Contrary to popular opinion, the pronunciation of Kissimmee is “kuh-SEM-me” not “KISS-uh-me.” The word is a modern spelling of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century tribal words Atissimi, Jizimi, and Cacema. The town of Lake Buena Vista was named and is controlled by Walt Disney Company.

Celebration, Florida

Walt Disney dreamed of one day creating an actual town. Well, in 1996, Walt's dream became a reality when the town of Celebration, Florida, was officially founded. This town of yesterday has charm and family appeal. The community even has its own schools and hospital with a focus on technology. While Celebration is a private residential community, tourists are invited to explore the unique shops and restaurants, and to take in the atmosphere of this storybook-like community.

Air Florida Charter, Inc.

Air Florida Charter ((407) 888-4114) — Aerial sightseeing flights that include a bird's-eye viewing of the WDW Resort, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios Florida are offered. All tours are narrated and provide excellent photo opportunities.

Arabian Nights

This family-oriented dinner show features a cast of over fifty of the world's most famous horses in an indoor, twenty-five-act equestrian show. In the preshow area there is a twenty-five-minute magic show. There is a choice of five entrées and all the beer and wine you can drink. The best seats are the center stadium seats. Prices are around $50 for adults and $30 for children. True lovers of horses and those with knowledge of the difficulty of riding horses will appreciate this show to the fullest. Reservations are required. (800) 553-6116.

Belz Factory Outlet World

This shopping center features 170 outlet shops in one location. Save up to 75 percent off of retail prices. (407) 354-0126.

Bob's Balloon Charters

Take a hot-air balloon ride! It's the ride of a lifetime. Everyone should ride at least once in their lives! The cost is $175 per adult and $90 per child (under 90 pounds). The price includes the flight, Champagne toast, all you can eat brunch, and a certificate. (407) 466-6380, www.bobsballoons.com.

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides

Explore some of Florida's wetlands with a professional guide, while traveling at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. You might even see alligators in their natural habitat. (407) 344-9550, www.bcairboats.com.

Buena Vista Watersports

Buena Vista Watersports is a privately owned tropical recreational water sports facility located on Lake Bryan, in the Lake Buena Vista area of Orlando. You can rent jet skis, water skis, wakeboards, and boats. (407) 239-6939, www.bvwatersports.com.

Capone's Dinner and Show

Experience a speakeasy from the 1920s as you journey back in time to Al Capone's time. Check online for printable discount coupons. (800) 220-8428, www.alcapones.com.

Congo River Golf

This is a fun miniature golf course for the whole family. There's also an arcade and live alligator feeding. (407) 396-6900, www.congoriver.com.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show

Of all the dinner shows, Dolly serves the most food. You are even given a doggie bag! As you walk up to the building you hear Dolly singing over the many speakers as you look at horses in open-air stables. The preshow area is designed to replicate the old carriage houses from the past. There is plenty of seating and overflow seating in the balcony with its own bar. The preshow is an entertaining juggling act. You'll enjoy a delicious rotisserie chicken dinner as you watch this fun-filled musical extravaganza and relive the splendor of the Old South as you watch cowboys on horses perform stunts and see a stampede of buffalos. You'll also see ostrich races and during the Christmas show you'll see saddled camels for a special nativity scene show. A small ice-skating rink drops from the ceiling during the Christmas show as well. This $28 million production is colorful, action-packed, patriotic, and fun for the whole family. Shows are presented nightly at 6:30 P.M. and 8:30 P.M. Admission: $43.99 (adults) and $28.99 (kids). (866) 443-4943, (407) 238-4455, www.dixiestampede.com.

Gatorland

See live alligator wrestling, along with many alligators up close. This zoolike attraction also features all sorts of exotic snakes and a special kids' area/petting zoo. (407) 855-5496, (800) 393-JAWS, www.gatorland.com.

First Strike Bass

Captain Brent Sloan is an Orlando fishing guide with a lifetime of experience and knowledge gathered as a second generation central Florida fishing guide. He offers freshwater and saltwater fishing, alligator hunts, and airboat rides. (888) 937-6843, www.firststrikebass.com.

Green Meadows Petting Farm

Designed with kids in mind, this petting zoo allows young people to get close to the animals. Visitors can interact with ostriches, ducks, potbellied pigs, peacocks, sheep, cows, donkeys, an American bison, and other farm animals. (407) 846-0770, www.greenmeadowsfarm.com.

Horse World

These stables have hundreds of acres to explore with a good horse beneath you and blue sky above you. They offer lessons and three types of trail rides and are open seven days a week. (407) 847-4343, www.horseworldstables.com.

ICE!

