ORLANDO TOURISM
Discover Orlando, Florida
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What most visitors think of as Orlando actually includes Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista as well. Walt Disney World's theme parks are mandatory magic for Central Florida visitors. The spires of Cinderella's castle are familiar around the world as the symbol of The Magic Kingdom, Disney's original park in Lake Buena Vista. The castle is a fantastic backdrop for playful rides and roaming characters such as international celebrity, Mickey Mouse. Disney's Animal Kingdom, its newest adventure park, is filled with the natural drama of life in the wild. Visitors have thrilling encounters with animals from real life, the distant past, and imagination. The latest addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom is Asia, which showcases the exotic wildlife and lush rain forests of the continent's southern region. Guests embark on many fascinating journeys, encountering natural mysteries at every turn.
Epcot is a two-part educational and cultural attraction designed to challenge the mind and satisfy the senses. Here, you can sample a warm croissant at a bakery in France, tap your foot to an authentic oom-pah band in Germany, learn about the age of dinosaurs, and take an exhilarating trip through the human body all in one day! Disney-MGM Studios allows visitors to see Disney animators creating wonderful characters and explains movie-making on an entertaining backlot tour.
Universal
Studios Florida shares the movie-making theme of Disney-MGM Studios,
but attractions are presented quite differently here. At Universal,
promoters say you can "ride the movies." Some rides
provide an entertaining look at famous movies of the past, such
as "Kongfrontation," where guests meet King Kong on
the New York subway. Jaws, Earthquake, Terminator 2: 3-D Battle
Across Time and the works of Hitchcock are among the park's other
movie attractions. Twister, a technological marvel, invites guests
to experience the awesome live spectacle and destructive nature
of an actual tornado, a mere 20 feet away.
Universal's newest park is Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. Five islands, each with a distinct personality, offer something for everyone. Experience the bustling marketplace of Port of Entry, battles between good and evil on Marvel Super Hero Island, slapstick ruckuses at Toon Lagoon, prehistoric megalosaurs in Jurassic Park, mythical sorcerers on the Lost Continent, and fanciful revelry at Seuss Landing.
Visitors
to Central Florida will want to explore natural attractions as
well as fantastical ones, and SeaWorld is a wonderful place to
start. Now guests can be Trainer for a Day, working alongside
real SeaWorld animal trainers to learn training techniques, feeding,
and show preparation. Attractions include the "Pacific Point
Preserve," a sea lion and seal habitat which mimics the rocky,
northern Pacific coastline; and "Manatees: The Last Generation?"
an up-close look at the endangered sea cow. SeaWorld's newest
attraction is Wild Arctic, which takes visitors on a chilling
adventure to experience the natural beauty of the arctic. Visitors
come face to face with real polar bears, walruses, harbor seals
and beluga whales. The highlight of a visit to SeaWorld is the
"Shamu: New Visions" show during which killer whales
interact with trainers, defy gravity in breathtaking leaps; and
make a big splash (and a wet audience!) with a flick of the tail
and 52-degree water.
Dinner
attractions are very popular in the Orlando area and also
center around themes, whether of an era or an ethnicity. Medieval
Times Dinner and Tournament in Kissimmee allows you to cheer a
knight to victory. Disney's Pleasure Island celebrates New Year's
Eve every night with laser lights and dancing in the streets.
Church Street Station in downtown Orlando is a nighttime smorgasbord
of activities and eateries, hosting a variety of different clubs
and restaurants. Universal Studios CityWalk is a colossal 30-acre
entertainment mecca, where themed restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas,
live entertainment, and shopping abound.
Shopping areas in Orlando have as much variety as the local attractions. Souvenirs of your adventures, for both yourself and your friends back home are easy to find. Outlet centers and factory stores abound here and offer some of the best bargains in town. Shopping areas in Orlando and Kissimmee are also popular for their fun environments, such as at Pointe*Orlando, the Church Street Station Exchange, Disney Village Market Place or Old Town in Kissimmee.
Water
fun is everywhere in Central Florida, though it's not a beach
destination. Wet 'n Wild, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard
Beach are water parks where visitors can beat the Florida heat
and have a slipping, sliding, good time of it! The newest, Disney's
Blizzard Beach combines water with "snow" from a "freak
Florida snowstorm," creating snowy slopes.
Botanical
beauty flourishes in several parks, which offer beautiful
glimpses of lush plant life. Cypress Gardens, a short distance
from Orlando in Winter Haven, shows off stunning outdoor floral
displays as well as world-class water-ski shows daily. Bok Tower
Gardens is a serene sanctuary abounding with azaleas, camellias
and magnolias. A World of Orchids displays thousands of rare and
exotic examples that flourish in a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned,
tropical rain forest garden showcase.
Airports | Attractions | The Beach | Driving Times | Florida City Guide | Nightlife | Golf Facts | Orlando Magic | Theme Parks | Shopping
