Orlando, FL | Cruise port of call | CruiseBe
✖
9.5
Average: 9.5 (2 votes)

Read reviews
Leave reviews

Orlando, FL
(*cruise tour)

Orlando, FL

Orlando is a large city located in Orange County, Florida.

Orlando, for most people, conjures up the image of theme parks, mainly Walt Disney World, but it has a lot more to offer than that. (In fact, Disney World is not in Orlando, but is in nearby Lake Buena Vista). With the estimated 52 million tourists a year, Orlando and many other areas in the region have developed a lot to offer the less theme park minded (or theme park exhausted) traveler. Other cities in the metropolitan area include Altamonte Springs, Davenport, Kissimmee, and Winter Park.

The City of Orlando is nicknamed "The City Beautiful," and its symbol is the fountain at Lake Eola. Orlando is also known as "The Theme Park Capital of the World".

When people think of Orlando, most think of theme parks and a vast urban sprawl.... Read more

✖

Orlando, FL

Destination:
Caribbean & Bermuda, Transatlantic

Orlando is a large city located in Orange County, Florida.

Orlando, for most people, conjures up the image of theme parks, mainly Walt Disney World, but it has a lot more to offer than that. (In fact, Disney World is not in Orlando, but is in nearby Lake Buena Vista). With the estimated 52 million tourists a year, Orlando and many other areas in the region have developed a lot to offer the less theme park minded (or theme park exhausted) traveler. Other cities in the metropolitan area include Altamonte Springs, Davenport, Kissimmee, and Winter Park.

The City of Orlando is nicknamed "The City Beautiful," and its symbol is the fountain at Lake Eola. Orlando is also known as "The Theme Park Capital of the World".

When people think of Orlando, most think of theme parks and a vast urban sprawl. However, the city contains some of the major theme parks such as Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World, Aquatica, and Orlando Eye, but not Disney World, Busch Gardens and Legoland which are in other cities nearby. Some dinner attractions also are in other cities, like Medieval Times in Kissimmee. There are a few attractions that are known to be in Orlando but are outside its boundaries, such as Gatorland, NASA's Cape Canaveral and more. Orlando also has The Holy Land Experience, Ripley's Believe It or Not and many other new attractions. However, since Orlando is the larger city associated with most of these popular attractions, you will find details and descriptions of them below. Coming soon to the theme parks list is Volcano by Universal Orlando Resort.

Geography and cityscape

The geography of Orlando is mostly wetlands, consisting of many lakes and swamps. The terrain is generally flat, making the land fairly low and wet. The area is dotted with hundreds of lakes, the largest of which is Lake Apopka. Central Florida's bedrock is mostly limestone and very porous; the Orlando area is susceptible to sinkholes. Probably the most famous incident involving a sinkhole happened in 1981 in Winter Park, a city immediately north of downtown Orlando, dubbed "The Winter Park Sinkhole".
There are 115 neighborhoods within the city limits and many unincorporated communities. Orlando's city limits resemble a checkerboard, with pockets of unincorporated Orange County surrounded by city limits. Such an arrangement can be cumbersome as some areas are served by both Orange County and the City of Orlando. This also explains Orlando's relatively low city population when compared to its metropolitan population. The city and county are working together in an effort to "round-out" the city limits with Orlando annexing portions of land already bordering the city limits.

Skyscrapers

Metro Orlando has a total of 19 completed skyscrapers. The majority are located in Downtown Orlando and the rest are located in the tourist district southwest of downtown. Skyscrapers built in downtown Orlando have not exceeded 441 ft (134 m), since 1988 when SunTrust Center was completed. The main reason for this is the Orlando Executive Airport, just under 2 miles from the city center, which does not allow buildings to exceed a certain height.

Climate

Most tourists visit Orlando between June and August, while another peak time for tourism is March and April. Ironically, the less busy times for tourism correspond to the best weather in the Orlando area; the summer months can be exceptionally busy with families who are making a trip while kids are on summer vacation. Visiting when the weather isn't so hot means fewer people in the area and that provides some advantages, but you will be able to enjoy cooler weather.

Many say central Florida has two seasons: hot and hotter. Orlando has warm, balmy springs and autumns; hot summers complete with daily thunderstorms; and temperate winters affected by the occasional cold front. That being said:
  • Spring in Orlando has highs in the 80s (27°C) in March & April transitioning to around 90°F (32°C) in May and low-mid 90s in June. Spring is the driest time of year here, and in the past decade, some spring months have seen less than a half-inch of rain! This is the time of year in which many small wildfires appear around the region, but this should not bother anyone who stays within the urban area. March and April are great times to visit with dry days, clear skies, and warm temperatures (and no cold fronts). However, late May and early June are arguably the worst time to visit filled with hot, humid, dry days.
  • Summer begins with the start of daily thunderstorms around mid-June. Highs from mid-June to mid-September are in the mid-90s, with 90°F (32°C) often being reached by 10-11 AM, and lows in the 70s (23°C). Due to Orlando's proximity to two coasts, thunderstorms form every day during this period from ocean breezes which heat over land, rise, and cool in the atmosphere to create sometimes violent thunderstorms (see the "Stay Safe" section). However, they will often drop temperatures into the low 80s (28°C) after passing... a welcome relief from the hot temperatures earlier in the day.
  • Autumn varies much more from year to year than spring. The daily thunderstorms taper off in September leaving highs in the mid-high 80s (29°C) until mid-October. The first cold front of the season will usually pass between mid and late October, plunging highs into the 70s (24°C) and lows into the 50s (12°C) and high 40s (10°C). The cooling trend continues into November and December, with highs falling into the 70s (24°C) by late December and lows into the 50s (12°C), affected only by the occasional cold front which can plunge highs into the 60s (18°C)(Nov) and 50s (12°C)(Dec) and lows into the 40s (7°C)(Nov) and as low as freezing (32°F/0°C) by mid December.
  • Winter is much the same as November and December. Highs are in the 70s (24°C), lows in the 50s (12°C), affected every week or two by cold fronts. Following a cold front, highs can drop into the 50s (12°C), lows into the 30s (2°C). Sub-freezing mornings typically occur two or three times a year.
Source:
Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
✖

Orlando, FL: Port Information


Your cruise ship will dock at Port Canaveral. It has six cruise terminals. Disney Cruise Line use Terminal 8, Carnival Cruise Line use Terminal 6. 
If it is your departure port, we recommend to come a few days earlier and enjoy Universal and Disney parks. You can rent a car at the airport and drop it at the port. 

