Only a little over an hours drive from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando Florida is the Kennedy Space Centre home to the Apollo Missions and the Space Shuttle, it was also the setting for the popular ’60′s comedy I dream of Jeanie. The centre offers an amazing chance to get up close to some of the world’s most amazing technology and for some lucky people even the chance to see a launch. The centre has an incredible visitors centre with many artefacts and even an IMAX cinema but the highlight is catching a bus and going out onto the facility and visiting the launch pads where the space shuttle is launched and to visit a proper Apollo rocket and Saturn V modules. The size of these objects are just staggering and the items on display are breathtaking. The centre offers a great option to escape the hustle and bustle of the theme parks for a day and see up close an important piece of America’s history.

For more information: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com

Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida has just opened its newly updated Hall of Presidents staring all 43 US presidents and taking centre stage for the first time a Barack Obama anamotronic robot.  The attraction has been a hit since opening in 1971 and the new updates make this show one of the most technically advanced productions ever seen at Disneyworld. The voice of President Obama is actually him, he recorded a special message for his robot a few months back.  George Washington and Abraham Lincoln also speak in the show and all the other presidents look on and move to the speeches with some amazing facial expressions and limb movements. The show has been retiltled for the look and is now known as A celebration of Liberty’s leaders” and focuses on the strong bonds between the people and the president.  Patriotically opening on the 4th of July this attraction is sure to be one of the more popular at the Disneyworld resort.

for more information http://www.disney.com

When Halloween rolls around in Orlando, all of the amusement parks tend to get a little bit scary and gory for little eyes and ears. So, you can find it comforting to know that there are numerous activities that aren’t SO scary throughout the Orlando and Central Florida area for your family to have fun with! Walt Disney World, and SeaWorld Adventure Park, are just two of the parks offering Halloween options for little ones and those not wanting to get scared.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is a perfect event for the entire family to enjoy. Held September 5 to October 31 (on select nights), guests to the park can come to the park in costume and ready to party with all of their favorite Disney characters! Trick-or-treat for candy with your children throughout the park, as you are still able to hop in line for all of the classic Disney attractions. There is also a Halloween parade, a special “HalloWishes” firework display, and tons of other fun activities and attractions. This event is not included with the Disney World ticket. In order to attend this event, you must have a separate admission ticket for the specific event.

Another great option for families is SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando! Running on select days from October 4 to 31 and INCLUDED with park admission, you can enjoy tons of Halloween fun with Shamu and all of his friends. Come to the park in costume and trick-or-treat along the park path as you enjoy the fantastic rides and shows of the park. Friendly sea witches, mermaids, pumpkin fish, and other sea creatures will trick-or-treat right along with you, giving your children a memory they will never forget. There are tons of special activities, shows, and more throughout the park for the entire family to celebrate Halloween.

But, not only are not so scary Halloween events happening at these theme parks, but throughout Orlando, as well. The Orlando Outlet malls often present safe options for children to trick-or-treat. Trick-or-Treat will be held at the Festival Bay Mall at International Drive from 6 pm to 8 pm on Halloween, for example. There is even an event at the Central Florida Zoo called Zoo Boo Bash, where families can participate in fun Halloween activities with their admission to the zoo on October 18, 19, 25, and 26.

There are tons of fun family options for Halloween here in Orlando! So, why not take a break from the cool and crisp weather of the north and head south to Florida for Halloween! Spend Halloween with your family at Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and MORE!

If you havent been to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida in a while, you really need to head over there on your next Florida vacation. The face of the park is truly changing. They are upping their ante with there new attractions like the Mummy Ride, an indoor roller coaster adventure based on the hit movie, and now their newest addition, The Simpsons Ride!

The Simpson’s Ride truly adds a whole new dimension to the park. Taking over the original Back to the Future Ride space, Universal completely gutted the interior and exterior of the building turning it into what you would imagine Springfield to be like from the world-famous cartoon! A crazy and whimsical world, with bright colours, and all of your favourite characters awaits you. As you enter the ride queue it looks just like a giant carnival. But, this time the carnival has been created by Krusty the Clown so expect some bumps and turns along this attraction. Krustyland is the newly created theme park by Krusty the clown and you are invited to ride along with the Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, too, as they experience the park.

The ride is an action simulator ride that goes along with an 80-foot dome surface digital projection. The screen projects the movie adventure to four times that of the high definition you may use in your home. The surround sound and movement of the ride make it seem like you are right in the middle of all the action. The ride, as well as the outside queue area, uses brand new Simpsons animation that was created specifically by the Simpsons animation crew for Universal Studios. All of the character voices are performed by the original stars of the show.

