Orlando Parks: Fun for all ages!

Magic is in the air!

Today we have an illustrious guest on the blog! Gisele from the blog Packing your bags This is a very complete and cool blog to add to your list of favorites.
I'm a super fan of the theme she wrote and I'm going to post a video of Cris pelo Mundo from Orlando, because I miss it so much!

Magic Kingdom

Who thinks Orlando is just the perfect place for children and cheap shopping, you're making a big mistake.

In my opinion, fun is guaranteed for people of all ages and tastes. There are countless attractions on offer in the "Land of Magic": from rides aimed at the little ones to super radical rollercoasters for those who enjoy an adrenaline rush.

In my case (almost a "Disneymaniac" kkk), I like everything: I enjoy what each park has to offer. They all have very cool attractions. I've been to Orlando 3 times and I always go to almost all the parks.

Orlando offers attractions of all kinds, including theme parks, water parks, shows, restaurants, dance clubs, bars and much more.

The main parks in Orlando are: Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens. There are also other popular attractions such as the Discovery Cove and the Kennedy Space Center.

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

The complex Walt Disney World Resort is located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and 2 fantastic entertainment centers known as Downtown Disney e Disney's Boardwalk.

One of the things I love most about the parks in the Disney is their beauty and magic. Every corner of the parks is very well planned, clean and lovingly cared for. All the staff are always cheerful, upbeat and ready to help us in any way they can. In addition, the parks have a great structure for welcoming visitors: they have a lost and found center and special places for mothers with small children.

Another wonderful thing about us Disney Parks are the shows presented. They are all spectacular! Not to be missed!!!

Most of the shows take place at the end of the attractions and round off a day of magic.

The Fast Pass also shows this organization of Disney. The appointment system is very efficient. I've always used it and highly recommend it. It's easy to schedule and helps a lot when putting together the park program. The official Disney website explains everything about the Fast Pass and also provides the My Disney Experience, a free app that makes it easier to schedule your visit to each park. Visit the official Disney website here (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pt-br/)

The 4 Theme Parks of Walt Disney World Resort are:

• MAGIC KINGDOM
• DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
• DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM
• EPCOT CENTER

The 2 Water Parks are:

• BLIZZARD BEACH

Blizzard Beach

• TYPHOON LAGOON

Typhoon Lagoon

Each one has its own charm.

O Magic Kingdom is one of the most beautiful parks in my opinion. It's very well decorated, has lots of attractions, the rides aren't very extreme and I think they're more aimed at children. It's also the park where you can meet lots of characters for those famous photos and autographs. The little ones are really enchanted.

Magic Kingdom

O WishesThe park's closing show is beautiful! It's a show with wonderful projected images of the famous Cinderella Castle, accompanied by music and fireworks. It's very exciting!

Magic Kingdom

In addition to the show, there is also a parade with characters on Main Street, the park's main street, always at night, called the Electrical Parade. It's pretty cool too. The "cars" where the characters stand are very bright and animated. It's important to remember that these events can take place at different times on certain days of the week or even not at all. So keep an eye on the timetables on the official Disney website.

O Disney's Holluwood Studios is also great! In this park I consider the best attractions:

• Rock'n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith - indoor roller coaster, all in the dark, which starts at high speed.
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - the famous terror elevator that plummets from above. Very cool!

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

• Toy Story Mania - target practice with a laser gun. There are often huge queues, but it's fun.
• Indiana Jones - a performance with actors and the participation of some visitors.
• Lights, Motors, Action - a presentation of car and motorcycle races, with fire, shots and much more.

The closure of the Hollywood Studios happens with the show Fantasmica must-see! A show with Mickey and his gang, at night, on a large lake in the park. Images from the cartoons are projected onto fans of water that appear right in front of visitors. Very nice! Tip: Try to get to the theater at least 30 minutes before the show starts to get a good seat. Also, don't forget to check the performance schedule on the day of your visit.

