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 Mickey Mouse has ensured that Orlando is the third top USA holiday destination for overseas travellers, with Los Angeles and New York City coming first and second.
It was Wlat Disney's cartoon creations that have turned Orlando and neighbouring areas Lake Buena Vista and Kissimee into the international holiday destination. Disney bought land in Orlando with a view to establishing a theme park in the 1960s.
The first theme park, the Magic Kingdom, was opened in 1971. Now the local Disney empire includes four theme parks, many smaller attractions, countless hotels holiday flats.
There are also other attractions like Universal Studios and Sea World,.
Disney World
Orlando is renowned for Magic Kingdom's Cinderalla Castle at the heart of the original theme park, the Magic Kingdom.
There are four Disney parks which cover 28,000 acres in central Florida, with accompanying shopping, complexes, hotels and resorts. You have the famous Epcot Centre, a showcase of international traditions and cultures and MGM studios, a television and animation studio, as well as Animal Kingdom, where various animals are kept surrounded by Disney characters.
Telephone : (407) 824 4321; Website : www.disneyworld.com ; Opening time : Open daily, but park hours vary according to the month and day; it is best to check on their website for up to date information; Admission : Admission to any one park: $63 plus tax (adults), $52 plus tax (children 3-9). Park Hopper tickets can be added to the price for $40 for access to all parks. Various other packages and combination tickets are also available
Sea World
Between the Disney parks at Lake Buena Vista and central Orlando is Sea World, which has been making a great splash in Florida for over 25 years.
You can have an interactive look at the sea, its animal inhabitants from iceberg lakes to tidal pools. You can also kiss a whale or hug a dolphin. You can watch the famous Sea World aquatic celebrities perform their antics!
Telephone : (407) 351 3600; Website : www.seaworld.com ; Opening time : Daily from 9am, but closing hours vary according to the month, closing earlier in winter; Admission : $61.95 + tax (adults), $49.95 + tax (children 3-9)
Universal Studios
You will need about two days to take in the delights of Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure. The movie themed park is thrilling, fun packed with great production and film studios. At Universal Studios you can go behind the scenes and partake in film action with great ride, attractions and shows.
Telephone : (407) 363 8000; Website : www.universalorlando.com ; Opening time : Daily from 9am, but closing hours vary according to the month, closing earlier in winter; Admission : Each park is $63 plus tax (adults), $52 plus tax (children 3-9). Multi-day and multi-park tickets are also available
When To Go
Orlando's all year temperate clime and the call of Disney render this city an any time of the year holiday city. School holidays may be a time not to visit as general rule, especially the peak period. Prior to Thanksgiving and post Christmas and late January are good times to visit as Orlando is not as buzzing.
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