Orlando: never outgrow the magic - visiting Orlando, Florida

PSA Journal, Feb, 1998 by Carole L. Hagaman

Orlando, a vibrant growing destination, offers a dazzling array of exciting vacation options that are guaranteed to provide priceless memories that will last a lifetime. Come to Orlando, and join in the fun of the 1998 International Conference of Photography of the Photographic Society of America on August 31-September 5, 1998.

Accommodations will be at the Radisson Twin Towers Hotel, ideally located at the entrance to world-famous Universal Studios, within minutes of Walt Disney World, Sea World, Wet-N-Wild, Medieval Times, and an easy drive from Florida's sunny beaches. A magical stay that's altogether unforgettable, the memories are exhilarating. Each of the 760 spacious rooms and suites are comfortably furnished with a tropical flair. Mouth-watering foods are available at the Palm Court Restaurant or 24-hour Citrus Shoppe Deli, providing your choice of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Catch a few rays of Florida sunshine in the jacuzzi or Jr. Olympic sized swimming pool. For your convenience, on-site fax and copier services, game room, hair salon and gift shops are available.

Experience the glamour of Hollywood while staying at the doorstep to Universal Studios, Florida. Jaws, King Kong, Woody and Winny Woodpecker, are among the many characters just waiting to give you a thrill and photo opportunities!

Imagine yourself beneath swaying palm trees in the heart of America's vacation fantasy land. Visitors always enjoy Orlando's splendid weather and natural beauty. The opening of Cypress Gardens in 1936 marked the beginning of a new era in Central Florida. It now contains a new Birdwalk Aviary, five new animal habitats, Butterfly Conservatory, European acrobatic acts, floral festivals, and a new fast-paced and thrilling water ski show. Cypress Gardens is 22 miles south of I-4 between Orlando and Tampa.

Church Street Station is downtown Orlando's #1 nighttime dining, shopping and entertainment complex. Home of Rosie O'Grady's, Church Street Station has five spectacular show rooms featuring live Dixieland jazz, country and western music, rock and roll and more!

Disney's Magic Kingdom contains seven lands of pure Disney fantasy, all celebrating the incredible 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Disney-MGM Studios allow you to be in the middle of all the action at the most popular movie and TV studios in the world! Drop faster than gravity down the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Thrill to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Blast into outer space on Star Tours, the ultimate Star Wars thrill ride. See actual production really happening. Don't miss live performances of "Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame...a Musical Adventure." Disney's Epcot allows for a thrilling day of fun and hands-on discoveries. Experience dazzling new inventions and technology at "Innoventions." Travel the world without leaving the country in "World Showcase." See the spectacular fireworks and lasers of the amazing new IllumiNations 25, presented by GE. There's an all-new world of dining and entertainment waiting for you in a glittering 1940s waterfront boardwalk. Savor Mediterranean cuisine at Spoodles and fresh seafood at Flying Fish Cafe. Laugh along with dueling pianos at Jellyrolls and catch the sports action at the ESPN Club. The Disney Institute enables you to custom-create your own stay with unique programs and activities. Imagine trying your hand at character animation, dabbling in gourmet cooking, hosting your own TV show, or conquering a rock-climbing wall. Enjoy evening entertainment like a film screening or a live performance. There is even more! Hundreds of pictures await the creative photographer in this magical land. Start building your film supply now!

Fantasy of Flight is an aviation attraction featuring more than 20 vintage aircraft portraying eras of aviation. A full-scale diorama of a WWII bombing mission aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress, the sensation of piloting an aircraft in realistic flight simulators, and signature aircraft, including the last airworthy passenger four-engine flying boat in the world, are unique to the attraction.

Orlando's Gatorland contains over 5,000 alligators and crocodiles and snakes of Florida. There is the Alligator Breeding Marsh with observation tower, natural cypress swamp, and other animals, birds and reptiles.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center is located just one hour east of Orlando on Florida's Space Coast. For a nominal fee, the bus tour gives an up-close view of Space Shuttle launch sites. See the new Apollo/Saturn V Center that houses the giant 363-foot Saturn V rocket that took astronauts to the moon. Don't miss the IMAX films on a five-and-a-half- story screen.

For you history lovers, enjoy a magical evening in a medieval castle at King Henry's Feast. The banquet and show includes a bountiful four-course dinner while special royal entertainment and amazing death-defying feats are performed right before your eyes! Tankards of beer, wine and soft drinks are included with dinner. King Henry's Feast is in Orlando. Nearby in Kissimmee, you may travel back to the days of yore at Medieval Times, Central Florida's #1 dinner attraction located on Highway 92 near Disney. Feast on a regal banquet inside the 11th-century European style castle and cheer for knights on horseback jousting and sword fighting. How's this activity for pictures?