Theme Parks

Disney Parkssssssssss

Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Animal Kingdom

MGM

Blizzard Beach

Typhoon Lagoon

River Country

Other Parkssssssss

Wet 'n Wild

Universal
Busch Gardens
SeaWorld/Aquatica

 

Magic Kingdom

This has to be the Mecca of all the theme parks in Orlando with nearly as many people visiting the Magic Kingdom in one day than all the others put together. Crowned by the awesome sight of Cinderella's castle, children especially will be captivated by it, but it can be overwhelming in the heat of the day when the crowds start to swell. Therefore at peak times give the kids a rest and return later, or the next day. Below is a guide to some of the attractions most suitable for under 10s.

• World Railroad - steam engine ride taking in some of the sights of the park with various stops along the way.
• Haunted Mansion - An 8 minute scare ride on a 'doom buggy' packed with some amazing special effects.
• Jungle Cruise - a 10 minute fun boat ride safari through the 'Amazon' with wild animals to spot and a few surprises.
• Swiss Family Tree House -  a walking tour of the shipwrecked family's home. Not suitable for the less mobile.
• Pirates of the Caribbean - a gentle 10 minute boat journey through some dark and sinister pirate settings. Includes one fairly steep drop.
• Enchanted Tikki Room - all singing, animated show updated in recent years and starring Zazu from The Lion King.
• Thunder Mountain Railroad & Splash Mountain - two white knuckle rides full of bumps, twists and turns. Expect a soaking as you plunge 5 storeys on 'Splash'.
• It's a Small World - A gentle indoor ride celebrating just about every nationality through costumed puppets. The background music is addictive.
• Mickey's Philharmagic - This 3-D animated music show features Mickey, Minnie and Donald with special effects.
• Dumbo's Ride, Mad Tea Party & Cinderella's Carousel - expect long queues for these 2 minute kiddies rides.
• Peter Pan's Flight/Winnie The Pooh  - Two very popular, gentle journeys through recreations of classic scenes from the films.
• Snow White's Scary Adventures -  a gentle but ride focusing on some of the darker aspects of the famous story. It has a feel-good ending, though.
• Goofy's Barnstormer - quite a fast roller coaster ride with some serious ups and downs and sharp bends to get the youngster's pulses racing .
• Space Mountain - there'll be long queues whatever the time of day for the Magic Kingdom's scariest ride to the stars.
• Astro Orbiter - Another fast trip among the planets but not as popular or as much fun as Space Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - A 5 minute Star Cruiser journey with targets to shoot at.

Tip:

Take a screw-top bottle that you can re-fill with fresh water at any of the drinking fountains dotted around the parks.

Tip:

The best time to go on the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom is while the crowds are watching the parade.

Tip:

When taking your place for the 3pm parade find a place on the left-hand side of Main Street (as you face the castle) which is always in the shade.

Epcot

Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This fascinating celebration of eleven of the world's cultures featuring landmarks and cuisine is best suited for the over-10s because despite their very best efforts even Disney cannot make the World Showcase entertaining for the very young. The attractions within the World Showcase tend to have shorter lines so be sure to check out 'O Canada', a short full-surround vision of the beautiful and vast north American country. There's a similar celebration of the French countryside. It's a cool retreat from the heat.

Note: Epcot is a spacious park with very little shade between the attractions so take proper precautions against the heat.

The huge lake is the centre-piece for a fascinating re-creation of 11 countries with replicas of famous landmarks, food, drink and entertainment.

One Disney coach driver remarked that Epcot actually stands for : Every Parent Carries One Toddler - and he wasn't far wrong. It can be exhausting for little ones with endless walking to do and parents should think about pacing this park to avoid over-tiredness.

Spaceship Earth - A stunning journey inside the landmark Geosphere depicting man's history of communication. It sounds stuffy and yet the special effects which were updated in 2008 are not-to-be-missed. The finale is a very impressive and watch for your picture on the giant globe at the end of the ride. Suitable for all ages and the long queues move quickly.

Soarin' - Epcot's most popular attraction invites travellers to soar high above some of America's most breathtaking landmarks. Passengers sit with their legs dangling to simulate a hang-glider for a bird's eye view. The special effects are all in the imagination because the ride doesn't actually move at all.

