1. Take advantage of Disney’s “Celebration Vacations” promotion and enjoy free entrance to Walt Disney World Resort on your birthday in 2009. To receive free admission to one of the theme parks at Disney World, just bring valid ID, including proof of birthdate.
2. If possible, plan your Walt Disney World Resort trip during the off-season and you will usually discover significantly lower airfares and hotel/resort rates.
3. If you are staying at a Disney World resort, take advantage of complimentary transportation to all Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney Area.
4. Shop at area factory outlet stores such as Orlando Premium Outlets, which sells Disney merchandise at significantly lower prices than you will find at stores within the Disney World theme parks.
5. If you don’t mind staying off Disney property, you will discover numerous accommodation choices within a five- to 10-minute drive of the main entrance to Walt Disney World Resort. For instance, you can find incredible deals on spacious villa rentals at Westgate Resorts properties that provide convenient access to Disney World theme parks such as Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
6. Look for free publications such as I Love Orlando magazine, which contain a multitude of discount coupons to Disney area attractions, restaurants and specialty shops.
7. Check out comprehensive online guides to Disney World such as Orlando, Florida Guide for in-depth information on finding the best deals on Disney World tickets, accommodations and vacation packages.
8. If you are an active or retired member of the U.S. military, you may obtain one complimentary 5-day “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of Disney Water park, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. All tickets and options are nontransferable and must be used by December 23, 2009.
9. Instead of spending a fortune at a Disney character breakfast, take your kids to Town Square at Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park for autograph and photo opportunities with Disney characters.
10. Choose the appropriate Disney World ticket deal based on your family’s length of stay in Orlando and remember not to overdo things – you will want to schedule time for rest and relaxation during your trip.
1. Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival 2. Mardi Gras at Universal Studios 3. Orlando International Fringe Festival 4. Viva La Musica 5. Arnold Palmer Invitational 6. Florida Film Festival 7. Central Florida Home & Garden Show 8. Central Florida Fair 9. Spring Fiesta in the Park 10. Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
MSNBC has a great list of the top places in the world to have fun and get in shape such as Alsace, France; Dominica, Hawaii; Hua Hin, Thailand; and more. Check it out!
1. Established in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest national park East of the Rockies.
2. With more than 10 million visitors annually, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also the most visited national park in the United States.
3. Designated an International Biosphere Reserve, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to 4,000 plant species and 140 tree species, as well as approximately 1,800 black bears.
4. Cades Cove – a 4,000-acre scenic valley that features preserved pioneer homesteads, a campground and hiking trails – is the most visited area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
5. The Cherokees referred to the Smoky Mountains as the “Land of the Blue Mist.”
6. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains, followed by Mount Guyot (6,621 feet) and Mount LeConte (6,593 feet).
7. Planned as a second entrance into Cades Cove during the 1940s, the so-called “Road to Nowhere” is today a 6-mile scenic drive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that ends in the mouth of a tunnel.
8. The Rockefeller Memorial along Newfound Gap Road marks the spot where President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940.
9. It takes a 5.5-mile hike to reach the rustic LeConte Lodge on Mount LeConte, which was built in 1924 and has no electricity or running water (reservations are usually made up to a year in advance).
10. The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the “Salamander Capital of the World” since approximately 30 species of salamander can be found here.
1. Busch Gardens Africa
Sure Busch Gardens in Tampa is another theme park but it draws fewer visitors than Disney World, Universal Orlando or SeaWorld Orlando. In addition, Busch Gardens features some eclectic thrill rides and attractions such as SheiKra, Florida’s first dive coaster, which boasts two 90º drops at 70 miles per hour.
2. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park Opened in 1936 as Florida’s first theme park, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven still features its beautiful botanical gardens and spectacular water-ski shows, but has added thrill rides, live concerts and the Splash Island Water Park over the past few years.
3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Just 45 minutes East of Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center gives you and your family the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the incredible history of American space flight and view rockets and exhibits, tour launch areas, watch a 3-D space movie at an IMAX theater and much more.
4. Silver Springs Billed as “ Florida’s Original Theme Park,” Silver Springs lies near Ocala and boasts colorful botanical gardens, animal habitats, live shows, rides, specialty shops and the world-famous glass bottom boat rides.
5. Florida Aquarium
Opened in 1995, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa is home to more than 10,000 aquatic animals and plants from all over the world such as alligators, tropical fish, sharks, stingrays and sea turtles, as well as interactive exhibits.
6. Lowry Park Zoo
Approximately 1,600 animals can be viewed in their natural habitats at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, which also features a Florida wildlife center, aviary, petting zoo, live shows and more.
7. Canaveral National Seashore One of just 10 National Seashores in the United States, Canaveral National Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped beach along Florida’s East Coast. Popular activities here include sunbathing, swimming, surf fishing, surfing and hiking.
8. Central Florida Zoological Park Just a short drive up Interstate 4 in Sanford lies the Central Florida Zoological Park, which is home to hundreds of animals, including alligators, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and monkeys.
9. Daytona USA
Adjacent to the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona USA features racing exhibits, motion simulator rides, the World Center of Racing Visitors Center and behind-the-scenes tours of the speedway.
