Theme Parks for Guests of Orlando Vacation Rentals

Your first stop in Orlando should be the Official Visitor Center at 8723 International Drive on the southeast corner of International Drive and Austrian Row (407-363-5872). Vacationers staying in a Disney vacation home can pick up Orlando maps, visitor guides, and events calendars, and even purchase Disney World tickets and other Orlando discount tickets.

Disney vacations are great fun for the entire family. The mother of all theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort lies on a 30,000-acre tract of land near Kissimmee, just southwest of Orlando. Disney's first Florida theme park, the Magic Kingdom, was opened in 1971. Vacationers staying in Disney vacation homes near Disney World Orlando can enjoy rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants in seven themed areas, including Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Town Square, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Mickey's Toontown Fair.

The Epcot theme park is made up of two sections which manage to be both educational and highly entertaining. Future World, designed to showcase technology and science, features areas such as Spaceship Earth, Universe of Energy, the Living Seas, and Wonders of Life. At Epcot's World Showcase, guests of in Disney vacation rentals take a fantasy tour of the world, sampling culture, food, crafts, entertainment and attractions representing France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Norway, America, Canada, Mexico, Morocco, Japan, and China. The employees working in each "country" are actually natives of those lands.

Part zoo and part theme park, Disney's Animal Kingdom showcases real, imaginary, and extinct animals with typical Disney style. The live animals are housed in carefully re-created natural landscapes. Attractions for visitors staying in a in Disney vacation rental home include DinoLand U.S.A., the Boneyard, the Kail River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and more.

No Orlando Disney World vacation would be complete without a visit to Disney-MGM Studios, which pays tribute to the movie-making business and includes working movie and television-production studios. Guests of Orlando lodging can take a fascinating tour of the animation studio to see how animated films are made, learn about special effects, and enjoy about two dozen movie-themed attractions and rides.

Summertime guests of Disney World lodging can cool off at Typhoon Lagoon, featuring water slides, snorkeling, surfing, inner tubing, and other water fun. Another Disney water park, Blizzard Beach (probably the world's only ski resort-themed water park) is also known for its thrilling water slides.

Round out your Walt Disney World vacation with a visit to DisneyQuest, a five-story indoor theme park located in Downtown Disney West Side. Other attractions in Downtown Disney include the Pleasure Island entertainment complex (geared toward adults) and the Downtown Disney Marketplace, the ultimate Disney shopping experience.

Orlando's second largest theme park complex, Universal Orlando, is home to Universal Studios Orlando, a working movie studio and theme park where visitors can watch the movies come to life. Universal's Islands of Adventure features innovative rides, shows, and attractions based on movie and cartoon themes, such as Marvel Super Hero Island, Jurassic Park, and Seuss Landing.

Guests of vacation homes in Orlando can cool off at Universal's Wet 'n Wild, which offers thrilling water slides and rides as well as entertaining kids' areas. The Universal City Walk entertainment district features attractions like Hard Rock Café Live, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, and Emeril's restaurant.

SeaWorld Orlando, the world's largest marine adventure park, combines education, conservation, and entertainment in one appealing park. Vacationers staying in an Orlando villa can watch shows starring whales, dolphins, and other creatures; tour aquariums filled with fascinating marine life; swim with dolphins and beluga whales; and see exhibits of sea lions, penguins, and more.

The world-famous water skiing show at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in nearby Winter Haven has been drawing visitors for 70 years. Today, vacationers staying in Orlando and Clermont vacation rentals will find numerous shows, rides, concerts, and attractions on the lovely landscaped grounds of the park.

At Gatorland theme park and wildlife preserve, a popular Orlando attraction since 1949, guests of Orlando and Kissimmee villa rentals can see alligators, crocodiles, and birds, watch exciting shows, and take a nature walk or train ride through the park.