Page 22 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

THEME PARKS
First Order and the Resistance, boarding an Imperial Star Destroyer with 50 animatronic storm troopers waiting in formation.
Under a transformation scheduled for completion in 2024, you’ll discover the legendary Epcot Center has ample new discoveries. Among the changes, Epcot will unify its four neighborhoods—World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery. Expect new rides like Journey of Water, inspired by Moana and other thrills.
At Epcot Center, the thrills of the fun blockbuster films “Guardians of the Galaxy” come to life in the rollercoaster attraction. Called, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind,” the family-friendly coaster experi- ence rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the action. This thrilling ride features the first ever reverse-launch on a Disney coaster and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion is a trackless dark ride. This 3D experience finds you on a daring culinary caper that will zip you through the kitchen, dining room and walls of Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant.
LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT
Take the young ones aged 2 to 12 to LEGOLAND theme park, in Winter Haven. It boasts more than 50 rides, attractions and shows as well as life-sized LEGO displays. The
Peppa Pig Theme Park features six rides, themed playscapes and a water play area. It is a Certified Autism Center and offers accessible rides for wheelchairs.
INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
Make time to visit Orlando’s International Drive a.k.a. I-Drive, home to smaller, yet no less exciting attractions.
At ICON Park, board The Wheel, a state-of- the-art observation wheel with breathtaking views of Central Florida. Or, take an invigo- rating spin on the Orlando StarFlyer, a 450- foot-tall swing ride attraction. The Slingshot and Drop Tower are both park attractions. The former lowers riders into a volcano and, as it erupts, guests will launch in the air at 100 mph and then plummet back to earth. Boasting one of the fastest and smoothest ride systems to date, the latter carries riders up 40 stories into the sky then free-falls at 75 mph. Also at this complex, visit Madame Tussauds wax museum and the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.
Nearby, the Magical Midway Thrill Park offers a variety of rides and attractions and Fun Spot America offers roller coasters— including a 250-foot SkyCoaster—multi-level go-kart tracks and arcade games. Ripley’s Believe it or Not is the center for all things odd andquirky,whileTitanic:TheArtifactExhibi- tion takes you on that fateful cruise among full scale re-creations of the doomed ship.
Dezerland Park is an indoor fun park with
a trampoline park, go-karts, bowling, arcade games, and features The Auto Museum— home to one of the most engaging auto/vehicle collections in the world with exhibits including a car collection of famous Hollywood stars and rare James Bond cars.
Dinner shows also include such diverse choices as the Pirates Dinner Adventure, the Titanic First-class Dinner Gala and the Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show.
MORE ENJOYMENT AWAITS
Orlando Watersports Complex features a modular series of inflatable, interlocking climbing obstacles, pathways and slides for hours of watery fun.
Gatorland is a great place to see alligators of all sizes. Enjoy the Gator Zip Line and the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure where you board monster-style off-road vehicles to adventure over hills, through mud puddles and across a pond full of alligators in a 15 minute rugged adventure ride alongside the swamps that feed the headwaters of the Everglades.
Aquatica Orlando
aquatica.com/Orlando
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
buschgardens.com/tampa
Dezerland Park
dezerlandpark.com/Orlando
Discovery Cove
discoverycove.com/Orlando
Gatorland
gatorland.com
International Drive Resort Area
internationaldriveorlando.com
Legoland Orlando
legoland.com/florida
Orlando Watersports Complex
orlandowatersports.com
SeaWorld Orlando
seaworld.com/Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort
universalorlando.com
Walt Disney World
disneyworld.disney.go.com
Visit Orlando
visitorlando.com
LEGOLAND, WINTER HAVEN • LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT/CHIP LITHERLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
FEATURED LINKS
20 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA