Amusement Parks in Orlando Florida

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

General

Orlando is an extremely popular tourist destination and is the most suitable city for a family vacation in the USA. There is no other place in the world offering such a vast abundance of entertainment and recreation options for the family.

The turning point in the development of tourism to Orlando occurred in 1971 following the opening of "Disneyworld," and from a quiet town Orlando developed at a dizzying pace into a global tourism hub. "Disneyworld" itself is a city in every respect and contains four large amusement parks, a water park, lakes, hotels, restaurants, etc. In Orlando, there are branches of the famous amusement sites: Universal Studios, Sea World, "Wet 'n Wild" water park and others. For a short trip, you can choose Orlando as the main destination, simply because it has everything. In Central Florida, there are more than 1200 lakes and dozens of parks where you can spend pleasant time in the lap of nature. NASA's Kennedy Space Center is located near the city. In contrast to large cities like New York, accommodation in Orlando is quite cheap and suitable for every pocket and budget, ranging from lodging in cheap motels to luxurious villas at very attractive prices.

Thanks to its geographical location in the Southeast USA, its weather is suitable for travel in all seasons. Although several hurricanes hit it not many years ago, because it is located in the heart of the state (far from the sea), their impact on the city was not significant.

Maps and up-to-date details can be obtained at the visitor centers in the city. The main branch is located at 8723 International Drive. In hotels, restaurants, and visitor centers, you can find leaflets and brochures detailing sites and events, and they also include discount vouchers.

Entrance Tickets to Amusement Parks

Ticket prices for amusement parks are constantly increasing and constitute one of the largest expenses for families. It is recommended to purchase in advance and guarantee the price and the date. On the website of Expedia you can check ticket prices for Disney and Universal amusement parks in Orlando as well as many other attractions in Orlando and order tickets for the days you choose. Note that there are sometimes discounts on certain days. Also, some parks allow cancellation of the purchase until a certain date, and there are parks that do not allow this.

♦ Ordering entrance tickets to Orlando amusement parks from the Expedia site: Expedia

For Disney, Universal, Legoland, SeaWorld parks and many more attractions!

 

♦ Ordering entrance tickets for Disney, Universal, Legoland, SeaWorld parks in Orlando:

Discounted tickets for several days, each day to a different park:

 

♦ Accommodation Recommendations in Orlando

The variety of housing options in Orlando is enormous. From hotels inside Disney, through hotels, motels, apartment hotels, to luxurious and spacious villas. Everyone can find a place to stay according to their taste and budget. Despite the vast selection, it is highly recommended to book places in advance, as you will find the most attractive accommodation at the lowest prices.
Two recommended areas for living are: "Kissimmee," which is a neighborhood south of Orlando on Highway 192, very close to Disney World, and "International Drive," which is a long and central street near which the parks of "Universal" and Sea World are located. In both areas, there is respectable representation of hotels and motels of all the known chains, a variety of restaurants, shops, and many amusement sites. On International Drive, the variety and options are slightly more recommended than in Kissimmee.
For families, it is best and most recommended to live in an indulgent villa with a private pool.

 

Recommended sites for searching and booking villas in Orlando:

On the recommended Booking site, there is a choice filter for lodging in villas and vacation homes in Orlando. This is my preferred choice among vacation apartment sites.

 

Or:  Orlando Supreme Vacation Homes Florida Dream Vacation Homes Amazing Vacation Homes

Or lodging in apartment hotels:

Good apartment hotels on International Drive (in best location in Orlando!):

Residence Inn Orlando at SeaWorld Hilton Grand Vacations Suites at SeaWorld Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

A recommended apartment complex at an attractive price near Universal:

Orlando Florida Condos 4 Rent near Universal

 

The Great Amusement Parks of Orlando:

In the following article, details of the large amusement parks of Orlando which are the central attraction for visitors to Orlando. However, besides the large amusement parks, there are also many cool small attractions in Orlando and in the vicinity of Orlando many more attractions that it is recommended to go out to on star trips from Orlando, so you and the whole family will have a refreshing break between the amusements of entire long days in amusement parks and also experience other enjoyable attractions in Orlando and its surroundings. A variety of these destinations is given in the following articles:

♦ Cool Small Attractions in Orlando
♦ Star Trips from Orlando
♦ Charming Towns and Nature Trips North of Orlando

Ordering entrance tickets to parks and guided tours in Orlando from GetYourGuide.com:

