Green
Meadows Petting Farm
This farm has
all the petting farm favorites and a lot more. Green Meadows
features a miniature train ride, hay rides and over 300 friendly
farm animals. One of the things a parent on vacation can
appreciate is that the farm has an established 2-hour tour in
place. The kids will get to do everything (including milking
some of the animals) yet you can adhere to a schedule. The tours
start frequently so the wait is never too long. The 40 acre farm
is a pretty break from the theme parks.
Take US 192, 3 miles past I-4 to Poinciana Blvd. Make a right
and drive 5 miles.
(407) 846-0770
Flying
Tigers Warbird Air Museum
This museum
is also a functioning airplane restoration facility. It’s
nicknamed Bombertown USA because of all the bombers that have
taken up permanent residence here in the Museum’s collection.
There are about 30 planes on display, most of which were
restored on the premises. The majority of planes that come
through here are bombers that are restored and then sold to
private collectors. Tours are run throughout the day.
From US 192 Turn south on Airport Road (Hoagland Boulevard)
(407) 933-1942
Water
Mania
Water Mania probably doesn’t compare favorably to the Disney
water parks, but it’s still a pleasant place to spend a hot
afternoon. There’s a nice beach with picnic areas, snack bars
and an 18-hole miniature golf course. The three main water rides
are; The Abyss - riders shoot through a 300 ft enclosed tube,
Wipe Out – a wave machine and Rain Forest – a kid’s area
with water toys and slides.
(407) 239-8448
Mystery
Fun House
The main
attraction of Mystery Fun House is the Starbase Omega laser tag
arena. Unlike the average laser tag areas, Starbase Omega is
played on a moon-bounce floor with lots of themed obstacles. The
Mystery of Mystery Fun House comes from the ghoulish, 18-room
Mystery Maze. You can also play miniature golf on a
dinosaur-themed course called Jurassic Putt. Mystery Fun House
has been in the Orlando area for over 20 years and has one of
the best arcades in Florida.
Get off at the Universal Studios exit on I-4 (30B), make a right
on Kirkman road and again at Major Blvd.
(407) 351-3355
Terror
on Church Street
Costumed actors from the show sometimes haunt the street to
entice people inside and entertain the waiting patrons. This
horror-based attraction is a scary mixture of live actors and
high-tech special effects. The show itself is intended for teens
or fans of horror films, but everyone who likes to be scarred
once in a while will enjoy the show (This excludes the little
ones). The actual performances are re-enactments of famous
horror-film scenes. Groups of eight leave every five minutes to
take the 30-minute tour.
Located a few steps away from Church Street Station.
(407) 649-3327
Paintball
World
The name
pretty much says it all. Deluxe paintball facility that has a
target range, snack bars and a picnic area. Spread out over 60
acres, the paintball area has forts, trenches and obstacles.
Paintball World in Kissimmee
(407) 239-4199
Orange
Blossom Balloons
Meet at the
TraveLodge in Disney Village to take the one hour flight. Daily
flights start at 6 A.M. and are offered seven days a week
depending on the weather. The experience is never exactly the
same as the wind can carry the hot-air balloon in different
directions. Each flight is celebrated with a champagne toast.
Full buffet breakfasts and first flight certificates are
awarded. Non flyers can travel along in the chase vehicle for a
small fee. Special occasion flights can be arranged.
Orange Blossom Balloons (407) 239-7677
Rise
& Float Balloons
Located
across from Universal Studios at Mystery Fun House, Rise &
Float Balloons offers three tours to see Central Florida.
Wedding packages, romantic flights and picnics can be arranged.
The three flights are the First Class Champagne Balloon
Excursion, Introductory Balloon Excursion & For
Lovers Only. Most flights include views of the Walt Disney
properties, golf courses and lakes. Free hotel pick-up.
Rise & Float Balloons (407) 352-8191
Fantasy
of Flight
Fantasy of
Flight was created by Kermit Weeks, an aviation enthusiast who
has the largest collection of vintage aircraft in the world.
However, instead of just displaying the aircraft, Fantasy of
Flight has created interactive displays that generate lots of
interest in flight and aircraft in general. You can experience a
WWII battle in a flight simulator or rise straight up 500 feet
in The Great Balloon Experience.
Located in Polk City, Fantasy of Flight is about 20 minutes west
of Walt Disney World in I-4.
(941) 984-3500
Sky
Venture
Sky Venture offers the unique experience of free flying without
the use of an airplane. Located at Universal Blvd and
International Drive, Sky Venture operates a huge, vertical wind
tunnel. This tunnel generates a 120-mph column of wind in a
flight chamber to simulate the free-fall experience closer to
the ground. A brief training period exists, but you can fly with
minutes of walking through the door.
Sky Venture (407) 903-1160
Sky
Coaster
Located in
the Old Town Mall, Sky Coaster is Florida’s tallest thrill
ride. It’s really tall and will satisfy even the most
experienced thrill-seeker. Riders are strapped to a special
harness and slowly hoisted upward. You pull your own ripcord and
are released into a free-fall. Eventually you swing back and
forth through the air at speeds over 60mph.
Old Town Kissimmee, off US 192 (407) 397-250
Horse
World Stables
Located in Kissimmee, Horse World Stables offers scenic horse
rides through 750 acres of Central Florida’s woodlands. Riders
of all skills can be accommodated. Special children’s programs
include pony rides and a petting farm. Reservations are
recommended. Open from 9 AM seven days a week.
3705 S. Poinciana Blvd. (407) 847-4343
ORLANDO
ATTRACTIONS