Orlando International Airport is 45 miles away from the port; Universal Studio is 60 miles away.
To get from the airport to Port Canaveral, you can use a taxi but it is quite expensive. Besides, there is shuttle service (for example, Cocoa Beach Shuttle).
✖

Get around Orlando, FL


By car

The car is omnipresent in Orlando, and it is a very easy and convenient (if not congested) way to get to your destination. Orlando is a sprawling city with most attractions lying far to the south of the CBD and into adjacent cities like Kissimmee. The roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all major attractions well signed, but traffic jams around downtown are common in the afternoons, and around the touristic areas on Friday nights and all day Saturday. Orlando ranks 8th in the nation in terms of traffic congestion, and there are numerous ongoing construction projects on area expressways. Traffic information is available from electronic signs over roadways, most local radio stations, and also by calling 511 (a free, automated service which provides current traffic info).

As with most urban areas in the U.S., there are plenty of drivers who prefer to speed and drive aggressively. The Orlando area receives over 50 million visitors each year, many who drive while in town, while home to just 2 million residents. The combination of these two types of drivers can make Orlando's roads a bit hectic at times. Speed limits in the Orlando area are higher than some parts of the U.S., with a speed limit of around 45-50mph on major roads. The speed limit on Interstate 4 and tollroads is 65mph, with urban sections close to downtown posted at 55mph. Drivers in the left lane tend to drive 5-15mph faster than the speed limit. While it is the law to keep right except to pass, this is not strictly enforced.

The main highway through Orlando and the only interstate serving it is Interstate 4 (commonly called "I-4") which runs diagonally from northeast to southwest across the Orlando area. In recent years major construction on it has widened it through areas south of S.R. 528 making it a commuter-friendly highway (except for traffic during rush hours and Friday and Saturday evenings). Downtown Orlando; International Drive; Amway Arena; the Mall at Millenia; Arabian Nights dinner theater; and theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Discovery Cove, the Holy Land Experience, and Wet n' Wild are all conveniently located along I-4.

Other major highways include the Beach Line Expressway (S.R. 528), a toll road known until recently as the Bee Line, which runs east from I-4 (exit 72) towards the Space Coast beaches and Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, and Port Canaveral. S.R. 528 is, like all Orlando area expressways (which doesn't include I-4), a toll road. While tolls are modest for short trips within Orlando, tolls can quickly add on long cross-town trips. The Central Florida GreeneWay (S.R. 417) starts at I-4 just west of SR-192/Disney World. It takes you north, passing both the Orlando International Airport and the Orlando-Sanford International Airport. It ends at I-4 in Sanford, FL. S.R. 408 starts at SR-50 on the East side of Orlando, by the University of Central Florida and takes you past the west side of Orlando to the city of Ocoee, FL. It ends at the Florida Turnpike. S.R. 429 starts in Apopka, FL at U.S. 441 and takes you past the Florida Turnpike and Disney World. It ends at I-4, just west of SR-192/Disney World. Florida's Turnpike starts in Miami, FL at I-95 and takes you north through Orlando and ends in Wildwood, FL at I-75. 

In Orlando, the main tourism area is International Drive, a strip of road that runs parallel to I-4 for about 10 miles (16 km). Many tourist-focused shops, restaurants, and attractions are to be found along this road; therefore, it is excruciatingly hard to drive on and find parking along this road on weekends, especially in the summer and from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, and excursions to this area are best by bus during such times. Other major roads include U.S. 192 in Kissimmee (fronted by thousands of small shops and attractions), Orange Blossom Trail (US 17/92/441...a North-South alternative to I-4), John Young Parkway (which can be an alternative to US-441), & S.R. 50 (E-W route towards the CBD).

A few local laws to keep in mind:

  • Lights on when raining. It is the law in Florida to have headlights on when it is raining.
  • Seatbelt use is mandatory.
  • Move over when passing stopped emergency vehicles. Florida has a so-called "Move over" law, which compels drivers to move out of the lane closest to stopped emergency vehicles (police cars, ambulances, fire trucks). If it is not safe to do so, drivers must slow down 20 mph below the speed limit to pass parked vehicles (this is higher than any other U.S. state with such a law, where it's normally 5-15 mph below the speed limit).

By rental car

Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world and is known as the capital of car rental companies, with all major car rental companies accessible. Operating directly within the airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, E-Z Rent-a-car, L & M Car Rental, National, and Thrifty; courtesy shuttles are available for transport to other rental companies.

If you arrive by air via Orlando International Airport and pick up a rental car there, you can go through the north exit and head to SR-528 West to get to International Drive, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. Alternatively, you can take a direct route to Walt Disney World through the south exit to SR-417 South, following it to Exit 5, and taking SR 536 straight into Disney. Toll booths along this expressway use open road tolling. 

By bus

Orlando's public transportation is the LYNX bus service. Approximately 60 routes serve the metro Orlando area.

  • Lymmo Bus, 1-841-LYNX. This free service operates frequently in a circuit in downtown, from City Hall to the Centroplex and back. The Lymmo has a dedicated lane and stations with streetcar type control signals and modified buses that allow passengers to enter the bus without climbing. M-Th 6 AM-10 PM, F 6 AM-midnight, Sa 10 AM-midnight, Su 10 AM-10 PM.

LYNX buses of interest to visitors include routes 8, 42, 50, and 111 -- e.g., bus 8 or 42 for Universal, bus 8 for SeaWorld, and bus 50 or 111 for Disney. Check out GO LYNX to plan your trips.

By train

  • SunRail, +1-855-RAIL-411 (7245-411). It is limited to a north-south route through the center of the area, with an initial southern end at Sand Lake Road, and northern end in DeBary. Bus connection is provided from Orlando International Airport to the Sand Lake Road station by Links 11, 42 and 111; and from Orlando-Sanford International Airport to the Sanford station by Link 46E.

Direct rail connections to OIA and the attractions areas are currently being studied for possible future expansion.

There is currently no service on weekends and some federal holidays.