Ordering recommended tours in the Orlando area from the Viator site:

In Orlando:

Near Orlando:

Attractions on the water:

Land-based attractions:

Disneyworld

This vast kingdom is located in the Lake Buena Vista area about 35 km southwest of Orlando. Access to Walt Disneyworld is via Highway 192 or Highway 4. The giant complex includes four main parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) and Animal Kingdom. In addition to these four giant centers, Disneyworld has two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Other recreation and entertainment sites are concentrated in "Downtown Disney" where in addition to many shops and restaurants there are also attractions (details later) and shows. A most recommended (but quite expensive) show in Downtown Disney is performed by the stunning acrobatic circus of "Cirque De Soleil".

In Disneyworld there are also many hotels (the total number of rooms is over 30,000), a camping site, many lakes, a spa, shows and sports competitions and golf courses. Despite the enormous size of Disney World, it is easy to navigate thanks to the clear and orderly signage directing private car owners to well-organized parking lots, which have free shuttle service on small trains to the park gates. Remember where you parked (each parking area has a name or a different color). Between the parks many means of transport connect: monorail train, ferry boats and buses. Traveling in all these means of transport is included in the entrance fee to the parks. Near the entrance to each park there is an information center, where you can get a detailed map of the park and of all the facilities, shows and services. It is recommended that each of the older family members has their own map.

All parks open daily at 9:00 AM, their closing times vary depending on the season. Animal Kingdom opens in certain periods as early as 8:00 AM.

Even if you dedicate to the place an entire week there is no chance you will manage to see all of it. But if you plan your time well you will be able to see the best attractions.
Remember that due to the great popularity of Disneyworld you are expected to meet a large crowd and encounter long queues, particularly during (American) holiday periods and summer vacation.
In order to plan your time in the park in advance and choose the attractions most suitable for you, you can prepare a computerized map on Disney's website that will highlight the attractions most suitable for your ages and style.
In addition to attractions and shows held in the parks which are included in the entrance fee, you can participate in special events in each of the parks for an additional fee. For example: a VIP guided tour in the park including behind the scenes tours in all parks, swimming with dolphins at Epcot Center, behind the scenes of the safari or an Africa trek at Animal Kingdom and more. Tours and activities like these can be ordered at the sites at the top of this page.

 

 

♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking site: Booking.com

 

Entrance Fees

Every year entrance prices to Disney World increase (as is the case with most amusement sites in the USA). In recent years the rise has been even steeper. In the last three years entrance prices to the major parks have increased by about 30%. Also the types of tickets and packages and the ticket conditions (validity, possibility of moving between parks and more) change every year (usually for the worse...).
Packages of several types can be purchased. The basic Disney Base Ticket allows entry to only one park per day, without moving between parks. A ticket can be purchased for a period ranging between one day and 7 days. The greater the number of days, the lower the price per day. All tickets must be used within 14 days from entry to the first park. Tickets for 4 days or more are significantly more worthwhile compared to 3 days or less. More expensive tickets of various types can be purchased: Disney Park Hopper Tickets - allows free passage between parks, Water Park Fun & More tickets grant a number of entries (between 2 to 5, depending on the number of days of the ticket) to additional attractions in Disney, such as: water parks, golf, mini golf, computerized sports games site and "DisneyQuest" and Non-Expiring - which removes the 14-day utilization limit from the moment of the first entry and allows use of the tickets without any time limit.
It is best to purchase park tickets in advance to insure yourself against price increases and also because at the park ticket booths the prices are the highest. In addition to this, it will save you precious time standing in queues at the park booths on the day of the outing.

♦ Ordering entrance tickets for Disney, Universal, Legoland, SeaWorld parks in Orlando:

Discounted tickets for several days, each day to a different park:

"Magic Kingdom" MAGIC KINGDOM

This was the first park established in Disneyworld Orlando and is the twin brother of Disneyland in California and Disney in Paris. The differences between it and the parks in California and Paris are quite small and anyone who has been to one of them recently is recommended to focus on other attractions in Disneyworld. Entrance to this enchanted kingdom is through "Main Street, USA" which looks like a typical 19th century avenue with cafes, shops (cute but expensive), bands and horse-drawn carriages. You will also meet many of Disney's known characters at the start of the street: Mickey, Minnie and some of their friends. Do not linger on this street. You can walk around it at your leisure on your way out from the park. Take the show schedule at "City Hall" and continue on to the four lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, to which Liberty Square is adjacent, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, to which Mickey’s Toon-Town is adjacent. In each land there are many and varied attractions. I will detail the most recommended ones here. Naturally the queues for the most attractive attractions are the longest and therefore it is worth starting with them, first thing in the morning, before the park fills up with visitors. For attractions you didn't manage to get to it is recommended to return only in the late afternoon or evening when the queues shorten again. At almost every facility the estimated waiting time is written. For the most attractive facilities there is an option for a shortened queue: Fast Pass (marked on park maps as FP). The creators of Disneyworld thought of all the small details and besides the various facilities, each land has its own uniqueness in terms of scenery and decorations. Frontierland looks like a Wild West town during the Gold Rush, Fantasyland is full of fairytale motifs, etc. Everything is clean, very polished and groomed, immersed in greenery and well-organized.

Epcot Center

A combination of Disney's fun and imagination with the exploration of real-world wonders. Its name is an acronym for: "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow". Its purpose is to teach and broaden horizons while experiencing and entertaining. The most advanced technologies are expressed in Epcot center. It is divided into two main parts: "Future World" and "World Showcase". In order to manage to see the main attractions in the park on both its parts it is worth dedicating two days. Keep in mind that Epcot Center is more than twice as large as Magic Kingdom!

 

Disney's Hollywood Studios (Formerly MGM Studios)

Inside this amusement park focusing on famous movies and their filming methods are Disney's studios. The amount of live shows in this park is much greater than in the rest of Disney's parks and thanks to this you can run around less and relax a bit. This is the park that has renewed and developed the most in recent years. The main attractions in the park are described briefly here.

Notable Attractions in Disney's Hollywood Studios:

"The Twilight Zone - Tower of Terror": The scariest attraction in the park telling the story of hotel guests who disappeared in the elevator. The experience includes a free fall from a height of 13 floors twice in a row! For the brave and healthy only. Teenagers and big kids will be very enthusiastic. Entry is permitted for children 102 cm tall and above.

"Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster" - a fast and surprising roller coaster in the form of a long limousine traveling in absolute darkness accompanied by storming music from the band Aerosmith's best hits. Recommended for fans of action and shaking. Not suitable for those with heart/back diseases and those suffering from dizziness.

"Star Tours": a simulator built on the basis of the famous "Star Wars" movie trilogy. Based on technology identical to that used in the Air Force for training pilots. Not recommended for those suffering from heart problems, dizziness, and back issues. Restricted to children 102 cm tall and above.

"Toy Story Mania!": one of the newest facilities in the park. A 4D adventure where you travel in carts armed with 3D glasses between Buzz and the other beloved characters from Toy Story. While traveling, you participate in various virtual shooting competitions such as: throwing darts to pop balloons, throwing rings at little green aliens, throwing eggs at targets, throwing baseballs at plates, etc. The more you hit, the more points you receive. Highly competitive kids will not want to leave the facility until they break the daily record. Consider yourself warned...

"Studio Backlot Tour": A travel of about 30 minutes behind the scenes of the studios. You will see some of the houses appearing in well-known movies as well as several unpleasant natural phenomena and disasters such as: floods, fires and an earthquake.

"The Great Movie Ride": A journey through famous and classic movies: "Casablanca," "Singin' in the Rain," "The Wizard of Oz," and many other good ones. You will meet 50 figures of famous actors like Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly and experience additional surprising experiences during the journey. The tour starts in a building built after the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

"The Magic of Disney Animation": A guided tour in real animation studios. An amusing film starring Robin Williams explains the stages of animation work. You will witness work on one of the Disney films that will be screened in the near future. You will find it hard to believe the amount of work invested in each character in the film.

"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure": A giant playground based on the recommended film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". Visitors feel tiny compared to the ants, leaves, mushrooms and other giant-sized objects. The little ones will love sliding on a leaf or riding an ant. Warning: one needs to pay very careful attention not to lose the children crawling in tunnels, sliding, and likely to disappear. Try not to lose eye contact with them.

"Walt Disney: One Man's Dream": An exhibition for the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth containing many items related to various periods in the life of the man and the legend.

"The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow": This is the newest attraction in the park which is of course influenced by Disney's popular movie series - Pirates of the Caribbean. Here you will personally experience the life of pirates, feel on your skin a severe storm in the open sea and battles between pirates, all with the help of plenty of effects and surprises.

