An upside down science centre! (Wonderworks (Orlando, Florida))

Member Name: chocaholic110

Product:	Wonderworks (Orlando, Florida)
Date:	01/03/09 (342 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun (mostly), educational, a rest from theme parks

Disadvantages: Not cheap, some queues

On our first ever visit to Orlando we were advised not to overdo things by visiting a theme park everyday. Naturally, assuming people who had already been there knew better than we did, we planned our holiday to have several "rest days" on which we didn't visit any theme parks. The only problem was we began to be quite bored on these days; we're not really swimming pool people and needed somewhere to go to fill the time. This was how we came to visit Wonderworks in Orlando.

The children had noticed Wonderworks several times during bus journeys through Orlando. It was difficult not to notice it. It looks as if the building has been built upside down and slightly lopsided. It's certainly a very striking sight and I'm sure it's appearance has attracted a lot of visitors that would otherwise have overlooked the attraction. The official "story" is that the building was once a top secret laboratory from the Bermuda Triangle that was uprooted by a giant tornado and carried to Florida where it was deposited upside down on International Drive. It's an inspired if somewhat bizarre idea but the children liked the idea and were desperate to visit.

That's how a hot, humid day in August found us plodding along International Drive, sweating profusely in the Florida heat. We could have caught an I-trolley as there's a stop very close to Wonderworks but my husband likes to have a daily walk and being on holiday doesn't stop this. Interestingly, there were very few other people walking I-Drive and those we passed were all British. It's true what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen!

After paying (pricing information included later!) we passed through an Inversion Tunnel, where supposedly visitors too turn upside down so they are the same way up as the building. In reality it's a clever optical illusion where you pass through a tunnel with seemingly spinning walls. Although the tunnel you walk along isn't moving, it's very difficult not to almost overbalance!

Once inside the building it's very much an interactive science museum type of place. The exhibits are set out over several rooms and each room has something to discover.


** Room One **

This room is very much concerned with natural disasters. Included are two Earthquake Simulators, in which you can sit and experience an "earthquake" that measures 5.3 on the Richter scale. I realise I probably wouldn't enjoy a real earthquake but after riding several wild rides at various theme parks this actually felt quite tame! Another simulation is the Hurricane Hole, where you can hold onto a pole and experience 65 mile an hour winds. There is some information given on hurricanes but to be honest, our children just liked being blown about! Also in this area is a Famous Disasters quiz where you play a game similar to noughts and crosses against a computer. If you get a question right you get a square, if you get it wrong the computer does. This room also has a virtual reality video game called Global VR in which you're participating in a desert war but we didn't get to try this as the queues were a bit off-putting and our children preferred to move on to the next room...

** Room Two **

There didn't seem to be a theme to this room and there was several things all going on at once. In one corner was a bubble lab that kept our six year old entertained for quite a while despite being little more than various different bubble making equipment. The one she liked best was a giant ring in bubble solution where she could stand inside and we could lift the giant ring to leave her in a huge bubble tube - a great photo opportunity! Another good place for a photo was the Bed of Nails. If you've ever wanted to try your hand as an Indian fakir, this is the place for you. Basically you lie on a glass case and a handle is turned to make the bed of nails, all 3,500 of them, rise up until you are effectively lying on a bed of nails. It is important to lie on the glass case first to make sure your weight is evenly spread across the nails and my husband and children who tried the attraction assure me it didn't hurt!

A further attraction in this room is the WonderWall, not the Oasis song, but a giant version of those executive toys where you press your face or hand into a load of pins to leave an imprint. This is a huge version in which you can press your entire body to leave your body outline which is lots of fun but gave me a shock as it looked plumper than I imagine myself to be (though maybe two solid weeks of burger and fries had something to do with that!).

** Room Three **

The third room has the theme of sound and includes a giant piano - perfect to re-enact the scene from Big if you feel so inclined. It also has a giant electronic game of Simon Says, if you remember that game from your youth and several sound booths. Also in this room are a lot of painting of optical illusions which my husband found very interesting but the children didn't have the patience for.

** Room Four **

The theme in the fourth room, if it has one, is probably space. It has a space exhibit, an astronaut suit that you can have your photograph taken in and a flight simulator where you can see what it would be like to land a space shuttle. There were a variety of other flight simulators which we skipped as the queues were huge and our younger child was too small to ride. This room also housed my ten year old son's favourite attraction, the Wonder Coaster which is basically a roller coaster simulator ride. Before entering the simulator you design the roller coaster you would like to ride and can make it as wild or tame as you like. My son put a lot of loops and big dips into ours; luckily I like coasters as I rode with him. It's not the same as going on a real roller coaster but it was fun nonetheless!

** Laser Tag **

Once through the fourth room at Wonderworks the next floor contains a Laser Tag arcade. If you are unfamiliar with laser tag you are given a laser gun and a vest that flashes if you are hit by another person's laser. In order to play the game you need to shoot at the other players without being shot at yourself. If you get shot your gun stops working for a few seconds which can be annoying! The game is played in the dark and there are several places to hide! Entrance to Laser tag isn't included in the Wonderworks price, though it can be added as an extra. Additionally you can also go to Wonderworks and just access the Laser Tag arcade without having to go through the museum.

** Magic and Dinner Show **

Each evening Wonderworks hosts a magic and dinner show entitled "The Outa Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show" which includes an evening of entertainment plus unlimited popcorn and pizza. We didn't try this show but I have heard that a LOT of audience participation is required.

** Café **

On the way out of Wonderworks you pass a small café. We stopped here for a snack as we had a long walk back to our hotel but I wish we hadn't bothered as the food was rather lacklustre and not worth the money. There are many other much nicer places to eat along International Drive.

** Gift Shop **

As with all Orlando attractions, in an effort to extract every dollar you have, you exit through the gift shop which includes lots of science and joke type toys.

** Pricing **

There are a variety of different prices, depending upon which parts of Wonderworks you would like to visit. Current pricing (2009) is as follows

Wonderworks Museum only: Adults $19.95; Child / 65+ $14.95
Laser Tag only: $4.95 (Adult or child)
Outer Control Dinner Show: Adult $24.95; Child $16.95
Wonderworks and Dinner Show: Adult $38.95; Child $28.95
Wonderworks and Laser Tag : Adult $22.95; Child $17.95
Wonderworks, Dinner Show and Laser Tag: Adult $39.95; Child $29.95

There are many discount coupons available on International Drive and in hotels. I think we had a coupon that gave free child entry which made a good saving. Additionally if you buy your tickets online before visiting they are a dollar or two cheaper, though you can't buy Dinner show or Laser Tag tickets online.

** How to get there **

Wonderworks is found at 9067 International Drive, Orlando, Florida, 32819. It is found at the Pointe Orlando Entertainment Complex. It is really easy to find as International Drive is a major tourist attraction in Orlando and Wonderwoks is the only upside down building there! The I-Trolley stops close by and parking is available behind the building.

** Recommendation **

Though there are masses of places to go in Florida and you might wonder why you would want to go there when there are so many theme parks to see, it is a good place to go if you fancy a little bit of education. Additionally, it is a place that can be toured in an afternoon or evening so could be either a "rest" from the parks or a place to go in bad weather. Although there are some dull attractions or ones that aren't worth queuing for, overall it was a fun afternoon and our children are asking to go back when we revisit Florida. I could have done without the walk back to the hotel though!

Summary: A pleasant change from the theme parks