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Overview
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. 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, 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.
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