Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World – Orlando
Disney World and Other Attractions in Orlando, Florida
Walt Disney World opened it’s doors in 1971 in Orlando, Florida with great pomp & ceremony, including several famous movie stars and Micky Mouse himself. It was an instant success, drawing in over two million enthusiastic fans within the first two years.
Ever since, millions upon millions of Americans and International tourists have been flocking to central Florida to enjoy Disney’s famous cartoon characters come to life. In fact, Disney World and Orlando have become one of America’s most famous and visited places.
Disney World was so successful that it quickly began expanding until now it contains six distinctive theme parks, a massive resort and many restaurants, all within the Disney Complex. In Orlando more than a dozen other large-scale theme parks and tourist attractions quickly began sprouting up nearby to entice tourists with new thrills and adventures.
Dixie Land Band at Disney World’s Main Street USA – photo by Barry Lewis on Flickr CC
Beyond Orlando even more attractions have opened in locations within one to two hour’s drive from Orlando. Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral and Busch Gardens in Tampa are two of the most famous examples. All these major attractions continue expanding, adding new rides, shows and entertainment year after year.
With so much going on in Orlando, visitors planning a trip can’t be blamed for getting confused and overwhelmed with all the exciting options on offer. To help ease the confusion and aid in travel plans, following is a detailed list of all Orlando and central Florida’s major attractions, as of 2014.
Note that each theme park and attraction has rather hefty admission fees. Visitors who plan to stay in Orlando for 1-2 weeks or more and to visit several parks will quickly find themselves dishing out hundreds of dollars in entry fees. Add to those hotel, food and transportation costs and you’ve got an extremely expensive vacation.
Fortunately, visitors can save a lot of money by purchasing joint tickets that allow entry into several different parks over several days or weeks. A variety of great deals for Orlando tickets are available, such as entry combo deals that include entry into 2 – 3 – or more attractions. Then there are deals that combine attractions, flights and accommodation.
Packages vary greatly by number of days at each attraction, single adult or family tickets, and so on. Be sure to research carefully and consider exactly which places you most want to see and for how many days at each.
This list should help with your Orlando travel plans:
Epcot Center at Disney World – photo by Quintanomedia at Flickr CC
Walt Disney World – 6 theme parks within the complex
1. Magic Kingdom
This is the original heart of Disney World, where all Disney’s beloved characters roam, costumed parades fill the streets, shows and events are showcased and fireworks brighten the night skies. Magic Kingdom is sub-divided into six themed areas: Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A.
2. Epcot Center
Epcot Center focuses on technology and countries around the world. Not surprisingly, it’s divided into two distinct sections. Future World features technological innovations while World Showcase presents the culture and cuisine of 11 countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada.
3. Hollywood Studios
As its name implies, this area is devoted to Hollywood movies. It offers the vibrancy of bustling movie sets in 8 different sections: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Sunset Boulevard, Streets of America, Commissary Lane, Pixar Place, Mickey Avenue and Animation Courtyard areas.
4. Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom park is one of the world’s largest animal theme parks. A gigantic zoo, it’s home to more than 1,700 animals, including 250 species. Visitors can explore six amazing lands: Oasis, Discovery Island, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and DinoLand, U.S.A.
5-6. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks
These exciting water parks are packed with water rides, slides, a giant wave pool and beaches. Visitors can snorkel on a coral reef, learn to surf, go white water rafting or suntan on the beach.
Killer Whale show at Sea World – photo by Tammy Lo on Flickr CC
Sea World & Aquatica
As its name implies, Sea World is devoted to the oceans and ocean creatures. Here’s where you’ll find all sorts of aquatic animal shows and habitats. There are habitats for penguins, mantas, sharks, turtles and dolphins. Visitors can get up close with dolphins, beluga whales, penguins or sea lions.
Sea World also has several exciting water rides, though many more are located in their vast water park Aquatica.
Universal Studios Orlando Resort
Like Disney World, this themed park has developed into a massive complex and resort focused on Hollywood movies.
The concept is to let guests go behind the scenes, beyond the screen, and jump right into the action of their favorite movies. After all, it’s everybody’s fantasy to leap through the screen and find themselves in the middle of their favorite motion pictures. Guests become stars of some of the greatest movies and TV shows.
It’s also a real working film and TV production facility with an amazing array of rides, shows, movie sets and attractions.
Wet N Wild
This large amusement park is focused exclusively on water rides, which vary tremendously from slow n easy relaxing rides to exhilarating thrill rides that require some strength, skill and good swimming abilities.
Wet N Wild is located in southwest Orlando and is one of the most reasonably-priced amusement parks in the area.
Legoland – photo by Ayleen Gaspar on Flickr CC
Legoland
Florida boasts the largest LEGOLAND Park in the world, a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, restaurants, shopping, a breathtaking botanical garden and the LEGOLAND Water Park. The entire complex is geared to families with children ages 2 to 12.
Legoland is located in Winter Haven town on Lake Eloise, just 45 minutes from Orlando.
Gatorland
Gatorland showcases thousands of alligators and crocodiles including four extremely rare leucistic “white” alligators. They also have a free-flight aviary, petting zoo, one of a kind animal shows, natural alligator breeding marsh, and the “thrilling” Screamin’ Gator Zip Line.
Gatorland is located just south of Orlando and just 15-20 minute drive from Disney World.
shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center – photo by NASA/GSFC/Rebecca Roth at Flickr CC
Kennedy Space Center
USA’s original astronaut and space rocket center is open to the public. Visitors can get face to face with a real space shuttle, gaze up at several original US rockets, learn the history and future of space exploration, have lunch with an astronaut and even take astronaut training. Visitors with lucky timing can also watch a real live space shuttle launch.
Cape Canaveral is located on Florida’s east coast, about 30 minutes’ drive from Orlando.
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is a massive amusement park located in Tampa, just one hour’s drive from Orlando. Within the park are exciting rides like roller coasters, spectacular themed shows, and animal parks. Animal regions include an African Safari, Australian animals, bird park, petting zoo, animal care center and areas highlighting specific African animals.
Best luck planning your exciting vacation to Orlando and have the time of your life.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