By trolley

  • I-Ride Trolley, +1 407-248-9590. Along International Drive and Universal Blvd, this trolley primarily serves tourists in the attractions area, operating daily from 8 AM to 10:30 PM. While the service is advertised as a trolley, the trolleys are in fact modified buses traveling in traffic with many stops, which makes for a slow ride. There are 85 stops along the main (Red) route on International Drive and 22 stops on the (Green) route that serves less congested Universal Blvd. One-day and multi-day passes, not sold on the bus, are available in many locations. However, because of the very limited route coverage of I-Ride - it goes nowhere near Disney - the better choice for many visitors is to use LYNX buses (e.g., bus 8, 42, 50, or 111).

By taxi

Orlando is visited by millions of tourists each year and there are dozens of taxi companies that are operational in the region. It will not be a problem to find transportation from The Orlando Airport to your hotel or from the hotel to a theme park, restaurant or mall. Unfortunately, some of those companies do not have any license or insurance and operate illegally. If you are not planning to rent a car, you probably should do some research and arrange your transportation before arriving in Orlando.
✖

What to see in Orlando, FL


The Go Orlando Card is very useful.

Gardens & Parks

  • Arboretum, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, ☎ +1 407 823-3146. An arboretum and botanical garden covering 80 acres (32 hectares), containing more than 600 species of plants (including more than 100 bromeliads) in cultivated gardens. Its cultivated areas currently include a Conservatory Compound, a Bromeliad Sanctuary, Cycad Garden, Fern Garden, Palm Collection, Rose Garden, Swamp Habitat, and Wetland Plants Display. 
  • Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Ave, ☎ +1 407 246-2620. Beautiful landscaped gardens and lakes set in nearly 50 acres of land, featuring flora gathered from around the globe since 1936, including the largest rose garden in Florida and America's largest camellia collection outside of California. The Leu House, Harry P. Leu's former home set within the grounds and dating back to the 1880's, has tours every 30 minutes around its museum illustrating Florida living at the turn of the 20th century (closed during July). You can get married in various places in the gardens and there are special events held throughout the year. 9 AM-5 PM daily except Christmas Day. Last garden admission at 4 PM.
  • Historic Bok Sanctuary, 1151 Tower Blvd, ☎ +1 863 676-1408. Lake Wales. The Bok Sanctuary features acres of intricately landscaped gardens filled with an exotic array of flowers and trees. The gardens are home to a colony of wood ducks and many other wild birds. In the middle of the gardens sits the Bok Tower, with its 60-bell carillon playing music daily at 3 PM. 8 AM-6 PM daily with the last admission at 5 PM. Visitor Center 9 AM-5 PM daily.
  • Torii Shinto, College Park, ☎ +1 407-484-6099. Torii Shinto is a private tropical garden. To visit the garden you must make an appointment as the garden is a private residence that is open to garden club tours, wedding and commitment ceremonies and for private tours to enthusiasts of horticulture. The garden hosts rare palms, bromeliads, heliconias, orchids and thousands of other plants from around the world. The species you will discover in this garden include: Carpoxylon Palm or Aneityum Palm - Carpoxylon macrospermum, Tahina spectabilis (discovered in Madagascar in 2007, described in 2008) thus this Tahina is a small specimen seedling (about 3'), Flame Thrower Palm - Chambeyronia macrocarpa, White Elephant Palm, King Thai Palm - Kerriodoxa elegans, Foxy Lady Palm - Wodyetia X Veitchia bifurcatum x arecina to name a few. Hercules, a 21.5' diameter Live Oak provides protection from the few cold days that Orlando hosts, Hercules is listed at the ninth largest Live Oak in Florida on the Live Oak Society registry. The garden hosts a view to a bald eagle nest in a neighboring pine. The garden is divided into several outdoor rooms with fountains, hand carved Bali lanterns and hand carved volcanic stone statuary. The owner is a landscape architect and indicates that tours for plant enthusiasts are always welcome.

Museums

  • Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, ☎ +1 848-1933. Houses the world's most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany including Tiffany art glass, leaded-glass windows, lamps, jewelry, pottery, paintings, and the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Museum's holdings include a major collection of American art pottery and representative collections of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative arts. 
  • Cornell Fine Arts Museum, 1000 Holt Ave, ☎ +1 407 646-2526. Tu-F 10 AM-4 PM, Sa Su noon-5 PM. Winter Park. Rollins College. Features items from Cornell's renowned permanent collection. 
  • The Orlando Museum of Art. Ongoing exhibitions of American portraits and landscapes, American impressionist works, and art of the ancient Americas.
  • The Orlando Science Center. A 207,000 ft² (19,000 m²) hands-on learning center with hundreds of interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages. Images surround visitors on the giant screen of the Dr. Phillips CineDome. Other attractions include the Body Zone, teaching health and fitness, as well as an observatory. The center has the largest refracting telescope in Florida.
  • Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E Central Blvd, ☎ +1 407 836-8500, toll-free: +1-800-965-2030. M-Sa 10 AM-5 PM, Su noon-5 PM. Features exhibits and artifacts from the earliest days of the region to the modern day. Includes information on everything from the time of the Seminole Indians to the founding of the city to the Civil Rights era to the Disney period to today. 
  • International Trolley and Train Museum. Features 14 model railroad trains with sound and lighting traveling through an indoor garden with 12 ft (4 m) high mountains, waterfalls, and more than 30 trestles and tunnels. Also on display are toy trains from the 1920s to the present. Visitors can catch a ride in a California Victorian-style half open/half closed trolley or the 5/8-scale replica of an 1880 locomotive (a Mason Bogey) with its passenger cars.
  • Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium, 8201 International Dr, ☎ +1 407-363-4418. Located in a building artfully constructed to appear as if it were collapsing to one side. Visitors can explore bizarre artifacts, strange collections, weird art/hobbies (for example, check out the 3/4-scale model of a 1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost automobile made entirely of matchsticks and glue), and interactive exhibits in sixteen odd galleries. Seriously schlocky, yet fun.
✖

What to do in Orlando, FL


Major Attractions

Orlando is one of the biggest tourist destinations because of the nearby theme parks and resorts. Close to International Drive is Universal Orlando, which includes two theme parks, three hotels and a large shopping district. SeaWorld Orlando is a marine theme park featuring Kraken, the only floorless rollercoaster in the Orlando area, as well as Believe, the new Shamu adventure. About 35 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando is Walt Disney World. Comprising four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of hotels, two shopping and dining districts, five golf courses, and much more, it is the largest privately managed tourist destination on the planet. Not far from Disney World lies the Alligator Capital of the World: Gatorland.

