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Disney world holiday packages offer guest to stay at onsite Disney properties as well as close by neighboring areas such as international drive. To help our customers make an informed decision on which option may be the better option we discuss in this post as to whether international drive is close to Disney world and if it’s a viable option to consider booking a hotel here as part of your holiday,
More To International Drive Than You Think
If you decide that you want to rent your own car so that you can see more than just Disney World while on your vacation, you might want to know that International Drive can offer more than just a roadway to get to Disney World. Not only is it a great place to drive on to see the sites of Orlando but if you are staying anywhere near International Drive, you’ll also find it a great place to take a walk and enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Orlando, Florida.
Other than just giving you access to Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando, International Drive really can be a destination of it’s own. This is actually Orlando, Florida’s very electrifying main hub. It’s the home to many different entertainment hubs, various different attractions that are wild or mild. It also offers dining for all tastes and for all budgets, plus some really wonderful retail stores to explore and enjoy.
Great Attractions
The theme parks in Orlando are always extremely worth visiting, but you shouldn’t lose site on the fact there are plenty of other attractions that can be found on International Drive. One of those you might want to check out a very visually impressive attraction called Ripley’s Believe It or Not! When you first see it, it looks as if it’s falling into a huge Florida sinkhole and it features hundreds of different fascination as well as interactive exhibits that you and your entire family can enjoy and be marveled by.
You can also enjoy some outside fun on International Drive by visiting the Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, not only is this a fun mini-golf course but they also have a really nice area where you can have a picnic and relax for awhile. If you are looking for a different take on the game of golf then you might want to visit Topgolf Orlando. They put a fresh spin on golf by using both the elements of bowling and darts which creates a very fun and competitive game for both adults and kids and people of all skill levels. They also have a very good food and beverage menu that you’ll enjoy choosing from.
If you are looking for great places to not only eat but have fun at the same time, you might want to visit the Chocolate Kingdom – Interactive Factory Adventure Tour. Here you will learn all about how chocolate bars are made and you’ll even have the chance to make your own custom chocolate bar. You can also have fun at the Kings Dining & Entertainment that offers great tasting American food and a huge assortment of games that you and the kids can enjoy.
Now, if you are looking for some action then you’ll want to go head to head against your family and others at the Andretti Indoor Karting & games. Here you can enjoy some exciting indoor Go-karting or play some great games as well. You can also visit iFLY Orlando Indoor Skydiving where you can take an exciting solo flight a safe and fun way to find out what it feels like to skydive.
ICON Park
ICON is a great place that offers all kinds of entertainment, shopping, and dining all in one easily walkable plaza. ICON Park is also the home of what they call The Wheel, this is Orlando’s famous 400 foot tall observation wheel that gives you truly breathtaking views of the city, but this isn’t the only reason why you should visit. Just recently, they added even something taller called the Orlando StarFlyer that’s 450 feet tall. It turns out to be the tallest swing ride in the entire world. Some of the other attractions you’ll discover at ICON Park include the following:
- Madame Tussauds Orlando
- SEA Life Orlando Aquarium
- Arcade City Orlando
- 7D Dark Ride Adventure
There’s also great places to eat at ICON Park like Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Tapa Toro Tapas Bar & Paella Pit, the Tin Roof, Yard House, and Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant. Like to dance? Well then you want to visit the Ole Red and the Tin Roof who offer live music and have dance floors so you can enjoy great food and listen to live music or get up and dance if you feel moved to do so.
Pointe Orlando
Pointe Orlando offers a lot of variety when it comes to places to eat that include the wonderful tastes of Havana at the Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. If you’re looking for some authentic Italian food you’ll find it at Maggiano’s Little Italy. If you want to experience some fine dining cuisine you’ll want to stop at the Taverna Opa. You can also get a taste of Southwestern food at the Itta Bennan and Lafayette’s. If you want to grab some fresh fish you’ll want to eat at The Oceanaire Seafood Room and then for some legendary steaks you’ll want to enjoy a meal at The Capital Grille.
