With its year-round warm climate, world-class theme parks, superb shopping and unbeatable sense of fun and adventure, it is no wonder that Orlando in Florida remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Children and adults alike will fall in love with the many delights that Orlando has to offer and it often seems that just one holiday is not enough to take in everything. With so many things for the whole family to enjoy, it is wise to create an itinerary before you go. Without a plan, the sheer number of attractions can seem overwhelming and you may well miss out on some of the very special places listed below. If you’re planning on taking your family to Florida, compare prices on flights to Orlando online to get the best price.
Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando is of course home to Mickey Mouse and no holiday here is complete without paying a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom or indeed the other theme parks that make up the huge Disney World Resort. The Magic Kingdom is aptly named as it offers a truly magical experience, particularly for younger guests who are sure to be enchanted by the surroundings. The three other theme parks in the Disney Resort are Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Epcot in particular is vast in size, so set aside two days to take in everything there. Hollywood Studios is great for film fans, while Animal Kingdom features some of the world’s most spectacular natural enclosures for animals.
Universal Orlando Resort
While Disney is geared towards a younger audience, Universal Studios and its sister park, Islands of Adventure, offer a more grown-up experience. Universal Studios is film fan heaven, with all the rides and attractions based on popular films or television series. In addition to the rides, a number of spectacular shows such as the Beetlejuice Revue are performed regularly throughout the day. Islands of Adventure currently attracts even more visitors than Universal Studios, mainly due to the absolutely spectacular Wizarding World of Harry Potter. With a full recreation of both Hogwarts and the town of Hogsmeade, this is not to be missed.
SeaWorld
Owned by Universal, SeaWorld in Orlando is much more than just a wildlife park. The daily shows featuring many of SeaWorld’s residents, including whales and dolphins, are truly thrilling and the variety of different marine and freshwater species is astounding. In keeping with the marine theme, the spectacular theme park rides at SeaWorld have names such as Kraken and Manta.
Wet N Wild
For a fun day out at a great price, Wet N Wild on International Drive is hard to beat. While younger members of the family enjoy the thrills and spills of many of the park’s huge water slides, mum and dad can relax on a sun lounger, or float calmly on the Lazy River beneath the blazing sun.
Gatorland
Known as the alligator capital of the world, Gatorland offers something a bit different from the larger, better known attractions in Orlando. The natural swamp surroundings lend an air of authenticity to the place and give visitors the chance to see alligators in their proper habitat. In addition, Gatorland is home to crocodiles and various breeds of snakes and birds. The daily alligator feeding show is worth the admission price alone.