Test Track - Passengers are taken for a spin in a state-of-the-art car to test their nerve and see how a vehicle performs under extreme circumstances. Expect dramatic braking, twists and turns and an ultra-fast finish.

Mission - Space - Another visually stunning ride. The 'journey to Mars' is an attraction that packs plenty of G's. Our researcher reckons it is the nearest thing to actual space travel on earth. There's speed and spinning as the capsule is 'launched' but it's not for faint hearts or weak stomachs. Anyone with claustrophobia or motion sickness may find the ride overbearing.

Living with the Land - An entertaining and informative 15 minute boat trip showing how mankind can replenish the earth. Youngsters may not 'get it' but they should enjoy the ride.

The Seas With Nemo - a short ride leads to a clever simulation of an undersea journey to a stunning ice-station and aquarium. The simulated journey section can be skipped for those who suffer motion sickness.

Honey I Shrunk the Audience - A visually entertaining 3-D effect film show with plenty of laughs and special effects which will have you giggling to the exit. Expect some standing around once inside.

Circle Of Life - A 3-D animated film on environmental issues facing the earth. Timon and Pumba make this educational attraction quite entertaining but it may be 'heavy' for the younger ones.

Tip:

Park entry passes are almost always cheaper when purchased before you travel. Check for offers with your travel agent

Tip:

One way to entice the kids to see World Showcase is to pre- book a meal in one of the restuarants before the nightly laser show.

Tip:

Take an empty plastic bottle which can be filled-up with water at any of the drinking fountains scattered about the parks.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom combines exotic landscapes meant to represent Africa and India, with 'wild' animals free to roam. The park's crowning glory is the 145ft 'Tree of Life' from the Disney classic, The Lion King. Everything here has been given a sprinkle of Disney magic even down to the artificial mud tracks on the safari trail.

Note: There is very little shade to be found so care is needed in the hot summer months. Very young children will probably be unimpressed with the amount of walking needed to cover the large distances. Below is a brief summary of the most popular attractions.

• Parade - The 15 minute Jungle Parade begins at 4pm most days so expect crowds on the route between Kilimanjaro Safari and Discovery Island.

• Expedition Everest - a 2.5 minute white knuckle ride plummeting through the snowcapped landscape on a runaway train.

• Tough To Be A Bug - located beneath the Tree of Life this animated production features amazing effects combined with some 'live' action surprises. Very young children may need a bit of comforting afterwards.

• Finding Nemo Musical - a cleverly staged version of the movie featuring fantastic costumes, puppets and songs.

• Festival Of The Lion King - A feel good show with the fantastic songs and characters from the movie.

• Kilimanjaro Safari - this 20-minute trip combines authentic-looking African scenery with some well-staged drama along the way. Animal spotting is the main appeal. The vehicles are occasionally driven at speed over bumpy conditions.

• Kali River Rapids - a wet and wild ride through some exhilarating rapids. Be prepared to get soaked.

• Flights Of Wonder - An open-air arena show featuring cleverly trained birds performing some amazing low flying tricks.

• Primeval Whirl - A prehistoric spin through time to the land of dinosaurs . May cause dizziness.

• Dinosaur - A fairly rough and noisy ride through dinosaur land. May be too scary for little ones.

• Maharajah Jungle Trek - Magnificent views of Indian tigers and other wildlife with animal experts on hand.

• Rafiki's Planet Watch - Take a slow steam train ride to discover some educational and entertaining exhibits in a special conservation area. You can pet some animals and meet characters in a bright and air-conditioned exhibit hall.
  

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Preserving the golden age of Hollywood, this park is intended to be a celebration of the movie world complete with a replica of the walk of fame handprints, etc. It is Disney's answer to Universal and although the latter is far superior there's still plenty on offer here in what remains, we are reliably informed, very much a working studio. Below is a brief outline on just a few of the most popular attractions.

