Orlando Water & Theme Parks, Attractions, and Vacation Ideas

Walt Disney World® Theme Parks

Explore the Enchanted Cinderella Castle

You've heard the story of Cinderella, her Prince, and her fairy godmother ... now see the splendor of her story come to life at Cinderella Castle. Your entire family will delight at finally seeing this enchanting symbol of magic, fantasy and imagination in person at Disney's Magic Kingdom®  Park! (as to Disney artwork, logos and properties: ©Disney)

Orlando attractions draw tourists by the tens of thousands each year. Some favorites, such as the Walt Disney World Theme Parks, have been around for decades yet manage to keep people coming back time and again. Others are so new that you can truly say you were the first on your block to see them.

Live Entertainment & Dining in Orlando

• Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show (Vineland Ave., Orlando) - A rollicking fun time as this ensemble of talented actors and equines turn the stage into a friendly rivalry between Union and Confederate soldiers. Traditional Southern food and music bring the authenticity of Tennessee to Florida.
• La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil^' (Downtown Disney) - A specially created show performed at the Walt Disney World Resort, this newest edition of Cirque du Soleil's unique brand of bigtop is both whimsical and dazzling. The multinational troupe of avant-garde performers consistently brings original and exciting entertainment to the masses, transcending all language barriers and cultural differences.
• Pirate's Dinner Adventure (Carrier Drive, Orlando) - Witness and take part in the takeover of a Spanish galleon by marauding pirates while dining like a king. End the evening with a late-night party known as the Buccaneer Bash.
• Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction continues to draw audiences after many years. This equestrian arena show is billed as "the most honored dinner attraction in the world."
• Planet Hollywood Premiere Meal. Get the best seats in the house at this latest incarnation of the famous storehouse of Hollywood memorabilia. Located on the west side of Downtown Disney, the giant, spherical, blue restaurant in even more impressive on the inside than it is on the outside.

Attractions and Activities in Orlando

• Activities abound in the surrounding areas. Simulate a breathtaking trip through the Florida Everglades on the Boggy Creek Airboat Ride in Kissimmee and take an up-close look at the wildlife indigenous to the swamplands of Central Florida. And if you can't get enough of wildlife, spend a day at Gatorland, where you'll see live animal shows among the attractions at the 110 acre theme park.
• Take away the wild animals and add a few slides, and you've got yourself a waterpark. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are two examples of how you can take two completely ordinary events and make them extraordinary just by transporting them to an unusual environment...as unusual as snow in Orlando.
• Museums and art centers round out this list of activities for family fun. Your kids will absolutely love you for taking them to the Science Center & Planetarium. Hands-on exhibits and larger than life Imax-type movies make this a nice half-day trip for the whole family.
• Didn't bring the family? Pleasure Island is Disney's answer to those adults whose children have finally grown up. With no one to take on the rides, it's a comfort to know that Disney is still watching out for us. Jazz bands, comedy clubs, dance palaces and a beach club are just some of the thing that Pleasure Island offers the empty nesters who still want to spend time at the "happiest place on Earth."