Orlando is one of the most popular family destinations in the US, and with its fantastic theme parks and family-oriented attractions, it’s easy to see why.
Here’s a quick guide to Orlando, including some of the best family attractions to visit on your Orlando vacation:
1. The Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort has enough to keep you entertained for days, making it a great place to visit as part of an Orlando vacation. There are four theme parks at the resort, all of which have rides, parades, shows, and restaurants:
o The Magic Kingdom is packed with attractions including thrilling high-speed roller coasters like Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan Flight and Pirates of the Caribbean. You can also take a photo with Winnie the Pooh and other Disney characters.
o Disney Animal Kingdom Park is home to many different animals, including hippos, gorillas, big cats, and monkeys, and you can see them on a safari trip. You can also enjoy big rides like Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and Kali River Rapids, and little kids will love rides like Boneyard and Tricera Top Spin.
o Epcot allows you to experience the food, architecture and traditions of different parts of the world in its different pavilions. There are also areas dedicated to land, sea, space, imagination and the wonders of life, shows to see and attractions to enjoy.
o Disney-MGM Studios is where Disney meets the film industry. You can ride the white-knuckle Rock n Roller coaster starring Aerosmith, take a runaway ride through space on Star Tours, and then take the Backlot Tour, where you’ll find movie special effects and soundstages, and see some of the different departments that help bring movies to life. Kids will love The Muppets in 3D and the Indiana Jones stunt show.
There are also two water parks, as well as the Downtown Disney area, where you can wander through the shops, then stop for a delicious meal. No matter which park you’re visiting, you’ll find plenty of parking spaces available if you’re going to rent a car.
2. Universal Studios Resort
For more movie-themed fun, you can drive your Orlando rental car to Universal Studios Resort, where you’ll find two theme parks, Wet n Wild water park and Universal City Walk shopping district.
The Universal Studios theme park is divided into six zones: Hollywood; Central Production; New York; San Francisco/Amity; world exhibition; and KidZone. Each of these is packed with rides, restaurants, and shows to entertain the whole family.
You can feel what it’s like to experience a tornado in Twister Ride It Out, ride a flying bike in ET Adventure, or scare yourself in Revenge of the Mummy The Ride. Kids will love the Animal Actors on Location(TM) show and Shrek 4D.
Universals Islands of Adventure, is divided into five areas: Toon Lagoon; Jurassic Park; The Lost Continent; Seuss landing; and Marvel Island. There are some great rides to enjoy, including Dueling Dragons inverted roller coasters, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and rides designed specifically for younger kids.
There are plenty of parking spaces available, so you should be able to find a place to leave your rental car in Orlando.
3. Gatorland
Florida is famous for its alligators and if you drive your rental car from Orlando to Gatorland, you will be able to see some of these wonderful creatures up close.
There are thousands of alligators and crocodiles at Gatorland, including Cuban crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, and American crocodiles, and the park has its own breeding swamp, where more than 100 adult alligators can be seen.
You can also visit the Snakes of Florida exhibit, where you can see the venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the Very Merry Aviary, where you can feed nectar to parrotlets, and the Allies Barnyard, where you can pet farm animals.
You can also take a stroll down the Swamp Walk, catch a Gator Jumparoo or Gator Wrestling show, or cool off in the new Gator Gully Splash Park.
This information is part of a series of US travel guide articles.
