There are Gators Galore Waiting for You in Orlando!
The sunny city of Orlando has a lot to offer with Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios, but that’s not all. A lesser heard about attraction of Orlando is the area’s alligators! These guys are chomping at the bits to see you. There are all kinds and sizes, and even though they may look scary, you’re bound to get attached. Book a fantastic hotel in Orlando and check out these incredible alligator activities.
Looking for gators? Big ones with lots of teeth? Gatorland has exactly that, especially with “Alf” a 15 foot long, 1,000+ pound alligator. If the swamp creatures are getting to you, there are plenty of tropical birds and slithery snakes to see. Allie’s Barnyard has a petting zoo for the kids, and there’s a train ride for the whole family to enjoy. Don’t miss the amazing crocodile show. There are so many things to do in this park that you are guaranteed to have a great time.
As if Gatorland isn’t enough, the Gatorland Tours with Transportation and Airboat Combo gives you the chance to both go to Gatorland and take an airboat ride through Orlando. You’ll see the cypress trees of the area, the natural wildlife like birds, fish, and even alligators! The beauty of Orlando will come to life with this trip. Pick up the combo and experience the excitement.
Dust Off Your Lightsaber for Star Wars Weekend in Orlando
Star Wars Weekend is an annual special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Orlando that celebrates all things Star Wars. Starting May 20 and continuing each weekend until June 12, you can join celebrities and characters for special shows, panels, presentations and activities, including motorcades and autograph sessions. You will have the opportunity to meet the stars who portrayed such favorite characters like Chewbacca, Darth Maul, Boba Fett and C-3PO. Star Tours, now presented in 3-D, will be making its reappearance on May 20. Star Tours gives you the opportunity to board a Starspeeder 1000 for an exciting journey through the Star Wars universe where you will be faced with many different missions. Younger kids can hone their lightsaber skills at the Jedi Training Academy, a 30-minute live action show. If you are planning on heading to Orlando for this special event, be sure to reserve you lodging today!
While you are still reveling in your Star Wars space adventure, head over to the Kennedy Space Center where you can learn more about space, space travel and the future of space. You will get a unique chance to tour NASA’s launch and landing facilities, experience interactive simulators, enjoy live shows and even possibly meet a veteran NASA astronaut. As a special experience, join the Starfleet Academy during 30-minute interactive show that combines cutting-edge special effects, audience interaction, amazing science and on-screen appearances from your favorite Star Trek characters.
After all your adventures in space, go to the watery depths of the ocean at Titanic – The Experience. This 20,000 square foot interactive museum is filled with more than 200 artifacts from the Titanic as well as interactive exhibits. You can walk up the Grand Staircase, visit a First Class Parlor Suite or head down to the Boiler Room. Throughout your Titanic experience, you will meet actors in period costumes, including Captain Smith and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown who will share a personal account of their trip aboard the Titanic. In addition to housing actual artifacts from the ship, you will also find movie memorabilia from the award-winning movie, Titanic, by James Cameron.
Celebrate Orlando’s 20th Annual International Fringe Festival!
Prepare for the annual commencement ceremony on May 18 that will pave the way for the Orlando International Fringe Festival, bringing together theatrical performers, stage sets, props and special productions during this 12 day event, from May 18 – 30. Visitors will be dazzled by the amazing creativity of the actors as they use their own personal style to create an entertaining world of dialogue, action and costumes. Bring the kids along as well, as the festival will host its own “Kids Fringe,” specifically geared toward theatrical activities for the children! If you’re wanting to see this event or others in Orlando, be sure to reserve your Orlando lodging before the beginning of summer hits.
You can see even more great shows while you’re in Orlando such as the famous Cirque du Soleil Nouba, featuring a wonderful circus performance with 60 different cast members, many great tricks and scenery throughout the show. You’ll want to pay special attention to the landmark stunts and tricks in the show, including the Funambule (High Wire), Diabolos (Chinese Yo-Yo) and the Ballet Aire et Soie (Aerial Ballet in Silk). You’ll marvel at the superior lighting and large backdrops that the theater will provide during the performance.
If you’re looking for a meal along with their entertainment, you’ll want to check out the Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction, with a middle eastern touch in its costumes and beautiful display of horses and chariot racing. Acrobats will perform stunning tricks on the backs on these well-groomed horses, and you can eat a delicious meal consisting of fresh salad, a choice of five entrees and many types of desserts and beverages. Cheer on the performers and the 60 horses which will make their appearance in the arena!