Fantasmic

O Epcot Center is a slightly different park from the others. It is very large, but has fewer rides. This is because it has a large area known as the World ShowcaseThere are pavilions from different countries around the world. These pavilions display typical foods, clothing and articles that show everything about the culture of a particular country. In the French pavilion, for example, you can try those wonderful sweets that the French are used to, or even buy a new perfume. In some pavilions you can also see performances of typical dances and even buy some souvenirs.

In addition to World ShowcaseThe park also has the Future World. This is the area where the park's attractions are located. There aren't many, but there are two that I think are really good: Soarn'and Tast Track. The first is a hang gliding simulator over California. It's not a very radical attraction, but the sensation is very pleasant. Test Track is a ride in a car that will test your creativity and courage.

Epcot Center

In the evening Epcot Center, the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. A show full of fireworks, lasers and lights on the World Showcase lake, with the country pavilions in the background.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

O Disney's Animal Kingdom is also quite different from the others Disney parks. Its main theme is the animals of Africa. It has safaris and expeditions that bring you very close to these imposing animals. It's at Animal kingdom which is the famous giant tree with the trunk all carved with animals that we love to photograph.

The main attractions are:

• Expedition Everest - super different, high-speed roller coaster, where surprise is a very cool component.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition - a ride in a safari vehicle with open sides, where you can see giraffes, lions, zebras, warthogs and many other animals.

Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition

Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition

• Kali River Rapids - A ride on a kind of round float that goes through a forest and down a river, getting visitors all wet. It's a great summer attraction.
• It's Tough to be a bug! - A 3D film set in a theater inside the Tree of Life. It's worth a look!

  Tree of Life

O Animal Kingdom doesn't have a closing show like the others Disney parksbut presents a daily show called Festival of The Lion King. It's a big 30-minute show, in the style of a Broadway musical and based on the movie The Lion King. For me, it's one of the most beautiful shows in the world. Disney.

Festival of The Lion King

The Disney Water Parks are also wonderful. All very beautiful and full of attractions. If you're going to enjoy the summer in Orlando, it's worth including them in your itinerary.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

For those who like adventure, Universal is a blast! The Universal Parks lose exactly nothing compared to Disney. They are very beautiful and have wonderful attractions based on famous Hollywood films. I think they're the best for adrenaline lovers like me. It's at Universal that we can meet the most famous wizard of all time: Harry Potter. Harry's saga became so famous that today the two Universal parks have an area especially dedicated to the little witch. I love it!

There are countless souvenir stores in the parks. One thing is more beautiful than the next. In addition to the shops, there are also many restaurants and snack bars.

Universal doesn't offer a free "skip the line" like Disney's Fast Pass. Only a similar version called Universal Express Passwhich is paid for. For times when the parks are very crowded, I think it's worth it.

The Universal Studios parks have the best toys in Orlandoin my opinion.

There are 2 Universal Parks:

• Universal Studios
• Islands Of Adventure

The main attractions of Universal Studios are:

• The Wizard World of Harry Potter - An area entirely dedicated to the world's most famous wizard. The toy Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringots is the best known and the coolest. For those who have seen the films, it feels like being in the enchanted world of Harry Potter. It's a 3D attraction with lots of adventure and high technology. Also in this area, visitors who have a Park-to-Park ticket, i.e. who can go from one park to another at any time, can also take a ride on the Hogwarts Express, a train that goes straight to Hogsmead station, in the Island of Adventure Park.

The Wizard World of Harry Potter

The Wizard World of Harry Potter

• Transformers: The Ride-3D - A 3D simulator.
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - A roller coaster where you choose the music you want to hear during the ride. The adrenaline is pumping right from the start, as the cars go up at almost 90 degrees, which scares even the most extreme riders.
• Revenge of the Mummy the ride - An incredible simulator. Inspired by the movie The Mummy, this simulator is a ride on a trolley completely in the dark, with fireballs, mummies and much more.
• The Simpsons Ride - Wow, this is another great simulator! It gives you a bit of motion sickness but it's not to be missed. It simulates a Simpsons rollercoaster ride.
• Men in Black Alien Attack - An attraction where visitors are agents from the movie Men in Black and have to shoot as many aliens as possible.

