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.

Home to dozens of shops, restaurants, Cirque du Soleil, and more, it's a nice way to spend an afternoon or evening. You get a taste of Disney without the price of park admission.

The new Whole Foods is a great place to buy healthy, organic produce and products.

During the holidays, the entire castle has so many lights that they look like frosting or glowing streams of (magic) water.

One of the park's most popular parades, Festival of Fantasy is a celebration of all the amazing characters that make Disney what it is.

You'll see a parade with Mickey as a Jedi Knight, tons of fans dressed as characters, and celebrity guests. It runs every weekend from mid-May to mid-June.

Every night, thousands of lights decorate Disney floats at this Magic Kingdom parade.

Every night, fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella's Castle, while "When You Wish Upon a Star" plays triumphantly in the background.

Pyrotechnics and music combine in a spectacular battle between good and evil.

Nightly fireworks erupt on the lake at Epcot and a laser light show mixes themes from the cultures of the world.

Mickey and his friends have some serious dance moves. This afternoon dance party rolls down the track on Main Street USA.

Fireworks light up Cinderella's Castle, while you finish off the night with a dessert party over the lake in Tomorrowland.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

The water's always cool and clear in this natural spring. Take a scenic walk and then hop on in. Sure beats swimming with the gators.

They've got griddles by your tables where you can make your own pancakes. This 300-year-old mill at De Leon Springs was onced used by Spanish sugar plantations.

In this gorgeous coastal river, you have the opportunity to swim with hundreds of manatees. You can even kiss these loveable Sea Cows.

Sixty minutes from Orlando is a beach park, perfect for picnic. Bring your bathing suit and swim with dolphins and manatees in the warm ocean.