  • Walt Disney World

    (18 mi S of downtown in Lake Buena Vista). The acclaimed gold standard of theme parks on the planet. Hours vary by park and season.
  • Universal Orlando Resort, International Dr, ☎ +1 407 363-8000. 9 AM-closing times varying from 6 PM-10 PM. Top-ranked challenger to Disney, with two theme parks -- the original Universal Studios Florida and the second theme park, Islands of Adventure -- a nightclub and restaurant complex, CityWalk, and three resort hotels. Discounts are given for purchasing tickets online.

  • SeaWorld Adventure Park Orlando

    , SeaWorld Dr, ☎ +1 407 351-3600, toll-free: +1-800-327-2424. 9 AM-closing times varying from 6 PM-10 PM. A beautifully landscaped 200-acre marine theme park featuring fantastic shows, thrilling rides, and fun exhibits - a more laid-back alternative to Disney and Universal. Variety of discounts may be available by purchasing tickets online.
  • Aquatica, 5800 Water Play Way. Hours vary by season. Opened in 2008 water park by Sea World. Newest ride is Ihu's Breakaway Falls, a breakaway slide in which the rider is placed in the box and dropped down to slide.
  • Discovery Cove, 6000 Discovery Cove Way (9 AM-5:30 PM (until 9 PM on selected evenings)), ☎ +1 407 370-1280. A unique companion to Sea World, it is often sold out as admission is limited to 1000 guests per day but admission does include all your equipment, food, drink and 30-minute interaction with the dolphins in the water. 
  • Holy Land, 4655 Vineland Rd. Closed Tu. Either inspirational or kitschy, depending on your proclivities, this biblical-themed park is designed to look like Jerusalem. Discount on tickets purchased online.
  • Gatorland, 14501 S Orange Blossom Trl, ☎ +1 407 855-5496, toll-free: +1-800-393-JAWS (5297). 9 AM-5 PM daily. A small alligator and reptile themed park.
  • Fun Spot America - Orlando, 5700 Fun Spot Way (Just off the Kirkman Rd or Sandlake Rd I-4 exits), ☎ 407 363-3867NOCC. 10:00-24:00. Small amusement park with rollercoasters, go-karts and thrill rides.

Minor Attractions

  • Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe

    , 8300 Vineland Ave, ☎ +1 407 239-6600. This extravagant Catholic church has become a tourist attraction in itself, thanks in part to the millions of Catholics from around the world who visit it and the rest of Orlando every year. Note: It is not a parish and therefore it cannot perform weddings, funerals, or baptisms.
  • Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida (Zipline Safari), 4755 N Kenansville Rd, ☎ +1 407 957-9794, e-mail: info@floridaecosafaris.com. Reservations required. Journey deep into Forever Florida, a 4700-acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area, preserved just as nature intended. This beautiful site boasts 9 distinct Florida ecosystems and an endless array of natural flora and fauna including alligators, black bears, nearly two hundred species of birds and the endangered Florida panther. Choose your own fully-guided adventure: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari or, soar through the treetops on the Zipline Safari.
  • Orlando Watersports Complex, 8615 Florida Rock Rd, ☎ +1 407 251-3100. A cable park for watersports. Offers lessons and two separate cable systems, a beginner and an advanced. A perfect way to experience Orlando's reputation as the watersport capital of the world.
  • Revolution: The Off Road Experience. Offers 4-wheeling, 4x4, dune buggying and more.
  • Enzian Theater. A cinema for the indie/alternative crowd that also offers food and alcoholic beverages.
  • Discovery Cove. A 30-acre tropical retreat with beaches, snorkeling, and relaxation.

Sports Teams

  • Orlando Magic (Amway Center), 400 W Church St, ☎ +1 407 89-MAGIC (62442), e-mail: tickets@orlandomagic.com. Member of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Magic is the city's only member of the big four.
  • Orlando Solar Bears (Amway Center), 400 W Church St, ☎ +1 407 951-8200, e-mail: webmaster@orlandosolarbearshockey.com. Member of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
  • Orlando Predators (Amway Center). Member of the Arena Football League (AFL).
  • Orlando City SC (Citrus Bowl), toll-free: +1-855-ORL-CITY (675-2489). Member of Major League Soccer (MLS) as of 2015. The team plans to move into the new Orlando City Stadium near the Amway Center in the last half of the 2016 season.
  • Orlando Pride (Citrus Bowl), toll-free: +1-855-ORL-CITY (675-2489). Women's soccer team owned and operated by Orlando City SC and joining the National Women's Soccer League in 2016. They're sharing the Citrus Bowl with Orlando City, and will also move into Orlando City's new stadium.
  • UCF Knights. The teams representing the University of Central Florida—with the largest undergraduate enrollment of any single university campus in the country - compete in NCAA Division I sports, currently as members of the American Athletic Conference. UCF has heavily invested in athletics facilities in recent years, with the most notable example being the football team's home of Bright House Networks Stadium.

Downtown

  • Downtown Orlando Information Center, 201 S Orange Ave, ☎ +1 407-254-INFO (4636). Ste 102. Has two interactive kiosks and electronic message boards with information about local Downtown eateries, retailers, accommodations, special events, etc. M-F 9 AM–6 PM.

Despite the proximity of theme park haven Lake Buena Vista, the city has a lot to offer on its own. Downtown Orlando is a growing area centered around Orange Avenue that is packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as theaters and concert venues. The main strip on Orange Avenue is closed most nights because of the large volumes of pedestrians. Just a few blocks over is Lake Eola, a picturesque park situated around a swan-filled lake. In the middle of the lake is a lighted fountain that has been established as an icon of Orlando, and on one side of the lake stands the historic outdoor shell theater, where tourists and locals alike can see a version of the Nutcracker every December. Swan-shaped paddle boats are available for rental as well. Taking over for Church Street as the main nighttime hot spot is Wall Street. It is a small pedestrian-only alley off of Orange Avenue that houses several restaurants and bars. They also have frequent concerts on Wall Street, providing a stage for bands to play for everything from Cinco de Mayo to the Capital One Bowl and Citrus Bowl celebration weeks.