Fun Spot America
Finally, you won’t want to miss out on visiting this classic amusement park that’s been around for over 20 years and they offer their guests a bunch of wild rides and a ton of very addictive games that got something for every member of your family.
To help take the stress out of organising your Disney holiday, The House of Travel offers some fantastic Disney world Florida packages. This ensures that you can enjoy your time here, with all of the planning in hand. After all, there’s no better way to explore Disney than by letting the experts take charge! Either give us a quick call on 0203 950 7371 or simply fill this quick form here for a call back request today.
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When looking at booking your universal studios holiday you may want to find our more of the close neighborhoods that surround it and whether these areas maybe better suited for booking your hotels rather than onsite at universal. One of these neighborhoods is international drive. In this post we discuss just how far is universal studios from international drive and whether it’s a good fit to consider booking your hotel base in this location.
When you are planning a trip to Universal Studio Orlando from the UK, you more than likely will want to gather as much information that you can in order to ensure that you have a wonderful vacation. You will no doubt have a ton of questions and one of them might be “How far is Universal from International Drive?” This is a good question because International Drive is the main strip and literally the epic center of the city of Orlando, so of course you’re going to want to know all about it.
So How Far Is International Drive Away From Universal?
The quick and easy answer about how far it is from Universal to International Drive is nine miles. Now you can get there by rental car, Uber, bus, tram, train, and if you are at the Orlando International Airport and are staying at one of Universal’s resorts you can take their bus service for free.
Something you should know however, that International Drive is far more than just a road to get to Universal Studios, it’s the hub of Orlando and it is well worth exploring and finding out more about this busy and vibrant roadway.
The International Drive Resort Area
The International Dr., helps to provide visitors to the area with nothing but some really world class entertainment, dining, attractions, and shopping experiences. The places found on this drive are fun for all ages and for all members of the family. There are truly awesome theme parks and many other fun and interesting things.
Visitors quickly discover that International Drive is a perfect destination for them whether it’s for business or for vacation fun. Their attractions include of course the wonders and magic of both Disney World and Universal. It’s a great place for thrill seekers or those looking for a nice relaxing day in the water at their various water parks.
If the theme parks aren’t what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of shopping and a vast variety of other entertainment activities. Their famed outlets are the perfect places to indulging in treating yourself and your family to something very special. There are 160 different stores and more restaurants than you can imagine to find whatever kind of food you might be in the mood for.
International Drive also has a great nightlife for visitors who want to let loose a little bit or just enjoy some great music. They offer a great selection of nightclubs and bars that make visiting International Drive a very unique experience.
International Drive Attractions
The attractions found on International Drive offers visitors from far and near experiences to remember. The many different attractions on this drive helps to make this area a very dynamic destination for everyone. Here are just a few of the attractions you’ll find on International Drive:
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Aquatica – SeaWorld’s water park
- Discovery Cove
- Universal’s Volcano Bay water park
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Universal Studios Florida
- Coco Key Water Resort another water park with 14 water slides
- WonderWorks
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
- Air Force Fun Helicopters Tours
- iFLY Orlando an indoor skydiving experience
- Fun Spot America an old fashioned amusement park
- Andretti Indoor Karting & Games
- I-DRIVE NASCAR Indoor Kart Racing
- The Chocolate Museum & Cafe
- Congo River Golf Universal
- Lost Caverns Adventure Golf
- Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
- Topgolf Orlando
- Madame Tussauds Orlando
- SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Dining On International Drive
Whatever you and your family might be craving to eat, you are going to find it on International Drive. You’ll find cuisines that range from Mexican food to American to Asian food and so much more. Here are some of the tasty places you will be able to choose from:
- Chuy’s Uncle Julio’s serves authentic Mexican food
- Adobe Gilia’s also offers authentic Mexican foods
- Tapa Toro Tapas Bar & Paella Pit offers great food from Spain
- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar offers classic and contemporary Cuban food
- Tabla Indian Chinese & Thai
- CoCo Thai Cuisine
- Benihana
- Kobe Japanese Steakhouse
- Boston Lobster Feast
- Oceanaire Seafood Room
- Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
- Capital Grille offers dry aged steaks, pork chops and fresh seafood
- Fogo de Chao Churrascaria offers authentic Brazilian steakhouse
- Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
- Charley’s Steakhouse
- Giordano’s offers great pizza including their signature stuffed pizza
- Flippers Pizzeria
- Mellow Mushroom
- Uno Pizzeria & Grill
- Maggiano’s Little Italy
- Oreganatta Italian Buffet
- Shake Shack a great modern burger joint
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Tony Roma’s which offers their famous ribs
Diner Shows
If you are looking for a little entertainment with your food, here’s a few of the places that offer dinner shows:
- Mango’s Tropical Cafe
- WonderWorks Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show
- Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows
- Improv Comedy Theater & Restaurant
- Orlando Forum
- Pirates Dinner Adventure
- Titanic Dinner Event
- Teatro Martini Dinner Comedy Show
Nightlife On International Drive
International Drive is quite famous for it’s nightlife attractions with so much variety to choose from, there is always something there for everyone to have fun and enjoy. Here are just a few nightlife attractions to check out:
- The Pub offers a combination of American flair and British hospitality
- Lucky Leprechaun is an Irish Pub that offers great beer, pool tables, Irish food and live music
- ICEBAR this is the worlds biggest ice bar and has over 70 tons of ice that’s all carved by hand
- Kings Bowl is a modern late evening venue that features bowling
- Howl at the Moon is a very lively party bar
- Blue Martini is famous for 42 different varieties of martinis
As you can see, International Drive is truly far more than just a street that you drive down to get to your major destination. It’s an area that offers a lot of fun and exciting things to do. So make sure that you include it as part of your vacation plans.
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If you are planning a trip from the UK to Orlando, Florida, you are going to more than likely have a variety of different questions in order to try and make sure that your vacation is the best it can be. One of those questions might be “How far is Disney Springs from International Drive?”We will answer that question for you and also give you a lot more information to help make your vacation planning easier.
How Far Is It?
Disney Springs is 7.9 miles away from International Drive and it generally is a 13 minute drive with a taxi, Uber, or a rental car. Taking a bus would be much longer due to the numerous stops a bus has along the route.
Now that the key answer has been answered, we thought that we’d provide you with a lot more information on Disney Springs because you’ll find that it can be a very interesting and fun place to visit. Disney Springs may offer visitors far more than you might think.
Live Music
If you really enjoy live music, Disney Springs won’t let you down. Here are a few examples of what they have to offer:
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AdventHealth Waterside Stage –
This is a great venue for all ages. You’ll find it located right across from the World of Disney shop. You can catch different shows done by Disney Performance Art dancers during the day and they offer a variety of live music acts at night featuring many local and regional groups.
Another venue suitable for all ages. You’ll find all types of daytime entertainment here as well as some nighttime entertainment but, that’s not all they have to offer. They also have some great grab and go food trucks such as the Hot Diggity Dogs that offers delicious dogs from plain dogs to Texas Chili Cheese Dogs to BLT dogs. You’ll also find the Mac & Cheese that offers popular regular mac and cheese to a bacon cheeseburger variation. Then there’s the Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet that offers cones or cups of tasty cookie dough, desert tacos, sundaes and much more.
This is a great place to listen to street musicians on top of that they offer a great street show done by mentalist and magician named Meraux Dantes who dazzles visitors with his incredible illusions.
This is an outside venue that offers a perfect spot to sip on your favorite Starbucks beverage while you listen to some really lively music. It gives visitors a chance to kick back and relax as they are being entertained by very talented musicians.