Films and Shows:

"Muppet-Vision 3D": Visitors wear special glasses with which they see a charming 3D film featuring our long-time acquaintances, the Muppets. The film is accompanied by many special effects making it 4D. This is a film you will see and also feel.

"Beauty and the Beast- Live on Stage": Disney's award-winning film: Beauty and the Beast comes to life in a performance in a 1500-seat theater in a glittering Broadway-style production.

"Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular": A spectacular stage show of shots and special effects with audience participation based on the famous film. The set includes a giant stage with tanks and planes.

"Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show": A spectacular, noisy and adrenaline-filled stunt show copied from Disney Studios in Paris and also includes car, motorcycle and jet-ski stunts accompanied by pyrotechnics, providing a glimpse behind the scenes of action movies.

"The American Idol Experience": An opportunity to watch the "A Star is Born" show in the American version. You can watch the show taking place in a setting identical to the recommended American production and even suggest and choose the born stars of the day. If you are lucky and chosen, you might even perform on the amazing stage and maybe even be the star of the day who wins a prize.

"Jedi Training Academy": A show in the park following the Star Wars movie during which many children from the audience are invited to learn to fight with swords and other accessories.

"Disney Junior - Live on Stage!" - A musical show (22 minutes long) with the famous characters from Disney series including the beloved songs from these series. Especially suitable for the little ones.

Animal Kingdom

Disney's imagination combined with the most advanced technologies will take you on a journey through the mysteries and wonders of animals: real, imaginary and extinct. Animal Kingdom is located on the western side of Disneyworld. Visitors take many and varied tours in the park: in boats, safari vehicles and also walking tours to discover exotic real animals and animals from the distant past. The entry area to the park is called "The Oasis" and is abundant with tropical vegetation, lakes, waterfalls and exotic animals such as: kangaroo, iguanas, pygmy goats and more.
The kingdom is divided into 6 main parts: "Discovery Island," "DinoLand U.S.A.," Asia, Africa, "Camp Minnie-Mickey"  and "Rafiki’s Planet Watch". In this park you will also meet face to face real animals and Disney's famous characters, while they are dressed in safari clothes.

Discovery Island:

 The "Island", surrounded by "Discovery River", is in the center of Animal Kingdom and constitutes a starting point for all the other parts of the kingdom. In the center of the "island" is located "The Tree of Life" which rises to a height of 14 floors. Engraved and sculpted in its trunk are figures of 325 animals. Its lower diameter is about 53 meters and it is surrounded by small pools and greenery full of birds and small mammals. The Tree of Life is the symbol of Animal Kingdom.  Inside "The Tree of Life" in a 430-seat theater, a humorous 3D film is screened called "It’s Tough to be a bug". The film is accompanied by many special effects.

  

"DinoLand U.S.A.":

"Dinosaur": A fascinating adventure bringing visitors face to face with enormous dinosaurs and asteroids falling on Earth. You must save the last dinosaur from extinction. This is the most popular and recommended attraction in DinoLand. Entry to the facility is for children 117 cm tall and above. Not intended for those suffering from heart/ back or neck diseases.
Primeval Whirl: A roller coaster whose uniqueness is that its round carts spin constantly while twisting, making sharp drops and steep climbs.
"The Boneyard": A huge playground in the form of dinosaur bones that can be climbed on, slid down, etc. An excellent compensation for little kids who didn't enter the previous facility.
"Finding Nemo – The Musical": A pleasant and recommended musical with the songs and characters from the film Finding Nemo.

Asia:

"Kali River Rapids": A very wetting cruise in large inner tubes in a stormy river.

"Maharajah Jungle Trek": A journey in a mysterious forest between ancient remains and exotic animals.
"Flights of Wonder": A spectacular and diverse bird show.
"Expedition Everest": The largest and newest roller coaster in all Disney parks with steep drops and loops. Suitable only for serious action lovers.

Africa:

A modern African city called Harambe, built on the edge of a nature reserve. At the end of the main street is a large baobab tree.
"Kilimanjaro Safari": A journey in a safari vehicle, open at its sides, through forests, savannahs, rivers and rocky hills. On the way you will meet many animals (real!) and among them a herd of elephants, zebras and giraffes and participate in a small adventure. Suitable for all ages.
"Pangani Forest Exploration": A walking tour in the "Gorilla Falls" trail, where visitors walk between living areas of gorillas, see hippos from an underwater observation point and get close to exotic animals from East Africa, from colorful birds to snakes.

