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We get it: You're overworked, rundown, and in need of a mindless vacation that requires anything but entertaining the kids every waking hour; sometimes all you want out of a trip is a few carefree days at a good, old-fashioned theme park. Located an hour inlandand a short hop from NashvilleOrlando promises just that. It's every child's playground…and has plenty of whimsical fun to satisfy adults, too.
GET THERE
Southwest Airlines offers four or five nonstop flights from Nashville to Orlando International Airport daily.
STAY
While there are plenty of on-property hotels at Walt Disney World, the nearby Orange Lake Resort (rooms from $139) boasts 2,478 villas as well as a 12-acre pool complex, lazy river, water slide, kids' club, golf course, and many other activitiesall on top of bars, restaurants, and shops galore. It offers the best of both worlds: proximity to Disney while being able to escape the throngs of park-goers at the day's end with every convenience at your fingertips. Plus, the sprawling complex has a range of villa sizesfrom one bedroom to fourmaking it perfect for larger families or those traveling in a group.
If you want to stay within walking distance to the Universal parks, there's nowhere better than the budget-friendly, retro-themed Cabana Bay Beach Resort (rooms from $139), an 1,800-room complex that debuted last summer as a nod to the golden era of the '50s and '60s. Aside from multiple pools, the 10-lane Galaxy Bowl, and a game room, Cabana Bay guests also enjoy free shuttle service to the park gates and early admission to Wizarding World before it opens to the masses.
DO
If you're taking the family to Orlando, you're likely doing so for one of two reasons: Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando.
Starting at the former, you'll find Disney comprising nearly 28,000 acres, including the main attraction, Magic Kingdom, along with Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and a pair of water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. For every kid, big and small, Magic Kingdom is a must at least once in his or her lifetime. While the oldies-but-goodies like It's a Small World and Space Mountain always make for a grand time, a recent renovation doubled Fantasyland in size so that it now features the new Storybook Circus and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller-coaster experience plus a glimpse of everybody's favorite princesses, Ariel and Belle (and many of their friends), roaming the corridors of the Enchanted Forest.
Nine miles up the road in downtown Orlando, Universal lays claim to a pair of parks: Universal Studios Florida is heavy on special effects, shows, and motion simulators like the Simpsons Ride, while the newer of the two, Universal's Islands of Adventure, is full of high-thrill, topsy-turvy coasters such as the Incredible Hulk and Dragon Challenge. Universal Studios Florida upped its visual offerings when Transformers debuted two summers ago, but it's the brand-new Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, a 3-D HD ride through a super-villain's laboratory, that has fans of Gru's little yellow henchmen all atwitter.
Of course, for tried-and-true Harry Potter lovers, there's nothing more magical than a day spent among witches and wizards (and even a few Muggles) within Diagon Alley, the much-hyped extension of the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in 2010 within Islands of Adventure. Fans now can zip through the goblin-run bank via the high-intensity Escape from Gringotts, watch the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon emit scorching flames from his lofty perch (which happens every five minutes), or pick out the perfect interactive wand at Ollivanders and then use it to perform spells (yes, really) at designated stations around the alley. Just be sure to buy a park-to-park pass, so you can walk through Platform 9¾ just like Harry did to take the Hogwarts Express journey to Hogsmeade, housed in the original Wizarding World and full of plenty of treasures of its own.
EAT
With so many restaurants from which to choose, it can be hard to narrow down exactly where to eat, though you'll want to make reservations in advance for anything fancier than grab-and-go. There's no shortage of character meals at Disney, but mingling with Pooh and his pals at Crystal Palace is always a fun way to start the day. (Insider tip: Many in the know like to get reservations there for breakfast before the park opens to snap family pictures in front of an empty castle.) At Be Our Guest, you'll feel as if you've stepped inside Beauty and the Beast while dining in the ballroom of the Beast's castlethere's beer and wine here, FYI.
Eat your way through Sanaa's African-inspired menu at Animal Kingdom while looking out over the giraffes and zebras in the wilderness preserve. For a completely different vibe, head to 50's Prime Time Diner at Hollywood Studios, where you can watch vintage Disney cartoons in cozy booths while waitresses banter with your kids, or hop the ferry from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness for The Hoop Dee Doo Revue, a rousing, Wild West–themed, song-and-dance dinner show. Bonus: Unlimited draft beer, wine, and sangria are included in the price. For a more upscale eveningor even an adults-only date nightdine on steak and seafood at Flying Fish Café on Disney's BoardWalk.
Over at Universal, Moe's Tavern serves up some of Springfield's finest fare, including monster-sized, pink frosted donuts and Flaming Moes (a refreshing bubbling beverage). Situated between the two adjoining parks, Universal Studios' CityWalk also offers an eclectic array of choices, from sushi and burgers at Cowfish to handmade pasta at Vivo Italian Kitchen.