You’ll find this beautiful venue nestled between the BOATHOUSE and Jack Lindsey’s Hangout, this is a really cozy little spot that hosts different singers/songwriters or bands every single day. They also offer some great late night entertainment with a DJ that offers up some great music from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Shows At Disney Springs
Even though there are plenty of live music events, you’ll also discover that there are some very individual shows that you might want to check out when visiting Disney Springs:
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The Edison Live Entertainment –
This is a venue meant for adults that offers a variety of different types of shows in the evenings. This was an abandoned power plant that’s become the epicenter for unforgettable evening experiences. It’s very lively and you can enjoy sipping on a signature cocktails or enjoy dancing and listening to the Pearl Street Players. You’ll also be entertained by stilt walkers and steampunk clad inventors who will impress you with all of their slight of hand amazing tricks.
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House of Blues Music Hall –
This is a great place for both teens and adults. This is a great venue to go to for spectacular live concerts and even take part in fun events like their Sunday Gospel Brunch. They offer a variety of very popular and nationally known musicians as well as some of the best up and coming musicians. You’ll find not just blues here but rock, country, reggae, R&B, hip-hop, and metal. It has something for everyone.
For The Kids
If you have kids, don’t worry, they have plenty that will make the kids happy as well, here are a few things your kids might enjoy:
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Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight –
Here you can soar sky high in an eight minute tethered balloon adventure in the world’s biggest hand-painted helium balloon. This beautiful hand-painted helium balloon soars up to 400 feet. The basket is actually big enough to hold up to 29 people who get to see stunning panoramic views up to ten miles away. Tickets for 10 years and older cost $20.00 or £14.17 and $15.00 or £10.63 for kids 9 and under.
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Coke Polar Bear Photo Op –
The kids will love to meet this fuzzy and friendly bear and be able to take pictures with this popular Coke character. Kids and families can meet the bear by going to the second floor of the Coca-Cola Store. On top of meeting the bear the whole family will enjoy all the interesting exhibits they have regarding the history of Coke.
This is a favorite for kids. It’s an old fashioned carousel. It has a variety of handcrafted horses, two very ornate carriages and even a teacup that spins to add a little more whimsy from Disney. The price to ride is $3.00 or £2.13.
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Marketplace Train Express –
Younger kids will really enjoy this small version of a train on a kid sized loop of track which will give you a short break as they pass by waving at you. A single ride costs $3.00 or £2.13.
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Splitsville Luxury Lanes –
This is a great place for the entire family and it brings back the good old days of bowling and is filled with retro glamour. They have 10 pin blowing Feather bowling, some lively bars, and billiards.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to see and do at Disney Springs, and this is just a small list of examples.
To help take the stress out of organising your Disney holiday, The House of Travel offers some fantastic Disney world all inclusive holidays. This ensures that you can enjoy your time here, with all of the planning in hand. After all, there’s no better way to explore Disney than by letting the experts take charge! Either give us a quick call on 0203 950 7371 or simply fill this quick form here for a call back request today.
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When planning your universal Orlando holiday packages for the first time you may not be sure of which airports service the resort. In this post you will get a better understanding on which airport is closest to universal studios so that you can have a better understanding on how to arrange your transport requirements when you reach Florida.
The closest airport to Universal Studios would be the Orlando Airport that’s also called MCO. This airport is 10.2 miles away from Universal Studios. This international airport is one that serves all major airlines that are traveling to Orlando from all over the world and it’s probably the most preferred airport for visitors when they want to go to the different theme parks in Orlando.
Five Ways You Can Get From Mco To Universal Studios
There are five different ways that you can choose from to get to Universal Studios and they include:
- Renting a car and driving there yourself
- Taking a Lyft or an Uber
- Take their public transportation
- Reserve a spot on an airport shuttle
- Call a taxi
What type of transportation that’s right for you is more than likely going to depend on where you might be planning on staying, how many people you are traveling with, and of course your budget.
Renting A Car
Probably the most popular and for many convenient choice for traveling from the airport to Universal Studios is by renting your own car. For many visitors renting a car gives them tons of freedom to not just get to the theme park but get to their hotel and it gives them the ability to explore much more of the attractions that the city of Orlando has to offer.
