 |
| Universal Orlando will unveil its “Skull Island Reign of Kong” attraction this summer. |
Summer is a popular season for families to schedule a special vacation and spend some quality time together. But for parents trying to cater to both the kids and enjoy some time to themselves as well, it can be challenging to find a destination that everyone can agree on. It can also be difficult to find a spot with activities for both younger children and older teens in the same place.
For families seeking excitement this summer, Adventures by Disney is offering three new United States vacations. Set in Central Florida, Montana and Washington, D.C. & Philadelphia, the trips include weeklong experiences and activities unique to the destination.
In Central Florida, families can enjoy backstage access and VIP experiences at Walt Disney World Resort this summer. Guests will airboat through Florida marshlands, take part in a privately guided safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, and go behind the scenes of the Rivers of Light show, a brand new nighttime presentation. Adult guests will also have some fun of their own exclusive dinner at Disney’s Contemporary Resort chef’s kitchen. When it’s time for the whole family to enjoy some time together, guests can try out the resort’s zipline, take a ride on a swamp buggy or try horseback riding or kayaking.
For more adventurous outdoor fun, Adventures by Disney is offering a glamorous camping or “glamping” experience, in Montana, just near Yellowstone National Park. The trip also includes a stay at a dude ranch in Big Sky and a visit to the nation’s capital, and the United States’ first capital city. Kids and adults can explore nature while biking in the backcountry and listen to storytelling under the stars. There is also horseback riding, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing and a private riverside cookout. Note: This year marks the centennial of the National Parks Service.
Adventures by Disney is sneaking a dash of American history into its Washington, D.C. & Philadelphia summer itinerary with an immersive visit to some of America’s most iconic landmarks. Activities will include encounters with characters from the past, a scavenger hunt and storytelling, and a privately guided trolley excursion through Philadelphia to visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Reading Terminal Market.
Theme parks are also a popular way for families traveling during the summer to spend time together. In fact, 50 percent of respondents to MMGY Global’s 2015 Portrait of American Travelers cited Theme Parks among “Vacation Attributes Considered Desirable.”
Universal Orlando Resort is rolling out a new blockbuster attraction this summer; Skull Island: Reign of Kong. Guests will be transported to an “island shrouded in mystery.”
The attraction will combine a powerful storyline with a 3D experience and innovative technology, all wrapped into what will be one of the longest Universal ride experiences ever created. Guests will set out to explore a land filled with prehistoric creatures, make their way through an ancient temple and discover a lost shrine, all before meeting Kong and deciding if he is “friend or foe.”
Kids, tweens, teens and adults will all find something to enjoy at Walt Disney World with the recently opened Star Wars themed rides, attractions and activities at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Younger guests (preschool to tweens) can take a “Jedi Training” course and later test their new skills against well-known characters from the dark side. Older kids and adults can take a ride on the Starspeeder 1000, with state-of-the-art technology, including a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and “in cockpit” special effects and music.
Guests can also check out movie props, play games, snap photos, and meet Star Wars heroes and villains at Launch Bay in the Animation Courtyard. Guests of all ages can also build their own light saber or droid. At the end of the day, everyone can come together to enjoy a nightly fireworks finale, complete with “Star Wars” music.