Everyone knows about the giant pair of mouse ears that rise above the Orlando horizon: Disney World has been a major force in central Florida for 30 years.
But Mickey fights big for attention these days with several other theme-park players on the Orlando scene. Benefiting the most from this fierce competition -- fortunately -- are tourists, who could take a month's vacation and still not see everything that Orlando has to offer.
You can marvel at the making of movies at Universal Studios or at the speed of the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Or perhaps the Kraken -- the tallest, fastest, longest and only floorless roller coaster in Orlando -- or the beach and the waves at Water Mania are the pleasures you seek.
Universal Studios
Experience the art of moviemaking by placing yourself directly into the pictures at Universal Studios.
These are the types of activities that await you at Universal's six themed areas: watching a twister dance toward you in New York, New York; recreating the shower scene from "Psycho" in the Alfred Hitchcock area of Production Central;
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Riders fight virtual aliens in "The Men in Black" ™ Alien Attack ™ ride at Universal Studios in Orlando. Riders point their laser guns at attacking aliens in this life-size, video-game-like ride where the riders determine
whether Earth is saved from the alien invaders.
Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Florida |
watching classic clips from "I Love Lucy" and testing your trivia knowledge of Lucille Ball in Hollywood; protecting the earth from aliens at the "Men in Black" Alien Attack at the World Expo; feeling the first tremors of an earthquake registering 8.3 on the Richter scale in San Francisco, or, visiting Curious George's interactive playground in Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone.
Universal Studios also features recreations of famous shot locations from such movies as "The Sting," "The Seven-Year Itch," "The Godfather" and "On the Waterfront."
Ride lovers can "ride the movies" on such attractions as Back to the Future The RideŽ. There, riders guised as time travelers free-fall through the past, present and future and encounter such areas as volcanic tunnels aflame with lava.
For dining, try a jaunt to Universal's City Walk, where there are 13 themed restaurants with entertainment to match. At Bob Marley -- A Tribute to Freedom, for example, you'll find a tile roof and green wooden window shutters on the exterior and meat patties, jerk chicken and red stripe fondue inside. Marley's family helped assure that everything would be authentic. Live reggae, meanwhile, is performed nightly in the open-air courtyard's gazebo stage.
New for Universal in 2001 is the Hard Rock Hotel, which is designed in a California mission architectural style. The upscale hotel features a lively music-filled pool area as well as signature Hard Rock memorabilia throughout the building. And because you'll be staying on Universal property, you can walk or hop aboard the on-site transportation and ride to Universal Studios®, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk® within minutes.
Universal Islands of Adventure
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Seuss Landing uses the whimsical characters from the books by Theodor " Dr. Seuss" Geisel in its rides. Climb aboard the fishes on the One Fish, Two
Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ride.
Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Florida |
Steven Spielberg and Universal have teamed to make the rides and attractions at Islands of Adventure thrilling and technologically advanced.
You start at the Port of Entry, where detailed buildings, towers, festive flags, vibrant colors and streets filled with vendors and performers greet you. You then trek through five uniquely themed islands:
- Seuss Landing. Here, a cacophony of colors, music and mood set the scene for what's the only place in the world where the characters of Theodor Geisel's books spring into being.
- The Lost Continent. If you don't proceed cautiously, you'll find yourself lost in a medieval forest inhabited by fiery dragons and mythical gods.
- Toon Lagoon. This island brings to life more than 150 of the world's best-loved, two-dimensional cartoon characters.
- Jurassic Park. Inspired by one of the most successful motion pictures of all time, this island puts guests face-to-face with moving, breathing dinosaurs.
- Marvel Super Hero Island.
A must-ride at Islands of Adventure is the Incredible Hulk Coaster, from
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Enjoy mythological-themed thrill rides such as the "dueling dragons" or
"flying unicorn" coaster at The Lost Continent -- part of Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure.Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Florida |
This futuristic city blends technology with popular comic book heroes and villains. Revolutionary rides and attractions, combined with moving vehicles, 3-D action film and special effects might leave you saying, "Holy Smokes, Spiderman."which guests are shot out of a 150-foot-long tunnel at 40 mph and immediately go weightless in a zero-G roll -- the same thrust as in a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet. That's just the beginning -- you'll also experience a cobra roll, a 360-degree high speed spiral, double loops and two corkscrew turns. The Hulk's largest drop is 105 feet; its speeds top 60 mph.
