Showing 1-16 of 16 results
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Cypress Gardens
Despite a revamp in 2004-05, which added 39 small rides, a water park and new roller coaster, Cypress Gardens seems fairly dull, and expensive, in the realm of theme parks.
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Discovery Cove
Adjacent to its parent park SeaWorld, Discovery Cove is an innovative and elite attraction and is limited to only 1000 guests daily; make reservations well ahead. Private beaches and an exotic bird aviary are just a few of the diversions, and guests don't have to worry about a thing. All gear is provided and lunch is fantastic, filling and free.
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Disney-MGM Studios
The Disney-MGM Studios cater to the post-fairytale crowd and is also a working studio. Hands-down most exciting rides are the spooky and unpredictable hotel elevator in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, where your stretch limo races through the streets of LA after dark. And don't miss the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, a 35-minute show that looks a lot like the movie.
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Fun Spot Action Park
This park has a Ferris wheel, go-karts and the awesome Zipper, as well as the opportunity to win giant stuffed animals. You can also purchase rides separately.
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Green Meadows Petting Farm
Green Meadows is no Animal Kingdom, but it's the kind of place you'd envision Old MacDonald living out his golden years. With more than 300 animals and a cute train ride, kids'll be entertained for a good half day, and there are blessedly few crowds here.
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Islands Of Adventure
The best theme park in Orlando, Islands of Adventure, has better characters than the Magic Kingdom, better rides than Universal Studios and better food than Holy Land. Go wild on the Hulk and Duelling Dragons rides, before finishing on the state-of-the-art Amazing Adventures of Spider Man.
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Magic Kingdom
The centerpiece of WDW and home of Cinderella's Castle. Pirates of the Caribbean has gotten some snazzed-up special effects with a dash of Johnny Depp, and Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain are still going strong. Mickey's Toontown Fair and Fantasyland are a hit with smaller kids, but anyone over 12 will want to keep walking. Fireworks displays light up the sky nightly and many nights end with a parade.
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Old Town
Old Town brings the county fair back to life with a handful of fairway games and old-fashioned rides, including go-carts, a cool carousel and dry slides. There's also a tame miniature golf course, and the hair-raising Human Slingshot, which flings older kids straight up 365ft at 6Gs - not advisable on a full stomach.
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Orlando Science Center
This well-put-together museum combines real science with special effects. Highlights include a nuclear reactor you operate and a dinosaur room with fossils, plus animatronic beasties that move and growl. There's also a small IMAX theater and planetarium, which are included in the ticket, and the observatory hosts night-sky viewing every Friday and Saturday nights.
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SeaWorld
A not-altogether-logical blend of marine animals and thrill rides, SeaWorld is home to both Shamu the killer whale and Kraken the floorless coaster. Journey to Atlantis tries to bring both concepts together: it's an oceanic water-coaster with a 60ft vertical drop. Feedings and shows take place at scheduled times, so plan out your day to make sure you don't miss out.
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The Epcot Center
An acronym for 'Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,' The Epcot Center was Disney's vision of a high-tech city. It's divided into two halves: the sort-of-modern Future World, with corporate-sponsored journeys through not-very-cutting-edge technology, and the not-at-all futuristic World Showcase, which gives you an interesting toe-dip into the culture of 11 different countries.
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Titanic: Ship of Dreams
There are so many themed attractions, themed restaurants and themed hotels surrounding International Drive (I-Dr) that it's a quasi-theme park itself (with a theme of, well, themes). The stand-out attraction is Titanic: Ship of Dreams, where you take on the character of a real-life Titanic passenger for a poignant tour of replicas and relics.
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Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida has a Hollywood backlot feel and is, in fact, a working studio as well as theme park with celluloid-inspired rides. Don't miss the Back to the Future time-travel simulator, or the fun, new 4-D Shrek show.
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Walt Disney World
This is a self-contained city. Apart from the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom), there are three water parks, a shopping district, 22 hotels, countless eateries, a police force, transport systems, medical centres, even kennels for the pooch. Watch out for the mouse.
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Wet 'n' Wild
Orlando's lack of surf beaches make water parks all the more desirable. Wet 'n' Wild is one of Florida's first water parks, and it gives Disney's two water parks a run for its money.
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WonderWorks
If you're feeling guilty about pulling the kids from school, stimulate them at WonderWorks where earthquake and hurricane simulators, hands-on exhibits and a unique structural design resembling an upside-down building will set their imagination running. Plus there's laser tag and the Outta Control Magic Show, pairing dinner with illusions.
Showing 1-16 of 16 results
