Orlando Beyond Disney

Tens of thousands of people visit Orlando and other Central Florida towns every week. Most of them go to the same place, the major theme parks in the area. This makes the lines considerably longer, the hotel prices considerably higher, and with such large crowds, the temperature feels considerably higher! To avoid some of the hassle regarding the major theme parks, here are some great ideas for alternative vacation destinations which are still in the immediate Orlando area:

A-The Disney Institute

Don't let the name deceive you into thinking it will be horribly overpriced, crowded, and only about a mouse. The Disney Institute is in Lake Buena Vista, just outside Orlando. There are over 85 hands-on creative and learning programs available. Children are divided into two age groups, 7-10 and 11-15, and each group has their own age-appropriate events and classes. Sports, rock climbing, art, cooking, DJ training, and day trips to some of the theme parks are only a handful of what they have available! If your child prefer the more artistic forms, they also give him the opportunity to learn from some of the most familiar names in the industries of movies, music, literature, and science.

B-Dinner Theatres

Although a trip over to the local hamburger hut would be less expensive, the $24-$39 per person you spend at these places really make them far more enjoyable and memorable. Besides, the food really is good! Each establishment has its own theme. Arabian Nights gives you a complete Mideast experience. Capone's Dinner, King Henry's Feast, Medieval Times, and Wild Bill's West all give you personal experience from eras gone by, including no utensils at Medieval Times, which REALLY gives you a true-to-life experience of the 1500's. Finally, Murder Watch Mystery is another exciting dinner theatre event which actually involves the audience in between courses.

C-Waterworks?

Orlando finds itself in the middle of the Florida peninsula, and not on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. However, there are some very interesting and thankfully not-so-well-known cruises on nearby canals and lakes. Some even include lunch or supper! Heritage Lake Cruises puts on Dead River and Canal. Scenic Boat Tours promotes Winter Park Lake and Canal Cruise, and even the Mission Inn Marina has it's own version with La Reina on Lake Harris.

D-Animals and Museums

Finally, there are even more things you can do as a family which are specific to the Central Florida area. Sanford has the Central Florida Zoological Park with all sorts of animals around. Splendid China has amazing representations of famous Chinese Landmarks, such as The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Kissimmee has Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, with concentrations on WWII, right at the airport! The Holocaust Memorial Museum is in Maitland, complete with library, films, and artifacts. And The Orlando Science Center is in Loch Haven Park, with hands-on displays and activities, and a planetarium!

Now that you know where else to go in Central Florida, outside of the major theme parks, and without the incredible crowds and exorbitant prices, you just have to book your next Orlando vacation at www.kingarthur.myttn.com today!