Orlando Theme Parks
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Overview
Around 37 millions international visitors from
countries all around the world visit Florida annually. The major attractions
and the relaxing climate of the beautiful Florida keep vacationers coming
back year after year. Several of these theme parks have been attracting
tourists for over 27 years while others are new editions that have since made the area better than ever.
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Disney World
Disney World Orlando, which opened
their doors back in 1971, is the largest attraction in the Southeastern region
of the US. The four major parks have been pleasing millions of visitors and
vacationers for over 27 years, making Disney and Mickey Mouse household
names across the world. Disney World consists of Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios,
Epcot Center, Downtown Disney and the Disney Water parks; Typhoon Lagoon and
Blizzard Beach. All in all, Disney World Orlando covers about 47 square miles
and offers monorails and free bus shuttling between all the parks and Disney
hotels. Disney has been such an influence throughout the years Florida has
definitely gotten a "Touch of Magic."
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is the park many people think about when they talk about Disney.
This park is home to Cinderella's Castle in addition to Disney's daily character
parade and leave children mesmerized with excitement as they get meet their
favorite animated characters up close and personal! As Magic Kingdom is one of
the bigger parks of Disney, be sure to set aside a full day for this amazing
park. But don't be fooled because this park is filled with wonderful attractions
such as
Space Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and the Wishes Nighttime
Spectacular.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom has to be one of the parks to visit for animal lover park goers.
Go on the attractions in the park so you can brag about your experience seeing
rhino's, Giraffes, and Zebra's face to face! This park also contained the newest
edition to the Disney World parks and that is Expedition Everest. Ride this
roller coaster through Mt. Everest where midway into the ride, you actually go
in reverse! You also to have the option to get drenched on the water rides or
catch a great show like "It's tough to be a Bug," and "Festival of the Lion
King."
MGM
MGM Studios is the place to go if you are the
thrill seeking type. This park has some of best attractions in the Disney
World's arsenal and include rides such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and
the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show and the
ESPN The Weekend at Disney is also featured at MGM Studios. Come to this park
for a guaranteed fun and entertainment.
Epcot Center
Epcot center is one amazing park of Disney World. You may already know of this
park as it has a huge futuristic globe built at the entrance. This is a park
filled with a variety of cultures. Experience performances, food, and alcohol
from 12 different featured countries in addition to the other attractions of the
park. Test Track, Soarin', and Mission: Space are some featured rides at Epcot
and the shows of Epcot include Turtle Talk with Crush, The Seas with Nemo &
Friends, and Honey, I Shrunk The Audience.
Sea World
Sea World is a beautiful theme park located right along
International Drive. Take a visit here and enjoy rides such as Journey to
Atlantis, and the floorless roller coaster
Kraken. Sea World is also known to
have the best interactive water shows that feature the famous Shamu, dolphins,
seals, and other various animals. A unique aspect of the park is several of the
shows are performed at night with added accents to make the experience that much
better. The dining here at Sea World is just as extravagant as the attractions.
Dine up-close and eat a delicious meal in an underwater restaurant just several
feet away from sharks. With VIP passes, visitors can have a buffet meal with
Shamu, an amazing dinner buffet, or a breakfast with Elmo and friends. The
endless attractions here at Sea World will definitely fill a day up with
entertainment and excitement.
Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is a very special
attraction located at Sea World where one has the chance to get one on one
interaction with dolphins. There a variety of packages to choose which include
an amazing three course meal after swimming with the dolphins. In one package
you grab a hold of two dolphins dorsal fins and they take all around the water.
Discovery Cove is a special experience that will never be forgotten.
Universal Orlando Resort
The Universal Orlando Resort is Orlando's most
adventurous park resort. This resort has more theme park rides, and exciting
attractions than any its size! Universal is a great resort loaded with
guaranteed fun for the whole family. From exhilarating coasters and drenching
water rides to mesmerizing shows and great dining. Connecting both parks is
Universal CityWalk which is a major attraction in the Orlando area for both
tourists and residents.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios features attractions based on Movie's and Television shows. In
fact, the show Fear Factor Live is shot at this exciting park. Take a stop here
and go on the famous rides like Jaw's, E.T. Adventure, Earthquake, King Kong,
and their newest addition, the Revenge of the Mummy. Universal Studios is very
family oriented with live shows full of laughter and entertainment. This is a
must see park for those who want to enjoy their vacation to the fullest.
Islands of
Adventure
Island's of Adventure grand opening was in 1999 and has since become one of the
biggest attractions in Orlando. Island's of Adventure attracts thousands of
visitors a day, including families and thrill seekers. The main rides in
Island's such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Dueling Dragons have been featured on
several TV specials and are well known across the US. In addition to the
attractions, Spider-Man, Storm, Captain America, and Iron Man are some of the
Marvel themed characters that you can find roaming the excitement-filled park.
