Orlando, Florida
 

 About Orlando
 Planning Your Budget
 Arrival
 Tentative Schedule
 Register

To register for tour:
Contact Elan Rajamani at 325-9047 or
email elan@ifmusa.org

or click here for a registration form in PDF format

Register Here

* Registration will close when all available spaces
are taken. So, register early!
 

Welcome to the "Sunshine State"! Orlando is the vacation capital of the world, and in December it’s the warmest place in the continental United States.

Walt Disney World lets you relive your childhood at Magic Kingdom, and tour the world and learn about state-of-the-art scientific breakthroughs at EPCOT center (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow).

The Magic Kingdom is where you can meet your favorite Disney movie characters, climb the Swiss Family Robinson's tree house, see American folk culture shows, and ride some exciting rides. Space Mountain (an indoor roller coaster in the dark) is fun for any age.

EPCOT is really two parks in one. The "World of Tomorrow" is the first. It features "state-of-the-art" technology in a variety of fun presentations. It is all indoors, so if there is rain in the forecast, you may want to bypass that and head to the second area, "World Showcase" before it rains. Many of the attractions there are outdoors. You will be thrilled with the breathtaking 360-degree movies, rides, shops, food, and cultural exhibits from 10 different countries.

The tour of Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic Ocean coast takes you to the sites of all manned U.S. space flight launches.

The Space Center, located on Cape Canaveral, offers you a guided bus tour where you can see the actual launch sites and an exciting hands-on spacecraft exhibit. We will also view "The Dream is Alive", an IMAX (5-story screen) movie filmed partly from the space shuttle itself. Astronauts say it is the next-best thing to actually being in space! Inside the space center there are reasonably-priced restaurants, cafeterias, and an ice cream shop.

Another day of sightseeing brings you the choice of one of the other three big attractions (MGM Studios, Universal Studios, or Sea World).

You’ll have a chance to spend Christmas Day with an American family and experience an important American holiday.

This trip will also include a half-day conference in our host church where you will learn more about the true meaning of Christmas.

Your $295 registration fee includes the following:

+ Home stay with American family
+ Most meals
+ Round-trip transportation from Bloomington to Orlando
+ Local transportation to all attractions
+ Administrative expenses


Extra costs (not included in $295 registration fee):

• Entrance fees to attractions:
  Disney’s Magic Kingdom $50 (Child ages 3-9 - $40)
  Disney’s EPCOT $50 (Child ages 3-9 - $40)
  Kennedy Space Center $26 (Child ages 3-11 - $16)
   
• CHOICE of either
    Disney/MGM Studios $50 (Child ages 3-9 - $40)
    Universal Studios  $49.95 (Child ages 3-9 - $40.95), OR
    Sea World $49.95 (Child ages 3-9 - $40.95)
  
  ** It will cost you an additional $175 - $200 to visit all suggested attractions. Host family will provide breakfast & dinner on days you go out to an attraction, and all three meals on days when you stay home with them. Remember to bring extra money for meals when you go out.

• Hotel option: If you prefer not to have a host family, stay all 9 nights in a hotel (4 in a room, except families) for an additional $150, plus the cost of your meals

Note: We will house all participants in American families for the entire duration of the tour. But there might me unforeseen circumstances that may arise, when you might be accommodated in hotel rooms for one or more days.

If you are not traveling with IFM, please arrive in Orlando on the Tour's opening day (Dec 21), no later than 6:45 pm by air, 5:30 p.m. by bus or train. We will pick you up at the airport, bus, or train station at several scheduled times which we will set after we receive your travel plans. We will send everyone a schedule of pickup times before the tour. If you are driving a car, we will send you directions to the meeting point at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church.

** When you register for the tour, you are agreeing to follow the schedule and attend all activities listed here. Visitation of attractions is optional.

Tuesday, December 20

8:00 a.m.  Leave Bloomington from Eigenmann Hall
7:30 p.m.  Arrive at Columbia, SC and stay overnight with host family

Wednesday, December 21

8:00 a.m.  Leave Columbia, SC
4:00 p.m. Arrive at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church,
                3900 S. Hiawassee Rd., Orlando, FL.

Thursday, December 22

Visit Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Friday, December 23

Visit Disney World's Epcot Center.

Saturday, December 24  

Half-Day Christmas Conference - "What is the true meaning of Christmas?"
 
Afternoon with host family and celebrate Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 25

All day with host family to celebrate Christmas

Monday, December 26

Visit one of the following attractions:
Option 1: Universal Studios
Option 2: Sea World
Option 3: MGM Studio

Tuesday, December 27

Visit one of the following attractions:
Option 1: Universal Studios
Option 2: Sea World
Option 3: MGM Studio

Wednesday, December 28

Visit Kennedy Space Center for all-day sightseeing, including bus tour and IMAX movie.

Thursday, December 29

All day with host families.

6.00 p.m. Farewell dinner and talent night with all host families. Go home with hosts.

Friday, December 30

12:00 noon   Leave Orlando, FL
8:00 p.m.     Arrive at Columbia, SC and stay overnight with host family

Saturday, December 31

10:00 a.m.   Leave Columbia, SC
8:30 p.m.    Arrive at Bloomington, IN