Most of the Disney and Universal theme parks are really fabulous to see. They are beautiful, themed, landscaped and extremely interesting. So if you’re not a fan of rides as such, and you definitely can’t cope with a roller coaster, we thought we’d have a wee virtual look around some of the parks to give you “designated bag holders” some fun things to look for and look at while the rest of your family are upside down trying not to throw-up churros or in a queue singing “it’s a small world after all….” on loop.
Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom – Disneyworld’s most iconic park. Main Street USA grips you as soon as you walk in. It’s set out like an old fashioned Main Street in a pretty little town with the Cinderella Castle right ahead of you and looking more pretty in the flesh than any photos will ever do it justice. You can head on up to the Railroad station for a good photo opportunity looking down Main Street and up to the Castle. Perfect!
Extra little things to look out for along Main Street are the flag ceremonies – the flag at WDW Magic Kingdom is retired for the night each evening in a stirring and patriotic little ceremony. It only lasts around 15 minutes and is a lovely little ceremony. God Bless America is sung and a special guest veteran is handed the flag and is followed down Main Street by a little procession. It’s a tribute and thank you to veterans for their service and sacrifice for their country. How very lovely.
Casey’s Corner – fantastic and iconic store renown for its hot dogs and loaded fries (they even do vegan and vegetarian hot dogs!) – has a Daily First Pitch. Every morning as Carey’s opens the first two people in line are picked to throw the “first pitch” to officially open the restaurant. It’s usually children that are picked and they each get a brownie while the cast members sing a rousing rendition of “Take me out to the Ball Game”. Fun for American guests and tourists alike. You can’t get more American than baseball and hot dogs.
The rest of the Magic Kingdom has some super pretty and super cute places to sit, rest, watch the world go by and generally relax and have fun. There are parades, characters to meet, shows to watch and music to listen too. Have a wander around the Christmas Shop, look for the random hoedown outside the Country Bear Jamboree when characters come out and join cast members and guests for a little hoedown – fun to watch fun to be part of if you’re not too hot and bothered. Or you can have yourself a little ride on the Liberty Square Paddle Steamer the Liberty Belle which is a relaxing half-mile tour around Tom Sawyer Island. Mark Twain will be your narrator for the journey. Relaxing and nostalgic.
Animal Kingdom is perhaps one of the most prettily landscaped park. The planting in particular really does give the park it’s feel of being in the jungle, or on an African Savannah or an Indian Himalayan village. It is very very pretty and even the entrances to the rides and the queues are beautifully laid out. There are lots of fabulous places to eat and drink here – from quick service food trucks to beautiful restaurants that service the most amazing food and cocktails – what a way to while away a couple of hours sitting on the veranda sipping a nice cool cocktail imaging you are in India or on Safari in Africa.
There are lots of activities at this park – you can go to the Conservation Station and see how the animals are cared for and get some information about the species of animals that are at the park. You travel to the Conservation Station on a super little train – looks very authentically old fashioned and it’s a lovely way to while away a few minutes and have a cool down, as the train is open – cool breeze anyone!? There are African dancers and acrobats, African music, Indian dancing and what about The Festival of the Lion King show. A whole day could be spent soaking up atmosphere and watching performers, eating, drinking and seeing how many animals you can see in the Tree of Life – and a fantastic Lion King show too – not to be missed.
Hollywood Studios park has had something of a resurgence given the new Toy Story Land and the even newer Star Wars Black Spire Outpost. But if these things are not your cup of tea then you can have a very splendid day soaking up the atmosphere of the Hollywood in it’s heyday. Lunch at the Brown Derby, Hollywood’s iconic restaurant, wander along the boulevard and imagine yourself in a 1940’s movie. Actors wander around here so you could find yourself in a little skit with a director and movie camera pointing at you. Plenty to see, do and eat here – all with a nostalgic movie feel about it. It has always been Mrs Oh!’s favourite park but now everyone else is in on the secret and heads over to Toy Story rides and Star Wars, and that has meant wandering around just soaking up atmosphere is great if you’re not interested in following the crowds to the newest excitement.