• Indiana Jones - a breathtaking stunt show for a large audience which will amuse all ages, even those not familiar with the movies.
• American Idol Experience - a rare chance to see real 'live' auditions in a replica of the actual TV studio. This is a well-produced attraction and a great place to cool down.
• Toy Story Mania - the state-of-the-art special effects make this interactive ride a must-see. One of our favourites!
• Little Mermaid - live-action show featuring clever special effects and cute puppets. Great for younger kids.
• Beauty and the Beast - a condensed version of the stage production featuring highlights from the movie. Ideal for the little ones.
• Tower of Terror - possibly Disney's best crowd puller. Cling on tight as the rickety lift plummets 13-storeys (130ft) down the shaft of a haunted hotel. Expect some superb special effects and a few surprises on the doomed elevator.
• Star Tours - a heavily dressed-up flight simulator which creates the illusion of a fast journey through space.
• Backlot Tour - youngsters may find this rather dull at first as the road-train weaves its way through back-lots including a stop to see famous costumes, props and special effects. Be prepared to enter the set of a 'disaster' movie.
• Rock 'n Roller Coaster -  a fast, looping, terrifying indoor coaster which launches from 0 - 60 in less than 3 seconds. The loud music ought to disguise the screams. Very popular.
• Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show - prepare to be stunned by this breathtaking stunt car show. A visual treat with some cunning special effects.
• Great Movie Ride - a fun journey through about a dozen of Hollywoods greatest movie moments, cleverly recreated and including some 'live' action.
• Fantasmic - this spectacular musical fireworks show is based on nightmarish dream when Mickey Mouse confronts some of Disney's infamous villains. All your favourite characters combine to make sure good triumphs over evil.

Tip:

Always take an autograph book to the Disney parks. Characters are likely to appear at anytime but like everything else - long queues can form so be prepared.

Tip:

'Fantasmic' - MGM's spectacular firework show is always a sell-out but seats are guaranteed when you purchase a priority dining package.

Tip:

The waterparks have strict visitor numbers and get full to capacity very quickly. At about 4pm there's usually a mass exodus so queues for the rides are much shorter.

Disney's water parks

Towels and lockers can be hired at all water parks at reasonable cost. Lifeguards are on duty at all time and are always alert for anyone breaking the very strict rules. Fast food restaurants serve snacks and drinks all day. The water temperature is climate-controlled all year round and in the hotter months cold water sprays keep visitors cool in the queues.

Typhoon Lagoon

A 2½ acre lagoon set against an imitation sandy beach. Towels can be rented or bring your own. The showers and locker areas are usually crowded at peak times of the day. The busiest times are during the summer especially at weekends. One piece swimming costumes are recommended for females and flip-flops are more comfortable then bare feet - remember there's a lot of walking and queuing involved.

• Home of the famous Humunga Kowanbunga - a 50 foot plunge.
• The most fun is to be had when the boat toots its whistle to signify a big tidal wave. Watch 'em surf.
• Storm Slides - twists and turns galore through black tunnels that plummet down the mountainside.
• Mayday Falls, Gang Plank Falls & Keelhaul Falls - three tube rides through waterfalls and caves.
• Castaway Creek is a gentle tube ride lasting about half an hour.
• Crush n Gusher is a true wet knuckle ride through caverns and down flumes. There are restrictions on age and health conditions.
• Ketchakiddie Creek - Kids only area with an assortment of smaller watery slides.
• At Shark Reef there's an opportunity to swim with some friendly species.

Blizzard Beach

Disney's most popular water park themed to a wintry mountain ski-resort - it even has Christmas music playing all year round. Expect long queues for the rides at peak times.

• A chair lift takes brave souls up to the tallest rides at the summit of Mount Gushmore..
• Summit Plummet is a 65 mph plunge down a watery chute. Queues can be as long as 90 minutes!
• Slush Gusher - a shorter slide than Summit Plummet but it still makes a big splash.
• Teamboat Family Rafts provide an exhilarating ride down twisting wet waterfalls.
• Double Dipper - challenge your neighbour on this pair of slides to a big splashdown.
• Cross Country Creek is a lazy 30 minute float around the perimeter of the park.
• A children's play area features scaled-down rides.

River Country

This park closed in 2001.

SeaWorld

SeaWorld is a major league attraction in Orlando thanks to its cleverly staged water stunt shows which set it apart from the rest with its signature Shamu Stadium taking centre stage. If the white-knuckle rides leave you breathless, the antics of the sea creatures and their talented trainers will render you speechless.