CityWalk
Universal CityWalk serves two main purposes. The first is to link together both
parks of the Universal Resort and the second is serving as wonderful
entertainment for residents as well as out-of-town visitors. CityWalk offer live
music, delicious dining, and great night-life with lounges and nightclubs of
different kinds. There is a Universal Cineplex located within CityWalk and is
voted to be one of the best theaters here in Orlando. There is so much to do at
this wonder attraction, some even see it as Universal Orlando's third theme
park!
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Theme
Park Attractions |
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Sea World
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Rides:
Kraken, Journey to Atlantis, Wild Arctic
Shows:
Shamu; Mystify; Obyssea; Blue Horizons; Pets Ahoy!; Clyde and Seamore
Animal and other Attractions:
Wild Arctic; Manatee Rescue; Pacific Point
Preserve; Penguin Encounter; Shark Encounter; Dolphin Nursery; Dolphin Cove;
Stingray Lagoon; Turtle Point; and Clydesdale Hamlet
Other Attractions:
The Oyster's Secret; The Waterfront; Game
Room; Shamu's Happy Harbor; Key West at SeaWorld; Hospitality Center; and
Sky Tower
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Universal Orlando
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Universal's Islands of
Adventure
Marvel Super Hero Island:
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man;
Incredible Hulk; Dr. Doom Fearfall
Toon Lagoon: Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls;
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges; and Me Ship, The Olive
Live Shows: NBC's iVillage Live
Jurassic Park: Jurasic Park River Adventure;
Discovery Center; and Pteranodon Flyers
The Lost Continent: Dueling Dragons; The Eighth
Voyage of Sindbad; Poseidon's Fury; and The Flying Unicorn
Seuss Landing: The High in the Sky Seuss
Trolley Train Ride; The Cat in the Hat; Caro-Seuss-el; One Fish, Two Fish,
Red Fish, Blue Fish; and If I Ran The Zoo
Universal Studios:
Production Central:
Shrek 4-D; Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast
New York: Revenge of the Mummy the Ride;
Twister...Ride It Out; The Blues Brothers
Hollywood: Terminator 2: 3-D; Universal Horror
Make-Up Show; Lucy - A Tribute
World Expo: MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
San Francisco/Amity: JAWS; FEAR FACTOR LIVE;
Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue; Earthquake
Woody Woodpecker's KidZone: Animal Actors On
Location; E.T. Adventure; A Day in the Park with Barney; Curious George Goes
To Town; Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster, Fievel's Playground |
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Disney World Orlando
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Magic Kingdom:
Big Thrills: Space Mountain; Splash Mountain
Kids Attractions: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor;
"its a small world"; Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin; Cinderella's Golden
Carousel; Country Bear Jamboree; Donald's Boat; Dumbo The Flying Elephant;
Fantasyland Play Area; Mickey's Country House; Mickey's PhilharMagic;
Minnie's Country House; Peer Pan's Flight; The Enchanted Tiki Room; The
Magic Carpets of Aladdin; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh;
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Mild Thrills: Astro Orbiter; Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad; Mad Tea Party; Pirates of the Caribbean; Snow White's
Scary Adventures; Stitch's Great Escape; The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre
Farm; Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Sports: Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
Other Attractions: Cinderella Castle; Jungle
Cruise; Liberty Square Riverboat; Main Street Vehicles; Swiss Family
Treehouse; The Hall of Presidents; The Haunted Mansion; Tom Sawyer Island;
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress; Walt Disney World Railroad
Animal Kingdom:
Animal Attractions: Affection Section;
Conservation Station; Discovery Island Trails; Habitat Habit!; Maharajah
Jungle Trek; Pangani Forest Exploration Trail; The Oasis Exhibits
Big Thrills: DINOSAUR; Expedition Everest
Kids Attractions: Dino-Sue; Kids Discovery
Clubs; Fossil Fun Games; The Boneyard; TriceraTop Spin; Wildlife Express
Train
Mild Thrills: It's Tough to be a Bug; Kali
River Rapids; Kilimanjaro Safaris; Primeval Whirl
Other Attractions: Cretaceous Trail; The Tree
of Life
MGM Studios:
Big Thrills: Rock 'n'
Roller Coaster; Star Tours Star Wars Ride; Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Kids Attractions:
"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure
Live Shows:
Indiana Jones; Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage; Voyage of The Little
Mermaid; Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
Mild Thrills: MGM
Studios Backlot Tour
Other Attractions:
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream; ATAS Hall of Fame Plaza; Muppet Vision 3-D;
Witch and The Wardrobe; Journey Into Narnia: The Creating The Lion; Sounds
