History
- Orlando, Florida, the worldLs biggest playground,
was named in honor of Orlando Reeves, an army sentry killed during
the first Seminole War. What began in the 1830Ls as an army outpost
grew into an agricultural supply line with the expansion of The
South Florida Railroad. Orlando became a center for cattle, cotton,
and citrus plantations.
Very secretly, beginning in the early 60s,
an anonymous investor bought thousands of acres of what was then
farmland, orange groves, and swamp marshes. News of this activity
reached the press, and he was forced to divulge his plan to build
a one hundred million dollar resort and theme park. He envisioned
an oasis where travelers could take their families and live out
the kind of fantasies he had as a child. Walt Disney's secret
was out, and the hysteria surrounding the possibility of a tourism
center in Central Florida caused civic leaders to grant special
zoning laws to help bring his dream to life. In 1971 Disney World
opened its doors, and Orlando has never been the same.
Today, at Walt Disney
World and rival theme parks such as Sea World and Universal
Studios, it is possible to swim with sharks, battle pirates,
be chased by a T-Rex, fight villains with Spiderman, journey to
the moon, and even watch the filming of a major motion picture.
Walt's dreams draws more than forty million visitors a year.
Golf
Courses ~ Golf is also a favorite retreat for visitors
to the Orlando area. With over 80 courses catering to every skill
level, duffers and low handicappers can play loops designed by
famous golf architects like Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, and
Jack Nicklaus. The gem of the bunch is Arnold Palmer's Bay
Hill Country Club, a private course that is home of the Bay
Hill Invitational PGA event each year. Greg Norman is currently
designing a new course, which will be located just 5 minutes from
most of our properties. Click here
to see a detailed listing and map.
Fishing
~ For those who thrive in the great outdoors, Orlando, Florida
is home to some of the best bass fishing in the entire
United States. Additionally, lakes like the 1700-acre Lake
Conway offer boating, water-skiing, diving, wind surfing and
parasailing.
Patriotism
~ If you want a bit of nationalism during your vacation, take
a day and head east, approximately fifty miles, to Cape Canaveral,
home of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
and the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Follow a history
of how the space program began and its successes and failures
that brought it to its current status as one of the most advanced
research centers in the world. Talk to an active astronaut and
find out what it's like to leave the security of Earth and frolic
in outer space.
Florida may be known as "The Sunshine
State", but for people seeking an active vacation with a
little bit of adventure, Orlando, "The City Beautiful",
just may be the brightest spot.
Helpful
Links:
Theme
Parks:
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Magic Kingdom Park
Experience the seven wondrous and enchanting lands of fun and make-believe
where timeless, never forgotten stories come to life. 40 famous
Disney attractions, parades and shows await you in this kingdom
where your imagination reigns.
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort EPCOT
Explore all that's new in science, technology, energy and health, or visit
the numerous wonders of the world featuring eleven different countries.
Here you can experience food, music, shopping and the diverse
culture among us through various shows including llumiNations
a nighttime celebration featuring music, special effects and thunderous
fireworks.
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Disney-MGM Studios
Experience spectacular live entertainment, thrilling attractions, and special
events that capture the spirit of Hollywood. You can dance and
sing along with a live musical Revue featuring Playhouse Disney
favorites such as Bear in the Big Blue House and Book of Pooh.
Join Mickey in his world of imagination with the spectacular evening
extravaganza Fantasmic!
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Disney's Animal Kingdom
Whether real, imaginary or extinct, the animals who rule this domain bring
to life a day of adventure into the mystery, marvels and thrills
of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Here visitors can enjoy
the spectacular live show the Lion King or take a wild ride though
the Safari, where you can get face to face with some of the most
amazing African animals.
Universal Studios Florida
Thrill to over 20 rides, shows, and attractions, including "Men in
Black Alien Attack", Erminator 2: 3-D, Twister , Ride it
OutR, Back To The FutureR, E.T. AdventureR, Animal Planet Live!,
Timmy Neutron, Nicktoon Blast, and the all new Shrek 4-D.
Islands of Adventure
Journey through 5 Islands featuring 25 rides and attractions, including
"The Amazing Adventures of Spider-ManR", "Incredible
Hulk Coaster", Jurassic Park River Adventure", "The
Cat in The Hat" and "Popeye & Bluto", "Bilge
Rat Barges".
Sea World Orlando
Interactive marine adventure featuring the Shamu killer whale show, Key
West style Dolphins show; and the ever popular Wild Arctic, where
guests encounter live polar bears. In addition to shows, this
park features thrilling rides such as Traken, Orlando's tallest,
fastest and only floorless roller coaster.
