Family Vacation GuideOrlando

This 110-acre wildlife reserve is filled with gators and fun attractions. Zipline over a gator-infested lake, even pose for a wrestling photo.

It's a picture perfect street out of early-1900's America, and the perfect gateway to the rest of Magic Kingdom.

As you pass through the tunnel under Cinderella's castle you enter a medieval village out of fairytale, home to Pinocchio, Belle, and Snow White.

In the big tree in liberty square you can find 13 lanterns representing the 13 colonies. Come by in the evening and watch them glow.

This coaster dips and dives, howling through the darkness of space. It's magical, futuristic, and very popular. So be sure to reserve your fastpass+ ahead of time.

You control the spin and blasters on Buzz Lightyear's spaceship. Aim for the evil Emperor Zurg and score points. You may just get the high score.

You spin around in oversized tea cups in this Alice in Wonderland themed ride.

It starts as a calm river ride with animatronic animals, and ends with a huge drop down a waterfall. Sit up front if you want to get wet.

The roller coaster car swings around turns and takes you into the workplace of the 7 Dwarfs. Make sure to reserve fastpass+ for this popular ride.

Hidden in Pinocchio Village Haus restaurant is a secret fairy wish book where you can write down your wildest wishes. The Blue Fairy checks it regularly ;)

It's like something out of a sci-fi comic from the 1920's and 1930's. Alien palm trees made of metal line the streets in front of the howling halls of Space Mountain.

Drum beats, jungles, and tropical rivers put you in a land of pirates and daring adventurers.

If Disney had settled the wild west, this is what it would look like. It's home to a raucous Hillbilly bear show and the thrilling Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Step back into 1776, in this majestic recreation of colonial USA. Check out the Liberty Bell, take a riverboat ride, and meet all 43 US Presidents.

Fly through the canyons of the American Southwest on a roller coaster ride.

This 8-minute ride takes you through pirate battles and the adventures of Jack Sparrow. It's great for all ages, but really young kids might get scared.

Restless ghosts party in the halls of this haunted mansion. It's a delightfully scary ride for all ages. Kids will even love playing with the cooky attractions in the line.

It's one of the best attractions with the shortest wait. You venture inside a Disney movie, and wind hits you as fall, water splashes you, and you even get a whiff of perfume in Aladdin.

You've entered into another world, one where you can cast spells with your wand, eat magical treats, and say hello to a fire-breathing dragon.

It's where wizards and witches spend their disposable income. Shops and attractions line the street and Hogwarts Castle towers in the background.

For younger kids, this roller coaster is a blast. You get to fly on a trusty winged beast and don't have to wait in line too long.

Both parts of Harry Potter World are connected by this fun train ride that makes you feel like you're going back to Hogwarts for another year.

Find the hidden meeting place of evil wizards who practice the Dark Arts. Keep your eyes peeled. It's not marked.

If your daughter is ages 2-10, this meet and greet with Anna and Elsa may just make their vacation. Lines are long! So come early, late, or at lunch time.

Equal to the thrill of taking off in a jet plane without a windshield, this riveting ride takes you from zero to 40 MPH in about two seconds.

You may be on the ground, but it sure feels like you're flying across the skyscrapers of Manhattan in this 3-D ride with stunning effects.

You get to pick a song to listen to as you fly down 17 stories on the world's first non-inverting loop.

Drop down 185 feet and you'll feel weightless. Then you jolt upwards at the speed of a space shuttle.

Two rides in one, you can pick one of two dragons to race on intertwining loops. It's worth trying both, and with two coasters, the line goes faster.

Embark on a whirlwind adventure with Harry and his friends as you fly through the classrooms and halls of Hogwarts Castle.

This is how wizards use the ATM. Zoom through the underground vaults of Gringotts Bank in a multi-dimensional 3-D thrill ride.

What could possibly go wrong on a leisurely jungle cruise in Jurassic Park? Well, the raptors get loose, and now you have to escape by plunging down an 85-foot waterfall.

Fire lights up the ceiling and scarab beetles cover the walls. Then everything goes pitch black and you don't know whether to hold your breath or scream.

This classic log flume sends you flying over a 75-foot drop with a cool story beforehand that will have kids laughing.

If you take the ferry here from one of three Disney resorts, you can sneak through the less-crowded, back door to Epcot.

In this quirky ceremony that takes place entirely in Japanese, you get to select an oyster and have it opened for you to reveal a pearl, which is yours to keep.

Tucked in the back of United Kingdom in World Showcase is a real life hedge maze. It's a great little activity, shaded from the sun.

If you took all the water in the biggest tank at Big Blue World, you'd have enough to fill the 16-story Spaceship Earth.

As you're leaving Epcot through Spaceship Earth, you can see the sidewalk twinkling and fireflies in the trees.

It's based on a famous Italian fountain in Rome that has served as the backdrop in many films.

It's acoustically perfect! If you stand in the center, you can hear yourself talking, as clearly as a recording.

See amazing human achievements and the beauty of the natural world. Future World is the gateway to Epcot.