The Astounding Orlando Carnival Takes Off During May
The adventurous Orlando Carnival will bring in audiences from every region as it begins on May 27 – 29. It’s Orlando’s 27th annual carnival in the area. The carnival provides visitors with all kinds of entertainment, from street parades to colorful costumes to exciting live shows. Visitors will have a plethora of attractions to choose from, and families can bring the children to a special “Kiddies Carnival,” which hosts entertainment just for the kids! Caribbean style entertainment such as steel band music, ethnic cuisine and traditional souvenirs will all be yours during your participation in the Orlando Carnival. If you’re interested in staying for an extended vacation during the Orlando Carnival, you can make reservations for our Orlando lodging.
Several other exciting Orlando activities are awaiting your participation as well, including the Orlando Balloon Adventure, which can hold up to ten passengers and will take you on the ride of your life across the Florida terrain. Experience the cool, open air of the Orlando skies as you float for three hours across miles of beautiful landscape. The operator of the colorful balloon will answer questions you may have about the areas below and will provide you with a safe trip from start to finish. Take your whole family on this incredible, peaceful ride.
After you’ve crossed the Florida landscape in a balloon, you can take an even faster ride with reservations for the Grand Tour, which takes you up in the air via airplane for 30 minutes while your guide narrates. The plane will zoom across the sunlit landscape, going by highlights such as Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney and Universal Studios. You’ll see many smaller businesses, large shopping attractions and several famous golf courses during your trip. Cameras are certainly encouraged, and you can take as many pictures as you’d like!
Enjoy Great Music and Activities at the Florida Music Festival
Orlando is a great vacation destination for families because there are so many great festivals and events that take place throughout the year, and during the month of April, visitors to Orlando can enjoy the Florida Music Festival from April 21 to April 24. This festival, which takes place at various venues in Downtown Orlando, features more than 250 musical performers of a variety of different genres including country, hip hop, alternative, pop and acoustic music. In addition to great music, you can enjoy a variety of visual art on display at downtown venues. If you love music, you will definitely want to include the Florida Music Festival in your vacation plans!
When traveling with your family, you can enjoy an incredible show that will be fun for both adults and children at Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. This impressive show features fascinating acrobatic acts and daring feats that are sure to awe you. You will love this unique performance that includes more than 60 talented performers who will impress you with feats on the high wire, aerial ballet in silk, and Chinese yo-yo tricks. This whimsical show will be a great night of relaxing entertainment after a long day of sightseeing in Orlando.
There is a variety of unique wildlife in Florida, and you can experience some of nature’s most interesting aquatic mammals by taking a Florida Manatees Adventure Tour. This tour provides you with a delicious breakfast before embarking on a fantastic adventure on the Crystal River. Your knowledgeable guide will educate you about manatee life and provide you with interesting facts about these fascinating creatures. You will even get to swim with these gentle giants for an unforgettable experience that will be a great addition to your Orlando vacation!
Enjoy Great Films at the 20th Annual Florida Film Festival!
When planning your getaway to Orlando this spring, you can enjoy great entertainment opportunities at the 20th Annual Florida Film Festival. This exciting event takes place April 8th through April 17th in Maitland, Florida near Orlando and features more than 160 films from all over the world. At the festival, 25 different countries will be represented through film. With so many films of a variety of subjects and genres, you will definitely find one that you will love. You may even get to meet your favorite actor, actress or director at this much-anticipated event!
If you would like to experience the unique nightlife in Orlando during your vacation, you can enjoy an experience like no other at ICEBAR Orlando. This fabulous venue gives you the opportunity to escape the Florida heat and enjoy an icy wonderland inside ICEBAR. The bar is kept at a chilling 27 degrees, and everything from the couches to the bars are made completely from ice! Even the glass that your drink comes in is made of ice at the ICEBAR, so you are sure to have a fun and unique experience!
Orlando is rich with fabulous shopping opportunities, and you can enjoy a great time shopping on an Orlando Shopping Extravaganza! This shopping package provides you with an exciting shopping tour complete with free gifts, valuable discounts and both breakfast and lunch. You will get to visit a variety of shopping hotspots on your Orlando Shopping Extravaganza, so you are bound to find great deals and the perfect souvenir for your Orlando vacation!
See Olympic Athletes On Ice in Orlando!
When you are planning a vacation in the Orlando area, you are sure to find a variety of exciting touring events, and on March 20th, you won’t want to miss the Smucker’s Stars On Ice 25th Anniversary Tour at the Amway Center. This tour, which grows in popularity each year, brings together Olympic figure skating athletes from all over the world for one fabulous production. This opportunity is one you won’t want to miss as some of the world’s most famous and notable figure skaters will delight you with beautiful, artistic displays as they glide across the ice. If you want an unforgettable experience seeing world class athletes performing impressive feats, be sure to include Smucker’s Stars On Ice 25th Anniversary Tour in your vacation plans!
