Orlando for Big Spenders

Exclusive Experiences

When it comes to the kind of unique experiences which often provide your holiday highlights, Orlando also now boasts an extensive array of things to do in the true exclusive bracket.
At the very top of this particular list for reasons of distinction AND price is the Discovery Cove park next to SeaWorld. With an entry fee roughly four times that of the other main theme parks, this is not the place to pencil in to your holiday schedule if you are on a tight budget BUT it is one of the most memorable experiences you will find anywhere and breakfast, lunch, snacks, beverages (including Anheuser-Busch products) and snorkeling gear, plus a family photo, are all included.

Not only do you get to enjoy a touch of tropical island paradise in the middle of all the mainstream hurly-burly, with a guest ratio limited to just 1,000 visitors a day (there are no queues for anything here – unless everyone decides to go for lunch at the same time!), but you also have the undoubted highlight of the unique Dolphin Swim, whereby everyone (of six and older) gets to swim and interact with one of the park’s playful dolphins.

As well as providing the memories of a lifetime (not to mention the photos and video to prove it), this blissfully relaxing day provides a rare chance in Orlando to recharge your batteries and take things slowly for a change. With a lovely lazy river water feature (complete with waterfalls and caves to swim through and sunken ‘treasure’ to explore), a spectacular coral reef, a stingray pool and an extensive aviary full of playful birds, this is a park of immense all-round enjoyment for all ages and comes complete with a level of service on a par with most five-star hotels. Truly, if you are looking for THE special experience of your holiday, Discovery Cove will provide it.

PRO SPOT: In addition to the regular day-time ticket from 9am-5pm, Discovery Cove offers a Twilight Discovery programme, which provides entry from 3-9pm and, while the dolphin swim doesn’t include a deep-water interaction, we feel there is actually more time and exclusivity with this version. Plus, there is valet parking, a welcome reception, drinks and live entertainment, and there is an extra measure of the park’s personal service in the evening. However, Twilight Discovery is a summer programme only, running on select dates from 3 June-22 August 2008.

If all that natural splendour isn’t quite ‘special’ enough, how about going one better and becoming a Trainer For A Day at Discovery Cove? This truly unique programme takes a handful of guests behind the scenes at this 30-acre park to interact with all the animals and, more importantly, find out how they are trained, fed, looked after and cared for. You get to work with the experts as they go about their daily routine with the dolphins, birds, sharks, stingrays and tropical fish. The experience includes behavioural training classes, feeding and play encounters, the chance to experience a double-foot push (ride on the front of two dolphins), souvenir shirt, dolphin book and waterproof camera, as well as the all-inclusive Day Experience perks (including continental breakfast, lunch, snack and beverages). Participants must be at least 6 (under 13’s must be accompanied by a participating adult) and in good health. However, you need to book well in advance ($468-488 per person). See www.discoverycove.com for more details.

SeaWorld also boasts some highly worthwhile and original extra programmes which all provide some fantastic animal opportunities. One we can both heartily vouch for is Sharks Deep Dive, possibly the most original and captivating experience of them all as it involves the chance to suit up and dive in a specially constructed cage into the huge shark aquarium, and spend half an hour up close and personal with these deadly but amazing creatures. The 2-hour programme includes a full induction into the world of sharks, then you are equipped for the dive with wetsuit (the water IS chilly), gloves and dive belt and are introduced to the special underwater diving helmet which allows two-way communication (no scuba certification required). Then you jump into the reinforced steel cage that glides slowly from one end of the 125ft long tank to the other and back. Getting a fish-eye view of these creatures is truly an astounding experience, and you never tire of the underwater panorama (which includes waving to folks walking through the long Perspex shark tunnel!). However, you must be at least 10 to participate, and it is a hefty $150/person.

PRO SPOT: The Sharks Deep Dive experience is full of informative insights into the life and habits of sharks. Among them is the fact it is unwise to go swimming wearing jewellery in areas where there might be sharks – anything that glitters might be mistaken underwater for fish scales, and end up as a tempting snack for a shark!