Water Parks

"Typhoon Lagoon": A water park built as a Caribbean lagoon, with sandy beaches, colorful fish and turquoise water. In the park several typical water slides, an especially long river surrounding the whole site for a calm cruise in inner tubes and the highlight: an enormous wave pool (among the largest in the world) with giant waves. Also in the park is a pool where you swim and snorkel between colorful fish and even small sharks.

 

"Blizzard Beach" an attractive water park, built entirely as a snowy ski resort. All the slides in the place simulate snow sliding tracks and in addition there are hanging chairs from which you can view the entire park and imagine you are on a snowy mountain peak. In the park also a water amusement area for small children full of "icebergs". In the park is located one of the highest and fastest slides in the USA. Highly recommended!

DisneyQuest

An indoor interactive amusement park, where there are five floors of computer games and simulators based on 3D technologies. On the site are over 180 advanced video games and 14 interactive amusement facilities such as: virtual jungle cruise, carpet flight simulator or a space mountain simulator where you choose the number of twists, travel angles and degree of shaking.
The park is suitable not only for computer and action fans but also for the creative ones in the group. There is a whole area dedicated to computerized creation including an "Animation Academy" where you will learn how Disney's famous characters are drawn and you will prepare your own cartoon character. A visit to DisneyQuest is particularly suitable for rainy days because the park is entirely indoor.

 

Major attractions outside of "Disneyworld"

Besides the magical worlds of Disneyworld there is much more to do and see in Orlando, ranging from huge Theme Parks, many water parks, and ending with small and pleasant museums.

Universal Studios Florida

A giant amusement park which is the younger brother of the original Universal Studios in Los Angeles. For those arriving in California, it is preferable to visit the original park there because in it, besides all the attractions and performances, one travels between the filming sites of famous Hollywood movies of all times. But for those not going there, it is recommended not to miss this park.
Universal Studios is without doubt one of the most renewed and updated parks in the world. Every year many new attractions are added to the park, each one more recommended and impressive than its predecessor, using the latest and most advanced simulation technologies and effects. This is definitely a must-visit site for visitors to Orlando of every age and style. It has riding facilities and simulators of famous movies, such as: a boat tour in a shark-infested area, starring the famous shark from "Jaws", an amazing simulator of the film "Back to the Future" simulating space travel and between monstrous creatures from the film (Back To The Future The Ride), riding on bicycles seemingly floating in the air with E.T. (E.T. Adventure), traveling in a subway during natural disasters (Disaster), a 3D film about the eliminator from the film "Terminator 2", and encountering a cyclone storm, "Twister". Popular and newer attractions are: "Shrek 4-D", "Revenge Of The Mummy" (a dizzying roller coaster ride in the dark), "Men In Black Alien Attack" (travel in spinning carts through the streets of New York while shooting laser guns at aliens) and "Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast" (travel in a "missile" between famous cartoon characters).

 

Among the notable attractions in the park it is worth mentioning:

"The Simpsons Ride": A dizzying journey full of surprises accompanied by amazing animated figures of the famous family and plenty of effects.
A new and attractive roller coaster is: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, climbing to a height of 17 floors with an amazing and record-breaking loop, reaching a speed of 104 km/h. A must facility for fans of action and shaking. The uniqueness in this coaster is that the passenger in it chooses the music played to him during the journey through personal earphones and at a volume overcoming the noises of the fast travel.
A newer attraction (from summer 2013) is "Transformers: The Ride–3D" - a combination between a roller coaster and a sophisticated simulator where you travel between sophisticated transformers and 4D settings and experience explosions, chases, fires and many other impressive effects and feel that you are part of the energetic film. This attraction was chosen by the site Theme Park Insider.com as the most recommended new attraction in amusement parks in the world in 2013 (in Singapore it has been active since the beginning of 2013).
Another new facility providing a 3D riding experience is Despicable Me Minion Mayhem based on the recommended film "Despicable Me" where you join Gru, his daughters and his army of small and mischievous Minions for an action-filled and eventful chase. In the park are many stages where various shows take place many times a day. It's worth getting the show schedule immediately upon entrance. recommended shows are: A monster rock show, "Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue", a pet stunt show, "Animal Planet Live", a musical show by Barney, the purple dinosaur beloved by small children, and the newest show of all: "Fear Factor Live", a daring show with audience participation. Also in the park are behind the scenes tours of new movies, demonstrations and explanations on the filming of complicated scenes from famous movies, studio tours and participation in recordings of famous programs in Nickelodeon Studios. A place beloved by children, particularly the small ones, is "Fievel’s Playland" which has mazes, giant slides and a selection of other nice facilities.