Water
Parks:
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Disney's Blizzard Beach
Enjoy the newest water park at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort and plunge
60 miles an hour on the largest, fastest free fall speed slide,
Summit Plummet. Heated water. Pre-teen and children's area.
WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Enjoy America's largest inland surf pool, a shark reef with tropical fish
and other water adventures. Children's area and heated water.
Adventure Island Tampa
Adventure Island is whipping up waves of excitement for the whole family!
It's full of thrills as you discover a combination of exhilarating
slides, tropical beaches, pools and floats.
Water Mania
Enjoy 36 acres of stimulating slides, twisting flumes, and adventurous
pools. Take the family twisting and turning 400 ft. down the Anaconda,
or float swiftly along an 850 ft. tropical river. Grab a body
board and ride the only surfing simulator in the Eastern U.S.
Families can enjoy a wet day of fun and retreat to three acres
of beautifully landscaped picnic area. There's something for every
family member at Water Mania!
Wet 'N Wild
Enjoy a full day of fun at Orlando's best selection of world renown water
rides, including an elaborate children's playground featuring
mini versions of our most popular rides. The new Fuji Flyer is
a thrilling four passenger toboggan ride through 450 feet of exciting
banked curves. Offering the most variety of multi-person rides
so families and friends can experience their exciting water adventures
together!
Wild Waters
Exciting family water park featuring 450,000 gallon wave pool, seven speed
flumes and water slides. "Cool Kids Cove" is a one acre
attraction featuring a shallow lagoon with a wooden dock complete
with water slides, net bridge, water cannons, swings, waterfalls
and tunnels. Park also features miniature golf, volleyball, and
picnic facilities.
Dinner
Shows:
Aloha Polynesian Luau at Sea World
While you enjoy a sumptuous, multi-course island feast, authentic, vividly
costumed native dancers and musicians entertain you with a dazzling
South Seas revue. Reservations required.
Arabian Nights
Dinner Show Attraction
A spectacular equestrian performance featuring the world's most beautiful
Lippizans, Quarter Horses, Arabians and other breeds of horses
and some of the world's greatest riders. An exciting dinner show
filled with comedy and romance.
Blazing Pianos
Rock'n Roll Musical Adventure
Blazing Pianos is a three piano sing along musical adventure with high
energy, non-stop live entertainment of American songs from the
'50s to the '90s. The musical talent, sharp wit and comical gags
of our various musicians guarantee a full night of hand clapping
fun.
Capone's
Dinner and Show, Inc.
Capone's combines dance, romance, comedy, and intrigue in a broadway-style
show. Enjoy a buffet dinner and unlimited beer, soda, and more.
Hard Rock Cafe
Orlando's Kingdom of Rock serves up high quality classic American cuisine
in an electrifying music memorabilia packed setting. "Love
all-Serve all." Free parking. No reservations.
Mark Two Dinner Theater
Orlando's only professional dinner theater presenting live full-scale broadway
shows. Delicious award winning five entree buffet. Full service
bar and gourmet desserts. Reservations and all credit cards accepted.
Medieval Times
Guests enjoy the splendor and excitement of the middle ages where the experience
is very much like it was many centuries ago. Costumed wenches
and serfs serve a delicious four course meal, while the audience
cheers the knights to victory. Before the show, visitors may tour
the medieval village.
Official All Star Cafe
The Official All Star Cafe is a sports themed restaurant and entertainment
extravaganza featuring memorabilia from the greatest sporting
events past and present.
Pirates
Dinner Adventure
A swashbuckling dinner show featuring a 40,000 square foot theater and
a 300,000 gallon lagoon, Pirate's Dinner Adventure entertains
crowds with live stunts and performances, thrills and adventures
and engaging special effects. Cast members sing, entertain and
invite audience participation. Follow International Drive to Carrier
Drive. Casual dress and reservations recommended.
Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood brings the magic of Hollywood to the restaurant where
diners can enjoy great food and a fabulous collection of entertainment
memorabilia from the past and present.
Sleuths Mystery Dinner
Show
You solve the crime! Experience the world of mystery, intrigue and comedy
while enjoying a delicious dinner with unlimited beer and soft
drinks. Great for all ages.
Golfing:
There are over 80 courses designed by famous golf
architects like Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus and
Arnold Palmer. Greg Norman is currently designing a new course,
which will be located just 5 minutes from most of our properties.
Click here to see some courses in the
area.
Fishing:
Orlando, Florida is home to some of the best bass
fishing in the entire United States.
While in Orlando, Florida enjoying the attractions, spend
a day on a guided bass fishing trip and see some of the countries
most beautiful waters.