Walk around the world, as you explore 11 countries through their food, culture, and the people who live there.

Take a realistic aerial tour over California from the beaches of LA to the stunning Yosemite Valley.

Design your own virtual vehicle and then compare it as you ride next to it.

You're part of a mission to Mars. You get to experience blastoff, the weightlessness of space, and participating in the mission.

It's in almost every photo of Epcot. This 16-story futuristic globe is home to a ride that takes you past breakthroughs in technology.

You start in a rainforest and take a boat past prairies, deserts, and exotic greenhouses.

Probably the best way to energize tired kids on a hot day is this holy combination of Disney Characters and air-conditioning.

Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye "The Science Guy" teach kids about energy from solar and atomic power to prehistoric volcanoes.

Hosted by Coca Cola, this showcase has dozens of sodas, which you can sample for free. Make sure to try the delicious soda called Beverly.

It's a fun little boat ride with the three caballeros. You explore Mexico through animation, superimposed over live-action clips of Acapulco, Chichen Itza, and Mexico City.

It's an animatronic tribute to the big personalities of American history from Mark Twain to Ben Franklin.

Bruce the Shark, Nemo, and friends swim through the coral reef of an actual aquarium.

It's the Hollywood of the 1930s, back when camera bulbs exploded with flash, and the red carpet looked gray on the silver screen.

Walk behind the scenes to see how stunts are made and sets are created. Be sure to say hi to Gertie the Dinosaur and stop by Star Wars alley.

It's home to Broadway quality shows and the pyrotechnic, Fantasmic!. You'll find shops dedicated to Disney Villians and the hair-raising Tower of Terror.

You'll think you're walking past the skyscrapers of New York and hills of San Francisco. Artfully designed sets make these city rise above you.

It may be a small corner of the park, but it packs a punch. Ride the fun Toy Story Midway Mania, a fun game for the whole family.

In Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, you walk through an interactive gallery with artifacts from Disney's history. It's an emotional tribute to the life of the man who started it all.

You can learn how to draw Disney characters and watch how single frames come together to create a movie.

Fly through a Star Wars battle in a 3D moving theater that makes you feel like you're zipping around the Deathstar. You may just make the Kessel run in 12 parsecs.

You compete with family and friends in five different shooting games, as you take aim at moving targets with a shot at the high score.

Hop aboard Steven Tyler's limo and ride through the freeways of Los Angeles with the music of Aerosmith on the radio. It's a roller coaster race to the concert.

You ride up 13 stories in a creepy abandoned hotel from 1939. Then, suddenly, you drop down to the bottom, and shoot back up again.

It's a zany 3D movie starring the Muppets with bubbles that come out from under your seat. This show is a huge hit with the little ones and fun for parents too.

They're getting away! Stunt cars, jet skis, and motorcycles go into hot pursuit in this live action stunt show. Keep your eyes peeled for Lightening McQueen.

Tour sets out of famous films from romances, gangster flicks, and westerns.

Head over to One Man's Dream and ask a Cast Member for a citizenship quiz. For completing it, you'll be awarded a special Citizen of Walt Disney World Button.

In front of the Great Movie Ride, you'll find handprints and shoeprints of famous stars. Can you find your double?

Look up and you'll see a replica of Crossroads of the World from Los Angeles. Except this one has Mickey Mouse on top and doubles as a lightening rod.

Right next to the Orlando Eye, this pirate-themed mini golf course is a fun daytime activity for when you're not exploring the parks.

This I-Drive attraction is an odd museum filled with all the unbelievable anomalies of the world like six-legged cows, vampires, and giants.

Kids get to learn about science, the fun way, by doing cool interactive experiments. The upside down building is quite a sight too.

This smaller theme park is home to classic, hard-hitting thrill rides. Ride the slingshot and fly 300 feet in the air.

This old-timey themed park and shopping mall has bumper cars, laser tag, an arcade, go carts, and haunted house, among stores and restaurants.

Tons of thrilling waterslides will keep you cool on a hot Orlando day. The park will close in Dec. 31, 2016 to make way for another, bigger one: Universal's Volcano Bay.

With something for all ages, they have 8 unique ropes courses and one zipline.

You fly across over a mile of cables on a course of 8 ziplines. Set up as dual racing zips, you can race your friends and family as you go.

The rides, cotton candy, and petting zoo may seem puny next to the huge attractions at Disney and Universal. But they offer an interesting, local-centric change of pace.

Board here if you're staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge for the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

Board here if you're staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort for the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

One of the most magical ways to travel is on the smooth, futuristic cars of Disney's monorail system.

One of the most magical ways to travel is on the smooth, futuristic cars of Disney's monorail system.

Disney's monorail connects three resorts: Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian to Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

Disney's monorail connects three resorts: Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian to Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

You can travel by ferry to Epcot from three resorts: Swan & Dolphin Resort, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

Board here if you're staying at Swan & Dolphin Resort and take a ferry to either Epcot of Hollywood Studios.

