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From Earth to the Moon: The Kennedy Space Center sent Americans into space for more than half a century, and for decades NASA’s nerve center was the focus of tourist attention, but a majority of today’s visitors remain securely within Disney’s orbit. That’s a tragedy. The Kennedy Center is where you can see proof of America’s glory days as an exploratory power, including some out-of-this-world space vehicles such as the Saturn V rocket, the largest rocket made, which sent 27 men to the moon, and the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis, still coated with space dust; and the only public remnants of the two space shuttles America lost.
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Connecting with Others: More Make-a-Wish kids request visits to Orlando than anywhere else, and you can help make their dreams come true at the fantasy resort built just for them, Give Kids the World Village. There are hundreds of jobs for volunteers here (which can be done in just a few hours), including handing out gifts or scooping ice cream. And since the late 1800s, the moss-draped Cassadaga has been the domain of psychics and mediums who invite visitors to explore their spiritual views.
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Undiscovered Disney: Even inside the theme parks, as other guests stampede for the nearest thrill ride, you can find relatively off-the-beaten-path treasures. The most fruitful ground for those is Epcot’s World Showcase, where many pavilions contain little-seen museums to the heritage of their lands, including the Stave Church Gallery in Norway, China’s House of the Whispering Willow, the Bijutsu-kan Gallery in Japan, and Moroccan Style gallery of arts in Morocco. At the Magic Kingdom, you can get a haircut on Main Street’s Harmony Barber Shop. And the entire Disney World resort offers a slate of small-group behind-the-scenes tours that uncover hundreds of secrets.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.