Attractions and Vacation Activities in Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida and its surrounding areas may be known for being the home of Walt Disney World and the land of Mickey Mouse, but Disney World and Disney attractions are not the only forms of entertainment to be found in this area. Orlando is a great place to bring the kids on vacation, but there is entertaining activities to be experienced for all ages. With so many activities to choose from, you might want to visit more than once!

What Orlando, Florida is best known for is, of course, Walt Disney World. Covering an area of over 47 square miles, the sprawling resort has four major theme parks, two water parks, two nighttime entertainment centers, a 200-acre sports complex, numerous hotels, and five (yes, five!) championship golf courses.

Magic Kingdom Park, one of Disney World’s four theme parks, has seven lands, with the famous castle at their center. The seven lands include Fantasyland, a must visit for the young ones with such attractions as Cinderella’s Carousel and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Frontierland, with Big Thunder and Splash Mountains, Tomorrowland, with Space Mountain, and four other exciting lands. Don’t miss the SpectroMagic Parade or the Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks!

Epcot, another one of the four theme parks which stands for “Every Person Comes Out Tired,” is an entertaining and educational choice with two parks, Future World and the World Showcase, representing 11 nations worth of entertainment. Disney-MGM Studios has many attractions based on many movies, including a live reproduction of Beauty and the Beast. The fourth park is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including African safaris, DinoLand USA, jungles, and much more.

The Universal Orlando Resort is another must see, with two theme parks, a dining and entertainment complex, and several hotels. One of the theme parks, Universal Studios, includes attractions based on many popular movies and television shows, such as Back to the Future, Shrek, and Woody Woodpecker. Another theme park, Islands of Adventure, includes many exciting rides and unique attractions situated on five unique islands. CityWalk is an entertainment complex with themed bars and wonderful nightlife, an excellent stop for the adults or visitors without children.

Other theme parks to visit include SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove (where you can swim with the dolphins!), and Kennedy Space Center, among many others. Old Town is a free park with rides, affordable restaurants, 75 shops, and weekend classic car shows. It isn’t a wonder why Orlando is known as the theme park capital of the world.

For those hot summer months, a water park can be a fun attraction. Blizzard Beach, one of the water parks of Walt Disney World, is made to look like a melting ski resort, and Disney’s other water park, Typhoon Lagoon, includes 56 acres of fun in the sun. Other water parks in the area include Water Mania, with an area designed specifically for younger children, and Wet ‘N Wild, the original water park of Orlando, which emphasizes rides designed for groups of people.

At Buena Vista Watersports, you can rent personal watercraft or spend the day on the beach. Orange Blossom Balloons offers hot air balloon rides and breakfast, along with a champagne toast, while Sky Venture helps you feel the exhilaration of sky diving without the danger. Race fans can enjoy the Daytona International Speedway, while flight fans can enjoy the Fantasy of Flight, a collection of vintage planes, or the Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum. An exciting experience for fans of flying can be found with the Stallion 51 Corporation, which offers the experience of controlling a TF-51 Mustang fighter plane.

The International Trolley and Train Museum is an option for train lovers, with fourteen model trains, and a California Victorian style train to take a ride on. A fun place for all is the Fun Spot Action Park, including go-karts, bumper cars and boats, a large video arcade, and several rides for younger children.

Still more entertaining attractions include the Green Meadows Petting Farm, the ultimate petting farm, Titanic- The Experience, where actors tell the stories of the people on the ship, and the Orlando Science Center, a hands-on learning adventure great for children. WonderWorks is an unusual attraction, appearing to be an upside-down building with three stories of hands-on, educational experiences. Skull Kingdom is great for those who enjoy a good spook, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not for those who enjoy the very odd.

For fans of nature, Dolphins Plus, another attraction to swim with the dolphins, might be a good choice. You can also experience a tour of the Florida Everglades on an airboat at this attraction. Other fun nature experiences include the Florida Adventure Tour, Way Fun Kayak Adventures, Florida Water Safari, and more.

Tired of regular restaurants? Why not try some dinner with entertainment? Arabian Nights has been voted the best dinner show, while Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is fun for children and parents alike, with all you can eat food, unlimited beer, wine and soda, and, of course, Mickey and friends. Other fun dinner options are Medieval Times, with knights and sword fighting, and silverware optional. There is also Pirates Dinner Adventure, the Makahiki Luau Polynesian Feast and Celebration at SeaWorld, and the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show. Not only is it a place for children, Disney World includes some nighttime attractions that may be more fun for adults, as well, such as Downtown Disney Pleasure Island, and Downtown Disney West Side, with Cirque de Soleil and the House of Blues.

Orlando is also a wonderful vacation destination for the more laid back visitors, with many calmer attractions. The Morse Museum of American Art includes a Tiffany collection and 19th century American paintings. The Orlando Museum of Art includes ancient American art and impressionist works. The Cornell Fine Arts Museum is a free attraction on the Rollins College campus. Zoo Orlando is a great choice for animal lovers of all ages, and is a very popular attraction to hold birthday parties. For the calm nature lover, Leu Gardens, consisting of 50 acres of beautiful flowers and a butterfly house, is an attraction not to be missed. Blue Springs State Park and Wekiwa Springs State Park are places to visit for great swimming, canoeing, and fishing. No matter what you decide, you are sure to find an attraction that is just right for you and your family.