The main attractions of Islands Of Adventure are:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - Another Harry Potter adventure. A simulator where you "fly" on a broomstick with Harry through the corridors of Hogwarts castle. Extreme! It makes you a little sick, but it's worth it.
• The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man - A heart-pounding 3D ride. It takes place in a trolley, where the sensation is one of adventure.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider Man

• The Incredible Hulk Coaster - A super fast roller coaster. Very traditional and usually very popular. It's currently undergoing maintenance, but will be back soon.
• Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - A very wet adventure. A very steep descent where visitors come out soaked.

Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges

• Jurassic Park River Adventure - A ride on a river, among dinosaurs and with a surprising ending. Prepare to get wet.

In fact, Universal's parks are champions in simulators and adventure, which I like a lot. The quality and diversity of these attractions is incredible. There are simulators for all ages, from the calmest to the most extreme.

For younger children there are also other more appropriate attractions.

I find it difficult to get to know them both Universal parks on the same day. And for Harry Potter lovers, it's important to buy the Park-to-Park ticket so you can ride the Hogwarts Express.

SEA WORLD ORLANDO

O Sea World in Orlando is also a very exciting park. As soon as you enter, you feel that the main idea is to show visitors how marine animals live and the importance of preserving our oceans.

O Sea World offers everything from relaxing shows to adrenaline-filled adventures like the Manta roller coaster, which is one of the park's highlights.

It is a very large park with a large structure of pools where whale, dolphin and even sea lion shows take place. Unlike the other Orlando parks, o Sea World is not divided into areas.

In addition to the shows and rides, there are also some souvenir shops, restaurants and snack bars.

Among the main attractions for me are:

• Manta - roller coaster unlike any other I know. It is truly special. The visitor sits in the chair, which changes position as soon as everyone is properly strapped in and everyone is in a flying position. Quite a show!
• Kraken - Electrifying roller coaster.
• Wild Artic Ride - A flight simulator.
• Journey to Atlantis - A boat trip that ends with a waterfall and lots of water.
• One Ocean - I think it's the park's main attraction. It's the orca show. It's a very beautiful show.

• Clyde & Seamore's Sea Lion High - A very funny sea lion show. Before the show, there are usually some boys entertaining visitors while the show is going on.
• Blue Horizons - Show with dolphins and birds. At the end, several taught birds take off from the stage towards the audience. Exciting!

My tip for Sea World is with regard to show times. It's very important to know all the times as soon as you enter the park. Plan to be at the show theater at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

BUSCH GARDENS

This is definitely the rollercoaster park. One of the best for teenagers and thrill-seekers.

O Busch Gardens  is located in Tampa, about two hours from Lake Buena Vista. That's why it's important to be prepared to leave the hotel a little early.

This park is today a mix of zoo, roller coasters, stores, restaurants and live shows. In my opinion, although the park is one of the largest zoos in the United States, the park's greatest attractions are the roller coasters. Among the main ones are: Cheetah Hunt, Sheikra, Kumba and Montu.

Cheetah Hunt

Sheikra

My favourites are the Sheikra, which has a descent of almost 90 degrees, and the Cheetah Hunt, which starts at speed and is quite long.

Well, as I said at the beginning of this post, Orlando is full of parks and entertainment. I've listed the ones I consider to be the main ones, but of course there are many others. The city is growing even more every day. New openings and many renovations are already planned for 2016. The parks are always changing and improving.

For families who are planning to visit the Land of Magic, I advise you to plan a lot and put together an itinerary with all the details and timetables. There are many attractions in the city and, without a plan, you end up missing out on a lot.

Here you'll find some information about the Orlando parks and on my blog, Aprontando as Malas, I've also posted some special tips for those who enjoy Orlando. Disney, Universal and all the attractions of Orlando. Go there and check it out! www.aprontandoasmalas.com.br/search/label/Disney

Many thanks to the Cris pelo Mundo blog for this great opportunity to share with its readers a little bit about this subject that I love so much!

*Photos and text by Gisele from the blog http://www.aprontandoasmalas.com.br/