Orlando Getaway

An April 2004 trip to Orlando by Lilly Avila

SkydivingMore Photos

I used to live in Orlando, Florida and travel along Florida.

  • 7 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 3 photos

Orlando GetawayBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Walt Disney World Resorts, Epcot Center, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Busch Gardens, Universal Citywalk and Studios, and Islands of Adventure.
Shopping at Millenia, The Florida Mall, and Orlando premium outlets, as well as downtown.
Two-hour drives by beaches and cities like Tampa, Daytona, Augustine, and St. Petersburg, and beaches like Cocoa, Vero, and Ormond.

Quick Tips:

Get informed about special seasons and themes on parks (Mickey´s Not So Scary party, Christmas around the World, and the Food and Wine Festival).
Don't forget to purchase the Hopper Pass or the Disney and Universal Pass to visit all parks any day at any time. Try to enjoy the parks during the day or evening, and get to visit downtown and nightclubs after.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving? Only if you have to move from Orlando. In Orlando, it is not so necessary to drive.

In Disney, there are monorails, ferries, and buses all over the properties for transportation. For the public transport, Linx, buy day tickets, which will get you all over Orlando.

Sheraton Vistana ResortBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Sheraton Vistana Resort - #0450"

Best Things Nearby:
Inside the Walt Disney World properties.
30 minutes to Universal.
Orlando Premium Outlets in 5 minutes away.
Walk through Walgreens, restaurants, and shopping.

Best Things About the Resort:
Located inside Disney´s Property at Lake Buena Vista. There is a great amount of space in the units.

Resort Experience:
Like in residence apartments, there are a series of houses lodging guests and different kinds of units. There is a kitchen, bathroom, and living room with a good amount of space.

  • Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
  • Activities: Good
  • Amenities: Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Good
  • Family Friendliness: Good
  • Service: Good
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Sheraton Vistana Resort
8800 Vistana Centre Drive Orlando, Florida 32821
(407) 239-3100

Le Cellier - EpcotBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Epcot - Le Cellier"

Enjoy Canadian cuisine at Le Cellier in Canada´s Pavillion. Enjoy a filet mignon with a Canadian red wine in a formal atmosphere.

It has four areas representing various Canadian places.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Le Cellier - Epcot
Lake Buena Vista Orlando, Florida

Character Breakfast, Lunch or DinnerBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Walt Disney World theme buffets"

Enjoy buffets at Disney´s resorts like the Grand Floridian Beach Resort, Polynesian Resort, and Contemporary Resort. There is a huge variety of food and soft drinks. While you are dining, enjoy character greetings, autographs, and photos with Mickey´s Pals.

In the Grand Floridian, have lunch or dinner with Cinderella's characters and all the princesses from Disney movies. See Prince Charming....

In the Polynesian resort, enjoy a Hawaiian buffet with characters from Tarzan, Lilo and Stitch and Jungle Book....Aloha!!!

At the Contemporary Resort, enjoy Chef Mickey's, where Disney characters are your chefs.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Character Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Epcot Mexico Pavilio Orlando, Florida 32830
(407) 939-3463

Walt Disney World's EpcotBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Food and Wine Festival"

Food and Wine Festival
From October through November of every year, Epcot Center and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, celebrate the Food and Wine Festival. Besides the 11 countries represented in the park, several stands are all over the place. These stands represent food and wine traditions from all over the world. There are stands representing Greece, South America, Germany, Mexico, Asia, and many more. Taste the South American cuisine, go to the wine expo, or have a Guiness beer in the Irish pub. Enjoy drinking and eating around the world.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Walt Disney World's Epcot
Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney World's EpcotBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Epcot Center"

Epcot
EPCOT. Experimental Prototype for the Community of Tomorrow.
Walt Disney World theme parks are known for the Epcot sphere, which takes you to the future of technology. There are two major areas, the park and the World Showcase.

The park has attractions, food, and shopping. Highlights are Mission Space (visit Mars), Test Track (feel like a General Motors dummy), the Living Seas, and the Coca Cola Store, among others.

The World Showcase has 11 pavilions representing countries, places, cultures, and traditions. There are food, wine, and attractions. Each pavilion has a representation of the country's restaurants, shops, and attractions.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Walt Disney World's Epcot
Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney World Resort - Eagle Pines CourseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Clubbing and Dancing"

Pleasure Island is also part of the Disney properties. There are three areas: one for nightclubs, the marketplace, full of Disney stores, and the bay, with restaurants, shops, and ATM cinema. There are seven nightclubs with different themes and a live scenario. Enjoy different clubs, such as the 80s, hip-hop, hits, Latin, and one gay club. You can get admission for all the clubs with one ticket. The drink prices are the same, and there are some food stands such as gyros and hot dogs. In the marketplace, you can find Disney stores such as cuisine, toys, dressing, etc. Restaurants like Planet Hollywood, Wolfgang Puck. And it's the home place of Cirque du Soleil "La Nouba".
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Lilly Avila on October 11, 2004

Walt Disney World Resort - Eagle Pines Course
Magic Kingdom / Disney Village Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
+1 407 938 4653

Skydiving
After a two-hour drive from Orlando, Florida, you can enjoy skydiving. The biggest free fall in Florida is 15,000 feet. Drive east on Florida's I4 toward Cape Canaveral, then take the exit for Titusville and find the skydiving place.

The rate depends whether you'd like a video and photos. With them, it is is $200, without it is $120. Enjoy this for the first time, or if it's your second or third time skydiving.

Try to skydive in the spring or summer for a better view - as you fall, you can see the Kennedy Space Center and the sea.

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