Golf

  • Bay Hill Club & Lodge, 9000 Bay Hill Blvd, ☎ +1 407 876-2429. Two courses: 18 holes, over 7,205 yards with a par of 72 (Private Non-Equity); 9 holes, over 3,409 yards with a par of 36 (Private Non-Equity).
  • Boggy Creek Golf Club, 3650 8th St, ☎ +1 407 857-0280. 9 holes, over 3,250 yards with a par of 36 (Public).
  • Country Club of Orlando, 1601 Country Club Dr, ☎ +1 407 425-2319. 18 holes, over 6,591 yards with a par of 72 (Private Equity).
  • Cypress Creek Country Club, 5353 Vineland Rd, ☎ +1 407 351-2187. 18 holes, over 7,014 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Dubsdread Golf Course, 549 West Par St, ☎ +1 407 246-2551. 18 holes, over 6,055 yards with a par of 72 (Municipal).
  • Eaglewood Golf Club, 5800 Pga Blvd, ☎ +1 407 351-5121. 18 holes, over 2,516 yards with a par of 58 (Public).
  • EastWood Golf Club, 13950 Golfway Blvd, ☎ +1 407 281-4653. 18 holes, over 7,176 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Fairways Country Club, 14205 E Colonial Dr, ☎ +1 407 282-7535. 18 holes, over 5,332 yards with a par of 70 (Public).
  • Faldo Golf Institute By Marriott, 12001 Avenida Verde, ☎ +1 888-463-2536. 9 holes, over 2,308 yards with a par of 32 (Public).
  • Ginn Reunion Golf Resort, 1000 Reunion Way, toll-free: +1-888-418-9611. Reunion. 54 holes, 3 championship golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson (Private).
  • Grand Cypress Resort, 1 N Jacaranda St, toll-free: +1-800-835-7377. Four courses: 18 holes over 6,773 yards with a par of 72 (Public); 9 holes over 3,462 yards with a par of 36 (Public); 9 holes over 3,521 yards with a par of 36 (Public); 9 holes over 3,434 yards with a par of 36 (Public).
  • Grande Pines Golf Club, 6351 International Golf Club Rd, toll-free: +1-800-371-1165. 18 holes, over 7,012 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Lake Nona Golf Club, 9801 Lake Nona Rd, ☎ +1 407 851-9091. 18 holes, over 7,011 yards with a par of 72 (Private Non-Equity).
  • Lake Orlando Golf Club, 4224 Club House Rd, ☎ +1 407 298-1230. 18 holes, over 6,803 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • MetroWest Golf Club, 2100 S Hiawassee Rd, ☎ +1 407 299-8800. 18 holes, over 7,051 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Orange Tree Golf Club, 7540 Woodgreen Dr, ☎ +1 407 351-2521. 18 holes, over 6,968 yards with a par of 71 (Private Non-Equity).
  • Rio Pinar Golf & Country Club, 8600 El Prado Ave, ☎ +1 407 277-5121. 18 holes, over 6,929 yards with a par of 72 (Private Equity).
  • Ritz Carlton Golf Club, 4048 Central Florida Pkwy, ☎ +1 407 393-4900. 18 holes, over 7,122 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Shingle Creek Golf Club, 9939 Universal Blvd, toll-free: +1-866-996-9933. 18 holes, over 7,213 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Stoneybrook Golf Club, 2900 Northampton Ave, ☎ +1 407 384-6888. 18 holes, over 6,820 yards with a par of 72 (Public).
  • Ventura Country Club, 3333 Woodgate Blvd, ☎ +1 407 277-2640. 18 holes, over 5,467 yards with a par of 70 (Public).

Tennis

  • Orlando Tennis Center, 649 W Livingston St, ☎ +1 407 246-2161.
  • Lake Cane Tennis Center, 5108 Turkey Lake Rd, ☎ +1 407 254-9170.
  • Fort Gatlin Recreation Complex, 2009 Lake Margaret Dr, ☎ +1 407 858-3290.

Venues

  • Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), 9860 Universal Blvd, ☎ +1 407 685-1061. With 2.1 million-square-feet of exhibition space, the OCCC serves as the area's convention and meeting center.
  • Universal Orlando Meetings & Events, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, toll-free: +1-888-266-2121. From 20 to 20,000 guests, a Universal event ensures that you will give your attendees something truly out of the ordinary.
✖

What to eat and drink in Orlando, FL


A wide variety of restaurants can be found in CityWalk at Universal Orlando, including Margaritaville, Hard Rock Cafe, Pastamore, NASCAR Cafe and much more. Much choice can also be found in Disney Springs, including Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and Wolfgang Puck Cafe. Texas de Brazil, is a Brazilian steakhouse in the heart of downtown, serving beef, chicken, lamb and pork in many preparations.

American

  • 310 Lakeside. Classic American cuisine overlooking Lake Eola.
  • A Land Remembered, 9939 Universal Blvd, ☎ +1 407 996-9939. A legendary Orlando steakhouse named after Patrick Smith's rich novel featuring Florida's historical moments and landscapes. Serving a variety of cuisine and accompanying wine list as succulent and filling as its namesake. Proudly serving Harris Ranch all Natural Prime Black Angus Beef, as well as menu items catering to all tastes.
  • Boston's Fish House, 6860 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, ☎ +1 407 678-2107. People drive from hours away to this charming family-owned restaurant that brings the fish and flavors of Boston to Orlando. Authentic New England Clam Chowder, Cod, steak tips and more. A hidden gem away from the hustle of all the theme parks, and worth the wait for a fresh meal made to order.
  • Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ, 3 locations. BBQ ribs, sandwiches and other smoked delights. Atmosphere has a home-style feel and plenty of pig companions.
  • Calypso Bar and Grill, 6300 Parc Corniche Dr. Great menu with a Key West-themed dining experience.
  • Everglades Restaurant, 9840 International Dr, ☎ +1 407 996-9840. A one-of-a-kind gourmet dining experience featuring unique regional specialties served in an enchanting setting dedicated to the Florida Everglades. Periodic Vine & Dine wine dinners featuring gourmet cuisine and fine wines.
  • Jack's Place, 9700 International Dr, ☎ +1 407 996-9700. Tantalizing gourmet menu featuring prime steaks and fresh seafood in a whimsical atmosphere featuring the world’s largest collection of autographed star caricatures.
  • Gabriel's Subs, 2840 Curry Ford Rd. Excellent hot veggie subs.
  • Hamburger Mary's. A gay-friendly burger joint with drag shows and drinks.
  • K Restaurant Wine Bar. Upscale American dining.
  • Le Coq Au Vin. A modern twist is given to classic French foods at this restaurant.
  • Kres Chophouse. An upscale steak house located downtown.
  • Luma on Park. American cuisine with an extensive wine list.
  • Norman's, 4000 Central Florida Pkwy (at Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes), ☎ +1 407 393-4333. Chef Norman Van Aken. 
  • Ponderosa. An American steakhouse with a wide and varied buffet, from sausages to muffins all day. Great for those with a sweet tooth.
  • Uncle Jones BBQ, 1370 E Altamonte Dr, Altamonte Springs. Serving great potatoes, along with lima beans, BBQ pork, cornbread, fried okra, and Texas toast.
  • Urban Flats. Flatbreads and wine are the centerpieces of this modern-casual restaurant and wine bar.