Dangerous - Starring Drew Carey; The American Film Institute Showcase; The
Magic of Disney Animation; The Great Movie Ride
Epcot Center:
Big Thrills: Mission: SPACE; Test Track; Soarin
Kids Attractions: The Seas with Nemo & Friends;
Journey Into Imagination With Figment; Kidcot Fun Stops; Spaceship Earth;
The Living Seas
Mild Thrills: "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience";
Maelstrom; Body Wars
Pavillions: Canada; China; France; Germany;
Imagination!; Italy; Japan; Mexico; Mission: SPACE; Morocco; Norway;
Spaceship Earth; Test Track; The Land; The Seas with Nemo & Friends; U.S.A.;
United Kingdom; Universe of Energy; Wonders of Life
Other Attractions: Circle of Life; Gran Fiesta
Tour Starring The Three Caballeros; Ellen's Energy Adventure; ImageWorks;
Impressions de France; Innoventions: The Road to Tomorrow; Leave A Legacy;
Living with the Land; Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab; O Canada!;
Reflections of China; The American Adventure; Cranium Command; The Making of
Me |
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Busch Gardens
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Rides:
EGwazi; SheiKra; Cheetah Chase; Gwazi; Kumba;
Montu; Scorpion; Stanley Falls; Tanganyika Tidal Wave
Shows:
Friends Forever; KaTonga; Mirage
Canteen; Mystic Sheiks of Morocco; Pirates 4-D
Animal Attractions:
Bird Gardens; Birds of Prey; Edge of Africa;
Lory Landing; Rhino Rally; Serengeti Plain; Myombe Reserve; Clydesdale
Hamlet
Other Attractions: Land of Dragons; King Tut's Tomb; Serengeti
Railway; Skyride |
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Cypress Gardens
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Rides:
Delta Kite Flyers; Disk'O; Fiesta Express;
Galaxy Spin; Inverter; Mega Spin; Okeechobee Rampage; Pharaoh's Fury; Power
Surge; Storm Surge; Swamp Thing; Thunderbolt; Triple Hurricane; Wave Runner;
Yo-Yo
Classic Attractions: Citrus Line Railroad;
Cypress Belle; Cypress Cove Ferry Line; Fire Brigade; Fun Slide; Jalopy
Junction; Paradise Sky Wheel; Rockin' Tug; Seafari Swing; Sideswipers;
Soaring Scooters; Sunshine Sky Adventures; The Garden Gondolas; The Pirate
Ship; Tilt-A-Whirl
Kids Attractions:
Dizzy Dragons; Gear Jammers; Junior
Rampmasters; Junior Water Ski Experience; Red Baron; Rio Grade Train; Stars
& Stripes; Super Truckers; Tiny Trotters; Upsy Daisy
Shows:
Cypress Garden Water Ski Show; Cypress On Ice; Farmyard Frolics; Garden
Tours; Jubilee Gazebo; Junior Belle Program; Junior Water Ski Experience;
Southern Belles; Swamp Critters; Treasure of Cypress Cove; Tricks of the
Trade
Other Attraction:
Arcade; Midway Games |
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Silver Springs
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Rides:
The Lighthouse Ride; Kids Ahoy!
Playland; "The Birds of the Rain Forest Show"; The Birds of Prey Show;
Reptiles of the World Show; Non-Venomous Snake Show; Alligator and crocodile
feedings; Wilderness Trail
Animal Attractions:
Big Bator Lagoon; Ross Allen Island;
Panther Prowl; Kritter Korral; World of Bears
Botanical Gardens
River Cruises:
Glass Bottom Boats; Fort King River Cruise;
Lost River Voyage |
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Cypress Gardens
Cypress Gardens was one of the first attractions here in the
area from is grand opening back in 1936. In 2003 the park closed and was
re-opened in 2007 after a $45 million renovation project. Before closing,
Cypress Gardens was already beautiful and equipped with amazing shows. Now after
the make-over, renovations, and the addition of roller coasters, this park is
back to being one of the biggest attractions in the area. The park is also hosting special events and
concerts which include anticipated performances by JoJo, Billy Currington, and Gretchen Wilson.
Busch Gardens
Located in Tampa Bay, and about one hour away from Disney,
visitors can easily take a full day to experience everything this park has to
offer. Some of the wildest thrill rides in Florida are located at Busch Gardens
and include Kumba, Montu, and SheiKra which is equipped with a 90 degree
vertical drop and flies you across the track at 70 mph. Also included in Busch
Gardens are animal attractions where you can take a ride on a safari tour just
feet away from Giraffe's and Rhino's, and additional animal exhibits. And on
summer night specials, park visitors have the chance to ride their most favorite
attractions in the dark-lit sky.
Silver Springs
Silver Springs is a 350-acre theme park and is the home of
the famous glass-bottom boats. There are many things visitors can do in the park
and include tours at the historic river, and wildlife exhibits. Park goers can
also go on rides and activities or visit botanical gardens. The theme park has
been open for over 100 years but the river has been attracting people for
thousands of years. Not only does Silver Springs have exclusive attractions but
the prices for this theme park are the cheapest in the area. Be sure to take a
visit to this great park in your next trip to Orlando.
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