When you rent a car you will have a lot of choices to make like the number of days, the type of car, the size, and the insurance policy. The easiest way to choose a car rental agency is by using a comparison site in order to find the best economy bookings you can because you want to find the best one you can put in your budget.
Renting a car can cost as little as $22.00 or £15.77 per day up to $50.00 or £35.85 per day. It all will depend on the size and kind of car you want to rent.
If you do rent a car, it’s important to make sure that the hotel you are staying at has plenty of parking space. You also need to realize that it will be an extra fee for parking a car at your hotel and you’ll need to include that into your budget as well.
Here is a list of some of the hotels and what they charge for daily parking:
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort charges $15.00 or £10.75 per night
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort/Dockside Inn & Suites charges $15.00 or £10.75 per night
- Universal’s Aventura Hotel charges $18.00 or £12.91 per night
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort charges $18.00 or £12.91 per night
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort charges $26.00 or £18.64 per night
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort charges $28.00 or £20.08 per night
- Hard Rock Hotel charges $28.00 or £20.08 per night
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel charges $28.00 or £20.08 per night
Taking An Uber
The cost of taking an Uber is going to depend on the traffic, the time of day and where you need for them to take you. Basically you can expect to pay anywhere from $25.00 to $70.00 or £17.92 to £50.19. This also can depend on the kind of service and vehicle you pick. The least expensive depending on time of day and up to four people will generally run about $23.00 to $35.00 or £17.92 to £25.09.
Taking A Lyft
If you decide to take a Lyft instead of an Uber, you can expect to pay anywhere from $23.00 to $100.00 or £16.49 to £71.70. The exact costs will depend upon the kind of Lyft that you pick such as; carpool, standard, SUV/mini-bus, or luxury. It also depends on the demand and the traffic for its service area. Cheapest Lyft you can call for is their “Wait & Save” service or in other words their carpool service. However, it’s not that big of a savings, turns out to only be about 10%.If you need a larger vehicle than their standard your best bet is to go with their Lyft XL because they can accommodate up to six people and this will cost anywhere from $35.00 to $45.00 or £25.09 to £32.26.The most expensive would be their LUX Black XL and this usually costs about $100.00 or £71.70. This vehicle only seats up to four but you do arrive in utter luxury to your destination.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t book your Uber or Lyft until you pass through security, immigration, and baggage claim because if the car has to wait longer than five minutes, it will leave and you will still be charged for that time. The best thing to do is to make sure you wait until you are totally ready to leave, then book whichever service you decide upon.
Taking A Regular Taxi
If you choose to take a taxi you need to understand that it will depend on the time of day and the amount of flights arrive will influence how long you’ll have to wait for an available taxi, sometimes it can be as long as 30 minutes.
Regular taxis run on meters and depending on where you are going the prices can range from $40.00 to $50.00 or £28.68 to £35.85 one way.
Shuttle Bus
If you happen to book your vacation online by using Universal Studios website, you will have the option to add on their shuttle service that will transport you from the MCO airport to whichever on-site resort and back to the airport for an additional fee.
Final Note
Even though you can take their public transit, it’s not really recommended for those who don’t know the system because it’s confusing and it takes much longer than the other transportation.
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If you’re planning a trip to Orlando, Florida from the UK and you’ll be visiting Disney, there are going to be a lot of questions that you’ll be wanting to have answers for. One of those questions might be “How far is Lake Buena Vista from Disney? Well, in this piece we’ll provide you with that answer and provide you with a a lot more helpful information in the hope that it will help plan your all inclusive disney holidays.
How Far Is Lake Buena Vista From Disney?
First off, Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida. When it comes to Disney, most associate it with being in Orlando, Florida, however, in reality it actually is a big part of Lake Buena Vista combined with the city of Bay Lake. This is why you won’t get an exact mileage for this question since the entire Disney complex that includes resorts, water parks, and theme parks all literally reside within both Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake.
