Walt Disney WorldOrlando's most familiar landmark is undoubtedly the
turreted Cinderella Castle that stands in the centre of the
original Disney Florida theme park, the Magic Kingdom, at Lake
Buena Vista. The park was opened in 1971 and has been making
childhood fantasies come true ever since. Today it is just one of
four Disney parks that cover more than 28,000 acres of Orange and
Osceola counties in central Florida, with accompanying resorts,
shopping complexes, hotels and waterparks. Apart from the Magic
Kingdom, Walt Disney World Orlando now includes Epcot, a futuristic
showcase of the world's different cultures and traditions; MGM
Studios, a working animation and television studio; and Animal
Kingdom, where a huge variety of animals are kept in themed
surroundings along with a cast of Disney characters.Sea WorldSpread out between the Disney parks at Lake Buena
Vista and the downtown Orlando area is the renowned Sea World
attraction, which has been making a major splash in central Florida
for more than a quarter of a century. The park, owned and operated
by Annheuser-Busch, is designed to give an interactive look at the
sea and all its facets, featuring themed animal habitats from tidal
pools to iceberg lakes. In addition visitors can hug a dolphin or
kiss a killer whale, and watch the famous aquatic Sea World stars
go through their paces in various shows. The park also features fun
rides like the very popular water roller coaster thrill ride called
Journey to Atlantis. Neighbouring Discovery Cove (part of the Sea
World group) offers visitors a chance to swim with dolphins, view
wildlife, sunbathe on gorgeous beaches and snorkel amongst the
coral. See www.discoverycove.com for details.Universal StudiosExperienced theme parkers recommend that it takes at
least two days to fully appreciate all the delights on offer at the
Universal Orlando entertainment complex, which includes two theme
parks: the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The
movie-themed park with its thrilling, innovative fun-rides,
production studios and film sets also has three superb luxury
on-site hotels so spending a night is a good idea. At Universal
Studios visitors are invited to go behind the scenes and become
involved in the movie action, while Islands of Adventure offers
thrilling rides, shows and attractions from five different
islands.Wet n WildOne of Orlando's numerous water parks, Wet 'n Wild has
the distinction of being the most popular water attraction in the
area and also the world's first amusement park devoted solely to
water flumes, pools and slides. The park was designed by George
Millay, creative genius behind the Sea World parks in San Diego and
Orlando, and has been operating since 1977. Thrilling rides like
The Storm, The Surge and The Bubba Tub are there to be enjoyed,
along with numerous other attractions and facilities.Orlando OdditoriumHoused in an odd-looking building that is tipped to
one side and apparently sinking into the ground, the Orlando
Odditorium contains a remarkable collection of weird and wonderful
exhibits, amassed over a period of 40 years by explorer Robert
Ripley. Examples of the exhibits are shrunken heads and a scale
model of a Rolls Royce made entirely of matchsticks. Ripley's
'Believe it or Not' collection is world-renowned and has been
documented in television series and best-selling
books.Orlando Museum of ArtIn true Florida style, Orlando's Museum of Art is not
just another gallery but a fascinating world of creative themed
exhibitions showcasing its permanent collections of American Art,
Art of the Ancient Americas and African Art. The Museum also has an
active programme of visiting exhibitions on display in the elegant
building with its marble floors and glass ceiling. Group tours are
made memorable and educational with commentary about art
appreciation and the lives of the various artists
represented.Kennedy Space CentreThe John F. Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, 46
miles (74km) southeast of Orlando on Florida's east coast, is one
place in this fantasyland state where fact is just as entertaining
as fancy. Visitors to the centre follow the story of NASA's
exploration of space through interactive exhibits, movies and
tours. Guests can tour a full-size replica of the space shuttle
'Explorer'; walk through a giant model of a module from the new
International Space Station; view films about Mars and the
Pathfinder exploration; view historic authentic rockets, like that
piloted by pioneer astronaut, John Glenn; and marvel at the
Apollo/Saturn Centre, which houses all the artefacts from the
historic moon landing. The Space Centre requires several hours to
digest, and on the same site is the Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge, established on the land NASA did not require for
its space operations. The 220-square-mile (570 sq km) refuge
contains more endangered species than any other wildlife refuge in
the US, including the southern bald eagle and Atlantic loggerhead
turtle. The US Astronaut Hall of Fame, in the nearby town of
Titusville, is another of the area's attractions.Fantasy of FlightMidway between Tampa and Orlando, about 20 minutes
drive west of Walt Disney World, the Fantasy of Flight resort is
billed as the world's greatest aircraft collection. The attraction
began as a vision of aviation enthusiast and historian, Kermit
Weeks, as a tribute to the pioneers of flight, and today it
features many rare and vintage aircraft, which actually take to the
skies. Visitors are treated to an 'Aircraft of the Day' flypast, as
well as the chance to fly themselves in a simulator. The site also
offers tours of the aircraft collection in hangars, a sight and
sound presentation detailing the history of aviation, a tour of the
'back lot' where vintage aircraft are restored, and an Exploration
Centre.
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