Theme Parks
A multiday pass comes in handy for the multiple attractions at Walt Disney World. Its Magic Kingdom Park features Disney characters, parades and fireworks; Epcot concentrates on technological and international exhibits; the Animal Kingdom Park highlights wildlife; and the Hollywood Studios section shows off movie action. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach offer a wide variety of water experiences, including a speedy water slide. Get more details at DisneyWorld.disney.go.com/parks.
Universal Orlando is another all-out theme park that's great for kids. Its Islands of Adventure has attractions such as roller coasters and 3-D simulation rides, while its Universal Studios Florida features action based on movies and TV. Universal's water park, Wet 'n Wild, has countless exciting water rides. Find information at UniversalOrlando.com.
About an hour's drive from Orlando, Busch Gardens features up-close animal attractions, live entertainment, 4-D films and thrill rides such as a huge inverted roller coaster. To learn more, visit BuschGardens.com.
Talk to the Animals
Animals take center stage at Gatorland and SeaWorld. Gatorland features three exciting shows, more than 5,000 alligators and crocodiles, an alligator breeding marsh and a water park (for humans---no animals allowed). The restaurant serves gator ribs and nuggets for those who like unusual cuisine.
SeaWorld has a variety of shows spotlighting animals from sea lions to whales. Fascinating exhibits include Artic animals, sharks and dolphins (the dolphin nursery is especially cute). The park also features wild rides and restaurants, from a Breakfast With Elmo to an All-You-Care-to-Eat Family Picnic.
Gatorland
14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
(800) 393-5297
Gatorland.com
SeaWorld Orlando
7007 SeaWorld Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
(888) 800-5447
SeaWorld.com
Day at the Museum
Exhibits at Orlando museums range from the scientific to the just plain strange. The Orlando Science Center offers an observatory with a huge telescope, fascinating dinosaur exhibits, reptile displays, films on an eight-story screen and an interactive area for young children.
WonderWorks is a destination for fun and education. Visitors enter this interactive museum through an upside-down exterior and proceed to hands-on activities such as landing a space shuttle. Kids also enjoy The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show, which includes a high degree of audience participation.
Then there's a museum that specializes in strangeness. Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium includes weird displays such as a portrait of Van Gogh made out of 3,000 picture postcards and a 13-foot Silver Ghost Rolls Royce crafted from millions of matchsticks.
Orlando Science Center
777 East Princeton Street
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 514-2000
osc.org
WonderWorks
9067 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 351-8800
WonderWorksOnline.com
Orlando Odditorium
8201 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 363-4418
RipleysOrlando.com
About The Author
Barbara Dunlap is a freelance writer in Oregon. She was a garden editor at "The San Francisco Chronicle," and she currently specializes in travel and active lifestyle topics like golf and fitness. She received a master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has been a Knight Foundation Fellow.