Lake Buena Vista is actually a municipality that is controlled by the Disney Company. One thing to note is that the fun and entertainment you’ll find in Lake Buena Vista it doesn’t actually start and end at the Walt Disney gates. People who visit Lake Buena Vista offers wonderful shopping, various amusements, and restaurants with delicious food from all over the world.
When the Disney company bought the land it was once a small swamp and the lake at the time was called Black Lake, even though, technically it’s not a lake it was really more of a swamp and when Disney bought it, they called it “The Florida Project”.
Great Resorts You Can Find In Lake Buena Vista
There are plenty of places to stay in Lake Buena Vista, most of which are owned by Disney and many of them are an adventure just to check out even if you’re not staying at them. Here’s a list of just a few of them to choose from:
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Disney’s Old Key West Resort –
Here you will find the romance of the Florida Keys that creates a tranquil little community called Conch Flats that’s a sprawling island hamlet with swaying palm trees, waterways, a golf course, great pools, and casual dining. The rooms are equipped with full kitchens or kitchenettes and even washers and driers and much more.
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Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort –
If you’re a big sports fan you’ll love this resort that salutes competitive sports that include basketball, baseball, football, tennis, and surfing. You’ll enjoy the sports décor and you’ll enjoy all your favorite Disney characters enjoying various sports and other kinds of fun.
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Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa –
This resort was inspired by the historic Saratoga Springs of the 1880’s a retreat in New York and it is nestled between the Village Lake Delight and a rolling golf course. They offer studios and multi-bedroom rooms. The have beautiful pools and a wonderful spa to enjoy.
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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge –
This is probably the most unique resort in the area that is a gateway to a safari adventure, gives people the opportunity to view a variety of exotic animals roaming freely on it’s nearby savanna. They offer beautiful pools and incredible dining experiences and much, much more.
Here you can enjoy all the charm and whimsy of the turn of the century Atlantic City. It’s located on the waterfront and you’ll enjoy walking along the boardwalk experiencing the different shops, carnival games, unique dining experiences, and a vibrant nightlife. This resort is close to both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in fact you can walk to both from this resort.
Key Amusements to Enjoy
You’ll find a huge variety of things to do and see that are world famous and simply can’t be missed when visiting the area:
Known the world over as the most magical place on earth and that’s the truth. This is the place where fantasy is a reality on a daily basis. Here you can enjoy the old classic attractions like It’s a Small World, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo, The Haunted House, Cinderella’s Castle and so much more. This is the place for kids of all ages and adults who are kids at heart.
This is the place where you can enjoy cultures from all over the world, learn about space, Mother nature, the seas, and get a glimpse of the future. You can go on a journey of the solar system or glide around the world or even sail away on a “Frozen” adventure and much more. If you love food then you’ll love trying authentic cuisines from 11 different countries, you’ll enjoy main courses, wines, and desserts from all over.
Here you’ll be able to experience all of the wonder of wild animals found on the African savannas and Asian jungles. You’ll encounter a variety of wild animals, be able to explore exotic jungle trails and enjoy a variety of high-speed thrills at the Animal Kingdom. You can also enjoy Pandora The World of Avatar, enjoy Broadway musicals, meet a variety of Disney characters, and entertaining animal shows. Enjoy delicious meals and desserts that are inspired by American favorites, African and Asian favorites.
So Much More To See
There is so much more to see, we can’t include it all in one article here is just a short list of other attractions there are to explore:
- Disney Springs
- Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Palm Golf Course
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Sammy Duvall Watersports
- T-Rex Cafe
- Planet Hollywood
- Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe
- House of Blues
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
To help take the stress out of organising your Disney holiday, The House of Travel offers some fantastic all inclusive Disney world holidays. This ensures that you can enjoy your time here, with all of the planning in hand. After all, there’s no better way to explore Disney than by letting the experts take charge! Either give us a quick call on 0203 950 7371 or simply fill this quick form here for a call back request today.