The Marine Mammal Keeper Experience is a premium option for three visitors daily (aged 13 or above) to find out about the intensive care necessary to rehabilitate injured manatees, plus bottle-feed some of them, meet the seals and walruses and prepare meals for the beluga whales. It starts at 6.30am and lasts around 8 hours for $399/person (including lunch at the Sharks Underwater Grill, T-shirt, special book and 7-day SeaWorld pass). Alternatively, the brand new Beluga Interactive Program (with the American spelling!) is equally captivating (for ages 13 and up). The chance to enter the water with Beluga whales is a rare one indeed and this delve into their habitat is highly worthwhile. No swimming is necessary but guests must be comfortable in the water. The programme (for ages 13 and up, $179 each) includes touching, feeding and interacting with hand signals, and is conducted each day rain or shine.

Finally, SeaWorld’s more exclusive experiences also include their 6-hour Adventure Express Tour, which offers visitors their own guide to tour the park, with back-door access to the rides, reserved seating at shows and animal feeding opportunities. It costs an extra $89-95 for adults, $80 for 3–9s. You can book on line in advance, or when you first enter the park at the Guided Tours counter or call in advance to book on 1800 406 2244.

The Walt Disney World Resort has its own series of behind-the-scenes tours, all of which make for a fascinating accompaniment to the overall theme park experience, and are especially suited to repeat visitors.

At the Magic Kingdom park, there is the choice of the Keys to the Kingdom, a 4½-5 hour guided tour of many backstage areas, including the service tunnel under the park and entertainment production buildings. It costs an extra $60 (including lunch; not available for under 16s). Disney’s Family Magic Tour is a 2-hour guided adventure that takes you on a search for clues throughout the park at $27/person; or you can experience Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour ($40/person; no under 10s) as you join the crew who prepare the park’s trains each day.

The most comprehensive tour, Backstage Magic ($199; ages 16 and up), goes behind the scenes of Epcot, Magic Kingdom Park and Disney-MGM Studios on a 7-hour foray into little-seen aspects of the parks.

Finally, for those who enjoy the latest technologies, World Showcase offers a morning Segway Tour on the innovative two-wheeled Segway Human Transporter. It costs $85/person extra but the 2-hour tour includes full instruction and plenty of travel time on these amazing contraptions, which can go up to 20kph. It is open to only 10 guests at 9am each day (minimum age 16) and it’s advisable to book well in advance. If you don’t have time for the full experience, try the Simply Segway Experience at Epcot, a 1-hour indoor training session for beginners ($35, 16 and up). For all Disney tours, call 407 939 8687 (or 407 WDW TOUR).

A collaboration between Disney and former American star racing driver Richard Petty is the high-powered Richard Petty Experience, which can be found just before the parking area for the Magic Kingdom park. Here you can try one of their 650-bhp stock cars on the 1.8-mile oval circuit as either driver or passenger at up to 145mph. The programmes consists of the three-lap Ride-Along Experience ($105/person, 16 and over only); a 3-hour Rookie Experience (with tuition and eight laps of the speedway; $403/person, must be at least 18); the Kings Experience (tuition plus 18 laps; $797/person, 18 and over); and the Experience of a Lifetime (an intense 30-lap programme; a whopping $1,330/person, again 18 and over only). You don’t need to book for the Ride-Along Experience, which is available from mid-February to the end of September, and there is no admission fee, so you can come along just to watch. The three driving programmes all require reservations, while the track is occasionally closed for race testing from October to February. For more info, call 407 939 0130 or visit www.1800bepetty.com.

PRO SPOT: Sensible, lightweight clothing is required for the Richard Petty Ride-Along Experience. The interior of the cars is hot and stuffy, and you need to climb in through the window – so, ladies, skirts are not advisable! This is a great spectator opportunity, though, and you don’t need to pay the $11 Magic Kingdom parking fee, either. Just tell the parking booth attendant you are heading for the Disney Speedway.

One of the other exclusive Disney gems can be found at the Downtown Disney location, where collaboration with the international circus group Cirque du Soleil brings the amazing show La Nouba to life twice a day (not Sunday or Monday). This is hard to describe, but if you can imagine a combination of dance, acrobatics, live music and stunts that absolutely defy the imagination, then you have La Nouba. The 90-minute show is staged in magnificent style in its own theatre and features a wealth of eye-catching costumes, amazing special effects, superb staging and a vibrant, 40-strong cast who will have you blinking in astonishment. And even that does not do it justice. Our only advice is – go see it for yourself! However, although it IS occasionally possible to get last-minute bookings by turning up at the box office for any Returns, it is highly advisable to book in advance as the show is extremely popular. You will find tickets on the Attraction Tickets Direct website so this would be your best bet. Once again, tickets aren’t cheap, but we firmly believe this show is worth every cent.