• Shamu - the charm and intelligence of this loveable whale are now world famous and no trip to Orlando is complete without seeing it. Avoid the first 14 rows in the stadium if you want to stay dry, Shamu makes a big splash!
• Sealife shows - While Shamu is the big star his supporting cast includes dolphins, penguins and sharks
• Manta - SeaWorld's fastest and most stomach-turning rollercoaster with numerous loops and turns.
• Kraken - white-knuckle rides have been added to SeaWorld in recent years including this monster which reaches speeds of up to 65 mph while plunging through an underground tunnel and looping the loopy !
• Journey to Atlantis - another ride for speed-junkies. Dazzling special effects create an awesome experience and as it careers along through fountains and water jets passengers can expect to get a serious soaking.
• Wild Arctic - a jerky simulated helicopter ride across the arctic to a reconstructed ice-station for a polar bear encounter.
• Pets Ahoy - a cutesy show starring dogs & cats & many other four-legged stars.
• Stingray Lagoon - a petting pool for scores of stingrays. Fishy treats can be purchased to feed them with.
• Happy Harbour - active youngsters can be let loose in this safe adventurous climbing and sliding zone.
• Penguin Encounter - hundreds of the quirky creatures just doing their thing.
• Petting Pool - a rare opportunity to get close-up and actually touch some aquatic creatures like stingrays.

Seaworld has started a reservation-only seafood buffet overlooking the whales in Shamu Stadium. The new attraction includes entertaining talks by some of the park's top trainers.

Aquatica

SeaWorld's water park unites humans and sea creatures for some watery fun, designed to rival the likes of Typhoon Lagoon and Wet n Wild. The showpiece attraction is Dolphin Plunge which, through clever use of see-through chutes creates the illusion you're plummeting into a pool teaming with dolphins. Otherwise the wet-knuckle rides here follow the common theme of slides, wave pools and lazy rivers.

If Busch Gardens was just another theme park it wouldn't be worth the trip to Tampa Bay but many thrill-seekers say it's their favourite. The car journey or free bus shuttle from several locations in Orlando takes about an hour and the rides challenge even the most cast iron stomach. The park is segmented up into 8 'lands. Below is a brief review of the best attractions.

• Sheikra - one of Florida's finest and most thrilling rollercoasters surging 200ft up and 90º down again through numerous loops

• Montu - one of the world's longest inverted coasters where dangling feet appear to almost scrape the surrounding construction

• Gwazi - a bone-rattling wooden coaster that zips along 7,000ft of track at a stomach churning speed.

• Kumba - more fast and furious loops and turns at 60 miles per hour.

• Scorpion - the sting in the tail of this ride is the 6-ft plummet and the 360° loop.

• Cheetah Chase - curves and high-speed, high-rise action zooming 5 storeys up.

• Tidal Wave, River Rapids & The Stanley Falls Plume - three ways to get wet.

• Serengeti Express - a gentle train ride through the safari park to see some of the wildlife preservation area.

• Bird Gardens - beautiful species of birds to admire and hand-feed.

Tip:
Universal has joined forces with many of its rivals to produce the discounted multi-park admission passes. Check with your tour operator,

Universal

More than 40 attractions including rides and shows', and all themed to the world of movies. The sheer number of thrill rides and famous names put Universal in a different league to Disney's Hollywood theme park Below is a brief summary of some of the main crowd-pleasers.

• Revenge of the Mummy - a dark encounter with the horrors of a tomb which packs in a few startling drops combining a forwards and backwards motion. Universal's engineers have created some amazing special effects throughout this ride.
• Jaws - probably the most celebrated movie-based ride of them all. Just when you thought is was safe to go on a sail ride through Amity - something rocks the boat! A 6 minute tour with some clever effects culminating in a jaw-dropping encounter.
• Men in Black - a laser gun battle in which the aliens fight back. This ride's like stepping into a computer game.
• The Simpsons Ride - a brilliant simulated rollercoaster ride accompanied by Homer, Bart and Marge. Hilarious!
• ET - a heart-warming flight across the moon and beyond in a recreation of the final few scenes in the movie. Listen for your name at the end! Even the indoor area where you line up for the ride is a joy.
• Terminator 2 - this impressive show features 'live' action and pulls out all the stops with its 3-D effects.
• Rip Ride Rocket - this giant coaster features a breath-taking vertical ascent followed by a 65 mph plummet down 17 storeys through a series of tummy-turning twists. Riders even get to choose their own soundtrack to ride along to.
• Shrek 4-D - join the jolly green giant himself along with Donkey and Princess Fiona for a fun movie show with extra special effects!
• Twister - you're a storm chaser in this visually stunning recreation of a real tornado. Very intense and loud.
• Animal Actors - the cute and cuddly show off their fun and furry tricks. Heartwarming stuff.
• Horror Make-Up Show - this 'live' stage show often gets overlooked but it's a humorous glimpse at Hollywood gore.

