Therefore, if you are staying in one of the best Disney World Home Rentals available in Orlanda, Florida this Memorial Day 2012, and are looking for things to do in or around Disney World, here are two things and places you can consider:

The American Adventure at Epcot

One great way to celebrate Memorial Day is to go see the American Adventure audio-animatronic show at Epcot in Disney World.  This animatronic show will tell the American story from the point of view of a family that is driven apart by the Civil War.

While you are at the American Adventure, you can stay to watch and listen to the Voices of Liberty A Capella group and the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps that will sing and play classic American tunes.

Sanford Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony

The best way to celebrate Memorial Day itself is at the Sanford Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, May 28th, 2012.  The parade will begin early around 10 AM, and the event itself will honor our heroes with the Wells Fargo horse drawn stage coach, and much more!  The parade route will be in historic downtown Sanford along 1st street.

So, if you are staying in a house near Disney World this Memorial Day 2012, why not get out and have some fun at one or both of these places while you pay your respects to our fallen soldiers?

Easter Egg Hunts
Have kids 12 or younger? In the city of Winter Garden, just 30 minutes outside of Orlando, the local Lions Clubs hosts a free annual Easter Egg Hunt. The event will be held at Newton Park on April 7^th at 1pm.  This is a great activity for families with younger children.

If you’re looking for something a little closer, the town of Winter Park is only 15 minutes from Orlando and also hosts an annual Easter Egg Hunt. This event is located at Central Park and is also held on April 7^th. The ages for this hunt are 10 and under and it begins at 10am. The Easter Bunny will be at the park and there will be over 10,000 eggs for your kids to find!

Services
For those who would like to celebrate the holiday by attending a service, there are a number of Sunrise Services held in the area. One of the big services is held at SeaWorld at the Bayside Stadium. The service is free and begins at 6:30am on Easter Sunday and is followed by an optional brunch that may be purchased.

Other
Looking for something a little more adventurous? The Ron Jon Surf Shop will hold its annual Surfing Festival April 6-8 at the beautiful Cocoa Beach, just 1 hour east of Orlando. There will be championship surfers from around the world ranging from ages 12 – 80 competing. Besides watching the competition, there will be other activities such as an Easter Egg Hunt, surfing clinics, and a food court. Come out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

The Central Florida Zoo will be holding its Hippity Hop Adventure on April 7^th and 8^th from 9am to 3pm. This celebration allows you to explore the Adventure Trail looking for clues that will lead you to the Easter Bunny. There will be prizes, candy, crafts, story time, and kids receive free bunny tails. This is a great way to spend the day with the kids and fun for the whole family!

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is offering free admission on Friday the 6^th. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful gardens and admire all the collections of sculptures and art along the way. And be sure not to miss out on the Four Centuries of Harp Making Exhibit!

Downtown Disney:
Downtown Disney is divided into 3 parts – the West Side, Marketplace, and Pleasure Island. All three offer shopping and dining while each has its own unique activities. At the West Side you will find Cirque du Soleil, at the Marketplace you will find the largest Disney store in the world, and Pleasure Island is ideal for outdoor locations. There is unique entertainment in Downtown Disney throughout the year from music to seasonal celebrations such as the 3 day St. Patrick’s Day Celebration coming up from March 15^th – 17^th.

Lake Eola Park:
Located Downtown, Lake Eola is an 80 ft. sinkhole. The lake is surrounded by a .9 mile path perfect for running or walking. Feed the swans, see a concert or play at the amphitheater, visit the farmers market on Sundays between 10AM and 4PM, or just relax!

Ocala National Forest:
Enjoy a hike along the Florida Trail in the second largest National Forest in Florida and the oldest National Forest East of the Mississippi River. There are springs, streams, and lakes perfect for fishing, canoe trips, waterskiing, and snorkeling. Once you’ve spent the day enjoying the trails and water, you can camp in the park and get even more enjoyment out of the outdoors.

Kissimmee Old Town:
Here you’ll find restaurants, shops, and rides such as zipline, ropes course, a roller coaster, and go-karts. There’s also weekly and special events and free entertainment every night after 7:30 with 50’s and 60’s rock-n-roll on Saturday nights.

Snow Hill Mountain Bike Trail:
This trail is located in the Little Big Econ State Forest and is prefect for the dedicated biker. From pine needle cover trails to sandy tracks to hills, the trail even crosses the river along a suspension bridge. And no need to worry about getting lost – you can get a map, and the trees are marked!

Orlando Brewing Company:
Great for parties over 21, this brewery offers local, hand-crafted, organic beers. The tap room is open everyday, there’s special events throughout the year, and a free tour is offered every Monday-Saturday at 6PM. Looking to go at night? They also have free, live music on the weekends.