To learn more about both Universal Studios and its Islands of Adventure call (800) 711-0080.
SeaWorld Adventure Park
Attention, roller-coaster junkies: If you want to take a spin on Orlando's latest thrill ride, go to SeaWorld and get Kraken.
That's right, "Kraken," which is billed as "a roller coaster longer and faster than any other in Orlando."
Kraken takes its riders 15 stories in the air to plunge toward earth at speeds of 65 mph, as well as upside down seven times. It's also "floorless," dangling riders high above the track in open-sided seats to create a feeling of flying in a chair.
Long known for providing a number of opportunities to encounter exotic animals and interact with fascinating sealife, SeaWorld Orlando first
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Thrill seekers enjoy the first spin on Kraken, SeaWorld Orlando's
"floorless" coaster. Named after a legendary sea monster, Kraken takes its
riders upside-down seven times.
Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Inc. |
burst onto the thrill-ride scene in 1998. That's when it opened Journey to Atlantis, a water-coaster ride through the mysterious lost city. Riding in eight-passenger fishing boats, Atlantis riders encounter mythical spirits plus pulse-pounding spills, including "two of the steepest, wettest, fastest drops to be found at any theme park in the world."
SeaWorld's numerous animal-encounter attractions include a newer Key West area, which comprises five acres of habitat for animals of the Florida Keys. Guests may feed and touch dolphins in a tropical lagoon or along a sandy beach or coral reef. There's also a nightly Sunset Celebration, reminiscent of Key West's Mallory Square by featuring wild entertainers and live bands.
SeaWorld also offers the always-popular Dolphin Cove habitat, which is home to more than two dozen Atlantic bottlenose dolphins,
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Splash Zone park guests get soaked as they plunge down the first of two 60-foot drops of Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld Orlando's water-coaster thrill ride. Journey to Atlantis hurtles riders through a breathtaking mythological city amid torrents of water, careening coaster effects and heart-pounding, splash-down drops.Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Inc. |
Stingray Lagoon, which features a variety of cownose and southern rays in an interactive pool. At both of those exhibits, park guests can touch and feed the animals.
SeaWorld's biggest star, tipping the scales at five tons with a length of 25 feet, is Shamu, the killer whale. "The Shamu Adventure" show also features
animal expert Jack Hanna as host. Hanna takes guests, via "ShamuVision," to such worldy locations as Alaska, Norway and the Crozet Islands while Shamu and trainers demonstrate the whale's strength and grace.
To learn more about SeaWorld, including such attractions as the "Intensity Games Water Ski" show, the cast of rescued animals in "Pets on Stage" or the nontraditional human circus of "Cirque de la Mer," call (800) 4ADVENTURE.
Water Mania
Where can you be at the beach or go surfing without getting any sand in your toes?
Well, that would be Water Mania, which for 15 years has been considered one of Florida's premier water parks.
Located at 6073 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, Water Mania features the White Caps Wave Pool, where guests can get
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Ride the eternal waves provided by Water Mania's "wipe out."
Photo courtesy of Water Mania |
relief from the heat by jumping into 720,000 gallons of continuous waves and riding the swells on a tube. Or there's Wipe Out, where you can grab a board and surf -- if you can handle the tide. When it opened in 1992, Wipe Out was considered the standard setter for surfing simulators in the entire Southeast.
Wipe Out and the White Caps Wave Pool are among 16 different attractions that are spread over Water Mania's 36-plus acres.
In addition to Wipe Out, "thrill attractions" include The Double Berzerker, in which twin slides send guests 72 feet over two giant dips to a splashing climax, and The Anaconda, where families can take a giant raft downward 400 feet around banked curves to a large, splash-pool finish.
"Relaxing attractions," meanwhile, in addition
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The "rain forest" area of Water Mania is designed for kids and features slides, fountains and a pirate ship for kids to play on.
Photo courtesy of Water Mania |
to the Whitecaps Wave Pool, include The Woods -- a shaded, three-acre area tailored for group gatherings and barbecues. It's adjacent to a children's playground, volleyball courts and basketball courts.
Attractions especially for the kids include The Rain Forest, a pirate ship-looking site with slides, fountains and water guns, and The Rain Train, a life-sized locomotive from which water sprays from the stack and wheels and slides chug out even more fun.
For more information about Water Mania, call 1-800-527-3092 or visit the park's Web site at www.watermania-florida.com.
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