Peruvian

  • El Inka Grill Ceviche, 4106 Town Center Blvd, ☎ +1 407 730-7979. El Inka Grill serves Peruvian seafood and other Peruvian food. Ceviche is their signature dish.

Asian fare

  • Chan's Chinese Cuisine, 1901 E. Colonial Drive (On northeast corner of Colonial Dr. and Meridale Ave.), ☎ +407 896-0093. 11 AM - 9:30 PM every day. Offers authentic Chinese cuisine. Many dishes offered and they are very well presented. This restaurant is in an area with many East Asian restaurants and bakeries. Somewhat expensive.
  • Funky Monkey Wine Company. A restaurant featuring a variety of sushi and wine.
  • Garden Cafe, 810 W Colonial Dr. Fantastic vegetarian (mostly vegan) Chinese food.
  • Khasiyat Indian Cuisine, 852 W Lancaster Rd, ☎ +1 407 888-2147. Vegetarian/Indian cuisine.
  • Ming Court. Nightly oriental folk music performances compliment a wide selection of sushi, dim sum and more.
  • Mr. Wong's Family Taste Chinese Cuisine, 5076 W. Colonial Dr., ☎ +1 407-440-4609. Open lunch and dinner seven days a week. This restaurant is in the Chinatown shopping area on west Colonial Dr. It specializes in Chinese food. The sign reads in big red letters, "CHINESE CUISINE." Only when you see the menu is the whole name displayed. This is not a fancy place, but it serves excellent authentic Chinese food. The diner is given chopsticks, but silverware is readily available. A very clean place to eat. Reasonable pricing.
  • Tokyo Sushi & Grill, 8111 Vineland Ave., ☎ +1 407 465-1188. 11:30 AM-10:30 PM M-Sat; 12 noon to 10:30 PM Sun. Serves very good sushi and tempura. Offers other Asian dishes Moderate expense.
  • Sushi Tomi, 8463 S. John Young Pkwy. (In South Park Center), ☎ +1 407-352-8635. 11:30 AM-2 PM and 5:30-9 PM daily. Japanese sushi and other Japanese food. Excellent quality. Moderately priced.
  • Pho Saigon Vietnamese & Thai Cuisine, 5100 W. Colonial Dr (Several doors east of 1st Oriental Market), ☎ +1 407-253-7013. M-Th 9 AM-9 PM; Fr-Sun 9 AM-10 PM. Serves mainly Vietnamese cuisine. Most food of excellent quality. Inexpensive prices.

Latin inspired

  • Cala Bella (Creek Beautiful), 9939 Universal Blvd, ☎ +1 407 336-3393. Benvenuto! Cala Bella, Rosen Shingle Creek’s upscale Italian Restaurant features Italian classics, with Mediterranean and American inspiration, accompanied by a diverse list of top quality wines.
  • Cuba Libre. A Cuban restaurant that turns into a Latin dance club by night.
  • Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, 929 N Semoran Blvd. The best dishes are chili relleno and cheese enchilada.
  • Rolando's Cuban Restaurant, 870 Semoran Blvd, Casselberry. Serves excellent rice, yucca, eggplant, plantains, and guava.
  • Rossi's Pizza, 5919 S Orange Blossom Trl (corner of Oak Ridge & Orange Blossom Trl), ☎ +1 407 855-5755. Highly recommend the 12-inch thin-crust pepperoni pizza.
  • Stefano's Trattoria, 1425 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs (Red Bug and Tuskawilla), ☎ +1 407 659-0101. Small, family-run, quiet (but still delicious) Italian/Sicilian restaurant five minutes out of Orlando. A local gem! (Best advice on dishes: Ask Stefano to personally make a recommendation, he walks around the restaurant and will tell you exactly what you want to eat!).
  • Tony's Deli, 1323 N Mills Ave. Best dishes: fava bean salad, hummus and the baklava.
  • Vito's Chop House, 8633 International Dr, ☎ +1 407 354-2467. Great cooking and great wine. 

Turkish

  • Anatolia Orlando, 8 7600 Dr Phillips Blvd, ☎ +1 407 352-6766. 11 AM-10 PM. Turkish, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern Cuisine with affordable prices.

Drink

Orlando nightlife away from the theme parks is centered mostly around Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. Here you can walk and find many bars. A short walk away is the tiny Thornton Park District, located near the intersection of Washington and Summerlin. Among the dozens of cafes and pubs, you might stop in for a drink and a quick bite at Dexter's on Washington. For local flair head across the street to Burton's Frosty Mug, or sample the hip urban environment at the trendy HUE at the corner of Washington and Central.

Although most of the downtown Central avenue crowd is comprised of the "twentysomething" generation, for a more 30's and over entertainment experience, one can enjoy live jazz on many nights in the lounge of the Grand Bohemian Hotel located downtown on Orange Avenue. The jazz is excellent and the ambiance is quite comfortable, although drinks tend to be pretty pricey here.

Also, for a more professional crowd with a Latin twist, there is the Samba Room, located on Sand Lake Road, about 3/4 west of I-4. This is a lively restaurant and happy hour type of place. The look is chic and the locals and tourists alike gather here for quality food, beverage and people watching experience. You should ditch the shorts and flip-flops for a more casual chic look, but if you do you will be rewarded with a nice experience here. If you are traveling west on Sand Lake Road, after passing I-4, The Samba Room is on the left in a large shopping plaza. Latin food, music and mojitos are just some of the specialties here.