Using 2 million pounds of ice, this special-ticket exhibit at the Gaylord Palms Hotel is transformed into a shimmering Santa's Toyland, an unforgettable Life-sized Nativity, a glistening Church in the Woods, and new this year, a walk-through train depot with a locomotive that you can climb aboard. ICE! also features a Victorian house complete with life-size horse-drawn carriage that you can sit in. Frozen within these unique sculptures are twinkling lights that create an ever-changing luminescence. This is real ice and is kept at 9 degrees. Parkas are provided; however, it's best to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Prices are $21 for adults and $10 for children ages four to twelve. There's also ice skating for an additional $5. (407) 586-0000, www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms.

Jungleland Zoo

See hundreds of rare and exotic animals (over 500 in all). Several live animal shows are also presented throughout the day. This outdoor zoo is located at 4580 West Irlo Bronson Highway in Kissimmee (192). (407) 396-1012, www.thejunglelandzoo.com.

Kissimmee Billie Swamp Safari

The Seminole Tribe of Florida invites guests to their reservation for a fun-filled day of air-boat rides, swamp buggy eco-tours, reptile and alligator exhibits, hiking tours, and other family-oriented activities. (800) 949-6101.

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament

This dinner show transports guests back to the medieval era, a time when knights were revered as heroes. After parking, you walk through a medieval village full of interesting relics from Europe actually used during the Middle Ages. You then pick up your tickets and can upgrade for only $10 per person, which will get you the best seats in the house, banners to root for your knight, a DVD, and a souvenir program. If you decide not to upgrade, just know that the best seats in the house (center of the arena) are yellow and red, and black and white. The other color choices are red, yellow, green, and blue. You then trade your tickets for a crown of the same color. As you enter the preshow area there are many gift shops, bars, photo opportunities, and knightings performed by the king. At showtime all the Sirs and Ladies are called into the arena by color. Your seat is accompanied with pewter tableware and no utensils of any kind. Dinner includes all the beer you can drink, and a cocktail server walks around taking cocktail orders for an additional price. The show includes authentic jousting matches, hand-to-hand combat, and a rather lighthearted story line. Overall, the ambiance and experience is worth the price. Kids love this dinner show! There are many Medieval Times around America, but this was the very first one built. (407) 396-4888, www.old-town.com. Price (including dinner): $44.95 (adults) and $29.95 (kids). Gratuity is not included. The standard tip to the server is $5 per adult and $3 per child. (800) 229-8300, (407) 396-1518, www.medievaltimes.com.

Old Town

Old Town is built to look like an old-fashioned town full of charming shops, restaurants, and bars. There are many permanent carnival rides including a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round. Every night there is free live entertainment on the main stage. Thursdays through Saturdays locals drive their antique cars and motorcycles around Old Town, putting on a show (Thursday, motorcycles; Friday, muscle cars; and Saturday, antique cars). Security is low at Old Town, so if you choose to visit just pay extra attention by watching your children at all times. Admission is free, but it costs to ride the carnival rides.

Orange Blossom Balloons

Looking for a very special treat for yourself or someone else? This is something that you will remember for the rest of your life. Orange Blossom Balloons offers spectacular sunrise hot-air balloon rides. It includes a Champagne toast and a breakfast buffet after the ride. They are very family oriented and offer discount prices for families. Adults cost around $175 and children $90. Look on their Web site for discount coupons. (407) 239-7677, www.orangeblossomballoons.com.

Osceola Flea and Farmers Market

This large, covered flea market and farmers market is filled with aisles and aisles of everything imaginable. Admission and parking is free. (407) 846-2811, www.fleaamerica.com/osceola.html.

Skycoaster

Most people have heard of bungee jumping and skydiving; Skycoaster is a spinoff of these sports. It allows brave riders to soar through the air at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour while strapped into a harness that's held by a giant rubber band that swings freely from a tall tower. This attraction is located in nearby Kissimmee, Florida. Prices start at $37 per flight. Visit the Web site for a $5-off discount coupon. (407) 397-2509, www.adventuresinflorida.net/Skycoaster.htm.

Wallaby Ranch

Wallaby Ranch is the first and largest aerotow hang-gliding flight park in the world. Experience the thrill of hang-gliding from 2,000 feet with the world's most experienced instructor with more than 30,000 incident-free tandem flights under his belt. It is open daily, and no experience is necessary. Tent and RV camping as well as a few rustic cabins are offered. There is also a bathhouse with indoor and outdoor showers, game room, satellite TV, swimming pool, hot tub, playground, tree house, trampoline, climbing wall, hiking and bike trails, and wireless Internet access. 1-800-WALLABY www.wallaby.com.

Warbird Adventures

Wow! Looking for adventure? Take in a smooth sightseeing flight or a thrilling aerobatic adventure in military aircraft. It's the real thing folks, and it's worth every penny! (407) 870-7366, www.warbirdadventures.com.

Water Mania

Fans of water parks will enjoy the various fun-filled water slides and water-based attractions at this park. (407) 396-2626, www.watermania-florida.com.