OK, so you’re headed to Florida and Disney World tops the “must do” list. We’re not surprised. Disney is spectacular, but Florida has so many amazing family attractions you may want to consider expanding your itinerary. Here’s a rundown of some of Florida’s best theme parks.
Busch Gardens
African wildlife, thrilling roller coasters, water adventures and entertaining shows are all waiting for you at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Explore the Congo and Timbuktu, filled with animals native to those countries. Climb more than 10 stories above the African landscape before plunging 130 feet into an underground trench on the record-setting Cheetah Hunt roller coaster. Designed for speed, it’s certain to thrill your little daredevils. Special experiences include an unforgettable Serengeti Safari – a 65-acre recreation of life on the home of the last great migration on earth. An open-air touring vehicle takes you into a land filled with hundreds of exotic animals where giraffes gracefully meander over for you to feed them by hand.
Florida Aquarium
Ranked in the top ten aquariums in the country by Trip Advisor and in the top five “Kid-friendly” aquariums by Parents magazine, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa has plenty to entertain. Wade through swamps that are home to Florida alligators and pass streams where otters play along the Wetlands Trail. Check out Ocean Commotion, where you’ll find predators including sharks, a giant Pacific octopus and a lionfish. The seahorse exhibit with its astonishing number of varieties is a favorite attraction. A touch tank in the lobby gives the kids (and you) a chance to touch a sea horse and other sea creatures. And when Mom and Dad need a theme park break. Florida Aquarium’s two-acre water adventure zone lets kids cool off with water cannons, geysers and a pirate ship to climb while parents keep watch and cool off in the shade at the Cantina bar and grill.
Lion Country Safari
Lions, elephants, zebras, chimpanzees and giraffes roam free at Lion Country Safari in southeast Florida. This four-mile drive-through safari experience with more than 900 wild animals is as close as you can get to Africa without a passport. The park’s chimpanzees live on a five-island system. Look for Little Mama, the oldest chimpanzee in captivity. She was once a performer in the Ice Capades and still likes to wear a shawl. Cool off in the interactive fountains at Safari World. There’s also a Ferris wheel, petting zoo and camel rides. Enhance the safari experience by waking up to a lion’s roar at the Lion Country Safari KOA campground.
Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium is the world’s longest-operating aquarium. The 1960’s Flipper TV series was filmed here and the park continues to be Flipper’s home. The friendly dolphin’s neighbors include killer whales, sea lions, manatees, sea turtles, crocodiles, stingrays and sharks. Marine animals can be viewed in exhibits that re-create their natural habitats during shows and feedings. Programs such as Dolphin Encounter and sea lion feedings provide a close-up experience with the animals. The aquarium also has an elevated ropes course, a playground, fish aquariums and remote-controlled boats and trucks to keep the kids entertained.
Kennedy Space Center
Think you have the right stuff? Experience G-forces and zero gravity at the Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Launch simulator to see how you handle life as an astronaut. After a pre-launch briefing in a replica six-story launch gantry, the sounds, lights and sensations of a rocket launch propel the imagination into flight. Take one of the Up-Close Tours to see the historical Launch Pad 39-A, where the first rockets and all space shuttles blasted off into space or step inside the massive Vehicle Assembly Building to see how rockets were prepared for launch. Afterwards, meet an astronaut at the daily Astronaut Encounter where veteran astronauts share stories of their experiences and answer questions from the audience. At the new interactive Angry Birds Space Encounter you and the kids can create your own Angry Bird then participate in seven different hands-on exhibits.
LEGOLAND
Kids all over the world spend an astonishing five billion hours a year building with LEGOS, and there’s no better place to celebrate LEGO mania than Central Florida’s LEGOLAND. Built on part of the former site of Cypress Gardens, Florida’ oldest theme park, LEGOLAND is the place where all those hours of building with LEGO bricks come to life. Spread over seven themed areas, Miniland USA is filled with miniature LEGO replicas of American cities. Look for street musicians in Times Square, find the movie stars in Los Angeles and thrill to the space shuttle smoke and rumble at the Kennedy Space Center. Other park highlights include the Imagination Zone, where budding engineers can build and program real MINDSTORM robots or build and race LEGO cars at Build and Test. In the LEGO Hero Factory play area, kids can build their own heroes to fight evil. Who knew building blocks could accomplish so much?
SeaWorld Parks
SeaWorld and its sister parks, Aquatica and Discovery Cove, are all located in the Orlando area. The entire family will be entertained and amazed by the killer whales, dolphins, manatees, sharks and thrilling rides at the parks. The SeaWorld Kids Shamu close-up experience will have your kids looking into the eyes of a killer whale while the Dolphin Nursery lets them see newborn calves. For an interactive experience check out Discovery Cove where the entire family can swim with dolphins and take an underwater stroll in a diving helmet.
Wet ‘n Wild
What could be better on a hot summer’s day than the perfect waterpark? Orlando’s Wet ‘n Wild is it. From chilling to thrilling, the attractions in Wet ‘n Wild will keep the entire family entertained. Chill by drifting down the Lazy River through boat docks and orange groves. The nearby Bubba Tub – a six-story triple dip slide will add a little speed to your lazy days on the river. Looking for more thrills than chills? Check out The Storm. This crazy ride takes you down a water soaked chute into a high-speed spin around an enormous bowl before leading to a high pressure drop into a pool. Kick that thrill up a notch at The Black Hole: The Next Generation by piloting a two-person hydra-capsule down a dark tunnel with pulsating lights and eerie sounds.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Epic adventures await at the uniquely themed islands of Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando where the world’s most cutting-edge rides, shows and interactive attractions bring your favorite stories, myths, cartoons, comic book heroes and children’s tales to life. Come face to face with the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. Venture through the mists of time as you experience the epic adventures of The Lost Continent. And step right into the pages of the children’s books of Dr. Seuss in Seuss Landing. Experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as you pass through the towering Hogwarts castle gates and explore the familiar passageways, classrooms and corridors. Visit the shops of Hogsmeade, including Honeydukes, Ollivanders and more. Plus, you can experience new pulse-pounding rides including Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a state-of-the-art attraction that brings the magic, characters, and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before imagined.
Disney Parks
And when you finally arrive at Disney, enhance your family’s experience with a guided tour at one of the parks. At Magic Kingdom, families with children 16 and up can experience the 4½ hour Keys to the Kingdom walking tour. This fascinating tour provides a look at all the behind-the-scenes magic that keeps the Disney magic alive. The tour also includes a walk through the legendary underground tunnels. The Backstage Safari is an inside look at the care and feeding of the inhabitants of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. VIP tours are also available at the Disney parks and can be customized to your family’s interest. And, if you have a little princess in your group, make her dreams come true with lunch at Cinderella’s Castle.
