We love Disney and all of Orlando. Sea World is our favorite non Disney. I've pasted below "our family favorites" (sorry so long) for your reading pleasure.
The Barcak's favorite things to do In Orlando
Hi, The Barczak family has 6 members. David & Alison (getting old but young at heart), Mary (12), Tim (10), Matthew (5) and Andrew (3). We have been heading down to Orlando yearly for the past 6 years. So we have hit it for just about every age of kid except teenagers. In the following paragraphs I will tell you about our family favorites, the kids (and at what age) favorites, and Alisons and mines (We actually did a trip without the kids before Andrew entered our world).
DISNEY WORLD FAVORITES:
Family Favorites -
MGM STUDIOS - FANTASMIC is a must see. The show alone is worth the price of admission to MGM for the day. However, it is not a very well kept secret. Even though the stadium holds 12,000 it fills up 1 hour to an hour & 1/2 before show time. On weekend nights where there are 2 showings we recommend the first. The kids are not as cranky. Also suggest getting a little later start on the day you plan on seeing it to save energy for the big wait. Get in and get your seats and then have a runner head to the concessions for snacks/dinner.
DISNEY QUEST - Well after visiting Disney 5 times we finally made it to Disney Quest. It was a pleasant surprise. Amazing what they can do with computers. Great for kids 8+. Any younger and it would be challenging. The virtual roller coaster is amazing. You design your own roller coaster on a computer by selecting sections of track from a rather large group (twist, turns, corkscrews, loops, etc) and then go into a simulator and actually ride it. I made the mistake of going with Timothy. He swore there were only 2 upside downs. Well 9 upside downs later I emerged from the simulator looking rather green. There is a ton to do and we couldn't get the big kids out. Had to take Alison and the little ones back to the room and go back and wait till closing for the bigger kids. Watch out though if its crowded. Its all indoors and I can see where during peak times it could seem claustrophobic.
MAGIC KINGDOM - CRYSTAL PALACE CHARACTER BUFFET: Always one our best meals on the trip and you get personal attention from the entire Pooh gang (Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, & Tigger). The buffet is excellent. It has booth kids food and adult food. Again, not a very good kept secret. You will need to make reservations a couple of weeks before heading down on your trip. We personally prefer a later seating, 2pm. Less hectic and our morning snacks are wearing out and we are ready for a good hour or so break.
ANIMAL KINGDOM - FESTIVAL OF LION KING SHOW: A fantastic musical and acrobatic performance. Rivals the Broadway show (shorter though). Again, gotta get there early. Suggest early performances.
EPCOT - As the kids get older Epcot gets better. We hit it this year during the wine and food festival. It was great. Alison and I sampled a wine from every other or maybe every third or maybe everyone ( I can't remember) and we all shared a sampled of food from each booth. It was educational (don't tell the kids) and fun. Their favorite was the alligator from the Florida booth and the jerk chicken from Australia. If not there during the wine & food festival its still a good time. Our favorite is "Honey, I shrunk the Audience" and the Living Seas. Test track is pretty good also, but use fastpass or you'll be in line awhile.
WATER PARK - BLIZZARD BEACH: A tough call though. Typhoon lagoon has the snorkel with the fish and rays area. But It was unanimous. Blizzard Beach has better and I more slides. Has a great middle age kids area also. We live in Memphis, TN. There is not a real water park within 200 miles so we always hit them at least once and often 2 days.
FIREWORKS: - WE WATCH FROM THE BRIDGES: We all love the fireworks but the kids do not like the hike over to Epcot after a full day of activities and the little ones do not like the big bangs. Although you should go over to Epcot at least once, thats probably enough. We like the vantage point from the far bridge (the one behind the dance hall). Fewer trees blocking and less crowded. We also try and rent a surrey bike for 6 one night and time it so we are on the bridge at fireworks time. Warning, the surrey bikes are tough work (especially when the kids are not peddling their fair share). We almost never make it up the bridges, have to get out and push.
Orlando's Non Disney Attractions:
SEA WORLD. The whole family loves Sea World. Maybe its because we live in TN and all we ever see is a skunk, a possum, or a raccoon (usually squashed on the road). The kids love feeding the animals (Dolphins, Sea Lions, a Rays - caution cost extra). The shark exhibit is awesome. The shows are pretty good. Sea World has the longest roller coaster in North America - The Kracken. Tim gives it a solid 10.
DISCOVERY COVE: Truly amazing, but a real budget smasher. For the 2 big kids and myself (they did the dolphin swim, I didn't), pictures, and snacks we spend almost $700. It is a once or maybe a twice in a lifetime adventure. Mary and Tim loved it and still talk about it. The dolphin swim consists of spending about 30 - 35 minutes in the water with a group of 8 plus 2 trainers and your own private dolphin. You get to kiss, pet, do tricks, and even ride the dolphin. What an experience. When you are not at the dolphing swim there are three other adventures. They have a huge lagoon where you swim with all sorts of fish and one that has stingrays (been de-stung). Then there is a river that flows through a huge bird avery. You can go into the avery and feed the birds. A great lunch is included as well as admission to Seaworld on several days before or after your visit to Discovery Cove. Because Seaworld is included and you can
go to Discovery Cove and not do the dolphin swim (cost around $120) we will probably go every other time we visit (no dolphin swim) Orlando. It really is a fun, relaxing, educational, and enjoyable day.
UNIVERSAL STUDIO'S ISLAND OF ADVENTURE: Great rides for kids over 52", only so so for little ones. Spiderman is amazing, my vote for best ride in Orlando. The park has at least 4 roller coasters. The Hulk is out of this world. Blast you off into a full loop at 60 MPH. Tim (the kid loves coasters) rode it 7 times in a row in an hour last November. I got woozy just sitting and watching him.
Busch Gardens Tampa - Much better than expected. Great rides. The best little kids (2-6 years - called Dragon World) I have ever seen. They also have 2 other areas (3 - 4 rides) for small kids. They have 6 roller coasters of varying degrees of difficulty. Plus there is the added attraction of the animals. They had the biggest alligator I have ever seen. My favorite was the hospitality pavilion, my daughter liked the animals especially the Clydesdales, Tim rode every coaster at least twice and we couldn't get the little ones away from Dragon world. Its about an hours drive from Disney but worth the trip every other time or so.
MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS: A ton of family fun. Even the little guys loved it. Got a little boring though waiting to enter the arena area. Lots of excitement once the show starts (jousting, sword fighting, feats of skill) and the kids loved the food. Nothing fancy, soup, a 1/2 roasted chicken, potatoes, something else and a dessert. And for mom and Dad, all the beer you can drink. Eat everything with your hands (kids where in heaven). Don't be afraid to ask for a doggie bag. We took home 3 containers and ate for 2 days.
This is a work in progress and I add to it whenever I get the feeling.
The Barczaks
DH and I are a little Sea Worlded out! My DD went at age 2 and found plenty to enjoy even at that young age. Next trip DD was 7, DS 3 again it was a sucess. This year, DD age 10, DS age 7 again lots of fun. So if you do a non-Dis park, I'd go with Sea World.
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