Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
A purpose built resort set around the lake. With shopping outlets, golf courses, hotels and a great view of the lake itself.
Lake Buena Vista
Lake Buena Vista is an ideal base for enjoying the many attractions the area has to offer, well situated for access to all the Disney parks, International Drive and the popular Orlando Factory Outlet. With such a great variety of things to do, this area is great for everybody, even if you are not a huge fan of the theme parks
Orlando Airport is 30km and Sanford International Airport is 66km.
Beaches
Although there are no beaches as such in Lake Buena Vista, there are many great beaches in Florida and two of the best are just over an hour away.
Cocoa Beach not only offers a clean, safe environment for your family to sunbathe and swim but there are many shops, cafes/bars, picnic areas, showers and toilets and plenty of parking.
Daytona Beach is also just over an hour away and is one of the few beaches in Florida where you can actually drive and park your vehicle on the sand. Not only does Daytona Beach offer miles and miles of golden sand but there is a boardwalk, pier and many child friendly attractions. There is loads to see and do in Daytona itself eg the Speedway, so it is worth making the trip.
Things to Do
Lake Buena Vista offers easy access to all the Disney Theme parks and attractions.
Disney Springs is home to many shops, restaurants, bars, clubs and a cinema. La Nouba's Cirque du Soleil is also situated at Disney Springs. Guests of all ages will be mesmerised by the amazing performances by the various artists.
Enjoy exploring the different lands and creatures of Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is the largest of the Disney theme parks and covers more than 500 acres so you can just imagine how much fun you can have here. There are over 1700 animals here and a great variety of shows and adventures for all to enjoy.
Take a trip behind the scenes at Disney's Hollywood Studios and watch the movies come to life. If you dare, ride on the Hollywood Tower of Terror or the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster or if you prefer you can enjoy one of the many shows such as Indiana Jones or Muppet Vision. After dinner at one of the many restaurants you can watch the fantastic light show which is just the perfect way to end your night.
Disney's Magic Kingdom is just full of magical attractions to suit the whole family. There is so much to see and do for little princes and princesses of all ages. From character greetings to beautiful princess makeovers, there is no end of fun and it is impossible to pack it into just one day.
Disney's Epcot combines the imagination and excitement of Future World with the various cultures in the countries that can be found round the World Showcase. World Showcase gives you a little taste of what it may be like in other countries and gives you the chance to try different foods and learn a little about different cultures.
The two Disney waterparks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are great fun and an ideal way to cool down. There are height restrictions on some of the water rides but there is still plenty for everyone to enjoy. These parks can get really busy so it is advisable to visit early on before it gets too busy and indeed too hot.
There are many golf courses in the area, some of which are Disney courses such as Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and Magnolia Golf Course and some are not such as Grand Cypress Golf Course. If you do fancy a game of golf, it is always best to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
A fun alternative to an 18 hole game of golf is crazy golf. There are a couple of Disney courses, Disney's Winter Summerland Mini Golf and Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf and the non Disney option would be Pirates Cove. There are many others to choose from nearby.
Out and About
There are lots of souvenir shops and grocery shops dotted around the place but if you want to do some serious shopping, visit one of the Outlet Malls where you can be sure to pick up a bargain or two.
There are lots of restaurants in the area, most of which offer American cuisine but there are different options such as Chinese, Italian, Mexican and many more. While there are no nightclubs as such at Disney Springs, there are plenty of places to enjoy a drink and enjoy the entertainment at the likes of Raglan Road and House of Blues.
Many of the local events and festivals take place in Disney, such as the Disney Marathon Weekend in January, Epcot's International Flower and Garden Show which takes place in March to May and later in the year Epcot host their Food and Wine Festival. There are also extra events at Halloween and Christmas and of course extra special fireworks to celebrate Independence Day on 4th July. Park admission is needed for most of these events.
Nearby Attractions
If you want a change from Disney, why not visit the two Universal Theme Parks which are approx 16km from the Lake Buena Vista area. Both parks provide plenty of thrills and excitement for all the family and there is also Citywalk which is full of restaurants, clubs and entertainment venues.
Seaworld is also close by and as well as the many animal exhibits, there are many rides for all the family and plenty of shows and other attractions.
For something a bit different, get up close to the alligators for a taste of the real Florida. As well as the various shows and attractions, Gatorland is home to one of the best zip lines in the USA. Soaring through the sky at a great height will give you some fantastic birds eye views.
Florida's Legoland is the largest Legoland park in the world and is approx 55km away. There are restaurants, shops and over 50 rides, shows and attractions. There is also a botanical gardens and a waterpark too.
NASA's launch headquarters, Kennedy Space Centre is just over an hour away and gives you the opportunity to tour launch areas, see giant rockets, train in spaceflight simulators, meet a veteran astronaut and if you are lucky enough, view a launch.
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