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5 Awesome New Things To Do In Orlando This Summer

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Orlando eye
Orlando eye

I had the opportunity recently to attend a press trip in Orlando where I got to take a sneak peak at many of the new and exciting things to do in Orlando for this summer.

I-Drive 360

In the heart of Orlando’s tourism corridor, I-Drive 360 is a new entertainment complex and home of The Orlando Eye but that is not all, I-Drive 360 has other great attractions among them the SeaLife Aquarium and there are also many new restaurants and shops making I-Drive 360 a great destination for tourists looking for something new. It’s the ideal place if you want to combine some shopping and fun and it’s also a great option for rainy days.

1. The Orlando Eye

The Orlando Eye is a 400-foot-tall observation wheel providing breathtaking panoramic views of Central Florida within fully enclosed, air-conditioned glass capsules. Before entering the 20-minute ride, guests will enter a 4D theatre and watch a short film about Florida.  Although I am usually a bit afraid of heights I felt completely secure and you get truly amazing views of Orlando and the theme parks from the top.  A guide rides with you in your capsule pointing to sights not to be missed, talking about the areas history and offering to take pictures with your phone.

Orlando Eye
Orlando Eye

 2. The Sealife Aquarium

We are huge fans of aquariums and my kids are thrilled that there is now an aquarium in Orlando. The Sealife Aquarium is home to over 5,000 underwater creatures from the three oceans of the world. What I really liked about this aquarium is the countless opportunities for kids and adults to interact with the exhibits from getting inside the aquariums through glass domes to .  The 360° Underwater Tunnel was a pretty cool experience for the whole family and the kids will love touching rays and countless starfish at the touch pool experience. The aquarium is small but it makes up for it with the fun and colorful exhibits and the amount of interactive opportunities for visitors.

SeaLife Aquarium Orlando
SeaLife Aquarium Orlando

3. Madame Tussards

Madame Tussard,  the world’s most famous celebrity wax attraction, is now in Orlando!  Visitors walk through themed rooms where they can observe and interact with waxworks of their favorite film, music, sport and historical celebrities.

4. Skeletons: Animals Unveiled!

Skeletons: Animals Unveiled! a first-of-its-kind museum, exhibits over 400 skeletons in creative poses and dioramas. The 7,750-square-foot space will feature exotic animals from all over the world as well as eight human skeletons. The walk-through experience lasts about 90 minutes and includes interactive exhibits.

5. The Crayola Experience

Opening in July 2015 the Crayola Experience is located in the Florida Mall and will offer kids 70,000 square ft of hands on colorful attractions focusing.  Focusing on fostering creativity the 25 interactive attractions are combine color, chemistry and digital technology to create a one-of-a-kind family attraction.

I had the opportunity to check out the Crayola store which is already open and loved the wide array of Crayola themed products.  Kids will go wild with the wall of crayons where they can fill a tin with their favorite colors picking from 99 different colors of crayons and markers. Both of my kids love getting artistic and we can not wait for this attraction to open!

crayola experience
crayola experience

Tips For Great Savings

  • For all of these attractions you can buy your tickets online ahead of time for the best prices.
  • Purchase a discounted combo ticket to visit The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sea Life Aquarium for only $39 for adults, that is a savings of more than $20. For even more savings combine all three attractions with a Legoland ticket for only $99 (adult) and save $50.
  • For the Crayola Experience consider purchasing an annual pass.  Regular admission is $19.99 for adults and kids and for only $10 more you get an annual pass, that is great deal!

Paula

Paula is a freelance writer, translator & marketer. She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala. She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on subjects ranging from travel and food to parenting and bilingualism. She enjoys traveling, good food and is always in search of new things to do and in Southwest Florida.

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