Travel: 10 Tips to Exploring Theme Parks beyond Disney when in Orlando
The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., is one of the top vacation destinations in America, and with good reason. Here, you’ll find four major theme parks, more than 32 world-class resort hotels, multiple water parks, a state-of-the-art sports complex, more than 100 restaurants, shopping, daytime and nighttime activities, nightclubs, multiple day spas, plus countless other outdoor recreational activities for people of all ages “ all located on the WDW Resort property, which encompasses more than 47 square miles.
Orlando is a great place to visit anytime of year. According to the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, in 2006 alone, more than 34.5 million people vacationed here. During Spring Break, school vacations, the winter holidays, and throughout June and July, expect crowds. It’ll be necessary to book your airfares, hotel and rental car well in advance for get the best rates during these times.
What not everyone realizes, is that the Orlando area offers a lot more than just the WDW Resort, including many other theme parks and attractions. If you’ll be traveling to Orlando alone, you’re a single parent visiting with your kids, or you’ll be vacationing with fellow adults, there are literally hundreds of fun and exciting (age-appropriate) activities to experience in and around the Orlando area, but you’ll need a rental car to get to them.
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT
The Universal Orlando Resort includes Universal Studios Hollywood, a large theme park containing thrill rides, family-friendly rides, shows and attractions based on popular movies and television shows. Shrek 4-D, Men In Black: Alien Attack, Terminator 2: 3D, Jaws, Twister”¦Ride It Out, Fear Factor Live, Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast, Disaster, and a new movie ride based on The Simpsons are just a sampling of what you’ll find here.
Starting in 2009, guests will be able to visit the world of Harry Potter through a series of rides and interactive attractions. Over the years we’ve received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts and the wonderful locations described in each of J.K. Rowling’s beloved stories,” said Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Entertainment. Working with Universal Orlando Resort, we are confident that we’ll be able to provide Harry Potter fans with an incredible experience that upholds the richness of J.K. Rowling’s books and delivers on the authentic detail portrayed in our films.”
It’s easy to spend at least one full day experiencing Universal Studios Orlando. A second full day can be spent at Islands of Adventure, an adjoining, but totally separate theme park which is comprised of additional rides, shows and attractions.
Just some of the more popular rides, shows and attractions within Islands of Adventure are: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk Coaster, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, Jurassic Park River Adventure, and Dueling Dragons roller coasters. There’s also an entire area just for kids based on Dr. Seuss books.
Located in between Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure is Universal CityWalk, a shopping, dining andentertainment area. In addition to numerous themed restaurants, you’ll find several nightclubs (for adults only), a 20-screen AMC movie theater, plus a custom-built theater which is the home to Blue Man Group.
Several themed hotels can also be found within the Universal Orlando Resort complex. Universal Orlando Resort is a great family destination. Our on-site Loews Hotels guests always receive complimentary Universal Express ride access, which allows them to skip the regular lines at both Universal Orlando theme parks,”said Vince LaRuffa, Vice President of Resort Sales and Marketing for Universal Orlando Resort.
SEAWORLD THEME PARKS
Another extremely popular group of unique theme parks is SeaWorld, located about 20 minutes from the WDW Resort and 15 minutes from Universal Orlando. The main SeaWorld theme park offers at least one full day’s worth of entertainment. Here, you’ll discover thrill rides, live animal exhibits, animal and acrobatic shows, plus several memorable attractions. The flagship show at SeaWorld is Believe, which stars a cast of giant killer whales and their trainers. The majority of SeaWorld’s rides, shows and attractions have an aquatic theme.
For a truly up-close and personal encounter with marine life, such as dolphins and stingrays, consider a daylong visit to SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove park. Only a limited number of guests are admitted each day to this man-made lagoon and beach area. During your visit, you’ll swim with dolphins, go snorkeling, and enjoy the Florida sunshine.
The newest SeaWorld theme park, opening in Spring 2008, is Aquatica. It’s a state-of-the-art, whimsical and one-of-a-kind water park that’s filled with water slides, swimming pools, rolling rapids, river floats and countless other activities where guests are surrounded by exotic ocean wildlife. Once it opens, Aquatica will provide yet another full day’s worth of fun and excitement for people of all ages.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
About 45-minutes from Orlando you’ll find Florida’s Space Coast,” which is home to the Kennedy Space Center. Here, visitors learn all about space exploration, see the NASA Space Shuttle and other rockets, plus have an opportunity to meet real-life astronauts.
There are a few rides, shows and attractions at Kennedy Space Center, but the focus is on the interactive tour of the actual Kennedy Space Center facility, during which you see NASA rockets and artifacts, as you learn about the Space Shuttle program and NASA’s future plans to explore space. Teens and adults will find Kennedy Space Center more appealing than young kids. Plan on spending at least a half-day here.
While visiting the Space Coast area, be sure to visit Coca Beach, where you’ll find lovely beaches, shops and cafes.
