DISNEY'S MAGIC KINGDOM • URMOMENTS/SHUTTERSTOCK
Golf at the Walt Disney World Resort can be a family affair (disneygolf.com). In addition to four 18-hole championship golf courses there is also a nine-hole, family-play course and all five are certified National Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. A sand trap on the championship Magnolia Course is shaped like Mickey’s head, and a similar image of the world’s most famous mouse appears on the practise green at Disney’s Osprey Ridge Golf Course. The choice of on-property accommodation is extensive and ranges from upscale hotels to value-priced, themed resorts particularly popular with families. Unique options include the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge overlooking an African wildlife preserve. Also, there is no need to leave the family pet at home. Fido is welcome at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Best Friends Pet Care, a new luxury pet resort featuring covered outdoor runs, play areas, a grooming salon and gourmet treats.
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® RESORT Universal Orlando® Resort has two theme parks, more than 50 great restaurants, a shopping and nighttime entertainment complex and three family-friendly hotels (universal orlando.com). The resort’s Universal Studios Florida theme park has more than 25 rides based on movie and TV themes, including Shrek 4-D, The Simpsons Ride and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit—Orlando’s highest roller coaster that climbs to 167 feet in 16.5 seconds and reaches
new and popular attraction that opened in
twisting and sudden drops, plus encounters
speeds of 65 mph. Another spine-tingling
June 2010 is The Wizarding World of Harry
with imaginary creatures from the books such
ride is Revenge of the Mummies where
Potter (universalorlando.com/harrypotter).
as venom-spitting spiders, a scary skeleton
roller-coaster riders are chased by swarms of
Based on the wildly successful novels written
and a fire-breathing dragon.
scarab beetles and an army of warrior mum-
by British author J.K. Rowling, the attraction
Located on a separate nearby property,
mies. Fans of the Jaws movie can relive its
is located on a 20-acre island containing
Universal’s Wet ’n Wild water park features 30
thrills on a boat tour that encounters a killer
book-related locations such as the Forbidden
acres of action-packed waterslides, rides, flumes
shark but, since Universal Studios is a land of
Forest, Hogsmeade Village and the iconic
and surf pools (wetnwildorlando.com).
fantasy, passengers escape the realistic-
Hogwarts Castle. Of the three main rides,
There are low-impact water features just for
looking, three-ton fish made of steel,
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is
kids, together with Lazy River tube rides and
fiberglass and latex.
the signature attraction. Located inside
a variety of super slides that make people feel
Hogwarts Castle, the ride involves spinning,
like they are riding a cyclone.
At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the
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