedy Space Center: Located about 45 minutes east of Orlando is a spectacle of rockets and awe inspiring spaceships. A fun learning experience for kids of all ages (yes, even mom and dad) with informative tours and fascinating exhibits. Have lunch with an astronaut or take a ride into space in a space simulator or see the IMAX Space Films. There is also a space themed play plaza and of course you have to try the freeze dried ice cream! The most exciting attraction of all is to witness an actual space shuttle launch if you happen to visit at the right time.
NASA has taken great care in updating the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center with new attractions. Beginning in 2007 the space simulator was added as the first of 8 new exhibits that will be featured in the next 10 years as part of a $160 million project.
Daytona International Speedway: For all you race car fans, the Daytona International Speedway is the place to be. This is not your plain old race track. Check out the Sprint FanZone, the Daytona 500 Experience (complete with motion simulator, IMAX film and Richard Petty Driving Experience), the “Walk of Fame”, and oh yeah check out the race. NASCAR fans don’t miss the Daytona 500 in February! Located approximately 1 hour from Orlando.
Busch Gardens: Located 1 ½ hours Southwest of Orlando in Tampa you will find Busch Gardens. With a zoo and a theme park rolled into one, your kids will love this amazing park. Plan to stay the day as you see all kinds of animals and even take a safari ride to get up close to the animals of the Serengeti (extra fee). The rides at Busch Gardens provide a thrilling adventure, even while you wait in line.
Dining:
Orlando offers every food chain you can imagine. If you have it in your hometown, chances are they have a restaurant location in Orlando. You will probably spend lunches at the parks but for dinner you will not have a problem finding a child friendly restaurant. These are a couple of reasonably priced restaurants we enjoyed.
Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon: The staff was super fun, friendly and attentive. The food was good and they have a playground.
Don Pablo’s: Pretty good Mexican food in a fun atmosphere. See the tortillas being made and have a little margarita for yourself after the long day at the park.
Giordano’s: Best Chicago style pizza you will find.
Also, check out our sections within Disney Parks and Universal Parks for great dining experiences in Downtown Disney and City Walk.
Shopping:
You can spend several days running the outlet mall circuit. Be sure to do your homework in advance of making purchases. Sometimes there is not much of a discount or the quality is not the greatest. However, every so often you may fall upon a deal or two. If you will be visiting Disney or Universal parks, there are plenty of shopping opportunities within the parks. Be sure to make your purchases at the end of your visit so as not to carry around so much. You can also save the shopping for the Downtown Disney or City Walk areas.
Hotels:
We have stayed in some pretty awful hotels in Orlando of which I will not give the pleasure of mentioning. But there have been some good ones too. Tips on Orlando hotels:
- You get what you pay for. If the offer is incredibly cheap, expect the same in the room quality, service and all around appearance of the hotel and room.
- Make sure you look for a newer hotel. They are usually nicer and have better service.
- Convenience is a huge factor. Orlando is spread out, make sure your hotel is close to the attractions you intend to see. Otherwise, there could be delays due to traffic.
- Don’t limit yourselves to staying inside the parks. Although many of these hotels give great perks such as earlier entrance to the parks, dining with the characters, etc., more reasonably priced accommodations can be found outside of the parks.
- Consider renting a condo or home during your stay. There are plenty of rentals throughout the area with great prices and locations. Be sure to review their terms and conditions beforehand.
Hilton Grand Vacation Club: Our top pick for hotels is the Hilton Grand Vacation Club. They offer one, two and three bedroom villas each with a full kitchen and screened patio area. The resort is fairly new with beautiful rooms. The property has two pools, one with a waterfall and one that is a walk-in, and a children’s fountain. There are plenty of child friendly activities such as the kid’s club, playground and poolside movies.
Yearly Calendar Events:
- March: Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
- April: Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival
- October: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. The park closes early every night to prepare the park for the evening Halloween Horror Nights (separate fee required).
- October: Seaworld’s Halloween Spooktacular
- November – December:
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom: A truly magical experience with lights, shows, snow and a fireworks spectacular.
- The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Holidays Around the World at Epcot
- Grinchmas™ at Islands of Adventure
- ICE! Show at Gaylord Palms: You will surely have fun in this indoor playground made entirely of ice.
 Tips:
Free tickets: Everywhere you go in Orlando you will find a multitude of advertisements on discount or free park tickets. Remember, you really do not get something for nothing. We recommend staying away from this type of discount. Many who advertise discount or free park tickets are timeshare companies looking to sell you a timeshare. Before you think this is no big deal, consider how much time you have to spare on your vacation. Even though many say it will only take 90 minutes, this is rarely the case. Be prepared to spend half the day listening to and viewing the property. These are sales tactics so the pressure is on for you to purchase. If you know you cannot or do not want to purchase a timeshare, we recommend you not attend these types of events just for the discount tickets. It is a waste of precious time better spent at the parks.
Timing: A popular time to travel to Orlando is when school is out, which includes holidays, winter, spring and summer break. However, consider going during an off-peak time if your schedule allows. You will find fewer lines, better service and lower rates on airfare and hotels when you travel during off-peak season.
Shop Around: Speak with a travel agent for a complete vacation package that might provide better discounts. You can also find loads of discounts on smaller attractions, shops and restaurants in many vacation guides/magazines located at hotels or visitor centers. These guides are packed with useful information including maps. Also, if you are a Florida resident you are given deals galore in most parks and hotels.
Last update : 13-07-2008 11:53
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By: Admin (Registered) on 09-03-2008 20:25