Of all the Disney parks Epcot is probably the nicest one to wander around if you are not a person who enjoys wild rides, or even gentle kiddie rides for that matter. Apart from the whole future world and entrance areas, which are currently undergoing massive changes and will be very exciting once it’s completed, there is also the whole world to walk around! World Showcase is amazing, and for someone who is not that interested in rides – it’s fabulous. Walk around lots of countries of the world, and sample their food, their shops, take in their culture and learn information about them and look at their iconic landmarks, Eiffel Tower, Mexican Pyramid, Temples, palaces, mountains, waterfalls and everything else in between. Whatever landmark or famous place a country is known for you will find represented here. Sip Champagne in Paris, eat Fajitas in Mexico or watch Japanese ceremonial drumming with the torii gate in the background. Fantastic photo opportunities, plenty for the kiddies to do and see, lots to learn lots of interesting things to eat and drink.
Universals two parks are equally as interesting and stunning in their own unique ways.
The Universal Studio park is just amazing – you go from film sets, to TV studios, to famous landmarks and buildings and full mock ups of TV set representations of New York, San Francisco and Hollywood. So even if you are not into the rides that are contained in the buildings, just wandering around the streets can be lovely. You’ll find famous buildings represented, Scwabs Pharmacy – a famous hangout for actors in the 1930’s and 40’s on Sunset Boulevard and the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverley Hills to name just a couple. You’ll find movie stars – Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, The Blues Brothers, cartoon characters such as the Simpsons, Betty Boop and Scooby Doo, Dora the Explorer and pals round and about. Live music is provided by fantastic Blues Brothers shows on the steps of a building in a New York street – fantastic show, definitely needs to be seen. You’ll also find a full Springfield set, which contains the Quick-e-mart, Moe’s Tavern, a restaurant where you can get yourself a Krusty Burger, and meet all of your favourite Simpson stars. But perhaps the best and most amazing part of this park is Diagon Alley. There’s a mock up of Kings Cross Station (where you can get the Hogwarts Express to the Islands of Adventure park – a full size steam train with a twist!) and shops and restaurants and lots of kids with wands “casting spells” making displays in shop windows come to life and making fountains work and heaven knows what else. Even for the non-Harry Potter fans it’s pretty spectacular to see.
Islands of Adventure is made up of various “lands” and although does have some pretty spectacular rides, there is so much to see and do for you if you don’t enjoy those rides. You could re-live your childhood by wandering through Seuss Landing – you’ll find the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two, Sam I Am and the Grinch. Or how about heading off to Marvel Super Hero Island, you can have yourself a little chat with Spider-Man, and get some photos taken with the other superhero’s that are found there. Toon Lagoon is where you’ll find Popeye and Olive so there are some pretty cute photo-ops here with some famous cartoon characters. You’ll also find Wimpy’s there if you’d like to “gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”. If you don’t know what that’s all about ask your parents – or Google it! Nostalgia is fun. There’s Jurassic park of course, which looks pretty fantastic and if you are brave enough you can meet a Velociraptor here and have your photo taken with it – if you can stand still for long enough. There’s plenty of other “lands” to take in too, but maybe Hogsmeade will be the one that completely blows your mind! A giant Hogwarts Castle, tick, a whole snow covered Hogsmeade village, tick, a Frog Choir to listen too, tick, and a fantastic English themed restaurant to grab bangers and mash at, tick! So much too see and do and eat and enjoy – even if you never set foot on a ride.
So hopefully, for those of you who are thinking that you are going to be the one that gets the least out of the theme parks, we have changed your mind a little. From the pretty looking parks, to the wild and exciting, famous landmarks, the famous characters you’ll meet, the music you’ll hear and the themed food and drinks, the shows and the atmosphere you can soak up – the theme parks in Orlando are not what you think. There’s surprises round every corner, secrets to uncover, quiet places to sit and reflect, unexpected encounters and above all lots and lots of fun and entertainment.
Now that giant chunk of cash you have just shelled out on theme park tickets is now seeming a little less daunting, knowing that there really is something for everyone and you are going to have the most amazing time, whatever your age.
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