Islands of Adventure

The newest amusement park in Orlando. It belongs to "Universal" and is located adjacent to "Universal Studios". The park is particularly suitable for families who love action and adrenaline and less so for toddlers.

This is an impressive and designed amusement park, divided into seven areas with a lake in its center. The areas are: Port of Entry (the gateway to the park containing mainly shops and restaurants), Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, Toon Lagoon (the wettest place in the park), Marvel Super Hero Island and Seuss Landing (the area for the little ones in the group) and the newest wing of all, "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," at the center of which is Hogwarts Castle. In this area are three popular facilities:
"Dragon Challenge" - two fast roller coasters twisting within each other, each with different turns and spins.
"Flight of the Hippogriff" - a gentler roller coaster with the head of an eagle and the body of a horse.
"Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" – in this modern facility you will join Harry Potter and his friends at the school of wizards, pass by famous sites and rooms from the Harry Potter film series and fly with Harry Potter and his friends over the castle while having a fascinating encounter with plenty of creatures and figures. A must attraction for Harry Potter fans, full of effects and patents and even magic... In this park are very impressive roller coasters, many wetting facilities, a free fall tower and also several shows. The most recommended and invested show is: "The Eighth Voyage Of Sinbad" including impressive effects. CityWalk: a recreation, entertainment and restaurant area (similar to "Downtown Disney") belonging to Universal and located between "Islands of Adventure" and "Universal Studios". There are several night clubs, shows, cinemas, restaurants, cafes and shops. The famous musical show Blue Man Group is also presented in a theater in this area. A new attraction in the area is Hollywood Drive-In Golf, a 36-hole mini-golf full of effects inspired by Hollywood movies.

Sea World

This is the largest park of its kind in the world dedicated entirely to the sea and to marine animals: dolphins, sea lions and seals, whales, penguins, sharks and many other sea creatures.

Sea World has branches in other states in the USA, and the most famous among them is the one in San Diego. Many performances take place here according to the show schedule distributed at the entrance. The most famous show is One Ocean: a show with black-and-white whales of the Killer Whale species known as "Shamu": in a giant stadium surrounding an enormous pool, the whales and their trainers give an impressive show of jumps, dives and stunts. The first 14 rows of seats are called the "Splash Zone," and whoever sits in them usually gets completely soaked.

For water (and cold) lovers this is an enjoyable experience, but anyone not interested in getting wet is recommended to sit in the upper part of the stadium.

Other recommended shows are: Clyde & Seamore sea lion show which is a pleasant comic show, a land animal show called Pets Ahoy starring dogs, cats, birds, pigs and other animals, "A'lure - The Call of the Ocean.".

A'lure- The call of the ocean, a unique circus show combining flying acrobats, comedy, music and special effects and scenery simulating an underwater world. The newest and most invested show in the park is "Blue Horizons" which combines a dolphin show, tropical birds and divers. In peak seasons crowded with tourists it is advisable to arrive at the stadium where a performance takes place at least half an hour before the show starts in order to catch a good seat. In most places they will entertain you meanwhile with a pleasant pre-show. Besides shows the park has many aquariums and breeding habitats for animals, the notable ones which should not be missed are: the sharks, "Manatees," which are giant marine mammals of an extinct species, and the penguin area. For simulator lovers there is also a nice simulator here (much calmer than those in Universal Studios) simulating a trip to the pole among bears, polar marine animals and many icebergs called Wild Arctic. Anyone who doesn't like or fears vibrations inside the simulator can watch the film in a static hall. Upon exiting the simulator there are aquariums where you can view above and below the water surface whales, polar bears and other animals from the frost region. In Sea World also several recommended amusement facilities: "Kraken" - a multi-twist roller coaster, "Journey To Atlantis" where you travel in wooden boats in the lost city of Atlantis, while bad spirits haunt you. The journey ends in a drop of almost 90 degrees from a high height in which you will get quite wet. The most shaking facility in the park is "Manta" - a roller coaster with carts shaped like a giant ray in which you lie horizontally face down and travel at a speed of 96 km/h on a track over a kilometer long with four giant twists. All these facilities are not suitable for small children and those with fear of heights, but are very popular with roller coaster and action fans. The newest attraction in the park (opened in April 2013) is "TurtleTrek" – a 3D film screened in a giant 360-degree cinema describing the wonderful journey of the turtle, from hatching, his return to the ocean and the many hardships and obstacles he is required to pass through. An excellent playground for children of all ages is "Shamu’s Happy Harbor," where there are slides, tunnels, giant mattresses, climbing nets and other amusement facilities. Try to arrive at the place after you have already managed to see some of the other attractions in the park, since from my experience children find it hard to part from the place. In busy seasons (Christmas vacation, summer months and other holidays) an impressive show called "Mistify" is held every evening including an impressive fireworks display, fountains, water screens on which films are screened and plenty of special effects. Also held in the evening hours in busy seasons is a spectacular Shamu rock show, combining music and entertainment with a recommended whale show. Check exact details on the park's website and in the show program you'll receive at the entrance. In Sea World there is also an observation tower called "Skytower" rising to a height of 130 meters from which the view of the whole park and its surroundings is seen (ascent to the tower for an additional fee).