10. Salvador Dali Museum Nestled in downtown St. Petersburg, the Salvador Dali Museum boasts the most comprehensive collection of permanent works by famous surrealist painter Salvador Dali.
1. Atomic Testing Museum
The 8,000-square-foot Atomic Testing Museum traces the role state played in the development of the United States’ atomic energy program at the Nevada Test Site. View a wealth of artifacts in the exhibition hall, check out the “Ground Zero Theater” and view vintage atomic testing film clips.
2. Bugsy Siegel Memorial
A bronze plaque memorial to legendary gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel can be found in the garden at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Siegel, who founded the original Flamingo Hotel in 1946, was “whacked” in his Beverly Hills mansion in 1947.
3. Crazy Girls Sculpture The award-winning “cast-from-life” bronze Crazy Girls sculpture at the entrance to the Riviera Hotel & Casino showcases the best “assets” of the talented performers who make up “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Topless Revue.” The Crazy Girls sculpture has evolved over the years into one of the most popular photo ops in Las Vegas.
4. King Tut’s Tomb
Within the luxurious Luxor Las Vegas lies an exact replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, which was discovered by British archaelogist Howard Carter in 1922. Numerous Egyptian artifacts also can be viewed during the 15-minute self-guided walking tour.
5. Liberace Museum
Founded in 1979, the Liberace Museum celebrates the life and music of the late, flamboyant entertainer (full name: Wladziu Valentino Liberace), who was known as “Mr. Showmanship.” View Liberace’s pianos, jewelry, costumes, custom car collection (including a hand-painted, red, white and blue Rolls-Royce convertible!), awards, antiques and more.
6. Neon Museum
Many of the legendary neon signs that once lined the Las Vegas Strip are on display at this fascinating outdoor museum, which lies adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas.
7. Pinball Hall of Fame Operated by members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, the Pinball Hall of Fame houses one of the world’s largest pinball collections. All pinball machines, which range from the 1960s to the present, are available to play (bring your quarters).
8. Star Trek: The Experience
Trekkies, Klingon impersonators and thrill seekers alike will want to check out the interactive Star Treak: The Experience, which includes two lively attractions, BORG Invasion 4D and Klingon Encounter, as well as the History of the Future Museum, Quark’s Bar & Restaurant and a specialty store full of tons of collectibles and memorabilia.
9. World’s Largest Gambling Superstore
Take home a unique souvenir of your trip to Las Vegas with a visit to the 8,000-square-foot Gamblers General Store, which features personalized poker chips, roulette wheels, blackjack tables, pai gow sets, dice, playing cards, used slot machines and much more.
10. World’s Largest Gift Shop
Just about every type of souvenir can be found at Bonanza Gifts, which bills itself as the “World’s Largest Gift Shop” (since Guinness World Records does not have such a category, we’ll just have to take their word for it!). Whether you’re looking for tacky T-shirts, Rat Pack postcards, Minnetonka moccasins, dice bracelets or classic dealer’s visors, you’ll find it here. Celebrities who have shopped at Bonanza Gifts include Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Michael Jackson and Carrot Top.
1. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Despite an extensive “Save the Toad” campaign, Disney’s Magic Kingdom replaced Mr. Toad with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
2. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
One of the original attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, 20,000 Leagues closed in 1994 and has been partially replaced by a Winnie the Pooh playground and Disney character meet & greet area.
3. If You Had Wings
Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, If You Had Wings was one of the few rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that rarely drew a line. It was replaced by If You Could Fly in 1987 and now Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin stands on the site.
4. Captain EO A big-budget 3-D movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Captain EO starred Michael Jackson and Anjelica Huston. It closed down in 1994 and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience now stands on the site in Future World at Epcot.
5. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
This thrilling attraction opened at the site of the former Mission to Mars in Tomorrowland in 1995. ExtraTERRORestrial gained a cult following but has since been replaced by Stitch’s Great Escape.
6. World of Motion
Sponsored by General Motors, World of Motion was one of Epcot’s original attractions. The ride offered a humorous look at the history of transportation and closed in 1996 to make way for Test Track.
7. Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It!
Based on the hit ABC TV show starring Regis Philbin, this Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) attraction closed in 2006 along Mickey Avenue.
8. Plaza Swan Boats
Opened in 1973, the D-ticket Plaza Swan Boats embarked from two Magic Kingdom load docks: one near the entrance to Tomorrowland and the other near the Plaza Restaurant. The Plaza Swan Boats stopped running in 1983.
9. Mickey Mouse Revue
One of the Magic Kingdom’s original attractions, Mickey Mouse Revue opened in Fantasyland in 1971 and featured an audio-animatronic orchestra of popular Disney characters singing such classics as “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee.” The Mickey Mouse Revue closed in 1980 and was shipped to Tokyo Disneyland. Mickey’s PhilharMagic now occupies the site.
10. Flight to the Moon
Hosted by Mr. Tom Morrow, this “state-of-the-art” Tomorrowland attraction opened on Christmas Eve 1971 and became hopelessly outdated by 1975 when it was replaced by Mission to Mars. Stitch’s Great Escape now occupies the site.
HONORABLE MENTION: Horizons This Epcot ride made its debut in 1983 and closed in 1999 to make way for Mission: SPACE. Horizons has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years, although I remember it as a rather mediocre Future World attraction that dated very quickly.
