Orange County Attractions

Where else in the world do history and the future, nature and technology, young and old meet for an unforgettable and inspirational journey through space and time? The Kennedy Space Center has hosted millions of guests from around the world for more than 30 years -- telling the story of how the United States built a space program that launched men to the Moon, orbited satellites that have improved our lives, and sent probes into distant space to solve the mysteries of the cosmos.

Tucked within Walt Disney World Resort, this sprawling 220-acre athletic hub draws crowds year-round with nearly 200 competitions annually. Nine separate venues spread across the grounds handle everything from wrestling to aerobics, making space for more than 50 different sports. Winter months bring a particularly energetic vibe as the Atlanta Braves settle in for spring training preparation, drawing baseball fans eager to catch the action before the regular season kicks off. Whether you're here to compete, watch, or simply soak in the athletic atmosphere, there's rarely a quiet moment on the grounds.

Walt Disney World Resort is the largest and most visited recreational resort in the world, containing four theme parks, many themed hotels and numerous shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation venues. Owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts segment of The Walt Disney Company, it is located in Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake, Florida, outside the city limits of Orlando. The property often is abbreviated Walt Disney World, Disney World or WDW.<br> The 25,000 acre (101 km²) property is the world's largest theme park resort, although significant land has been sold off for housing and other developments, including land now occupied by the Disney-built (but not owned) community of Celebration. It once covered approximately 30,000 acres or 47 square miles (120 km²), about the size of San Francisco or Manchester, or twice the size of Manhattan. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org" target="new">Fonte</a>

Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks at Walt Disney World Resort, is full of attractions, adventures and entertainment that reflect Walt Disney's dedication to nature and conservation, and in doing so, the Park leads the way in animal care, education and research. <br> Home to more than 1,700 animals from 250 species and sprawling across 500 acres of lush landscape, Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is the largest animal-themed park in the world! Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is divided into 7 areas: Oasis * Discovery Island® area * Camp Minnie-Mickey * Africa * Rafiki's Planet Watch® area * Asia * Dinoland, U.S.A.® area

Downtown Disney area features more than 70 shopping, entertainment and dining choices. Nestled along the shores of Village Lake, Downtown Disney area is a short boat ride, bus ride or walk along a scenic lakeside path away from Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Walt Disney World Resort.

Epcot theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks at Walt Disney World Resort, sprawls across 300 acres—twice the size of Magic Kingdom theme park—and is divided into Future World and World Showcase. <br> Future World is full of sensational attractions—including one of the fastest attractions in all Disney Parks—as well as inspiring entertainment and shows, all of which focus on technological advancements, innovation and wonder. In Future World, ideas become reality. <br> The Epcot theme park icon, Spaceship Earth, looking like a giant golf ball rising high above the horizon, welcomes you as you walk through the Park's main entrance.

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, one of 2 Water Parks in Walt Disney World Resort, features one of the world's tallest and fastest free-falling waterslides, as well as slides and rides for the whole family—like a kid-sized, snow-castle fountain play area with scaled-down versions of the more thrilling attractions. <br> The story behind Disney's Blizzard Beach begins with a freak snow storm that blanketed Florida. Within the blink of a snowflake-tipped eye, a ski resort sprang up with slalom courses, toboggan slides and iceberg walkways. Then, just as quickly, the weather shifted back to hot. The whole resort started to melt. What to do? <br> An enterprising alligator saw an opportunity! Clad in a scarf and hat, this Ice Gator slid down the snow-less ski jump, shouting 'Yahoooo!' all the way. With a big splash he landed in a pool of melted snow below the mountain. It was at this moment the slushy, slippery slopes became an exhilarating Water Park with a ski theme.

Magic Kingdom theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks in Walt Disney World Resort, captures the enchantment of fairy tales with exciting entertainment, classic attractions, backstage tours and beloved Disney Characters.<br> Designed like a wheel with the hub in front of Cinderella Castle, pathways spoke out across the 107 acres of Magic Kingdom theme park and lead to these 7 whimsical lands: Main Street, U.S.A.® area * Adventureland® area * Frontierland® area * Liberty Square * Fantasyland® area * Mickey's Toontown® Fair area * Tomorrowland® area Travel through these lands and see how fantasy becomes reality when you learn how to be a pirate, match wits with funny monsters and conquer mountains. Get swept up in the spectacle of splendid parades and fireworks shows at Magic Kingdom theme park—it's here that dreams come true for children of all ages.

Disney's BoardWalk contains more than 9,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and nightclubs. It encompasses Crescent Lake and is "a village on the water" near many Disney Resort hotels in Walt Disney World Resort. This quarter-mile entertainment, dining and shopping area is also conveniently close to 2 Disney Theme Parks.

Step into a corner of Walt Disney World Resort where the magic centers entirely on entertainment spectacle. The park layers together four distinct zones that feel like wandering through actual film sets, complete with neon signs, gleaming chrome fixtures, and art deco details that channel the golden era of 1930s and 1940s Hollywood. You'll catch live performances throughout the day, explore attractions built around behind-the-scenes filmmaking, join backstage tours that reveal how the magic happens, and experience limited-time events tailored exclusively to this park. Winter visits carry a particular charm here, with crisp air making the outdoor streets more comfortable for lingering between shows, and the crowds tend to thin enough that you can actually soak in the atmosphere without constant jostling. Every corner of the grounds echoes classic Hollywood elegance, from the architecture to the carefully designed street layouts that immerse you completely in the world of entertainment.