Orlando Area
What most visitors think of as Orlando actually includes Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista as well. Walt Disney World's theme parks are mandatory magic for Central Florida visitors. The spires of Cinderella's castle are familiar around the world as the symbol of The Magic Kingdom, Disney's original park in Lake Buena Vista. The castle is a fantastic backdrop for playful rides and roaming characters such as international celebrity, Mickey Mouse. Disney's Animal Kingdom, its newest adventure park, is filled with the natural drama of life in the wild. Visitors have thrilling encounters with animals from real life, the distant past, and imagination. The latest addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom is Asia, which showcases the exotic wildlife and lush rain forests of the continent's southern region. Guests embark on many fascinating journeys, encountering natural mysteries at every turn. Epcot is a two-part educational and cultural attraction designed to challenge the mind and satisfy the senses. Here, you can sample a warm croissant at a bakery in France, tap your foot to an authentic oom-pah band in Germany, learn about the age of dinosaurs, and take an exhilarating trip through the human body all in one day! Disney-MGM Studios allows visitors to see Disney animators creating wonderful characters and explains movie-making on an entertaining backlot tour.
Visitors to Central Florida will want to explore natural attractions as well as fantastical ones, and SeaWorld is a wonderful place to start. Now guests can be Trainer for a Day, working alongside real SeaWorld animal trainers to learn training techniques, feeding and show preparation. Attractions include the "Pacific Point Preserve," a sea lion and seal habitat which mimics the rocky, northern Pacific coastline; and "Manatees: The Last Generation?" an up-close look at the endangered sea cow. SeaWorld's newest attraction is Wild Arctic, which takes visitors on a chilling adventure to experience the natural beauty of the arctic. Visitors come face to face with real polar bears, walruses, harbor seals and beluga whales. The highlight of a visit to SeaWorld is the "Shamu: New Visions" show during which killer whales interact with trainers, defy gravity in breathtaking leaps and make a big splash (and a wet audience!) with a flick of the tail and 52-degree water.