Universal Orlando’s Sharp Aquos theater (in CityWalk) plays host to the wonderfully eclectic Blue Man Group, a 2-hour show brimming with inventive musical and visual humour and a heavy dose of audience participation. The Blue Men never speak, but communicate brilliantly through gestures and subtle facial expressions. Their use of non-traditional percussive instruments (including each other) is simply astonishing, while their unique brand of physical humor will leave you shaking your head in amazement (how many paintballs can one blue man hold in his mouth and still be able to breathe?!). Although it may go over the heads of the under-8s, Blue Man Group’s performance is family friendly, with the added benefit of having strong teen appeal. Check Attraction Tickets Direct for tickets.

Out at the Kennedy Space Center are two new programmes which fully justify the ‘exclusive’ tag for this section. First of all, we consider Lunch with an Astronaut an absolute must-do for all visitors, whether this is your first visit or your 21st. Here, you get to be part of a small group who enjoy a buffet-style lunch, and a personal talk and Q&A session, with a meet and greet and autograph session, with one of NASA’s small group of genuine astronauts, men and women who have been up in the Space Shuttle, the Space Station, Spacelab and even the Apollo missions in a couple of instances. It is a fascinating and truly worthwhile addition to a Space Center visit, costing $60.99 (including standard admission) for adults and $42.99 for children (3-11), but must be booked in advance on 321 449 4400 or online at www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

PRO SPOT: There are some height and weight restrictions for the Astronaut Training Experience, and sensible clothing is required – no skirts or sandals. It is vital to book in advance, as the ATX has proven quite popular. Attraction Tickets Direct can assist you in booking ATX as well as other Kennedy Space Center experiences.

Continuing the flying theme, Warbird Adventures is one of the most amazing experiences we have been able to try anywhere. Based at Kissimmee Airport off Hoagland Boulevard (just south of Highway 192), this unique operation flies 1945 T-6 Harvards, and takes people up in these vintage two-seater aircraft for flight-only or flights with aerobatics. This is the best ride in town, bar none, guaranteed! Roller-coasters will seem tame by comparison afterwards, as the G-force you feel during the various loops and rolls your pilot puts the plane through is quite stunning. You also get to take the controls yourself – under careful supervision – and try your hand at a few basic aerobatics, which is truly an intense feeling. Warbird Adventures also fly Bell M*A*S*H helicopters, and they provide full photo and video coverage of your flight. The costs vary according to the duration of flight and the ‘extras’ you choose in the way of aerobatics and pictures, but it is well worth going for the full one-hour all-inclusive Ultimate package at $560. Call to book on 1800 386 1593 or visit www.warbirdadventures.com.

A ride of a different kind is a signature Orlando experience and can usually be seen every morning (weather permitting). A Balloon Flight is also another wonderful way to do something special in the area, as it provides a breathtaking view of much of central Florida. They usually go up first thing in the morning (when the winds are lightest) and treat you to a marvelous sunrise panorama of Orlando and beyond. There is very little sensation of movement as you go with the wind, and it is a very gently, if exhilarating, feeling. You may also get a glimpse of some of the local wildlife – from alligators to white-tailed deer – and there is always a champagne toast on landing again (usually after an hour). We rate this as one of the most memorable experiences Florida has to offer and, while it is obviously not a cheap one, it is fabulous value for money.

One other transportation mode you might like to consider which also has that ‘exclusive’ touch are the various Limo Rides which you can take throughout Orlando. These have become increasingly popular, and varied, in recent years, with a huge collection of different vehicles available, from the typical American stretch limousine to the amazing new stretch Hummer. Typically they are used to provide airport transfers, but they also provide a great special occasion treat for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc, and can also be hired for nights out to places like the dinner shows, nightclubs and restaurants. There are even special limo excursions that will take you shopping, to a Disney character meal or to the Kennedy Space Center. It certainly adds a really classy touch to your holiday, and children in particular enjoy the limo style. There are various different companies offering limo services, but one we know well is Skyy Limousine on 407 352 4644 or www.skyylimousine.com. For a treat for all the family, try a character meal plus limo! Breakfast or Dinner

There is also our unique Expert Orlando Itinerary Planner, but then we class that as pretty much an essential ingredient for a successful holiday! Learn more at www.venesstravelmedia.com
Want to hear what other ATD members have to say about Orlando’s exclusive experiences? Check out our forums!