Across the street from the Samba Room, on Sand Lake Road, is the Old Vines wine bar, featuring live jazz usually from Thurs. through Saturday nights. The wine selection is extensive and the live jazz is some of the best in town. The jazz is performed in front of the room by the entrance. There is a divider that separates the more intimate rear portion of the establishment, which is the main dining area.

There are quite a few places to enjoy quality dining and drinks along Park Avenue in Winter Park, an adjacent suburb which is just northeast of Orlando. Winter Park is known for its many older grand homes that dominate the more historic sections of this suburb affectionately referred to by many as the center of Orlando's "old money." Park Avenue is an active pedestrian street featuring trendy shops, galleries, restaurants and nightspots. It has recently grown from becoming a one street attraction to more of a district, as several nearby streets have now added similar attractions.

Of particular interest and uniqueness on Park Avenue is the Wine Room, a converted bank featuring literally hundreds of wines available for self serve sampling. The mode of purchasing here is to pre-load a wine "credit card" supplied by the Wine Room. You are then at liberty to peruse the entire building and select any wine you wish to try, merely by inserting your "credit card." Each wine station automatically deducts the value of your current purchase and advises you of your card balance. Dress is very casual here and you are likely to meet both locals and visitors, all sampling and enjoying their vinos of choice throughout the night.

At the theme parks, CityWalk at Universal Studios. For a nominal admission fee, both sites offer numerous venues for libations and entertainment. If you're staying along International Drive, there are plenty of bars, pubs, and clubs.

  • Corona Cigar Company's Superstore & Cigar Bar, 7792 West Sand Lake Rd, ☎ +1 407 248-1212. If you're interested in cigars and all the different kinds of cigars, then this place is for you. The Corona Cigar Company allows its customers to sample different cigars. They also serve drinks.
  • Howl At The Moon, 8815 International Dr, ☎ +1 407 354-5999. Entertainers perform songs at request all night. A place where people can go to listen to music, dance, drink and have fun.
  • Orena Sports Bar, 6159 Westwood Blvd, ☎ +1 407 370-0303. Orena Sports Bar caters to both locals and tourists. The bar serves food and drinks. Visitors can go to eat, play games, watch sports games and more.
  • Velvet Bar at Hard Rock Hotel, 5800 Universal Blvd, ☎ +1 407 503-3463. Sit down, relax and listen to music. Velvet Bar also has live bands.
  • Blue Martini, 4200 Conroy Road Suite H246, ☎ +1 407 447-2583. Blue Martini is a very high-end martini bar. People can enjoy live entertainment at the bar.
  • Dave & Buster's Inc., 8986 International Dr, ☎ +1 407 541-3306. Dave & Buster's is family friendly. Kids and adults can enjoy a great meal and play a variety of games. There is also a bar for the adults where they can sit, order drinks, and watch a sports game.
✖

Shopping in Orlando, FL


Major malls

The Florida Mall — The largest mall in Orlando located at the crossroads of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road, about a mile north of the Orange Blossom Trail/Florida Turnpike/Beachline Expressway interchange. Home to over 200 shops including Macy's, American Girl Dillard's, JC Penney, and Sears. You can go an entire day in this mall and still not finish. Popular among international tourists wishing to stock up on cheap American goods, but of better quality than found at the many outlet malls/stores.

The Mall at Millenia — This is Orlando's most upscale and beautiful mall. Find everything from Tiffany's to Hugo Boss and Gucci. Also home to upscale department stores like Macy's, Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus. This also features Apple and Sony Style selling computers and related products. This mall is part of the very new and trendy Millenia area of Orlando. Conroy Road exit off of I-4 a few miles south of downtown.

Orlando Fashion Square &mdash, E Colonial Dr and Macguire Blvd, more than a mile NE of downtown.

Outlet malls

Orlando Premium Outlets - Vineland Ave — Home to the biggest designers such as Armani, Fendi, Burberry, Ferragamo, Lacoste, Coach. Also home to Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Polo, Nautica and many more. Located off of 535 and visible from I-4 closest to the Disney World area. This is the best mall to pick up bargains from all the name brands and designer wear.

Orlando Premium Outlets - International Drive (formerly Beltz/Prime Outlets) — Home to many designers such as Polo, DKNY, Nike, Reebok, and Liz Claiborne. The mall has completed a major renovation recently, resulting in a beautiful outdoor mall with a wide variety of stores.

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores — Select from over 300 designer and name brands such as Gap, Reebok, Carters and Eddie Bauer. Stores offer factory direct, quality merchandise at savings up to 75%. Off of SR-535 near International Dr and Disney.

Ethnic enclaves

Little Saigon, East Colonial Dr (around N Mills). Here you will find Vietnamese and Asian grocery stores, gift shops, and a few herbal healing stores, which stock items from China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, etc. Also home to many good inexpensive Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants.

Little India area — This area is a bit spread out. You will find many Indian stores in the South Orange Blossom Trail area on the main streets and side roads. Starting with Lancaster Road, which houses a video store and Indian restaurant, and then traveling south you will see a few Indian shops in clusters every mile all the way to 417 where you end at the local Indian movie theater

Little Brazil, the north end of International Dr. Several Brazilian restaurants, bakeries, stores, hairdressers, imports and exports shops. Some are hiding on the back of strip malls, some others are easy to find right up front flying the Brazilian flag.
✖

Safety in Orlando, FL


Like most cities in America, there are certain areas of Orlando which are more dangerous than others. Some areas travelers should be cautious of are:
  • Parramore District, area in downtown Orlando is a location where a lot of the area's homeless population congregates and crime rates are higher in this area.
  • Orange Blossom Trail, north of Sand Lake Road is known to be a bit of an unofficial red light district. Drug and prostitution-related crime is common here. Prostitution is not legal in Orlando, so you could spend a night in jail if you decide to indulge.
  • Pine Hills, located around Silver Star Road and Pine Hills Road west of John Young Parkway. This is a lower income area that has struggled with high crime rates. The Greyhound bus station is in Pine Hills and is a place to use caution.
While it is unlikely that any one individual would experience serious crime in these areas, tourists stand out in these areas, and can unwittingly do things that can make them targets for criminal behavior, so it is sensible to stay away.

While crime in the Orlando area is not particularly high, with the annual tourists far outnumbering the regional population (~2million), a substantial amount of local crime ends up being directed at tourists. The most common crimes are theft of items from cars and hotels, so following common sense travel precautions are particularly important in an area like Orlando.

