Family holidays to Florida from the UK

Try as you might, there’s no denying that the Disney theme parks near the city of Orlando in central Florida are the main attraction for children of all ages. Walt Disney World Resort is the biggest theme park in the world at present and easily dwarfs its sister Disney parks in California and Paris. The resort currently consists of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom theme parks as well as two waterparks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon – the latter of which has an enormous artificial outdoor wave pool. Also within the boundaries of the complex are five golf courses, including four eighteen hole course rated 4 stars or above, and  a wide variety of hotels and restaurants.

Disney World, of course, isn’t the only theme park in Florida and Universal Orlando Resort has been the longtime rival of Disney in the state. Universal Studios Florida is the main park in the resort and features rides, attractions and rollercoasters based on some of the most popular franchises in movie history. Current favourites include Jaws, The Simpsons Ride, Fear Factor Live, Shrek 4-D and Revenge of the Mummy. Back to the Future, one of the park’s most famous rides, closed in 2007 to the disappointment of many park visitors.

Florida isn’t all about theme parks, of course, with significant attractions lying outside of the main tourist area around Orlando. The Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral is something of an iconic location in American history thanks to its role as the launchpad – literally – for the American space programme. While the space centre today is seeing out the final days of the Space Shuttle program, it is possible to relive the glory years on the 1960s and 70s when enormous Saturn V rockets carried American astronauts to the Moon. The site features a stunning museum on the history of space travel and actual vehicles used in the space program.

The state of Florida is also home to some excellent beaches and water that’s perfect for swimming and water sports. Daytona Beach on the Atlantic Coast is best known for its annual motor racing events and as a major Spring Break destination but is a family-friendly resort during the rest of the year. Florida’s Gulf Coast is more sedate and offers beautiful white sandy beaches around the resort cities of St Petersburg and Clearwater. The Gulf Coast is a luxurious alternative to cheap holidays elsewhere in the state.

The Wineauxs: Tony's Town Square - Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL - 5 ...

As long as we're talking Disney and Italian, if anyone can tell me where I can get Beverly soda in cans or bottles in the US or mail order, please post a comment. Beverly is Coca-Cola product available in the Club Cool room at Epcot, which is a sampling room of sodas from around the world...most people appear to find it to be repulsive, I think it's a fantastic tonic water on steroids sorta product.

Orlando & Central Florida

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Travel Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World Resort and More - Illustrated Guide and Maps. FREE General Info, and a Map in the Trial Version

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Fodor's Walt Disney World 2009, Plus Universal Orlando and SeaWorld