The Simpsons Ride can be found on the Studios side of the Universal Theme Park in the World Expo area. Make sure you check out Universal Islands of Adventure, as well, while you are visiting the parks for some of the best roller coasters and attractions in the country! Get your Universal tickets ahead of time to avoid waiting in the long lines outside the par

Right in the centre of Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida there are snow capped peaks (well plastic snow) and an adventure water park like no other. Blizzard Beach is one of Disney’s water parks and it is a great place to get away from the big theme parks for a day and enjoy some sun, surf and snow. The park is set up like a ski resort complete with huge ski-jump which is actually a breathtaking waterslide and there are chair lifts, toboggan rides and the 90 ft Mount Gushmore slope. There’s a surf beach and even some freezing ice caves to explore on the Cross Country Creek which circles the park. There’s plenty of places for food and of course those Disney souvenirs and even a Polar Pub for the grown ups to enjoy a few quiet beers while the kids are playing. When planning your Disney adventure to Orlando factor in an extra day to enjoy Blizzard Beach.

There is about to be a change at the giant Walt Disney World in Orlando. The Disney MGM Studio’s is changing its name on the 7th of January to Disney’s Hollywood Stuidos. The park was the third to open at Walt Disney World and has been a huge hit ever since. The park has some of the best rides and attractions of all the Disney parks including the Twiglight Zone Tower of Terror, Muppet 3D, Star Wars themed Star Tours and the Rockin Roller Coaster featuring Areosmith. There’s a great Indiana Jones stunt spectacular which is not to be missed and the park also has a great parade featuring a lot of memorable movie icons including plenty of fun from the Disney and Pizar team.

For more information:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index

One of Disney’s newest parks opening about 9 years ago, is the Disney Animal Kindom at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. This great You Tube documentary/ad gives you a great insight into the fun and adventure of this great park. There looks like there is so much to do and so much to learn about the animal world at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park has all the expected Disney fun, with state of the art rides and attractions and of course all your fury friends are there, but this Disney park is different it has wild animals- not anamatronic ones like the other parks- real live animals. Join the tour on a ride through the Kilimanjaro on a safari tour and see Zebra, rhino, lion and girrafe grazing peacefully in the Florida sun. Trek through the Asian jungles and see live endangered tigers, bats, komodo dragons and taipirs or step back in time and see the amazing dinosaurs on an adventure thrill ride Disney’s Animal Kingdom makes Walt Disney World even better.

for more information:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com

We love a unusual hotel here at Tripandom, and we think this one rates right up there. Jules Undersea Lodge is a interesting hotel in Key Largo, Florida, it’s actually under the sea. Situated 21 feet under the surface this two roomed hotel features everything you want, a kitchenette with fridge and microwave, beds, TV and plenty of sealife just out the window. Imagine waking up to a squid, turtle or eel taking a peek in your window- you won’t find that in too many places. The hotel is very popular for honeymoons and quite a few weddings even take place there. The hotel even offers diving and snorkel course.

For more information

http://www.jul.com

Florida’s Gatorland has been entertaining guests for more than half a century, decades before Orlando became the theme park capital of the world. Opening in 1949 the family owned park has been at the forefront of Alligator preservation in the area. Now set on over 110 acres the complex is home to thousands of alligators and quite a few crocodiles as well as lots of other scaley reptiles, birds and other animals. One of the highlights of the park is the Gator Jumparoo show where huge alligators jump out of the water to snatch food of a handler. The giant reptiles jump nearly two metres off the surface of the water. There is also a gator wrestling show where some mad fool wrangles a 8 foot alligator in front of a full stadium- he must be mad. Gatorworld is open daily and is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of Disneyworld or Universal Studios for a few hours.

More Information

Official Website : http://www.gatorland.com

Map showing Gatorland Florida

When most people think of holidaying in Florida they think of the theme parks in Orlando but only an hours drive away is the home of the Kennedy Space Centre. This is the place where the missions to the moon and the space shuttle were launched and is an amazing place you shouldn’t miss if visiting Florida. Here you can see first hand some of America’s amazing space technology with an amazing collection of artifacts, spacecraft and information on America’s space exploration but the highlight will be the informative trip through the swamplands to the actual launching grounds of these amazing space vehicles. If you are really lucky you might even see the space shuttle being prepared for its next flight or even see it launch. The tour takes you up close to a full size Apollo and Saturn Rockets. The centre also has Imax theatres a full size space shuttle mock up to explore and is home to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. This attraction will fascinate young and old

For More Information

Official Link: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com