Orlando Last Minute Deals
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Book today! Get great rates for travel now through March 9th, 2009. |
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From rollercoaster forest to gulf-stream waterslide, Orlando was made for you and me. Come live out your food fantasies, and indulge your sense of wonder in the theme park capital of the world.
Dress code: If you're pounding park pavement, wear breathable clothing, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen (Mickey Mouse ears, optional). And don't forget an umbrella for those sudden tropical downpours.
One phrase worth knowing: Fastpass! With one of these in hand, skipping the lines at top attractions is not only on the up-and-up, but encouraged. It's a ticketed reservation system that sets up a prearranged time to come back to the ride of your choice without a wait--for no extra charge.
Where to get your adrenaline rush: At Disney-MGM Studios, Lights, Motors, Action! is an extreme stunt show on hand for the 50th Anniversary celebration. Cars, motorcycles, and jet skies burn rubber and give a movie-worthy performance right before your eyes, complete with eye-popping pyrotechnics and hair-raising high-speed chase scenes.
Where to recuperate afterwards: Get the signature treatment--beguilingly called Mystical Forest Therapies--at the spa at Saratoga Springs Resort, which includes 30 minutes of muscle-numbing Swedish massage combined with 30 minutes of relaxing reflexology.
Where to blow a paycheck: While the admission price to Discovery Cove is steep, it's worth it to spend a day getting up close and personal with marine creatures like dolphins and a stunning variety of rainbow-colored fish with no crowds, no lines, and no hassles.
Best place to end dinner with a bang: Walk out onto the outdoor terrace or stay put at the table when they dim the lights at the California Grill. The views of the nightly fireworks over the Magic Kingdom castle provide a "happily ever after" ending to an inspired meal at this hip restaurant that's known for its great wine list.
You can take it with you: For kids (or precocious adults, for that matter) who want to bring home the magic, you can purchase exact replicas of Cinderella's dress, tricked-out pirate costumes, trading pins, and innovative toys galore at the Marketplace in Downtown Disney.
Recommendations & Suggestions
Discovery Cove
Central Florida Parkway
Phone: 877.4.DISCOVERY
Imagine a theme park with no lines and no crowds. Really.
This novel concept is at the heart of the Discovery Cove
experience, where only 1,000 lucky guests are allowed admittance
to the park each day. The point is that you didn't come
all the way here just to see more people. Instead, you get
to interact with a wide variety of marine animals, up close
and personal. Among the many adventures are swimming with
playful dolphins and harmless stingrays, snorkeling at the
park?s coral reef-filled lagoons, exploring tropical jungles
and rivers, or interacting with brightly feathered birds
in the aviary.
Personalized service ensures that everything you need is
at hand--they even provide you with specially formulated
sunscreen (designed not to harm the animals). All ages are
welcome, although you must be age six and over to enjoy
the dolphin swim.
Disney's Blizzard Beach
Walt Disney World Resort
Phone: 407.939.7675
With all the talk today about global warming and wild
climate change, it's not too much of a stretch to believe
that maybe once upon a time, a freak winter storm led to
the creation of a full-service ski resort in Orlando, Florida.
It's even less of a stretch to imagine that when the ice
started to melt, the ski lifts and toboggan runs were converted
into really fun water rides.
At Blizzard Beach, the ski jump doubles as a waterslide
and the flume functions as an inner tube speedway. Cool
off from the Florida sun in an ice cave or swim past icebergs.
There are even areas of snow for kids to play in. Lazy rivers
amble from attraction to attraction, including the park's
Summit Plummet, the tallest waterslide in the U.S. Hint:
the best time to visit is after 3pm.
Gatorland
14501 South Orange Blossom Trail
Phone: 800.393.JAWS
For "swamp stompin'" adventures, just walk through the
massive concrete alligator head--teeth and all--for entry
into the "alligator capital of the world." The park consists
of over 100 acres of wildlife preserve, including jungle
crocodiles, pink flamingos, giant turtles, and of course,
all gators great and small. On Alligator Island, see if
you can spot Alf, the largest gator in the pack at 15 feet
long and a hefty 1,000 pounds. Or pay a visit to Cobalt,
a rare blue alligator (the result of a genetic mutation).
While you're here, be sure to catch a show. Gator Wrestling
pits Gator Wranglers (professionals, of course) against
thrashing reptiles, and during a Jumparoo Show, you can
watch the giant animals leap out of the water up to five
feet high to snatch up a snack. This is a great way to appreciate
their size and jaws from a safe distance. If you want closer
contact, there are areas to interact with snakes, bats,
and rainbow-plumed lorikeets, if you so choose.
Richard Petty Driving Experience
Walt Disney World Speedway
Phone: 800.BE.PETTY
If you feel the need, the need for speed, then get your
daredevil racetrack thrills during this unique chance to
really put pedal to the metal. Ride shotgun in a stock car
with a 600 hp engine and leave the steering to an expert
NASCAR instructor. Or, sign on for the three-hour Rookie
Experience, which gives you eight gloriously solo laps around
the track. If you want even more Experience than that, you've
got many options on how to enjoy your ride, but remember,
additional speed and a longer track come at steeper prices.
No matter what you choose, you get 40 minutes of instruction
on the track and in the car.
Note: reservations are required, as are close-toed shoes.
Roy's Restaurant
7760 West Sand Lake Road
Phone: 407.352.4844
Perhaps the inspiration for those strategically-placed dollops of wasabi aioli could be traced to Chef Roy Yamaguchi's childhood, which was seasoned with visits to the Hawaiian islands. His grandparents lived on Maui, and the sea-based meals and fresh ingredients he shared with them left an indelible impression on his memory. Today, his distinctive cooking style fuses elements of Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine with European sauces and award-winning wines, resulting in entree choices like macadamia nut mahi mahi and misoyaki pot roast; desserts like melting hot chocolate souffles and caramel macadamia nut almond tarts; and drinks like the exceptional Hawaiian martini.