Farmer’s Market:
Held every Saturday in Winter Park, the market is open from 7AM to 1PM. There’s a variety of vendors and it’s a great place to find fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty products.

Popcorn Flicks:
Also located in Winter Park, at 8PM on the second Thursday of every month there is a free movie offered in the park. It’s the perfect place to bring that special someone – set up a blanket, brings snacks, and enjoy the show.

City Walk:
Located outside of the theme parks, it’s a great way to find food, drinks, music, and fun merchandise. It’s free to enter and if it’s late in the day this is a place where you can still enjoy Universal without entering the amusement park.

Popcorn Flicks in the Park:
On Thursday February 9^th there will be a free showing of Sleepless in Seattle, at Central Park in Winter Park. Bring a blanket, curl up with your loved one and enjoy the show.

Bands, Brew, & BBQ Fest:
This is an annual event held at SeaWorld that includes country and classic rock music. This year, Foreigner will be performing on February 11. Enjoy great barbeque and beer while enjoying the performance. The event happens every Saturday during February and it’s free with admission to the park with special pricing for Florida residents.

Cupid’s Singles Pub Crawl:
This Pub Crawl visits six bars in Sanford, beginning and ending at Riverhouse Pottery. The event begins at 2pm and there will be food served from 7-9pm at the ending point. This is a great option for singles and offers a fun and easy way to meet new people.

Date Night Movie at Leu Gardens:
The Leu Gardens will be showing the movie Crazy Stupid Love on February 14^th. Bring a blanket and watch the movie in their beautiful gardens. Opens at 6 with the movie beginning at 7. Admission is $5 per person.

Discovery Cove:
Visit Discovery Cove, swim with dolphins and snorkel with the fish and the rays. Float along the winding river or relax on the beach. You can spend the day here with your loved one or bring the kids along. The package includes breakfast, lunch and drinks and is a unique and fun way to spend your Valentine’s Day.

1. If you are about to purchase a small item, make sure that you thoroughly examine it before you purchase it.  Do not be fooled by something that looks attractive on the outside—it may actually not be worth the price it is being sold for.
2. Beware of products that are cheap—most of the time they are poorly manufactured or crafted.  You may feel drawn to the item because of how it looks, but if you examine it for a little you may realize that it was inadequately manufactured.
3. Never purchase any souvenirs from a seller, merchant, or store who/that looks suspicious.  You may be buying stolen or illegal goods without even realizing it.  You should always try to purchase items from stores that are recommended by either the tourist department or the hotel you are staying in.
4. Always be sure to plan your shopping trip ahead of time to avoid areas that are known to be high in crime, or that are known for selling stolen and/or illegal items.
5. Make sure that you always have a buddy to go shopping with and that at least one person apart from your shopping buddy will know where you are shopping and the target time that you will return around.
6. Even if you are on a packaged tour and have already visited the shops first, you can still wait and visit the shops you previously visited with a friend or family member.
7. Always, always—remember to ask for a receipt of your purchases!

Walt Disney World Resort

Although fireworks are an ordinary event at the Walt Disney World Resort, for New Year’s Eve they kick-it-up a notch with an assortment of fireworks displays and events, including:

• Magic Kingdom presents:  “Wishes” nighttime spectacular with a holiday cover at 8:30 p.m. and “Fantasy in the Sky” at 11:51 p.m.
• Epcot‘s “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” greets the new year at 7 p.m. and 11:42 p.m.
• At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, “Fantasmic!” unites water, fire, lights, lasers, fireworks  and music will be presented at 6:30 and 8 p.m., with “Lights! Camera! Happy New Year!” fireworks demonstration at midnight.
• At Cirque du Soleil, all guests present at the Dec. 31 performances will be given a limited-edition Walt Disney World/Cirque trading pin. Shows are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
• Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort provides a special-ticket New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. with video DJ Tony Zapulla.

Universal CityWalk

With Smash Mouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy set to perform live, Universal CityWalk’s “Rock the New Year!” is one of Orlando’s hottest New Year’s Eve parties. In addition to live music, enjoy an extensive gourmet buffet, a champagne toast and live entertainment at numerous nightclubs, including the groove (an electrifying dance club) and CityJazz (a hip jazz venue) as well as Jimmy Buffett’s Magaritaville and others!

SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando’s New Year’s Eve has an extravagant musical celebration and a fireworks show that will light up the night greeting 2012.

LEGOLAND – Florida

The original theme park’s first New Year’s Eve celebration is ideal for families. LEGOLAND’s “Kids’ New Year’s Eve” let’s kids rock out and watch LEGO fireworks at just the right time for them, midnight KST (Kid Standard Time), otherwise known as 7 p.m. EST.