Orlando
Orlando is the fourth most visited city in America by overseas travellers, as it is home to some major theme parks, including Disney World. Orlando has a lot to offer for both kids and adults, and this site will provide information to help you plan your vacation.
Orlando is well known because is the home to Walt Disney World, Sea World and many other theme parks. Orlando has a lot more to offer than just theme parks, it is also a city where adults can choose from several outstanding golf courses and plenty of entertainment options.
Around Orlando there is a lot of natural escapes with hidden treasures. Over 300 lakes, springs, and rivers are waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Orlando's rich history and culture come to life through its many museums, galleries, and theaters.
Entertainment facilities and high-tech industries play a major role in the Orlando’s economy, but it is tourism that is the main force to the city’s finances, contributing more than $17 billion to the economy annually.
In Orlando's early days the city was the “three C’s City”: They had cattle, cotton and citrus. Orange, grapefruit, tangerines and limes all thrived in the sandy soil. By 1870, orange fever had struck Central Florida, and the citrus industry grew rapidly. With the Cuban immigration also the cattle ranches grew.
The citrus boom was succeeded by intermittent railroad and real estate booms, but the late 1950s brought a cash fountain that was to last: the beginnings of the Space Age.
The Martin Marietta missile factory arrived in 1922 and the creation of the Cape Canaveral and cape Kennedy Space Centers brought infusions of cash and jobs to the city.
Walt Disney was established in 1971. In 1990, Universal Studios arrived to add more fame and visitors to Orlando. In 1999 it grew again with the addition of Islands of Adventure.
Orlando just keeps on growing—there are now 90 attractions, 3,800 restaurants and 99,000 rooms.
City’s Population: 1,644,561
Male 48.44%
Female 51.56%
Latino17.5%
Whit 50.8%
Black 26.9%
Asian 2.7%
Other 1.8%
Cities near Orlando
Azalea Park
Conway
Fairview Shores
Lockhart
Oak Ridge
Maitland
Pine Hills
Winter Park
U.S. Average Income $48,853
Orlando Average Income $42,375
Orlando's economy focuses on aerospace and electronics, but to no surprise tourism brings in the largest revenues. Tourism surrounding Orlando is worth billions of dollars to the area's economy.
Industries as Lockheed-Martin have a large manufacturing facility for aeronautical crafts and related high tech research due to Orlando's proximity to the NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Another developing sector is the film, television, and electronic gaming industries, aided by the presence of Universal Studios, Disney-MGM Studios, Full Sail School, and other entertainment companies and schools.
Walt Disney World
Discovery Cove
Universal Studios Orlando
Sea World Adventure Park
Epcot Center
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Universal's Islands of Adventure
La Nouba - Cirque du Soleil
Disney-MGM Studios
Orlando is a city where weather is an important factor to consider when visiting.
The best time to vacation in Orlando is September or October because it’s very warm but not as humid as the summer months. Crowds at the theme parks are also moderated.
October is another fun month to visit; there are events such as Mickey's Not-So-Scarey Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom (great for kids) and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando (great for teens and adults).
A bad time to visit the city is on the last two months of the year for Christmas and New Year's. A better option would be to go earlier in December if you are looking for the holiday decorations and events.
Try to avoid Orlando’s summer months from June and August where humidity and the masses are in their highest. If you don’t mind the heat just try to wake up early and go to the theme parks as soon as they open so you can avoid the highest concentration of visitors.
Walt Disney World: This world-famous resort consists of four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom), three water parks, more than 20 hotels, eight golf courses and a myriad of attractions.
Discovery Cove: Adjacent to Sea World, this water wildlife park offers visitors the chance to swim with dolphins, relax on sandy beaches or view beautiful coral.
Universal Studios Orlando: This vast complex houses two theme parks (Universal Studios, for movie rides, and Islands of Adventure, for thrills), an entertainment/nightlife complex (CityWalk) and a variety of hotels. You can buy passes for admission to the parks, or just visit the bars, restaurants and stores on the CityWalk.
Orlando Science Center: The largest of its kind in the Southeast, the Center offers interactive exhibits, including a special area for younger children.
Orlando Museum of Art: This recently renovated museum displays a fine rotating collection of American, pre-Colombian and African art.
Osprey Ridge Golf Course: Pros consider this to be the toughest links course in the area.
Magnolia Golf Course: Designed by Joe Lee, this is the longest golf course at Disney World.
ChampionsGate Golf Resort: Located a short distance from Disneyworld, this golf facility offers two 18-hole championship courses, The International and The National.
Walt Disney began quietly purchasing large quantities of land in and around the Orlando area to open his second Disney’s Magic Kingdom. In a couple of months he acquired a property almost the twice size of Manhattan.
Walt Disney passed away in 1966, just five years before the world’s most spectacular theme park opened.
EPCOT which means Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was planned to be a utopian city of the future planned by Walt Disney. EPCOT was created as a model community, a community built in the shape of a circle, with businesses and commercial areas at its center. Transportation would be provided by monorails. Automobile traffic would be kept underground, leaving pedestrians safe above-ground.
EPCOT original plan never came true because Disney’s couldn’t get enough permission to do it and he passed away before the installations were finished.
Hiking
There are heaps of first-class walking trails in the national parks to Orlando's north. Closest to town, Wekiwa Springs State Park has miles of well-maintained hiking trails. In Ocala National Forest, the Salt Springs area has a splendid loop trail through a cypress forest. A 100km (65mi) section of the Florida National Scenic Trail runs right through the Juniper Springs area. The 8km (5mi) Cruickshank Trail surrounds a shallow marsh within the Space Coast's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It begins along Black Point Wildlife Drive.
Cycling
Rent a bike at Wekiwa Springs State Park and cycle along trails that run through unique palmetto wilderness. Throughout central Florida, you can cycle on the fantastic network of of 'rail trails' - abandoned railway tracks that have been converted for two-wheelers.
Canoeing/kayaking
Paddle along crystal-clear rivers that wend their ways through untouched wilderness at one of Florida's best national parks: the Ocala National Forest, northwest of Orlando. Other places for canoeing include the Wekiwa Springs State Park and Mosquito Lagoon in the Canaveral National Seashore.
Swimming
There's good swimming in the Ocala National Forest at Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs, Clearwater Lake and Lake Dorr. You can also swim in Blue Spring State Park's 22°C (72°F) translucent waters when no manatees are present. Apollo Beach and Klondike Beach at the northern end of Merritt Island have gentle surf and soft sand.