Disney, Universal and Seaworld
Orlando Theme Parks & Attractions
Whether this is your first or fiftieth visit to the Orlando area, you will always find something new to do. The Walt Disney World area is forever growing and evolving at a rapid pace, so it is impossible to show you all the delights that are waiting beyond the villa. One bit of advice when visiting the theme parks, always wear comfortable shoes and sun-screen.
With iconic images, fantastically themed events and mesmerising shows, Walt Disney World Resort caters for all ages and is a delight for any visitor to the area. Incorporating Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, as well as Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach waterparks, each offers a memorable experience. Disney Springs provides a break from the parks with great shops, nightlife and entertainment, whilst the Wide World of Sports has world class sports facilities.
The official website links are below and provide more information on the individual parks, the rides, current ticket prices (along with special promotions) and opening times.
Magic Kingdom - Magical fun, shows and rides for all the family - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder MountainEPCOT - Science adventure with rides and the World Showcase of countries - Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Soarin' and Dive QuestAnimal Kingdom - African wilderness in Florida - Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari and Dino-Rama land for the childrenHollywood Studios - Movies based theme park - Rock 'N' Roller Coaster, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Wars: Galaxy's EdgeTyphoon Lagoon - Waterpark with a tidal wave machine, beach, water rides, chutes, lazy river and even a shipwreckBlizzard Beach - Fantastically themed waterpark and beach set in an 'alpine' ski resortDisney Springs - Entertainment, shopping and dining - Cirque du Soleil, AMC Cinema and the House of BluesDisney's Boardwalk - Entertainment, shopping and diningESPN Wide World of Sport - Sports complex with amateur and professional events
If you are more thrill-seeker than Mickey-seeker, then you will enjoy the fantastic immersive rides and white-knuckle roller-coasters at the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure parks. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in both parks, with the Hogwart's Express taking you between them. As a working studio, the majority of the rides are themed around the movies and television so expect something for all the family. CityWalk comes alive in the evening with vibrant nightlife, dining and entertainment.
The official website links are below and provide more information on the individual parks, the rides, current ticket prices (along with special promotions) and opening times.
Universal Studios - Family theme park based around the movies - Diagon Alley, Men in Black, Transformers and the SimpsonsIslands of Adventure - Awesome thrill rides, roller-coasters and 'get-wet' rides - Hagrid's Magical Creatures, Reign of Kong, Spiderman and Jurassic ParkUniversal CityWalk - Dining, shopping, nightlife and clubbing. Also includes live music at Hard Rock UniversalVolcano Bay - New themed waterpark built around an 'exploding volcano' with slides, lazy rivers and wave pool.
If animals and marine life, mixed with great thrill-rides is your preference, then Seaworld and Discovery Cove are a must when visiting the area. With killer whales, sharks, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, polar bears, tropical birds, as well as awesome rollercoasters, Seaworld offers a fantastic day out for all the family. Discovery Cove is exclusive and it is here you can swim with dolphins, barracudas and sting rays. Aquatica is Seaworld's waterpark, with swim through tubes and sea-life including more dolphins.
The official website links are below and provide more information on the individual parks, the rides, current ticket prices (along with special promotions) and opening times.
Seaworld - Family park with sea life in abundance - Shamu and Dolphin Cove. Mako, Manta and Kracken rollercoastersAquatica - Waterpark with wave pools, lazy river and high-speed tube ridesDiscovery Cove - Swim with dolphins, relax on the closest beach to Indian Wells or float around the lazy riverBusch Gardens - Wildlife park and thrill rides in Tampa Bay - SheiKra, Cheetah Hunt, Congo River Rapids and Rhino Rally
Old Town is the area's most popular free attraction and is onll 5 minutes from Indian Wells on highway US192. With bars, live music, niche shops, fairground rides, a haunted house and classic car cruises, there is a real American atmosphere. The Saturday Nite Cruise draws the biggest crowds, with pre-1983 hot-rods, retro coupés and classic cars parading from 8.30pm onwards. Enjoy a cold beer listening to the live music acts or join in with the line dancing. If you prefer a stroll around the shops or a bite to eat, then Monday and Tuesday evenings tend to be quieter. Next to Old Town is Fun Spot, which offers some of the best thrill rides in the area. Here you will find the World's tallest SkyCoaster which at 300ft lets you fly at 75mph, Galaxy Spin coaster, Wood Coaster and go-karts. Both Old Town and Fun Spot are free to walk around and visit, with the option to purchase single day passes or pay-as-you-go. The rides at these attractions cater for the whole family from small children through to adults.
When visiting the Orlando area, you may want to see more than Disney, Universal and the Seaworld theme parks. To help with your planning, there is the Eyewitness Travel 'Top 10 Orlando' guide (by Dorling Kindersley Publishing) and a 'Brits Guide to Orlando & Walt Disney World'. The first book lists the 'top 10' of virtually everything in the area e.g. thrill rides, places to shop, dinner shows etc..., whilst the second is aimed primarily at British tourists and covers all aspects from driving in the area through to the attractions. Below are is list of other attractions in the area, which are all different and equally worth visiting. Click on the links for their official websites, which will provide information on ticket prices and opening times.
Having decided which of the theme parks, attractions and waterparks you want to visit, there is the decision of where and when to buy tickets. Only then will you realise the variety of ticket options which cater for multiple parks, are valid for a set period and 'Hopper' passes which allow you to visit multiple parks on the same day. You also need to factor in that parks may offer special promotions whereby a second or third day is free; which could mean purchasing a multi-day pass is not always necessary.
Buying tickets at the park gate can sometimes be the most expensive, unless there are good value return deals; e.g. buy one day, get the rest of the year free. Cheaper deals can often be found by pre-purchasing before arriving in Florida or at authorised ticket sellers. We would always recommend that you compare the official park websites for special promotions with ticket agencies and even your local travel agent. When considering price, many of the official park websites have their tickets and passes quoted in US Dollars, so always take the exchange rate at the point you buy into account. Before purchasing attraction tickets, ensure your requirements are met with regard to what parks are included with the ticket and how many days the ticket is valid for.
For special events or parks like Discovery Cove - which only allow a limited number of persons to enter each day - pre-purchasing tickets is strongly advised. For attractions like Gatorland, look out for voucher booklets and on-line deals which may have money-off coupons.
Authorized Ticket Sellers
When you arrive in the Orlando and Kissimmee area, you will notice that ticket outlets are just about everywhere and all advertise the best price. To help with your purchase, we can recommend Orlando Park Tickets and The Official Ticket Center for discounted tickets. Both are independent ticket sellers, with the latter having an office on US192 (just past Old Town). Always check before purchasing tickets at 'discounted stalls' whether they are linked with timeshare visits. Also, we recommend never buying unused tickets or day passes which have been sold on. The parks have strict checks for entry, which may require photo id or comparing a biometric finger print of the original purchaser.
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