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Orlando by GoCityKids Whether you are traveling with your baby or taking all three kids to Orlando for a family vacation, you should have plan for having fun. Babies Travel Lite has teamed up with GoCityKids to bring you a mini-travel guide of sites you shouldn’t miss when you visit Orlando with kids.
For more information about visiting Orlando with kids, go to www.GoCityKids.com. GoCityKids is the city guide for parents featuring information about entertainment, indoor fun, lodging, outdoor adventures, parks & playgrounds, restaurants, tourist stops, transportation and more. Kennedy Space Center• Location: State Road 405, Orlando FL 32815 • Phone: 321.449.4444 • Hours: Daily, 9am-5:30pm • Cost: Adults $38; Children (3-11) $28, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com For anyone who has ever studied the stars, or for those who simply watched the movie Space Camp, you'll find the Kennedy Space Center a perfect full-day experience.  Just 45 minutes from Orlando, the center offers a behind the scenes view of the past, present and future of America's space program. There's a great deal to do and see at KSC, from live shows and exhibits to IMAX films and backstage tours. Kids will love the Mad Mission to Mars 2025, a stage show using animation and spectacular theatrical effects, to transform viewers into "astronaut trainees." Another favorite is the huge IMAX theater featuring footage that was actually shot in space by NASA Astronauts. The films immerse you in the experience, making you feel like you're an astronaut yourself. KSC's newest attraction, Shuttle Launch Experience, takes visitors step-by-step through the launch sequence - complete with authentic sights, sounds, and sensations - and offers a breathtaking view of Earth from an orbiting shuttle. A team of astronauts and NASA experts helped to design the $60 million attraction, which is considered to be the most realistic launch simulation ever created. The absolute "must do" at the Visitor Complex is the Space Center Tour. This bus tour takes you all over the Kennedy Space Center. You'll see the Space Shuttle launch pads, the building where the Space Shuttles are put together for launches, and the Apollo/Saturn V Center which focuses on the quest to land on the moon. Disney’s Animal Kingdom• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 • Phone: 407.824.4321 • Hours: Vary. Call or go to website for hours of operation. • Cost: Adults $75; Children (3-9) $63, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.disneyworld.com Walt Disney World's fourth theme park celebrates animals of the past, the present, and the imagination. With wild animals, fun rides, entertaining stage shows, and plenty of character interaction, Disney's Animal Kingdom is a laid-back destination with plenty of fun for everyone. The gigantic Tree of Life is the centerpiece of the park and the park is divided into four lands. Some important things to know about Animal Kingdom:
 Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park• Location: 1534 West Buena Vista Drive • Phone: 407.824.4321 • Hours: Vary. Call or go to website for hours of operation. • Cost: Adults $36; Children (3-9) $30, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.disneyworld.com  Swimming suits and ski slopes? Sure! At this water park, it's the perfect combination. This is Central Florida's version of snow sports!
The concept behind Blizzard Beach - that it's a melting ski resort - carries through all of the rides, but thankfully not the temperature of the water, which is heated year round. The park is thoughtfully organized to accommodate all ages. The entire family can enjoy Melt-Away Bay, the wave pool at the base of Mt. Gushmore, which is the centerpiece of the park. And, at some point during the day, it's fun to float as a family down the Cross Country Creek's lazy river. Disney’s Hollywood Studios• Location: 3111 World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 • Phone: 407.824.4321 • Hours: Vary. Call or go to website for hours of operation. • Cost: Adults $75; Children (3-9) $63, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.disneyworld.com  Become part of the show at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Disney park dedicated to the glitz of show business, the fun of live theater, and the magic of animation.
The park isn't divided into lands like others, so you may find yourself zig-zagging from one end to the other here. Definitely pick up a free park map and show schedule to help guide you from place to place. Epcot• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 • Phone: 407.824.4321 • Hours: Vary. Call or go to website for hours of operation. • Cost: Adults $75; Children (3-9) $63, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.disneyworld.com  Ready to travel to four continents, take a rocket ride to Mars, explore land and sea adventures, and journey into your imagination? There's a reason people say that Epcot stands for Every Person Comes Out Tired.
Actually, it means Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and it was Walt Disney's grand vision. Today you'll find a mix of thrill rides, some aging favorites, and plenty of culture disguised as entertainment (think of it as subliminal education). The park is divided into two different sections, Future World and World Showcase. Disney’s Magic Kingdom• Location: 311 World Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 • Phone: 407.824.4321 • Hours: Vary. Call or go to website for hours of operation. • Cost: Adults $75; Children (3-9) $63, (under 3) free • Web: http://www.disneyworld.com  Nothing quite compares to the original Disney theme park in Florida, the Magic Kingdom. It has been entertaining kids young and old since 1971, and it's difficult not to love it. It's clean, the rides are classics, and most cast members are willing to go several "extra miles" to make kids happy.
The park is laid out in seven easy-to-navigate lands. If you're using the FastPass system, Disney's equivalant to reserving a future time and space on a ride, you'll want to hang out in nearby lands while waiting for your ride time. Making the trek back and forth across the span of the park can be difficult with kids in tow, so work your way from one land to the next instead. Universal Studios Florida• Location: 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando FL 32819 • Phone: 407.363.8000 • Hours: Operating hours normally begin at 9am and closing times vary • Cost: Adults $67 (at the gate), $63 (online); Children (ages 3-9) $56 (at the gate), $52 (online) (under age 3, free) • Web: http://www.universalorlando.com  Visitors are part of the show at Universal Studios Florida, where favorite movies "come to life" in the form of great rides and live shows.
While kids might not have seen all of the films the rides are based on - The Blues Brothers Show or the Jaws boat encounter - they'll still have plenty of fun. The most family-friendly activity - before everyone runs off in different directions - is by far Shrek 4-D, a 3-D adventure with OgreVision. Another highlight is the interactive Men In Black Alien Attack, where the audience becomes part of a huge video game. Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando• Location: 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando FL 32819 • Phone: 407.363.8000 • Hours: Operating hours normally begin at 9am and closing times vary • Cost: Adults $67 (at the gate), $63 (online); Children (ages 3-9) $56 (at the gate), $52 (online) (under age 3, free) • Web: http://www.universalorlando.com  Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando caters to the dare-devils in your family, with some fun areas for smaller kids.
Many coasters have height restrictions, which can be disappointing for little ones, but take them over to Seuss Landing for fun that's "just their size." It's based on the beloved author's best-loved book, and features a crazy spin through the story of The Cat in the Hat. For the coolest merry-go-round, try the Caro-Suess-el, on which characters' heads move and eyes blink. Other fun kids' areas include Me Ship, The Olive in Toon Lagoon, a three story play area with plenty of fun activities, and Camp Jurassic, complete with "mines" and climbing nets. Let Uptake.com help you find Family Accommodations in Orlando for your Orlando Family Vacations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||