readers' choice awards

Southern Living, Mid-Apr 2005 by Lingo, Karen

You cast your votes, and we tallied the results. Here are the places in the South that you love best.

Once a year we ask you to participate in our Southern Living Readers' Choice Awards by naming your favorite places in the South to dine, play, visit, and stay. Filling out the online ballot not only allows you to voice your opinions, but it also serves as your entry in a drawing for a trip to one of the top destinations in the region. It's a win-win situation. When all votes are compiled and analyzed, the places mentioned most often in each category receive recognition, and one lucky voter wins a fabulous trip. Be sure to look for the 2005 ballot online at southernliving.com/features.

A Winning Combination

Some places consistently rise to the top of their categories. Orlando and Walt Disney World Resort are prime examples of spots that receive top ratings. Disney consistently comes in at or near the top in the resort category (it placed second this year behind The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, North Carolina) and plays a major role in Orlando taking top honors in the family vacation division. Let's look at some of the reasons why our readers keep voting for these destinations year after year.

Orlando for Worlds of Fun

With more than 95 attractions in the Orlando area and everything from nature excursions to theme park thrills to choose from, it's no wonder visitors keep coming back. You simply can't see and do everything in one trip, and new attractions are always being added.

The big three are SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, and Walt Disney World Resort. Within each awaits a wide array of entertainment and adventure. Just for fun, you can get splashed (The Shamu Adventure, SeaWorld), scream your head off (Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando), and scared out of your wits (Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney-MGM Studios).

Venture beyond the big three, and you can take in a feast and jousting match at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, experience Florida under glass on the 4 ½ acres enclosed at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, and shop till you drop at factory stores and outlet malls.

Take Along Your Magicard

Before leaving home, though, visit www.orlandoinfo.com, and print out a copy of the Orlando Magicard. The Web site also lists information about the attractions, dinner theaters, restaurants, hotels, and more that offer discounts when you present your card.

Wonderful Worlds of Disney

Sprawling over 47 square miles, Walt Disney World Resort includes four major theme parks and other recreation areas. These popular spots are the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, plus the two water parks-Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

There's something here for all ages, as I discovered on my first trip with a group of friends. A fortysomething gentleman, the oldest of our group, confided in me that his favorite ride of all time is "It's a Small World" in the Magic Kingdom. "There is only one problem," he complained. "For the rest of the day, I go around humming the theme song." We rode it, and, sure enough, he hummed the tune all day long.

Personally, my favorite attraction was the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in Disney-MGM Studios. I'm a die-hard Harrison Ford fan, and the attraction re-creates the edge-of-your-seat scenes based on his popular 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The attraction has been revitalized with new state-of-the-art lighting and other technical advances not available when it opened in 1989. Sounds like it's time to go back.

What's New

One of the most exciting reasons to visit is the 18-month-long "Happiest Celebration on Earth" that begins May 5 and lasts through 2006. All four Disney resort destinations around the world are joining to honor the 50th anniversary of their oldest sister park, Disneyland Resort in California. What this means for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is that an array of the most popular shows and attractions from the other Disney parks will be imported for the occasion.

From Tokyo Disneyland comes the stage show "Cinderellabration." California's contribution is "Soarin'," an attraction that offers a panoramic, bird's-eye view of The Golden State. Straight from Paris comes "Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show Spectacular," a performance that brings high-octane automobile, motorcycle, and watercraft stunts.

Look also for new soaking sensation Crush 'n' Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon. A white-knuckle water-coaster thrill ride, it sweeps you through a series of flumes, then offers the choice of entering one of three spillways that range from 410 to 420 feet in length.

Now through June, enjoy the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. If you're a Star Wars fan, look for your favorite characters and actors from the film series at Disney-MGM Studios Friday through Sunday May 20 through June 12.

Where To Stay

You'll find accommodations of every type and price in the area, but staying at one of the nearly two dozen Walt Disney World resorts comes with advantages. For starters, you can leave the driving to Disney because you're never more than a boat, bus, or monorail ride (depending on which resort hotel you're staying in) from any of the themed areas. And one call can get you dining reservations, preferred tee times, and access to activities such as fishing and horseback riding.