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An Orlando Vacation
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By Mohini Narain
Does your inner child want a pampering? Here is just the place to wrap you in the world of Fun and Fantasy. Your children will love it and so will you. Take a trip to Orlando, Florida - don't leave grandparents behind  – they will love it too.
This city houses the world's greatest amusement parks and one can spend weeks enjoying the rides, shows, animals, fireworks and parades! There is something for everyone! The weather is great practically all the year, barring rain and sometimes frost in winter - after all you are in the Sunshine State of the U.S.A. where oranges abound. One can easily spend a month here with plenty to do – it's a must for theme park buffs.
Here you will be spoilt for choice. There is always something more than you would have liked to try out! The world's most renowned entertainment brands are engaged in a great game of one-upmanship all to your benefit! Packed into the city of Orlando is the famous Disneyland and Universal Studios, there is also Seaworld with its Discovery Cove and Buschworld. Under the Disney Brand there are many 'kingdoms' – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon Pleasure Island and Disney Quest. There are numerous transport options offered by Disney to travel between parks and they are fun too! There is a Disney cruise line too! The Universal Brand offers Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and City Walk. Wet'nWild is the place for water sports and water fun.
Early theme parks, dating before Disney, are also attractions – Cypress Gardens with its unmatched flower Gardens, Silversprings with its Glass bottom boats and Gatorland. Visitors will find it hard to choose between Universal and Disney –Disney is the sentimental favourite though, if  you were bought up on Disney fairytales.
This city houses the world's greatest amusement parks and one can spend weeks enjoying the rides, shows, animals, fireworks and parades! There is something for everyone! The weather is great practically all the year, barring rain and sometimes frost in winter - after all you are in the Sunshine State of the U.S.A. where oranges abound. One can easily spend a month here with plenty to do – it's a must for theme park buffs.
It is hard to imagine that once upon a time this was a mosquito infested swamp land with its share of forest fires, dense undergrowth and hostile natives. The credit for transforming this town into a one stop tourist destination goes toWalt Disney who made Disney land. Soon he was followed by Universal and other competitors. Cut throat competition ensures that you are spoilt for choices to stay and eat at reasonable prices. It is a good idea to stay at Disneyland resorts if you wish to visit only Disneyland. This will save time and help one to avoid long queues. However one can easily find numerous hotels and villas nearby.
Which theme park to start with? If you have a young daughter then the choice is simple – Magic Kingdom. Young girls find their fairycastle at Magic Kingdom where their princess dreams come true! Mickey M ouse, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella will take you back into your childhood! A haunted house – thrills and screams! There are numerous rides – roller coasters are a perennial favourite but there are gentler rides for those who like to enjoy the view! Epcot showcases the cultures around the world, technological innovations and cuisines. This is an educational and fun park too. It showcases wacky inventions. For lovers of animals there is Seaworld and Animal Kingdom. Seaworld has the world famous Killer Whale called Shamu. At Discovery cove, one can swim with the Dolphins. (It has been found that swimming with Dolphins has great healing effects and autistic children have shown great improvement). There are amazing undersea wonders a nd great shows which are innovative and entertaining. The shows are packed with delightful surprises. Animal Kingdom has safaris and fun rides where one can get drenched! The world's wildestroller coaster Kraken will ensure the non-stop scream! At Buschland (this is at Tampa Bay) one can experience the savanna lands, go on a safari on the Serengeti Plain, you will also be swept down a river – be warned! The magic of moviemaking opens up at Disney MGM and Universal Studios. Have you ever wondered what it feels like being in an earthquake or a tornado? Technology brings you the live experience here! The movie experience at Universal is fast paced and heart thumping whereas Disney is gentler. Universal's Tower of Terror is for the strong at he art only!
Orlando is a fun filled place of America, but there is just so much that one can do. So time yourself so as to reach early in the morning before crowds come, avoiding long queues by using the fast-pass system and purchasing flexi-tickets can save much of your time and energy. Before planning this vacation one must be prepared for long walks, so taking a stroll around even for slightly older kids and wheelchairs for elderly persons is a good idea. It's a good idea to be prepared for rain and carry an extra change of clothes – there are many rides where the fun is in thedrenching! At Seaworld watching the Shamu show from the first few rows is sure to get one wet! It is highly recommended that one does adequate research on the theme parks since one will invariably have to choose. The challenge here is in how to pack so much fun into just so much time. Be prepared to stay till late at night to watch the fireworks and parade which are astoundingly be autiful. It is important to conserve ones energy and so buying flexi-tickets which allow one to go in and come out many times is a good idea.
You will always remember this vacation and your children will want to come back year after year. Grandparents will remember the shows and beautiful fireworks too. Grandmothers will fondly relive the fairytales with their grandchildren. You will find that it has been vastly entertaining and educational too. Though exhausted after your hectic touring of Theme parks, you will still plan to come back again.
A haunted house –thrills and screams! There are numerous rides – roller coasters are a perennial favourite but there are gentler rides for those who like to enjoy the view! Epcot showcases the cultures around the world, technological innovations and cuisines. This is an educational and fun park too. It showcases wacky inventions. For lovers of animals there is Seaworld and Animal Kingdom. |
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