Behind the Magic of Florida Theme Parks

Chances are, if you have been to any Florida themeto get in the driver's seat on their very own
parks, you enjoyed the attractions, the rides and eventwo-wheeled, one-person transportation device
stood next to some life-sized characters, but have youthroughout World Showcase before the area opens
ever gotten a sneak peak behind the scenes? Imagineto other guests. The Around the World tour is a
Disney tours where you can see the makeup roomstwo-hour experience that is available twice a day at
where regular people become the characters kids and8:30 and 9:30 a.m. at $80 per person plus the cost of
adults know and love, feed the animals that you usuallyEpcot admission.
only see behind the glass, skip the two-hour line andThe Wild Side: Up Close and Personal with Plants and
jump on any ride you choose and get a glimpse atAnimals at Florida Theme Parks
what it takes to create the magic that exists insideIf the wilder side appeals to you, there are plenty of
Florida theme parks every day. Whether you onlytheme park and even Disney tours that give you a
have a few days and want to take the fast-trackbackstage pass to interact with animals and get a
approach to visiting several Florida amusements parksdeeper understanding of what it takes to keep the
or you are on a two-week vacation and looking for aplants and animals thriving at your favorite Florida
unique way to enjoy a behind the scenes glimpse oftheme parks.
theme parks, then Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, andIf you're looking to get up close and personal and
Disney tours will take you to places you never knewsplash around with the animals, Epcot Center's
existed and will not soon forget.DiveQuest is a three-hour tour for adults with an
Disney Tours that Show You Disney World as You'veopen-water Scuba certification that starts with a
Never Seen it Beforebehind the scenes look at the operation of the Living
For a small investment of between $12 and $199 WaltSeas, followed by a 40-minute dive where you'll
Disney World offers a variety of Disney tours for abecome a part of the exhibit. You'll swim amidst the
real insider look at what goes on behind the scenes incolorful fish, sea turtles, sharks and 65 other species of
the Disney Parks. The most popular of the Disneymarine life.
tours, Backstage Magic, allows you to get a differentDisney tours are not the only backstage tours
perspective of everyone's favorite Florida themeavailable at Florida theme parks. Busch Gardens
parks. Discover the Disney secrets you've alwaysTampa Bay offers a two-hour, behind-the-scenes
wondered about with this fascinating tour that givesAnimal Adventure Tour, which includes access to the
you a backstage look at the artistic, scientific andpark's animals, including the Budweiser Clydesdales,
technical operations that go into creating the specialhippos, black rhinos and giraffes. The tour, open to kids
effects, entertainment and attractions that are theages 5 and older, combines a safari with an off-road
foundation of Walt Disney World(R) Resort's Floridatruck tour, hosted by a Busch Gardens education
theme parks. You'll even get a sneak peek at the 1.5specialist.
miles of "utilidor" access tunnels beneath the park,Have an aspiring animal trainer in the family? SeaWorld
designed so that the hustle and bustle going onoffers a Trainer for a Day program where guests can
behind-the-scenes was undetectable to visitors.experience the thrill of shadowing SeaWorld animal
The adventure begins at Epcot(R) and stopstrainers. From training techniques to food preparation,
backstage at Disney-MGM Studios and Magicparticipants learn first hand how SeaWorld animal
Kingdom(R) Park. Don't worry that Disney tours will ruintrainers care for this Florida theme park's living
the magic; they will only give you a deepercreatures day in and day out. The eight-hour program
understanding of what it takes to create it, therebyis limited to only three people per day and participants
enabling you to appreciate these Florida theme parksmust be at least 13 years old. Cost to attend the
even more. At $199 per guest, attendees get aprogram is $349 and includes a "Trainer for a Day"
seven-hour tour, with lunch included at Mama Melrose'sT-shirt, a waterproof disposable camera and lunch.
Ristorante Italiano. Please note that there is a minimumFor Disney World guests with green thumbs, the
age of 16 required to participate in this tour, so it mayGardens of the World Showcase is a crowd favorite
not be the ideal tour for a Florida family vacation if youbecause it divulges the secrets of how gardeners
have younger children.manage to keep so many diverse plants - most
On the Keys to the Kingdom Disney tours, you'll enjoyimported from their homelands in Japan, England, and
stops backstage and at a variety of favoriteNorway - thriving in the steamy Florida climate. These
attractions as you discover the remarkable history ofthree-hour Disney tours are available on Tuesdays and
the park and hear intriguing stories about Walt Disney,Thursdays.
his visions, philosophies and amazing accomplishments.Conclusion
Available all week, this four and a half-hour walkingIf you thought you had seen all that these Florida
tour of one of the most popular Florida theme parkstheme parks had to offer, now you may have a
takes guests in a full circle across the park, allowingcouple more tours to put on your "places to see" list.
visitors to unlock the door to the Magic Kingdom'sDisney tours and backstage opportunities at other
secrets. Guests must be at least 16 years old toparks will provide insight into the tireless efforts
attend this tour as well.required behind-the-scenes to produce the magic that
Not feeling up to a seven-hour walking tour in the heatvisitors enjoy every day. So, get backstage and get a
of summer? On the Around the World Disney tours atnew perspective on the Florida theme parks that we
Epcot, guests can experience the World Showcasehave all known and loved for years!
while cruising on a Segway. This tour enables guests