10 TIPS FOR ENJOYING ANY THEME PARK
1. Research the theme park(s) you’ll be visiting.
Determine which rides, shows and attractions are the most age-appropriate for the people you’re traveling with, then choose which you’re most interested in experiencing. Create a rough itinerary before visiting each theme park, and focus on experiencing those rides, shows and attractions first
2. Dress appropriately.
Within the theme parks, you’ll be doing a lot of standing and walking, so wear comfortable shoes. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a light jacket are also recommended. If the weather forecast includes rain, purchase a disposable rain poncho. Avoid using an umbrella.
3. Whenever possible, take advantage of passes that allow you to avoid long lines.
At the Disney theme parks, for example, guests can utilize Fastpass. After deciding to experience a specific ride, obtain a free Fastpass. It’s like making a reservation. The Fastpass ticket will tell you what time to return, so you won’t have to wait up to 90 minutes. Only one Fastpass can be reserved at a time per person, but if you plan well, you can save many hours per day by not having to wait in lines for the most popular rides. At Universal Orlando, the Universal Express program works in a similar way.
4. Set a budget for souvenirs.
The theme parks contain dozens of gift shops and souvenir stands. Pre-set a budget for yourself and your kids. According to the travel experts at Fodor’s, Theme-park merchandisers are excellent at displaying the goods so that you or your children can’t resist them. You may find that some articles for sale are also available at home, for quite a bit less. One way to cope is to give every member of your family a souvenir budget — adults and children alike. Another good option is to wait until the last day of your trip to buy your souvenirs.
Theme parks typically open early in the morning and stay open until late at night, especially during peak travel times. Especially if you’re traveling with kids, schedule breaks throughout the day. For example, take a three-hour break mid-day. Return to your hotel, have lunch, take a nap, or visit the pool. When everyone is refreshed, return to the theme park. People who are tired get cranky. This takes away from the fun experiences that await within the theme parks.
6. Take pictures.
There are plenty of perfect moments to snap photos while visiting any of the theme parks, so take plenty of pictures. On certain rides, photos will be taken of you, but you’ll have to shell out between $9.95 and $19.95 to purchase a copy.
7. Utilize lockers.
Avoid having to carry a lot of stuff with you. A fanny pack is ideal for carrying small items, like a camera, sunglasses and a wallet. To store larger items, jackets or extra clothing until they’re needed, utilize the public lockers available within the theme parks. There’s a small daily free, but it’s worth it.
8. Avoid long lines.
Some of the best times to experience the most popular rides within the theme parks are during peak lunch and dinner times, or when one of the major parades or shows is taking place.
9. Make advance reservations when necessary.
Many of the popular character dining restaurants and some of the character meeting experiences at the Disney theme parks, for example, require advanced reservations. Some of these special activities book up a month in advance, so make your reservations early to avoid getting shut out of activities you and your kids want to experience.
10. Drink plenty of water.
Between the excitement, the walking around, and the intense heat of the Florida sun, it’s very easy to become dehydrated and not realize it. Throughout the day, be sure to drink plenty of water. If someone starts to feel lightheaded or weak, go into an air-conditioned area immediately, or visit a first aid station. You’ll be surprised at how much water you drink hiking around the parks under the hot Florida sun. Those $2 water bottles really add up, but you can save a bundle by refilling your bottles at the water fountains all over the parks,” reported the travel experts at Fodor’s.
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP!
Before your trip, purchase an Orlando travel guide from any bookstore to learn all about the theme parks and other activities in the area. Many of these guides also offer tips for saving money.For visiting multiple non-Disney theme parks, including Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Wet “N Wild and Busch Gardens (in Tampa Bay, Florida), consider purchasing Ultimate Orlando Experience tickets (available at participating theme parks), Orlando Flex Tickets (available at participating theme parks), or the Go Orlando Card, each of which offer discounted admissions to multiple theme parks over a pre-determined number of days.
When purchasing any theme park tickets, also be sure to ask about discounts for AAA and AARP members. If you’re a single parent traveling with your kids, consider hiring a babysitter at night, so you can experience some of the more adult-oriented nightclubs and activities in the area. Your hotel’s front desk attendant or concierge will be able to help you find a qualified babysitter.
The following is contact information for the popular theme parks and shows, plus other attractions and resources that can be used for pre-planning your Orlando trip:
Blue Man Group Tickets “ (888) 340-5476 /
www.blueman.com/ticketinfo/orlando/
Busch Gardens “ (888) 800-5447 /
www.buschgardens.com
Go Orlando Card “ (800) 887-9103 /
www.goorlandocard.com
Kennedy Space Center – (321) 449-4444 /
www.kennedyspacecenter.com
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau –
http://www.orlandoinfo.com
SeaWorld Orlando “ (800) 327-2424 /
www.seaworld.com/orlando/default.aspx
Universal Orlando Resort “ (877) 801-9720 /
www.universalorlando.com
Visit Florida (Official Department of Tourism Website) –
www.visitflorida.org
Walt Disney World Resort “ (407) W-DISNEY /
www.Disneyworld.com
Jason R. Rich (www.jasonrich.com) is the series editor and author of the Entrepreneur Magazine’s Business Traveler series of city-specific travel guides for business people. He also regularly contributes travel-related articles to the New York Daily News newspaper.
