By Julia Neel
Where to stay
The rooms at the Renaissance Resort at Seaworld are positively palatial. Seriously, the bathroom was almost as big as my London flat. The best part: the view of SeaWorld's adrenaline pumping roller coasters.
On our first night in Orlando, we were treated to a meal cooked for us by the Renaissance chefs and served in the intimate chef's private room. Chef Rich and his team ensure that the menu at Tradewinds restaurant is always fresh, in season and they try to use as many local products. All that aside - it was delicious. After dinner, we ignored our jet lag and headed to the Boardwalk bar for a sneaky bedtime cocktail before retiring for some restorative shut-eye before our day at SeaWorld.
What to do
SeaWorld
With all due respect to Mickey etc, I think SeaWorld might actually be the happiest place on earth... It's easy to just wander around the park, but the highlight of the day for us was the Believe show featuring SeaWorld's family of majestic killer whales. Despite the slightly cheesy soundtrack and very American sentiments, watching the trainers working with the whales was completely awe-inspiring and had me seriously considering a career change.
Adrenaline junkies should make sure they take a ride on Kraken - Orlando's tallest and only floorless roller coaster. Don't want to feel your stomach near your collar bone? Then jump on Journey to Atlantis with plenty of splashes to cool you down on a warm day (pretty much every day in Orlando).
It's also worth checking out the all-singing, all-dancing Blue Horizons show - a colourful spectacular featuring dolphins, false killer whales, exotic birds and aerialists. The dolphins are fab. Tickets from £45 for Seaworld and Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens
Just down the road from Orlando is the African themed Busch Gardens inTampa. With hair-raising rides, one of America's best zoos and great shows, this park is a must. We wandered through the Myombe reserve checking out the lush forest where the park's family of great apes live.
Within the park is a sweeping savannah full of African wildlife that wander freely through the grass. For £25 you can go on the back of a game truck and enjoy a Saving the Species Tour. We hand fed giraffes (their tongue's are hilarious), got up close and personal with rhinos and discovered that zebras really are black with white stripes...
Busch Gardens have some of the best rides I have ever been on. No kidding. Shiekra is seriously scary; 70 miles per hour down a 90 degree descent from a dizzying height is not for the faint hearted. Montu is full of delicious winds and bends and Kumba is all thrills and spills. Don't miss the Congo River Rapids for a good hose down.
Discovery Cove
Our last day in Florida was pure bliss. Discovery Cove is an exclusive park in Orlando where daily attendance is limited to 1,000 guests a day which means that you never have to queue or feel like you are being smothered by hordes of sweaty tourists.
Swim with dolphins, paddle with sting rays (without their stings), snorkel through a tropical lagoon or lounge on one of the sandy beaches. A day at Discovery Cove is all inclusive, so you can help yourself to drinks and snacks all through the day and not have to keep fishing for your purse. And for an extra feeling of exclusivity, hire your own private cabana and feel like you are on your own deserted island. And if you spring for the Trainer for a Day Program, you will get to see behind the scenes - very cool.
Where to shop
The pound is so strong right now that you can pick up loads of great bargains. When you are in Orlando, head straight for the Mall at Millenia for department stores Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales plus fab fashion at Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Gap, Victoria's Secret and plenty of other retail delights. Make sure you've left room in your luggage for all of your purchases!
Getting there
Virgin Atlantic flies to Orlando from £346 return from London.
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