This week, Jennifer wants to know about other activities in the Disney/Orlando area.  When we get down there, we are all about Disney, BUT we do occasionally venture out in search of other entertainment. 

It has become a bit of a tradition to stop by Old Town - it's right along the Irlo-Bronson Memorial Highway, which runs through Kissimmee.  We stayed in a hotel right across from it on one of our earliest trips. 

On our last trip, we spent our first night at the Days Inn right beside Old Town (while waiting to get into our timeshare for the remainder of our vacation).  We met up with some friends and had dinner together at Old Town and enjoyed walking around in the carnival-like atmosphere.

Another place that I had always wanted to visit was Sea World.  So, on our last trip to the area, we decided to add Sea World to our week's activities.  I must say that, compared to a Disney park, I wasn't impressed with the layout of Sea World.  Rather than being laid out in an organized manner as the Disney parks are, Sea World is much more like a maze.  I found it hard to navigate and to get from point A to point B in time to see various shows, etc.  I would definitely recommend a 2-day pass to this park if you're really wanting to see it all.

 The Shamu character is nothing like the characters at Disney either, but he certainly is cuddly and the girls enjoys snuggling up to him for a picture.

One of my favorite pictures from our last Florida trip is this one, to the left.  The  girls are watching some flamingos and other birds.  For once, they had both sat still enough to allow me to braid their hair.  That is very unual for Gracie, who never wants anything in her hair!  A rare day indeed!

Gracie is still a bit miffed at me because I actually got to touch a dolphin!  If you're interested, they feel very smooth and slippery.  One of these days, we'll have to save up enough money to go to Discovery Cove and swim with the dolphins because the girls and I are all very attracted to them!

Just a word of Sea World warning:  if you go to the Whale Show and you do not want to get wet, DO NOT SIT IN THE SOAK ZONE!  Even if your husband happens to say "oh, the water will never come up here to these top rows of the soak zone", don't believe him!  They wait 'til the  very end and bring out the biggest whale of all; and, trust me, the water will come up there and YOU WILL GET WET!  (I'm in the middle of this picture, holding Gracie who was screaming! Notice the lady a few rows in front of us in the black hat, turning around staring at us! LOL  Photo courtesy of my parents who were intelligent enough to take the signs seriously!)

We haven't tried any of the dinner theaters or other Orlando attractions, but I'm interested in reading what others have to say about them.  If you're interested to, be sure to stop by Jennifer's blog and read everyone's posts.

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Jul. 25, 2008 - Good info

Posted by Jennifer, Snapshot

That Old Town looks like the kind of place that we like to haunt on vacations.

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Jul. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by denisebp

I've never seen Old Town before, but I love Sea World. Discovery Cove was one of the best things I've ever done. I was surprised at how expensive it was, but my FIL, who definitely doesn't like to spend money, told me that it was well worth it, so we decided to go for it. He was right; it was incredible!

Denise

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Jul. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Yep, Old Town is neat. We haven't been to any other theme park in Orlando...even though many are cheaper than Disney. We just feel like they wouldn't meet our expectations and live up to Disney, much like you described. Thanks for stopping by my post. Julie http://funinthesunmom.blogspot.com

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