Never leave valuable items in your car unattended, and get any purchased items to your hotel room as soon as possible. Consider utilizing the hotel room safe.
Never leave small children unattended for any length of time, especially at a pool. Most hotel pools do not have lifeguards.
Hotel room invasions do occur, especially open-air hotel and motel rooms when the victim leaves their hotel room unlocked and not dead-bolted. When you are in a hotel room, always lock your doors behind you, even if you expect someone in a minute or two.

While hurricanes attract most of the attention, the proximity to two coasts also brings frequent, and sometimes dangerous, thunderstorms. These occur nearly every day during the rainy season from mid-June through September. While some days it may only rain for 10 minutes, other thunderstorms can last for hours and it's not unheard of for one location to remain dry while another spot 10 miles away gets a couple of inches of rain on an afternoon. The summer thunderstorms are the main reason that Florida is the lightning capital of the western hemisphere. During these storms, it is best to remain indoors due to the danger posed by frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Golfers are especially vulnerable. A couple of dozen people are killed each year by lightning in Florida and many more spend much time receiving treatment for lightning strikes.

Pets are better off left with a friend or in a kennel. If you choose to bring your pet, note that most theme parks and hotels prohibit pets but may provide kennels for a fee. Most places to accommodate service animals, however. Also, note above about interior temperatures in parked cars.
✖

Language spoken in Orlando, FL


English is the official language of the state. However, Spanish is the native language of approximately 20% of Florida residents. In some parts of South Florida, Spanish is the preferred language in everyday activities. Miami is most notable, where nearly 80% of residents do not speak English as a native language and 30% do not speak any English. Tampa also has a sizable Spanish speaking population, and areas where it is almost exclusively spoken.

LOCAL TIME

7:19 am
August 3, 2021
America/New_York

CURRENT WEATHER

24.32 °C / 75.776 °F
moderate rain
Wed

23.61 °C/74 °F
light rain 		Thu

25.67 °C/78 °F
light rain 		Fri

28.11 °C/83 °F
light rain 		Sat

28.37 °C/83 °F
moderate rain

LOCAL CURRENCY

USD

Travelers recommend visiting the following places of interests



Universal Orlando, FL
Average: 10 (10 votes)

The Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando, is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. Universal Orlando is the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando after Walt Disney World. Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of...
Universal Studios Florida, Orlando
Average: 9.6 (10 votes)

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Opened on June 7, 1990, the park's theme is the entertainment industry, in particular movies and television. Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to "ride the movies", and it features numerous attractions and live shows. The park is one component of the larger...
Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
Average: 10 (10 votes)

The Walt Disney World Resort, known as Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake, Florida (mailing address is Lake Buena Vista, Florida), near Kissimmee and Orlando, and is the flagship resort of Disney's worldwide corporate enterprise. The resort opened on October 1, 1971, and is the most visited vacation resort...
SeaWorld Orlando, FL
Average: 9.5 (10 votes)

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park, located on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment. When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica, it forms SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando, an entertainment complex consisting of the three parks and many neighboring hotels....
Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.9 (10 votes)

Discovery Cove is an amusement park owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, located on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. It is a sister park of SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando. Guests can interact with a range of marine animals including bottlenose dolphins.   Dolphin swim Guests at Discovery Cove can “talk,...
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.4 (10 votes)

Disney's Animal Kingdom is the fourth of four theme parks built at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It was dedicated and opened to the public during Earth Day on April 22, 1998. It is the largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres (230 ha). The park is dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and...
Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.8 (10 votes)

Universal's Islands of Adventure (commonly known as Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Islands of Adventure) is a theme park in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The slogan for this theme park, along with...
Epcot, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.4 (11 votes)

Epcot is the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, near the city of Orlando. It opened as EPCOT Center (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow) on October 1, 1982, and spans 300 acres (120 ha), more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom park. It is dedicated to the celebration of human...
Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.7 (10 votes)

Magic Kingdom Park, commonly known as Magic Kingdom, is the first-built of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, its layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and is dedicated to fairy...
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Orlando, FL
Average: 9.2 (10 votes)

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is a water theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and is one of two operating water parks at the resort. It is the second water park to open at the resort after Disney's River Country, which closed in November 2001. The park, which opened on June 1, 1989, is home to one of the...
See all places of interests

Latest travel blogs about Orlando, FL



Top-10 attractions in Orlando, Florida by CruiseBe

Top-10 attractions in Orlando, Florida by CruiseBe


What is Orlando? This lively city situated in Central Florida is childhood, happiness, and amusement. There are so many exciting landmarks in Orlando. First of all, the port is popular for its theme parks. You can see it from the list of the TOP-10 attractions in Orlando, Florida by CruiseBe...

Let's continue our journey (Tour of the USA. From Orlando to the Western Caribbean. Freedom of the Seas. Grand Cayman and Cozumel). When our ship arrived, we went to Orlando. We ordered a transfer from a local company online. Some information about a debarkation: the ship moored around 6 am. There...
Let's continue our tour of the Orlando theme parks (Tour of the USA. From Orlando to the Western Caribbean. Part 1)! Here's some ball in the Tomorrowland. Something like carting. It is the stairs towards the railway station in the Magic Kingdom. In general, we dedicated the first...
I'd like to tell you about our tour of the USA. I've always dreamed of combining Orlando with a cruise to have enough time to visit the theme parks. Probably, Orlando has the greater number of parks per square kilometer than any other city in the US. :) Well, this city is the park, in...
During our stay in Florida, we stayed in the outskirts of  Orlando , a few miles away from  Disney World . I booked a house in the territory of a residential estate with 24-hour security. This was the administration building. There was a swimming pool (one of four)...
I want to show you how my family and I spent one day in the magical world of Disney, which is located not far from  Orlando in central Florida, USA. Once we decided to spend our Christmas and New Year's in Florida as we love warm places. And, of course, we wanted to show our children...
It was our second time visiting  Disneys' Magic Kingdom Theme Park . Other reviews can be found here: Disney's Magic Kingdom Theme Park. Orlando, Florida Fairy Magic Kingdom Of Disney World. P1 Fairy Magic Kingdom Of Disney World. P2 We arrived just in time to see the dance parade...
Read all articles