When can we go to Orlando, Mum? It's a plea heard in families everywhere, and no wonder, for Orlando is the theme park capital of the world, and the good news is that it's not just for children. Adults can have a great time here too.
Of course the leader of the pack is the Walt Disney World Resort, a city in its own right with no less than four major theme parks. The Magic Kingdom is the original Disney park, but Mickey and his friends are no less magical for that. Next comes Epcot, where you can explore the world and beyond - train as an astronaut or fly high above the glorious landscapes of California. At the MGM Studios, it's showbiz time, and you are the star as you take part in Hollywood style adventures - perhaps interacting with Toy Story characters or plunging 13 storeys in a runaway elevator. The latest addition is Disney's Animal Kingdom, where you can ride a roller coaster up Mount Everest (but beware of the yeti), or go on safari to see real, uncaged animals roaming over acres of savannah.
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However the Walt Disney World Resort has some serious competition to face in Orlando. Universal Studios offers equally awesome attractions, where you can belt up to ride 'Back to the Future', or have a very close encounter with Jaws. Universal's Islands of Adventure has some of the fastest, scariest rides, and watch out, for in the Jurassic Park River Adventure, the raptors are roaming free again. Sea World is the place to encounter whales, dolphins and even a couple of polar bears, and Wet 'n Wild is the place to cool down and shoot down some seriously fast flumes.
Orlando hotels come in two varieties - theme park and not - so the overall purpose of your holiday will influence your choice of hotel. Those wishing to do more than just seek theme park thrills may look at Orlando hotels in the main tourist location of International Drive; perennially popular and within easy reach of pretty much everything the area has to offer. Alternatively, Colonial Drive offers shopping opportunities close to its hotels, and there are other accommodation options that offer golfing and tennis facilities as well as the usual swimming pools and bars. Many hotels in Orlando are geared towards business travellers, and family hotels are in great abundance.
With all these attractions come holidaymakers, and with all those holidaymakers come restaurants. So it's no surprise that you can find almost every type of restaurant here from budget Vietnamese to Planet Hollywood. The choice of shops, too, is unbelievable, with outlet malls competing for your cash against upmarket stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's. With so much on offer, is it any wonder that the children are so keen to come on holiday to Orlando?
