Article from the Boston Globe about other options than Disney while in Orlando. I've been to the Kennedy Space Center and Sea World. Enjoyed them both. Didn't know if I should post this in General Chat or New on Rumors. Feel free to move moderators. More to Orlando than Disney By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Correspondent ; | ; November 4, 2007 If you're visiting Orlando and environs, Walt Disney World probably is on your itinerary. But consider allowing time to visit other attractions. Disney may dominate the landscape with its theme parks, hotels, golf courses, shops, and restaurants, but there is more. Article Tools Most themed attractions claim to be educational, but the Kennedy Space Center may be more so than most. About 45 minutes from Orlando, it is filled with family-friendly attractions that provide insight into the space program. Admission is $38 for adults and $28 for children ages 3-12 (kennedyspacecenter.com), but tickets are sometimes included with hotel offers. The Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, for instance, has a Space Break Family Package available through Dec. 31 that starts at $191 and includes a night's accommodation and admission for two to the center's visitors complex. If you need more tickets, you get a 15 percent discount on them at check-in. Visit hiltoncocoabeach.com or call 800-HILTONS. "A lot of people think Orlando is a cultural wasteland," says Kelly Monaghan, author of "The Other Orlando: What to Do When You've Done Disney and Universal (Intrepid Traveler; theotherorlando.com), now in its fourth edition. "But it has an art scene that would be the envy of many cities." She cites the Morse Museum in nearby Winter Park, which costs just $3 for adult admission and claims the world's largest collection of Tiffany glass. The Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando costs $8 for adults and currently has a special exhibition of drawings from the Boston Public Library. Visit morsemuseum.org and mennellomuseum.com. Universal Orlando has excellent rides and other attractions at its two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The complex currently has a special featuring unlimited admission at both parks for up to a week for $85.99. There are also offers at the resort's three hotels that include tickets and savings up to 25 percent off listed rates. Visit universalorlando.com. After visiting one or more of the razzle-dazzle attractions, you might want to unwind at a nature park, and the area has more than a half-dozen. Wekiwa Springs State Park, for instance, has everything from kayaking to horseback riding in the Wekiva River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Visit canoewekiva.com or call 407-880-4110. SeaWorld Orlando and its nearby and costlier sibling, Discovery Cove, mix nature and entertainment. SeaWorld, for example, has both the Kraken roller coaster and a dolphin nursery, along with shows, other rides and exhibits, and several dining options. If you buy online at least a week in advance, you can get an adult ticket, normally $64.95, for the price of a children's ticket, $53.95. At Discovery Cove, meanwhile, you can swim with dolphins, snorkel through fish-filled reefs, and explore underwater grottoes, all in a peaceful, unhurried atmosphere. You pay for the privilege, though: Through Nov. 11, admission with a dolphin swim is $279 ($179 without). From Nov. 12-Dec. 31, the price is $259 ($159). There is a 10 percent off offer through Dec. 20 and on selected dates in 2008. Visit seaworld.com/orlando or call 800-SEA-WORLD (732-96753) and discoverycove.com (877-557-7404). Go to seaworld.org to learn such facts as this: Fish, squid, seals, sea lions, walruses, birds, sea turtles, otters, penguins, whales, polar bears, reptiles, and even a moose have been found in the stomachs of killer whales. If your primary destination is Walt Disney World, this is a nice time to be going. Immediately after Thanksgiving, the theme parks, hotels, and just about everything else are transformed with thousands of holiday decorations. There are several holiday events, one of which is Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on selected nights Nov. 12-Dec. 21, with fireworks, a special parade, and other treats. A separate admission is required for the evening event, with tickets at $47.95 for ages 10 and up and $40.95 for ages 3-9. Certain dates cost about $7 less if tickets are booked online. Also, Disney will continue its Year of a Million Dreams promotion through 2008 with prizes given away randomly at the parks. The most coveted is a night in Cinderella Castle. Between Nov. 23 and Dec. 23, people who book selected Disney World resort vacations can choose to have the family get a phone call on Christmas Day from Mickey Mouse to announce the gift. Visit disneyworld.com or call 407-W-DISNEY (934-7639). A great place to find what's going on is orlandoinfo.com, the website of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which lists attractions ranging from theme parks to the Orlando Ballet (directed by Bruce Marks, formerly of Boston Ballet). There are links to hotel packages and other discounted deals, and a free planning kit. When not included, hotel taxes, airport fees, and port charges can add significantly to the price of a trip. Most prices quoted are for double occupancy; solo travelers will usually pay more. Offers are subject to availability and there may be blackout dates. Richard P. Carpenter can be reached at carpenter@globe.com.