During your vacation in Orlando, you can have an experience like no other on the Black Raven Pirate Adventure. This incredible cruise takes you aboard a replica pirate ship for a journey down the Matanzas River. The pirate crew members like Captain Corona, Scurvy Sam and Blackbeard are sure to entertain you with their pirate antics while you travel past St Augustine. You will get to hear real stories of pirate adventures including attacks that actually happened in St Augustine that are sure to shiver your timbers. This full-day adventure is so much fun, it is sure to make many great memories of your Orlando vacation!
After a day of sightseeing in Orlando, you will surely be ready for a relaxing evening of entertainment, and the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show is guaranteed to please. At the show, you can dine on unlimited pizza, salad, popcorn and beverages while watching spectacular illusions that will impress you and hilarious comedic routines that will have you laughing all evening. You may even get the chance to participate in the show! The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show is appropriate for all ages, so your whole family can enjoy an entertaining evening of comedy.
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Celebrates Spring in Orlando
February 23, 2011 by admin
Filed under VME, Walt Disney World
If you love spectacular flower displays and have a garden that you enjoy working in, there’s no better place to be March 2nd through March 15th than in Walt Disney World Theme Parks. At Walt Disney World, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be ongoing for those dates, and a number of special garden related activities are planned for that time. Topiaries shaped like Mickey Mouse, Minnie, and Donald Duck will amaze you while the incredible butterflies in Bambi’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden will give you a colorful show to remember. After looking at each of the displays, you can meet with top horticulturalists to find out how they create these masterpieces and get the gardening tools you need to make your own. It’s an event that is not to be missed even for guests who prefer to look rather than work in a garden!
While you’re celebrating spring in Orlando with the Epcot festival, be sure to take advantage of some of the other great seasonal attractions the area has to offer like the Dolphin Encounter Tour. This tour will take you to the Gulf of Mexico where you can see dolphins in their natural habitat. During your time in the Gulf, you will get to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch before continuing with your adventure. Between seeing the dolphins and experiencing the natural scenic beauty of the Gulf of Mexico, you’re certain to make memories that will last a lifetime!
Another activity you won’t want to miss while you’re in Orlando is the Saltwater Adventures of Central Florida Fishing Charters. This charter will take you out in the open waters off the coast of Orlando to allow you to do some serious deep sea fishing. Captain Keith will show you how to catch a number of fish like redfish, mackerel, tarpon, and even sharks, so you can have a dream fishing experience. From now until December 31st, there is even a family pass available for this fishing experience, so you can save money and still have an experience that the whole family will love!
Savor Local Flavor at the 2nd Annual Orlando Chili Cook-off
If you are planning a vacation in Orlando this February, you can enjoy local flavor and culture by attending the 2nd Annual Orlando Chili Cook-off on February 26 at Blue Jacket Park. This event will give you the opportunity to taste some of the best chili in Orlando while you enjoy live music and family fun activities. At the event, you will get to partake in adult beverages and delicious chili made by both experienced and amateur chefs while your children play in the kid’s fun zone. Proceeds for the Orlando Chili Cook-Off go to the Special Olympics Florida, so you can have a day of family fun while supporting an excellent cause!
Orlando Visitors Anticipate Elton John’s Exciting Musical “Aida”
All of the exciting tours in the Orlando area make it an exciting vacation destination, but Orlando has incredible art and theater exhibitions that add to the city’s appeal as well. This winter, you won’t want to miss “Aida,” an exciting theater production written by the notable Elton John and Tim Rice. The story is set in ancient Egypt and follows the story of a Nubian Princess who falls in love with an Egyptian commander. This compelling musical about doomed love promises great songs by Elton John, laughs and maybe even a few tears. The performances will take place at the Goldman Theatre at John & Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center. “Aida” is only playing January 28 through February 13, so you won’t want to miss your opportunity to see this musical that is destined to be an Orlando hit!
Although a vacation in Orlando is an exciting adventure in itself, you can add to the excitement by taking the Florida Manatees Adventure Tour. On this tour, you will learn about manatees and even get a chance to swim and go snorkeling with these gentle aquatic mammals in the beautiful Crystal River. Later in the day, you will take an airboat tour to see more manatees during a feeding session, where you may also see bears, panthers, alligators and even hippos! If you would like to get an up close and personal view of some of Florida’s best-loved wildlife, you will definitely want to include the Florida Manatees Adventure Tour in your vacation plans!
Orlando is known for its exciting theme parks, and your Orlando vacation won’t be complete without a visit to Universal Studios Orlando. With more than 25 exciting rides and a variety of shows, both leisure vacationers and thrill seekers will find something to keep them entertained all day! Universal Studios also has a sister park, Islands of Adventure, that features six different island settings. Fans of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series will love the new addition to Islands of Adventure, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where you can take a step right into your favorite Harry Potter book or movie!
