Florida has long been one of the nation’s top destinations for family vacations due to year-long favorable weather and sunny beaches. The sunshine state is known to offer a wide variety of options for family entertainment aside from its sandy shores. The Orlando and Tampa area in particular offers hundreds of family-friendly hotels, an abundance of restaurants and plenty of exciting themed parks.
Walt Disney World covers more than 47 square miles, and contains four theme parks and two water parks. All Disney theme parks include extravagant shows, rides, restaurants and upscale resorts. The Orlando theme park includes the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Blizzard Beach and the Typhoon Lagoon are popular water parks that can be found at Walt Disney World, while the Magic Kingdom which spans 107 acres, offers many classic rides, including “It’s a Small World” and “Space Mountain.” Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers guests behind-the-scenes peeks at popular movie themed live shows and backstage tours. Newer attractions such as the American Idol Experience, allow guests to feel like a part of the action by giving you the opportunity to vote, perform, or just enjoying the performances of other singers. Entry tickets to Walt Disney World range from $23.90 to $136 (as of 2010), depending on the duration of the stay and the age of the visitors. Some tickets deals allow visitors’ entry to only one Theme Park per day.
Walt Disney World
3111 World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
407-939-6244
www.disneyworld.com
SeaWorld Orlando offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy elaborate water shows and marine-themed rides. Believe: the Spectacular Shamu Show runs four times daily and offers visitors the opportunity to see killer whales perform. Shamu’s Happy Harbor offers a haven for younger visitors to play and includes a four-story climbing structure full of tubes, slides and sandpits. Visitors wishing to enjoy the more peaceful side of SeaWorld can visit the Jewel of the Sea Aquarium, where they can commune in a nearly underwater setting with the beautiful creatures of the deep. Additional exhibits include Shark Encounter, Wild Arctic, Dolphin Cove, Penguin Encounter, Stingray Lagoon and more. Tickets to SeaWorld Orlando range from $68 to $78 (as of 2010), but can be purchased at a discounted rate when combined with tickets to other attractions.
SeaWorld Orlando
7007 SeaWorld Drive
Orlando, FL 32821
1-888-800-5447
www.seaworld.com
Busch Gardens provides visitors with intimate encounters with wild animals many of African descent, along with shows, and exhilarating rides. Animal attractions include Bird Gardens, Edge of Africa, Jambo Junction, Jungala, Rhino Rally and more. Edge of Africa allows visitors to embark on a walking safari where they have the opportunity to encounter lions, crocodiles, hippos and other animals native to the African habitat. Visitors of Jambo Junction are able to learn about various animal behaviors while actively engaging with the animals in various activities, such as regular feedings. Tickets to Busch Gardens range from $69.95 to $199 (as of 2010) depending on the type of attraction and availability.
Busch Gardens
10165 N McKinley Dr
Tampa, FL 33612
1-888-800-5447
www.buschgardens.com