Universal Islands Of Adventure

Next door to Universal (above) and within walking distance are the themed lands that make up Islands Of Adventure. This park is more geared towards older thrill-seekers due to its blockbusting rides but younger ones will be dazzled by the amazing Wizarding World Of Harry Potter and the colourful Seuss Landing area.

• Wizarding World of Harry Potter - walk through the amazing architecture of Hogsmeade to Hogwarts Castle and browse the stores of the stories - Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop and Ollivanders, they're all here. The attention to detail is fantastic throughout the park and even the snow on the rooftops looks like it could melt in the Florida heat. The line for the Forbidden Journey takes riders on a tour of Hogwarts, with special-effects such as talking portraits and appearances by several characters. Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge are both upgraded rollercoasters which existed before Potter weaved some magic at the site. But the winner with fans so far appears to be the entirely new ride, Forbidden Journey, where riders are carried on a “flying bench” through magical landscapes. The attraction includes the Hog's Head Pub and The Three Broomsticks where food and drink are served all day including the new wizard brew Butterbeer which was approved by the author JK Rowling herself from a secret recipe. 
• Spiderman - based on the original animated TV series this ride sets amazing new standards in theme park technology. Spidey helps you and your fellow bus passengers escape the wrath of his arch-enemies in this  3-D action thriller which combines all the senses including a fantastic sense of humour. A showcase for the most cutting edge effects ever created.
• Doctor Doom's Fearfall - a fairly run-of-the-mill funfair ride by today's standards. Disney have taken this concept to a new level with the Tower of Terror.
• The Hulk Coaster - A high-speed rollercoaster that will make those with weak stomachs turn green as it soars to 150ft and 60mph. There's always a long wait for this one.
• Storm Force Acceleration - what goes around comes around on this ride - including your lunch if you can't stomach the spins.
• Popeye's Bilge Rat Barges & Ripsaw Falls - these wet-knuckle rides do exactly what they say on the tin - the wetter the better for some riders!
• Jurassic Park River Adventure - a boat ride through Jurassic Park starts gently enough but when a T Rex escapes you know he's waiting open-mouthed for you just around the next bend. Prepare to get soaked.
• Dueling Dragons - there are two rides in one as a pair of coasters race on separate tracks and encounter some heart-stopping near misses.
• Poseidon's Fury - a 'live' action interactive show with special effects galore.
• Pteranodon Flyers - this gentle ride above Jurassic Park is for children only but adults may accompany their kids.

Wet 'n Wild

As the name suggests this is a serious water park for serious fun-seekers and America's best attended thanks to its location on International Drive. At the heart of Wet 'n Wild is the wave pool where 4ft breakers send bathers splashing towards the 'beach'. Below is a summary of a few of the rides.

• Bomb Bay - an intense speed fix down 7 storeys until the inevitable splashdown. Not for the faint-hearted.
• Black Hole - crashing 500 feet in pitch blackness it feels like there'll never be light at the end of the tunnel.
• Blue Niagara - very similar to the Black Hole except this time there isn't even an inflatable raft to hold onto.
• Bubba Tub - families and groups are sent splashing down on rafts along some sharp bends and steep banks.
• Bubble Up - this bubble-shaped bouncy castle sends kids slipping and sliding harmlessly into a pool below.
• Fuji Flyer - an inflatable white water 'toboggan' ride for four dare-devils along 450 feet of surging rapids.
• Kids Park - a cool, purpose-built play area for younger ones with a scaled-down wave pool and tame rides.