 

"Discovery Cove"

A combination of an amusement park with a Caribbean nature reserve. An expensive and luxury park, located adjacent to Sea World and intended mainly for fans of dolphins and fish. In this park, which resembles a tropical island, the main attraction is a close and intimate acquaintance between visitors to the park and the various sea animals. In the park many dolphins, fish of all sizes and colors, stingrays, sharks and also exotic birds. A visit to the park includes swimming with dolphins, diving and snorkeling among a variety of tropical fish in a coral reef, as well as bathing and vacationing in exotic beaches and pools with waterfalls and rivers. The park is never crowded with visitors because the number of visitors is limited to at most 1000 people a day. The entrance price to the site varies depending on the package contents: swimming with dolphins, meals, snorkeling equipment, photos, use of facilities etc., as well as depending on the season. In any case, the prices are extremely high. The cheapest package (without swimming with dolphins) costs in the cheapest season 170 dollars per person! (Entrance price varies with date - in vacations and holidays the price rises significantly!). Swimming with dolphins jumps the price up. The price includes also entry to Sea World and to the "Aquatica" water park. Despite the high price the park is in very high demand and therefore one must book a visit to it far in advance. Swimming with dolphins is intended for ages 6 and up.

"Aquatica"

A modern water park (opened in 2008) belonging to "Sea World" and adjacent to it. Entry to it is separate.
In the park are 36 slides, including some unique only to this park, such as a transparent slide passing through a dolphin pool (their color is black and white), two wave pools each with waves of a different height and style, six rivers, sandy beaches and a lagoon with tropical fish. This is not a large park, but it is high quality and unique. A combined entrance ticket at a discounted price can be purchased with "Sea World".

"Wet ’n Wild"

A giant water park (the largest in Orlando) with a large variety of slides, wave pool, rivers with tubes (fast and slow) and a large, modern area (reopened in 2013) of pools and water games for small children called Blastaway Beach. The selection of facilities is huge and you will find there slides of types you didn't know existed, some quite scary with names like "Brain Wash" or "The storm" where in both you spin in giant centrifuges. The newest facility is called "The Black Hole: The Next Generation" where during the dizzying slide you will experience various audio-visual effects. Every time you slide, the effects are different. There are many sliding facilities intended for 2-4 people. In the park also an area for water skiing (active in May-September). The place is clean and groomed. Open daily. Opening hours change depending on the season. Located at: International Drive.

LEGOLAND® Florida

An amusement park in Orlando. Opened in 2012 and suitable especially for young children ages 2-12.
The park in Florida is the largest among Legoland parks in the world, and has no fewer than fifty million colorful Lego bricks and fifty amusement facilities in ten different complexes, including: "Miniland USA", with famous American buildings all built of Lego bricks, "Pirate's Cove", "Imagination Zone", "Duplo Village" intended for toddlers, "Lego Technic", driving school and the new area (opened in summer 2013) "World of Chima" including interactive boat travel with water cannons and a 4D film based on the popular character from Cartoon Network.
Adjacent to the park is the Legoland water park LEGOLAND® Water Park with a wave pool and several slides and water amusements for young children, all of course built around the "Lego" and "Duplo" theme. A combined ticket to both parks can be purchased at a discounted price.

The park was established where for long years "Cypress Gardens" park was, which combined amusement facilities and shows inside enchanted botanical gardens. The Legoland founders were careful to preserve the unique vegetation and integrate it among the new Lego facilities.

 

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