Indoor SkyDiving at SkyVenture, Orlando.

I have always wanted to skydive but have never had the chance.  So, when I had the opportunity to try indoor skydiving, I jumped (no pun intended) at the opportunity.

The company that offers this adventure is Sky Venture located 6805 Visitors Circle in Orlando.  The first thing you do is receive instructions on what to do once you are in the wind chamber.  I will say that the staff was top-notch and did a great job of instructing us what to expect.

As you enter the wind chamber, the first thing you do is fold your arms at your chest and just fall forward.  It is amazing how wind works with your body.  The wind lifts you right up and then you extend your arms and arch your back similar to what you see when skydivers are free falling.  A twist or movement of the arms, hands and legs allow you to change directions.

If you don’t struggle and just relax and go with the wind, it lifts you up and you can move freely throughout the wind chamber.  If you’re tense and don’t extend your arms and legs or if you don’t arch your back, you will not get much lift and will not get the full experience.  At one point, the instructor grabs onto your body and the two of you float up in the air, which was really cool.

Afterwords,  you receive a certificate and a video that captures your adventure.

I have never skydived, but I have to think this is as close as you can get to the real thing.  All in all, I highly recommend giving it a try.  Like I said, the staff was great and the experience felt, as what I can imagine, like actually free falling.

LINKS: SkyVenture Orlando

A visit to the Magic Kingdom: What was old is new again

As a local, it’s rare that I would spend a full day in any Orlando theme park. This is especially true of the Magic Kingdom. While a ‘must see’ for any first timer, I’ve been there 30 times (at least) and these days it’s enough to visit for a few hours or attend a special event such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween. Perhaps we’ll have dinner with visiting family, hop on It’s a Small World or just watch the fireworks. Whatever we do, we are in and out. However, when visiting relatives want an escorted trip through the park it’s hard to say no.

Such was our trip this past Friday to the Magic Kingdom. My 13 year old daughter was off from school so she accompanied my mother, father (he’s never been to the Magic Kingdom) and myself for 10 hours of retro Disney magic. When we go with first timers around the park (any park) it’s hard not to say, “Oh, that’s not worth a 60 minute wait” or “That show isn’t worth seeing”. Sure, for the 10th time, it’s not worth standing in line for Space Mountain but if it’s your first time and you can’t come to the park like you were going to a local mall it is very much worth it. We keep our mouths shut.

So we did it all! Every ride and nearly every show. In the process I checked off the few remaining things that I hadn’t yet experienced in the Magic Kingdom and ate dinner a ‘new’ restaurant - The Liberty Tree Tavern. To my own surprise, the day was a lot of fun. For once, the weather was very cold (for Florida) and the crowds were light. Most rides were less then a 15-20 minute wait and it wasn’t a problem getting a table for dinner. As we walked out of the Liberty Tree Tavern (highly recommended - $150.00 for 4 adults with tip) at 8pm the sky was filled with fireworks which was a nice touch for my parents.

At the end of the day I was beat. Miles of walking and shuffling in line takes it’s toll. My daughter fell asleep in the car as she did the first time we took her to Magic Kingdom. The whole thing had a deja vu feeling to it. Even after so many visit to Disney, this place never truly wears off and thats a nice feeling to have.

With no one due in town until the summer, I doubt we’ll be going back to MK anytime soon. Certainly, it will be ‘in and out’ if we do. This full day trip was a little easier because we got to skip the children’s rides (too uncool for a 13 year old) and just concentrate on the main attractions. I have a feeling that in the coming years we’ll be spending much more time in the Magic Kingdom though. My one month old daughter hasn’t been there yet! I’m going to need some comfortable shoes.