Holidaying in Orlando can be a thrilling, exciting as well as relaxing experience for children and parents alike. With a multitude of different theme parks, as well as water parks and huge malls for the ultimate in shopping experiences, Florida can provide great fun for the whole family.
Walt Disney World, the main reason people go on an Orlando holiday. The single largest theme park/resort in the world Walt Disney World is made up of four large theme parks, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom, as well as two water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, a full shopping and entertainment precinct in Downtown Disney, as well as 25 hotels and resorts (27 in the near future), ESPN Wide World of Sports and five championship golf courses. The Walt Disney Company is one of the biggest landowners in Florida.
Holiday makers in Orlando also usually visits Universal Studios, a two and a half theme park resort with its own huge Hard Rock Cafe and Universal Studios hotel. Theme parks Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (technically part of Islands of Adventure therefore the half), are home to some classic theme park rides such as Jaws, some monster rides such as The Mummy, Rip Ride Rocket, The Hulk, Jurassic Park River Adventure and Doctor Doom's Fear Fall, as well as some rides which are just good fun such as The Amazing Spiderman and Ripshaw Falls.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, both owned by Anheuser Busch, are two very different theme parks. SeaWorld celebrates life under the sea, with some of the most amazing animal display shows in the world including the Shamu Show where Killer Whales (family of Shamu who played Willy in the movie Free Willy) perform tricks leaps and make some huge waves! Busch Garden, originally an animal park, is now known as the home of some of the most awesome rollercoasters in Florida, The Montu, The Quazi and the SheiKra to name a few.
Water parks such as Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon as well as Wet and Wild and Aquatica, offer much needed relief from the sunshine, especially in the height of the summer.
Shopping is serious business in Orlando and in classic American style is possible to get some real bargains. The Premium Outlets on International Drive is home to over 180 different factory outlet stores all of which are brimming with cheap clothing, sportsware, homeware and more for you to bring home! If you can't find what you're looking for at the Premium Outlets (there are no Abercrombie or Hollister stores), try the Florida Mall which has four department stores as well as all your classic American shops, and some fabulous jewellery stores.
To ensure your Orlando holiday is one to remember, make sure your plan in advance, create an itinerary to make sure you have time for everything, and save save save!