Kids Korner

Visit Orlando! Universal Orlando SeaWorld Orlando Discovery Cove With more than 95 attractions in Orlando, it would take kids about 67 days to visit every one – and more than a year to visit every hotel! There are nearly 500 hotels here, more than almost any other city in the world. More than 18 million parents and kids visit Orlando every year, with families ranking it a top choice for spring break. Check out www.orlandoinfo.com/springbreak.

Did You Know?

• It took more than 650 Walt Disney Imagineers more than 350,000 hours – equal to 40 years – to develop Mission:Space. They worked on it for more than five years. This May, join The Happiest Celebration on Earth as Walt Disney World marks 50 years of Disney theme park magic since Disneyland opened in 1955. Look for a new stunt show complete with jet skis at Disney-MGM, a new soaring adventure over California at Epcot, and a new musical Cinderellabration at Magic Kingdom. Check out www.disneyworld.com.

• The largest killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando weighs more than 11,000 pounds. Every day, the SeaWorld animal experts feed more than 5,000 pounds of fish to the animals – 1,000 pounds just to the killer whales. You might be able to help feed the dolphins, sea lions, and seals. You won’t want to miss the Shark Encounter, the scary Kraken roller coaster or the new dolphin show coming this summer. At the neighboring park, Discovery Cove, you can swim with a Dolphin and snorkel with the rays. Visit www.seaworld.com or www.discoverycove.com.

• If you stay at a Universal Orlando hotel, you can get to the front of any line just by showing your hotel key. You can also buy coupon books that will give you the same privilege. (www.universalorlando.com) Check out the all-new Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue at Universal Studios and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure. Get ready to be scared on Revenge of the Mummy, an attraction that combines a high-speed coaster and robotics on an adventure through ancient Egyptian catacombs. Test your courage in the new “Fear Factor Live” show. Don’t forget to eat some Green Eggs and Ham in Seuss Landing.

• Disney has a new “Magic Your Way” ticketing plan that rewards longer stays with steep discounts: Buy seven-day passes and your last two days cost just $3 a day – not bad when it costs nearly $60 to get in for one day. There are also new meal plans you can buy for Disney restaurants that can be a good deal. (www.disneyworld.com). Check out the four-park Orlando ticket that includes up to two weeks of unlimited admission to SeaWorld, Universal’s two parks, and Wet ‘n Wild. You can buy these and other discount theme park tickets on www.orlandoinfo.com.

• Even when you (or your parents) need a break from the theme parks, you won’t get bored. Hit your hotel pool. Shop for souvenirs at Downtown Disney, Universal’s CityWalk or The Waterfront at SeaWorld. Head to the water slides at Wet ‘n Wild Orlando. Spend a few days on a Disney cruise ship or learn all about space at the Kennedy Space Center a short drive away.

What Other Kids Say You Should Do While In Orlando . . .

Meet Maggie Jones, 16, and Gordon Jones, 14. They live in Texas but have been to Orlando at least 10 times. They are the children of Dallas-based Southwest Employee Melanie Jones.

They Say: Besides the theme parks, kids should go see the Kennedy Space Center (www.ksp.nasa.gov) This is where the space shuttles are launched and it’s awesome to see – even if you don’t get to see a real launch. It’s less than an hour away and you can go to the beach afterward!

Visiting Kids Should Definitely Not Miss: Mission Space at Disney’s Epcot and The Twilight of Terror at Disney’s MGM Studios. Make sure to go to the ocean too, especially Daytona Beach.

Must Eats: Smoothies and pizza at Wolfgang Puck Café in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World resort.

Must-have Souvenir: An awesome T-shirt. There are plenty everywhere you go in Orlando!

See Past Editions of Kids Korner.

By: Eileen Ogintz, Author of Taking the Kids™