This is the third post in a three-part series on Orlando vacation
tips from Cool Mom Picks.
We know that for some parents, an Orlando trip is something you do once in a lifetime. But for some, it's something you do once in a while. Or maybe even once a year. (Unless you actually live in Orlando, in which case we'd imagine you're there quite a bit, huh.)
Of course every trip can be a different trip because there's just so much darn stuff to do there. But there are a lot of new, cool things to do that you might not have experienced just yet.
Give into Harry Potter Mania
Of course first on our list to try, is the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Universal's Islands of Adventure. We hear the rides are phenomenal, Hogwarts Castle looks like it came right out of the books, and shops like Honeydukes and Ollivanders are just as fun as the rides.
Get water logged
The new Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort is an off-park hotel near Universal--that's also an indoor water park. Orlando can be chilly in the winter, so it's a good option if your kids just have to get their swim time in. Don't worry, no water beds.
Catch some rays
We're dying to go on the new Manta roller coaster at SeaWorld, which has you swooping face down, like a manta ray. It also takes you over an "ocean" display featuring more than 300 rays, which you can enter even if you're coaster-averse.
LEGOLAND!
In 2011, the largest LEGOLAND in the world is coming to the old Cyprus Gardens location, filled with 40 million LEGO bricks. We know a few kids who are going to be thrilled about that.
Get an aerial view
At Downtown Disney, you can now go up in a huge balloon called "Characters in Flight" for an awesome view of Disney and beyond, 40 stories in the air. It's not cheap though--tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids 3-9 for a six minute ride. But we hear on a clear day, you can see Cape Canaveral. Sounds good to us.
Drive a Starspeeder 3000 through the Boonta Eve Podrace
Star Wars geeks (including a few right here at Cool Mom Picks) are overjoyed about the new Star Tours adventure in 3-D that's opening in 2011 at Disney Hollywood Studios. This motion simulator ride looks pretty fun, whether or not you know what a Boonta Eve Podrace even means.
Do you know anything new and cool going on in Orlando to share with our readers? Have you done anything cool that's a little off the beaten path? Let us know
Cool Mom Picks is delighted to be partnering with our sponsor, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau for this 3-part series. Find more about Orlando or plan your Orlando vacation at VisitOrlando.com
And see our first post: Orlando Money Saving Tips here.
See our second post: Tips for the 5 and under set here.
We know that for some parents, an Orlando trip is something you do once in a lifetime. But for some, it's something you do once in a while. Or maybe even once a year. (Unless you actually live in Orlando, in which case we'd imagine you're there quite a bit, huh.)
Of course every trip can be a different trip because there's just so much darn stuff to do there. But there are a lot of new, cool things to do that you might not have experienced just yet.
Give into Harry Potter Mania
Of course first on our list to try, is the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Universal's Islands of Adventure. We hear the rides are phenomenal, Hogwarts Castle looks like it came right out of the books, and shops like Honeydukes and Ollivanders are just as fun as the rides.
Get water logged
The new Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort is an off-park hotel near Universal--that's also an indoor water park. Orlando can be chilly in the winter, so it's a good option if your kids just have to get their swim time in. Don't worry, no water beds.
Catch some rays
We're dying to go on the new Manta roller coaster at SeaWorld, which has you swooping face down, like a manta ray. It also takes you over an "ocean" display featuring more than 300 rays, which you can enter even if you're coaster-averse.
LEGOLAND!
In 2011, the largest LEGOLAND in the world is coming to the old Cyprus Gardens location, filled with 40 million LEGO bricks. We know a few kids who are going to be thrilled about that.
Get an aerial view
At Downtown Disney, you can now go up in a huge balloon called "Characters in Flight" for an awesome view of Disney and beyond, 40 stories in the air. It's not cheap though--tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids 3-9 for a six minute ride. But we hear on a clear day, you can see Cape Canaveral. Sounds good to us.
Drive a Starspeeder 3000 through the Boonta Eve Podrace
Star Wars geeks (including a few right here at Cool Mom Picks) are overjoyed about the new Star Tours adventure in 3-D that's opening in 2011 at Disney Hollywood Studios. This motion simulator ride looks pretty fun, whether or not you know what a Boonta Eve Podrace even means.
Do you know anything new and cool going on in Orlando to share with our readers? Have you done anything cool that's a little off the beaten path? Let us know
Cool Mom Picks is delighted to be partnering with our sponsor, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau for this 3-part series. Find more about Orlando or plan your Orlando vacation at VisitOrlando.com
And see our first post: Orlando Money Saving Tips here.
See our second post: Tips for the 5 and under set here.
