From rollercoaster forest to gulf-stream waterslide, Orlando was made for you and me. Come live out your food fantasies, and indulge your sense of wonder in the theme park capital of the world.
Dress code: If you're
pounding park pavement, wear
breathable clothing, comfortable
shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen
(Mickey Mouse ears, optional). And
don't forget an umbrella for those
sudden tropical downpours.
One phrase worth knowing:
Fastpass! With one of these in hand,
skipping the lines at top
attractions is not only on the
up-and-up, but encouraged. It's a
ticketed reservation system that
sets up a prearranged time to come
back to the ride of your choice
without a wait--for no extra charge.
Where to get your adrenaline
rush:
At Disney-MGM Studios, Lights,
Motors, Action! is an extreme
stunt show on hand for the 50th
Anniversary celebration. Cars,
motorcycles, and jet skies burn
rubber and give a movie-worthy
performance right before your eyes,
complete with eye-popping
pyrotechnics and hair-raising
high-speed chase scenes.
Where to recuperate afterwards:
Get the signature
treatment--beguilingly called
Mystical Forest Therapies--at the
spa at Saratoga Springs Resort,
which includes 30 minutes of
muscle-numbing Swedish massage
combined with 30 minutes of relaxing
reflexology.
Where to blow a paycheck:
While the admission price to
Discovery Cove is steep, it's worth
it to spend a day getting up close
and personal with marine creatures
like dolphins and a stunning variety
of rainbow-colored fish with no
crowds, no lines, and no hassles.
Best place to end dinner with a
bang:
Walk out onto the outdoor terrace or
stay put at the table when they dim
the lights at the California Grill.
The views of the nightly fireworks
over the
Magic Kingdom castle provide a
"happily ever after" ending to an
inspired meal at this hip restaurant
that?s known for its great wine
list.
You can take it with you: For
kids (or precocious adults, for that
matter) who want to bring home the
magic, you can purchase exact
replicas of Cinderella's dress,
tricked-out pirate costumes, trading
pins, and innovative toys galore at
the Marketplace in Downtown Disney.
Recommendations & Suggestions
Discovery Cove
Central Florida Parkway
Phone: 877.4.DISCOVERY
Imagine a theme park with no lines
and no crowds. Really. This novel
concept is at the heart of the Discovery
Cove experience, where only 1,000 lucky
guests are allowed admittance to the
park each day. The point is that you
didn't come all the way here just to see
more people. Instead, you get to
interact with a wide variety of marine
animals, up close and personal. Among
the many adventures are swimming with
playful dolphins and harmless stingrays,
snorkeling at the park's coral
reef-filled lagoons, exploring tropical
jungles and rivers, or interacting with
brightly feathered birds in the aviary.
Personalized service ensures that
everything you need is at hand--they
even provide you with specially
formulated sunscreen (designed not to
harm the animals). All ages are welcome,
although you must be age six and over to
enjoy the dolphin swim.
Disney's Blizzard Beach
Walt Disney World Resort
Phone: 407.939.7675
With all the talk today about global
warming and wild climate change, it's
not too much of a stretch to believe
that maybe once upon a time, a freak
winter storm led to the creation of a
full-service ski resort in Orlando,
Florida. It's even less of a stretch to
imagine that when the ice started to
melt, the ski lifts and toboggan runs
were converted into really fun water
rides.
At Blizzard Beach, the ski jump doubles
as a waterslide and the flume functions
as an inner tube speedway. Cool off from
the Florida sun in an ice cave or swim
past icebergs. There are even areas of
snow for kids to play in. Lazy rivers
amble from attraction to attraction,
including the park's Summit Plummet, the
tallest waterslide in the U.S. Hint: the
best time to visit is after 3pm.
Gatorland
14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Phone: 800.393.JAWS
For "swamp stompin'" adventures, just
walk through the massive concrete
alligator head--teeth and all--for entry
into the "alligator capital of the
world." The park consists of over 100
acres of wildlife preserve, including
jungle crocodiles, pink flamingos, giant
turtles, and of course, all gators great
and small. On Alligator Island, see if
you can spot Alf, the largest gator in
the pack at 15 feet long and a hefty
1,000 pounds. Or pay a visit to Cobalt,
a rare blue alligator (the result of a
genetic mutation).
While you're here, be sure to catch a
show. Gator Wrestling pits Gator
Wranglers (professionals, of course)
against thrashing reptiles, and during a
Jumparoo Show, you can watch the giant
animals leap out of the water up to five
feet high to snatch up a snack. This is
a great way to appreciate their size and
jaws from a safe distance. If you want
closer contact, there are areas to
interact with snakes, bats, and
rainbow-plumed lorikeets, if you so
choose.
Richard Petty Driving
Experience
Walt Disney World Speedway
Phone: 800.BE.PETTY
If you feel the need, the need for
speed, then get your daredevil racetrack
thrills during this unique chance to
really put pedal to the metal. Ride
shotgun in a stock car with a 600 hp
engine and leave the steering to an
expert NASCAR instructor. Or, sign on
for the three-hour Rookie Experience,
which gives you eight gloriously solo
laps around the track. If you want even
more Experience than that, you've got
many options on how to enjoy your ride,
but remember, additional speed and a
longer track come at steeper prices. No
matter what you choose, you get 40
minutes of instruction on the track and
in the car.
Note: reservations are required, as are
close-toed shoes.
Roy's Restaurant
7760 West Sand Lake Road
Phone: 407.352.4844
Perhaps the inspiration for those strategically-placed dollops of wasabi aioli could be traced to Chef Roy Yamaguchi's childhood, which was seasoned with visits to the Hawaiian islands. His grandparents lived on Maui, and the sea-based meals and fresh ingredients he shared with them left an indelible impression on his memory. Today, his distinctive cooking style fuses elements of Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine with European sauces and award-winning wines, resulting in entree choices like macadamia nut mahi mahi and misoyaki pot roast; desserts like melting hot chocolate souffles and caramel macadamia nut almond tarts; and drinks like the exceptional Hawaiian martini.