Board here if you're staying at Disney's Boardwalk Resort and take a ferry to either Epcot of Hollywood Studios.

Board here if you're staying at Disney's Yacht Club Resort and take a ferry to either Epcot of Hollywood Studios.

If the monorail looks too crowded, this is a great way to make it from the parking lot to Magic Kingdom

Board here if you're staying at Polynesian Resort for the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

Board here if you're staying at the Grand Floridian Resort for the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

You can travel by ferry to Magic Kingdom from five resorts: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Contemporary Resort.

Disney's monorail connects three resorts: Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian to Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

The hub of Disney transit, this is where you'll park your car if you're going to Magic Kingdom.

You can travel by ferry to Hollywood Studios from three resorts: Swan & Dolphin Resort, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

It's the gateway to Magic Kingdom. You pass through the gates and into a land of exotic wildlife, shaded trails, and little streams.

Walk into the Tree of Life and you turn into a bug. It's an amazing 3D show that takes you into a tiny world where a blade of grass seems like a tree.

It's a fun roller coaster with backwards motion on the tallest mountain in the world. Keep an eye out for the Yeti!

Take a 7-minute journey from Africa to Rafiki's Planet Watch where you can learn about the lives of the animals at Animal Kingdom.

This track and motion simulator transports you back in time to save a living dinosaur before the big meteor. If only it were real.

Stop by the entrance and you and your family can play fun games as you travel around the park.

It's the Cinderella's Castle of Magic Kingdom. This tribute to wildlife has 320 animals carved into it. Keep an eye out for the chimp, David Greybeard.

Home to the Tree of Life – the Animal Kingdom equivalent of Cinderella's Castle – Discovery Island is a central hub and jumping off point for exploring the rest of the park.

As you pass the village of Harambe you step into an African savanna. Be sure to take the Kilimanjaro Safari.

The Wildlife Express Train gives you a first-hand look into how Disney cares for the animals of Animal Kingdom.

Beautiful and exotic, you step into scenes from Nepal, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Explore mythical kingdoms lost in the jungle and the majestic Himalayas.

What little kid doesn't love stepping back into the prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Your guide takes you on a Jeep ride that traverses an animal sanctuary. They'll stop along the way to show you giraffes, elephants, and lions.

Walk through the home of Gru and his daughters and into the laboratory of an evil genius to see what life is like as minion.

Outside of Hard Rock Cafe is a real chunk of the Berlin Wall. It's a great spot for photo opp.

Outside 12 Grimmauld Place you can see Kreacher, the House Elf of Sirius Black. Keep your eyes peeled, he's a sneaky one!

That guy Dennis dropped his can of stolen dino DNA somewhere in the Jurassic Park Discovery Center. Can you find it?

Hidden in Men in Black Alien Attack, you can find Steven Spielberg in his signature baseball cap. If you shoot him in the right spot, you'll see his true self: a three-headed alien.

There's nothing like stepping out of Florida and into Antarctica. This tame motion simulator ride takes you through the world of a penguin colony.

You fly like a Manta Ray, hanging from the coaster above. It feels a lot like how you might imagine hang gliding to be.

Alright Hamilton! This 20 minute show features sea lions in a fictional high school, performing tricks and wacky antics as they work to earn their diplomas. Come at pre-show for good seats!

It's a cool interactive show, where Crush, the surfer-dude turtle from Finding Nemo talks with guests in the audience. Little ones will love it!

Hop on this elevator that takes you above it all. You'll have a great view of the entire park, and a nice, relaxing moment too.

It's more interactive than SeaWorld, next door. You get to swim with dolphins, play with otters, and feed tropical birds.

It's the big show that you think of when you think SeaWorld. Orcas jump high in the air and dolphins do all kinds of crazy tricks.

Animatronic versions of all 43 US presidents premier in this 20 minute sit-down performance. It's a great opportunity to relax in an air-conditioned auditorium.

Cool down and rest your feet in this selcom busy attraction. It's a tour of American households through the decades.

From Liberty Square to Splash Mountain is a nice shaded walkway with plenty of benches where you can relax and watch the riverboat.

Hop aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad for a 20 minute ride around the entire park. It's a great way to relax, see the whole park, and get around.

Hop aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad for a 20 minute ride around the entire park. It's a great way to relax, see the whole park, and get around.

Filled with tons of interactive attractions that kids will love. It's a great place to take a breather on a hot day.

Outside of the lunch and dinner rush, this indoor pavilion is a nice spot to hang out and grab a quick snack or refreshment.

There are a few shaded benches next to a convenient and seldom-used restroom.

It's a 25-minute show with many types of exotic birds. Relax and enjoy the wildlife.

Hop aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad for a 20 minute ride around the entire park. It's a great way to relax, see the whole park, and get around.

This 400-foot tall ferris wheel has changed the Orlando skyline forever. Get the best view of the city as you ride the loop.

Madame Tussauds wax museum features shockingly life-like sculptures of history's famous icons. The museum is part of the I-Drive 360 area, which is also home to the Orlando Eye.