Florida Travels: Family Fun at Two of Orlando's Top Attractions

The second stop on our trip through Florida was Orlando. This city is known world-wide for its attractions and our plan was to visit two of them. However, before spending two days in theme parks, my family wanted to have a relaxing day at our hotel, the Hyatt Regency Orlando.

Upon check-in at the hotel, I immediately knew we had made the right choice in where to stay. Not only is the hotel in a convenient location, check-in was easy and the staff was very warm and welcoming. Our room was very comfortable and featured a balcony, living area and television in the mirror of the bathroom (a big bonus for my six year old).

After we got settled in, we headed for the pool area and were pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the outdoor oasis we found. There were 3 pools surrounded by lush landscaping that made us feel like we were on a tropical island rather than in the middle of the city. The largest pool was in the center and there was another pool with a beautiful waterfall feature and a third pool with a water slide.

We spent the entire day relaxing by the pool. My daughter participated in one of the activities provided by the pool staff which was a raft race. We dined pool-side on offerings provided by Coconuts Poolside Bar and Grill which was not only convenient but delicious.

To round out our day of relaxation, we decided to dine on-site at Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse. Each course of our meal was a tasty delight. The food was fresh and well-prepared. My daughter said it was the best meal she ever ate (and it wasn’t macaroni and cheese!).

Although I could have happily spent my entire stay in Orlando at the Hyatt Regency, we were off the next day to SeaWorld. I hadn’t been to this attraction since I was a small child so I was surprised to see what it has grown into. I remembered the amazing marine animal shows which are still a cornerstone of the park. However, there are many other things to do in addition to the shows. There are several roller coasters and rides. One section of the park is rides specifically for younger children. There are also many animal viewing areas and interactive features such as a sting ray petting pool.

The shows were my daughter’s favorite feature of the park. She really enjoyed seeing the dolphins, killer whales and sea lions perform. However, her favorite show was called Pets Ahoy in which trained pets such as dogs, cats, birds and a pig performed.

Our third day in Orlando was spent at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. Since we spent some time at Disney when we visited Orlando about a year and a half ago, we wanted to check out the newest ride. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, located in the Fantasyland section of the park, is the latest addition to the attractions at the Magic Kingdom. There was a line for the ride, which we expected. However, since we headed there first upon arrival, our wait was only about 30 minutes.

Typically, waiting in a line for a ride is not pleasant. However, for the most part, the line was shaded and offered three interactive opportunities for visitors before ever reaching the actual ride. There is a digital gem-sorting game, an interactive water feature and bucket spinning projectors. These activities made the wait for the ride quite enjoyable.

The mine train ride is a great beginner roller coaster. It is thrilling enough for seasoned coaster riders while being tame enough for first-timers. The attention to detail on this ride, as with most other Disney rides is impeccable. The ride takes you through a gem mine in which visitors can see the dwarfs hard at work. There is also a stop along the course of the ride in which you get a glimpse into the dwarfs cottage to see Snow White dancing. The ride strikes the perfect balance of exhilaration and entertainment.

Other highlights of the day included a watching a performance complete with fireworks in front of Cinderella’s castle, the Festival of Fantasy Parade and a snack of Dole Whip. A must-have for a great day at Disney is the free app called My Disney Experience which lets visitors know the wait times of all rides and shows.