fromGringotts in an adrenaline-pumping ride.
Board theHogwartsExpress toUniversal’s
sister park, Islands ofAdventure, where you
canfly through theHogwarts castlegrounds
withHarryPotter andhis friends or spiral on
adueling-dragon roller coaster. Experience
moreof your favorite stories, cartoons and
heroes in real life as you ride a raft alongside
dinosaurs in the JurassicParkRiverAdventure
andflywith superheroes onMarvel’s Super
Hero Island. Seeexclusiveholiday-themed
events like theGrinchmasWho-liday
Spectacular and the legendaryMacy’sHoliday
Paradewithone-of-a-kindballoons andfloats.
Universalorlando.com
CENTEROFTHECITY
I-Drive360
Orlando’s newest outdoor entertainment
pavilion just opened this year and is perfect for
nighttime family funon the city’s busiest street,
InternationalDrive. I-Drive 360 features pop-
ular chain restaurants, exclusive shopping and
fiveunique attractions, alongwith theworld-
famouswaxmuseum,MadameTussauds.
Swoonover a life-size replicaof BradPitt, rock
outwith theBeatles andposewithmanymore
history leaders and sports superstars (including
MiamiDolphins legendDanMarino). I-Drive
360 also features aSeaLifeAquarium and
Skeletonsmuseumhousingmore than450 real
animal skeletons. For aMagic-al aerial view
of the city, take a rideon theOrlandoEye, a
400-foot observationwheel where you can see
thedowntown skyline, themeparks andeven
glimpses ofCapeCanaveral from thehighest
point in the city.
I-drive360.com
AQUATICATTRACTIONS
SeaWorldParks andEntertainment
Encounterwhales, dolphins, penguins and
more atOrlando’s threemarine zoological
parks: SeaWorld,DiscoveryCove andAquat-
ica. SeeShamu, the famous killerwhale, swim
todancing fountains andmusic inSeaWorld’s
most popular show, “OneOcean.”Thrill-
seekers can soar pastwaterfalls onSeaWorld’s
manta ray-shaped roller coaster or ride the
fierceKraken at 65mph.AtDiscoveryCove,
guests can relax resort-stylewith all-inclusive
amenities andmeals throughout thedaywhile
they swimwithbottlenosedolphins and feed
tropical birds. Plus, a ticket toDiscoveryCove
includes unlimited admission toSeaWorld and
Aquaticaduring your vacation. For family-
friendlywater activities, visitAquatica and ride
throughdolphinhabitats, raceon foam rafts
down theTaumataRacer, play in two side-by-
sidewavepools or simply relaxonbeaches
surroundedby animal habitats.
Seaworld.com
BLASTOFF!
KennedySpaceCenter
VisitorComplex
Less than anhour’s drive fromOrlando,
CapeCanaveral, thehub forNASA’s launch
operations, hosted legendary spaceprograms,
including theApollo rocket that blastedNeil
Armstrong to themoon.Gobehind the
scenes in the space center’s restricted-access
areas to learn about theprogram’s greatest
achievements. Experience astronomical
attractions, such as strapping into a cockpit in
a space-flight simulator, hearing stories from
veteranNASA astronauts andgazingup at
real and replica capsules and rockets as tall as
109 feet.Check the launch schedule toget
the closest possible viewof rockets launching
into space for aonce-in-a-lifetimeexperience.
Kennedyspacecenter.com
–
REGINAKAZA
4
5
6
LASTYEAR,THE
CITYREELED INA
RECORD-BREAKING
62MILLION
TOURISTS—MORE
THANNEWYORK
ORLASVEGAS.
MAPS
&
LEGENDS
GETTINGTHERE
American
offersatotalof53peak-dayflightsto
Orlando
(
MCO
)
from9differenthubcitiesacross
ournetwork.
50
DECEMBER2015
AMERICANWAY
CLOCKWISE
FROM
LEFT
:
LegolandMinilandUSA;
WhovilleChristmas at
Universal;Marvel’sSuper
Hero IslandatUniversal
PHOTOS
©2012 UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT. ALL R IGHTS RESERVED. ( 2) ; © 2010 CHI P L ITHERLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
