THE US FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS DESTINATIONS RIGHT:


Fam trip group in


Winter Park FAR RIGHT:


Icon Orlando 360 BELOW:


Revolution Off Road


having breakfast with Mickey Mouse, but if their dream is to soar across the sky, why not throw in a balloon flight? Orlando Balloon Rides hosts trips


ASK THE EXPERTS


Martin Page, business


development manager, Do Something Different


“Book the balloon flight at the start of your customer’s stay, as it’s weather dependent and, if necessary, can be rearranged for an alternative day.”


Chantelle Plowman, sales executive, Attraction World “It’s cheaper to book everything before clients go, plus they won’t have to dip into their spending money while away.”


daily at sunrise, weather permitting. Passengers help inflate their balloon before climbing into the giant basket for the gentlest of lift-offs. It’s a unique sensation – you’re carried along by pockets of air while the world becomes a silent, miniature village below. The verdict: Cleo Greaves, marketing executive at Travel Up, says: “It’s been on my bucket list for years but I’d always been nervous. The lovely team are very professional and soon had me feeling relaxed. It’s the perfect thing to do on your first day, when you’re awake at 3am with jet lag anyway.” Book it: From £104 for adults and £68 for kids. dosomethingdifferent.com


A balloon ride is a unique sensation – you’re carried along by pockets of air while the world becomes a silent village below


7


DOING A 360! The attraction: Icon Orlando 360 complex The lowdown: It’s not just


outdoor attractions that Orlando excels at. For rare rainy days, and the more common super-hot ones, tell clients about Icon Orlando 360. Sealife Orlando is here, plus Madame Tussauds, where you can pose beside the likes of Justin Bieber and Donald Trump. Top it all off with a spin on the Icon Orlando Observation Wheel, with its fully air-conditioned pods. For something more interactive,


Wonderworks is nearby, featuring floor upon floor of disorientating and fascinating exhibits, where you can walk through a rotating tunnel, experience a virtual earthquake or lie on a bed of nails. Stay on for the Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner and you’re in for a mix of tongue-in-cheek tricks, astonishing illusions and piles of food. The verdict: Caron Cockburn, travel consultant at Attraction Tickets Direct, says: “It’s a simple concept. Unlimited pizza, salad and beer makes for a


good-value dinner, and the show is hilarious.” Book it: Viator offers general admission, laser-tag and a dinner show from £51 for adults, £36 for kids. viator.com


8


POWER TRIP The attraction: Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures The lowdown: Orlando may


be four hours from the Everglades, but you can still get clients on a classic Floridian airboat. Less than an hour from International Drive, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures sits on the serene Toho River, where beds of reeds camouflage alligators, turtles and endemic birds. We arrived at sunset and spent an hour skipping over the shallow waters on a nature hunt, then panned for gemstones, tucked into a barbecue, and roasted s’mores. Perhaps the highlight, though, was sitting under the starlit sky around a campfire, as a Native American recounted the history of local tribes and beguiled us with tales of his survival skills. The verdict: Debbie Smith, store manager for Co-op Travel, says: “Boggy Creek is the real wild, where you get a taste of what inspired the theme park rides. You also get to contrast the Mickey Mouse culture with the Native American history of the region.” Book it: Adults from £25, children from £21. attractionworld.com


31 January 2019travelweekly.co.uk89


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