Go2Orlando.Com - see comprehensive
listings of local area guided tours and fish camps
Florida Bass Adventures - Orlando Trophy Bass fishing guide for Lake Toho, Kissimmee
Chain and Walk in Water
Swanny Bass Guides Plus - Central
Florida Bass fishing guides, Florida Fishing Licenses, other helpful
links
All Florida Fishing Guide Service - Specialize
in Bass, Snook, Redfish and Trout fishing in the Orlando, Kissimme
and Vero Beach areas.
Fish-Orlando.com - Pro guide services for
West Lake
Toho, Butler Chain, Lake Walk-In-Water, Conway Chain, Rodman Reservoir,
& Lake Okeechobee!
Night
Life and Other Areas of Interest:
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
Experience nighttime entertainment at its best with seven different themed
night clubs, featuring a nightly New Year's Eve party. Hop into
TET SoundStage Club?Efor some hip hop and R&B tunes for your
dancing pleasure, or visit Motion for the most recent sounds of
today with a live D.J. Mannequins Dance Club, the most hippest
and most crowded club in Pleasure Island, features contemporary
dance music as well as a revolving dance floor. If retro is your
thing, boogie to the 70s and 80s at TRAX. Have a laugh or two
Disney Style at the Comedy Warehouse. For the true Rocker, be
sure to visit the Rock n Roll Beach Club. This tropical themed
club plays classic & contemporary rock songs. The Adventures
Club is themed as a stuffy 1920's Gentleman's Club, with actors
performing at various times in different themed rooms.
Downtown Disney West side and Marketplace
Entertainment, shopping and dining at its best here at Disney's "West
Side" and "Marketplace" Some of the shops include:
Once Upon a Toy Store, LEGO Imagination Center, Pooh Corner, Disney's
Days of Christmas and for your dining pleasure, visit: Fulton's
Crab House, Rainforest Caffe House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck Cafe
, Planet Hollywood and Ghirardelli. For entertainment, Westside
features Cirque du Soliel Show, DisneyQuest Interactive Theme
Park and AMC Pleasure Island Movie Theaters.
Disney
BoardWalk
Take
in an atmosphere that combines the timeless charm of a 1940s Atlantic
coastal village with the best in contemporary entertainment, shopping
and dining.
Universal
CityWalk
The ultimate dining and entertainment complex. CityWalk, located between
Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure, offers dining, entertainment
and shopping all in one convenient location. Some of the restaurants
include: Jimmy Buffetty Margaritaville, Hard Rock Caf?E Nascar
Caf?Eand Emeril's Restaurant Orlando. Some of the Clubs include: Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom, Hard Rock
Live, CityJazz, Bonkerz! Comedy Club and a the Universal Cineplex.
Hard
Rock Live
The future of rock history-the all new Hard Rock Live features a 2000-seat
concert venue, state-of-the-art sound, lighting and broadcast
systems, worth of the legendary acts that will grace our stage.
House of Blues
The concert venue that dishes up an
eclectic combination of "international pleasant cuisine"
and music.
Church Street Station
Church Street Station is Central Florida's original Entertainment Complex. With
shopping, restaurants, bars and entertainment, there is always
something going on at Church Street Station. Visitors can enjoy live rock-n'
roll classics in the Orchid Garden, Country music in the world-famous
Cheyenne Saloon, Dixieland Jazz and Can Can dancers in Rosie O'Grady's,
and top 40 hits in Phineas Phogg's Dance Club.
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral
Visit NASA's
primary space launch facility. This is the closest thing to launching
into orbit. An exploration of America's space program, visitors
will see the actual outfits worn by legendary astronauts, touch
pieces of outer space, and explore a world that 50 years ago was
no more than a product of someone's imagination. The Kennedy Space
Center features a variety of exciting tours, IMAX films, and attractions
including an opportunity to train like an astronaut and make purchases
from over 8,000 gifts related to space.
Orlando Science Center
Peer into a sinkhole, become a particle of food traveling through the body
and create landscapes with computers. This interactive, 207,000
square foot facility offers science for everyone.
U.S. Astronaut Hall
of Fame/U.S. Space Camp
Located in Titusville, Florida, The Astronaut Hall of Fame houses personal
mementos, historic artifacts, and rare footage of the space pioneers
of America. Don't miss your chance to climb aboard a full-scale
replica of the Space Shuttle!
Wonderworks
A fantastic attraction full of entertainment and interactive fun featuring
a myriad of hands-on experiences, demonstrations and activities
utilizing sophisticated graphics. This attraction features the
most unique virtual reality experience available in the United
States.
