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Orlando, Florida, for most people conjures up
the image of theme parks, mainly Disney, but it has a lot more
to offer than that. In fact, Disney is not technically in Orlando.
Make sure that you don't miss Downtown Orlando and charming
Winter Park.
By
air
Those travelling by air can enter via Orlando International
Airport (MCO). Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)
is located north of the city in Sanford, and mainly caters
to charter flights from Europe as well as regional carriers.
Other International air options are Daytona Beach International
Airport (DAB) to the northeast, Tampa International Airport
(TAM) to the southwest, and Melbourne International Airport
(MLB) to the southeast.
By
car
Most in the Western and the Midwest United States would
enter by Florida's Turnpike via Interstate 75. Prepare
to pay a total of $3.25 in tolls if you get off at Interstate
4. Those going to Disney World from the Turnpike can use
US 27 as a shortcut to US 192 and only pay $1.25 in tolls
on the Turnpike.
Those arriving by sea at Port Canaveral can take SR 528,
the Bee Line Expressway.
Most in the Eastern United States would enter by Interstate
4 via Interstate 95.
From Miami, visitors would take Florida's Turnpike. From
Fort Myers, visitors would take Interstate 4 via Interstate
75.
By
bus
Orlando has a Greyhound bus station to the west of Downtown
on SR 423, John Young Parkway. Visitors arriving by Greyhound
can go south on SR 423 to Interstate 4 to get to the major
Attractions.
By
train
Orlando has an Amtrak station, and serves as the eastern
terminal for the Sunset Limited, which goes north to Jacksonville
before turning west to Los Angeles. It also is a stop
for the Silver Star, which runs from Miami to New York
City.
Sanford is the southern Terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train,
which carries people and automobiles between there and
Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link
from Greater Orlando to the (Washington) DC Metro Area.
Get
around
By trolley
International Drive has the I-Ride system where you pay
a flat fee to travel from one stop to another. There are
49 stops along the length of International Drive, and
the fare is $0.75 per ride. Per-day and multi-day bus
passes are available from many locations. For a complete
list of pass sales locations, click
here.
The free Lymmo system operates in a circuit in Downtown
Orlando, from City Hall to the Centroplex and back.
By car
The car is still king in Orlando, and it is a very easy
and convenient (if not congested) way to get to your destination.
The roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all the
major areas signposted, but traffic jams around downtown
are common in the afternoons, and around the tourists
areas on Saturday nights.
If you arrive by air via Orlando International Airport
and get a rental car, go to the North Exit and head to
SR 528 West to get to International Drive, Universal Orlando
and SeaWorld. This will require $0.75 in tolls. A short-cut
to Walt Disney World is the South Exit to SR 417 South,
following it to Exit 5, and taking SR 536 straight into
Disney. This requires $2.00 in tolls.
In Orlando, the main area tourism area is International
Drive, a strip of road that runs parallel to Interstate
4 for about 10 miles. All the tourist areas are close
to I-4.
To get to the Space Coast beaches, such as Cocoa Beach,
as well as the cruise terminals of Port Canaveral, use
SR 528, the Bee Line Expressway (recently renamed to the
Beach Line), which is I-4 Exit 72.
By
bus
Orlando is also served by the Lynx bus company and it
seems to be quite comprehensive. Check out http://www.golynx.com
for details.
See
Orlando Museum of Art
Menello Museum of Folk Art
Morse Museum in Winter Park
Lake Eola Fountain
Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Theater at Loch Haven Park
- Permanent Home of the Orlando Shakespeare Festival
Mayor Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre - Home of
the Orlando Broadway Series and various other good
travelling shows..
Do
Orlando is primarily one of the biggest tourist destinations
because of the theme parks and resorts in the area. Nearest
to International Drive is Universal Orlando,
which includes two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping
district. SeaWorld Orlando is a singular
theme park with the biggest rollercoaster in the Orlando
area, and is popular with people fascinated with marine
life. A twenty minute drive out of Orlando brings us to
Walt Disney World, the reason Orlando
is so famous as it is. Comprising of four theme parks,
two water parks, dozens of hotels, three shopping and
dining districts, eight golf courses and much much more,
it is the largest privately managed tourist destination
on the planet.
Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista
Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom
Epcot
Disney-MGM Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Water Parks
Disney's Blizzard Beach
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Shopping Districts
Downtown Disney West Side
Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
Downtown Disney Marketplace
Recreation
Golf courses
Nature treks
Fishing excursions
Bicycle riding
Petting zoos at most hotels
Universal Orlando, International Drive
Theme Parks
Universal Studios Orlando
Universal's Islands of Adventure
Shopping Districts
CityWalk Orlando
Shopping
In recent years Orlando has come into its own as a world
class shopping destination. In addition to the factory
outlet shopping that is prominent is the Disney area,
Orlando is also home to the upscale Mall at Millenia which
includes Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales among many expensive
art galleries and stores. If you want to drop a half million
dollars or more on art, stop by the Millenia Gallery.
Not to be missed are the boutique shops on Park Avenue
in Winter Park and the quirky artsy stores on Ivanhoe
Blvd. near downtown. Also, the huge Florida Mall will
expose you to many of the shopping choices that the USA
has to offer. As is the case with most of the USA it has
lots of opportunity for shopping, normally at cheap factory
outlet prices. Belz Factory Outlet World and Orlando Premium
Outlets are your best bets for factory outlet shopping.
They are on the North and South ends of International
Drive, respectively.
The resort areas have excellent shopping if you are looking
for something unique or a good souvenir. Downtown Disney
is a large area containing not only many Disney-themed
stores, but also many unique shops. Basin is especially
notable in that it has a huge collection of unique and
interesting bath and body products like shampoo bars and
loofah soap. Citywalk at Universal is also a very fun
atmosphere that is always packed with people. They dont
have as many stores, but it is still worth visiting.
International Drive has all the tourist traps you would
imagine, from every kind of eatery anyone could ever require
to gift shops selling very gaudy goods.
Fairvilla Megastore, 1740 North Orange Blossom
Trail (1 mile North of Hwy 50/Colonial Drive), Ph:
(407) 425-6005, [1]. Intimate apparel, exotic fashions, sensual accessories,
romantic gifts, playful novelties, passionate books
and tantalizing movies! Monday-Saturday 9AM-2AM &
Sunday 10AM-2AM.
Eat
Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road is probably
the largest collection in the region of outstanding dining
options. Try:
The Samba Room
Moonfish
Morton’s of Chicago Location: Dr. Phillips
Market Place, 7600 Dr. Phillips Boulevard. Tel: 407-248-3485.
Reputedly the best steak house in Orlando! A five
star restaurant. Morton’s is expensive and dinner
reservations are a good idea. Romantic lighting and
Sinatra in the background. http://www.mortons.com/website/index.html
Season's 52
Roy's
At Universal CityWalk, Emeril's offers
expensive but outstanding meals. They also have Jimmy
Buffett's Margaritaville, a NASCAR Cafe and
a Hard Rock Cafe (in addition to a Hard Rock
Hotel).
International Drive carries some excellent dining as
well, including Bahama Breeze and Cafe Tu
Tu Tango.
An excellent local barbecue place that is off the beaten
path is Bubbalou's Bodacious BBQ'. The nearest
to International Drive is north about 2 miles on SR
435, Kirkman Road, on the corner of it and Conroy-Windermere
Road.
One of the most imaginative dining venues is the Gaylord
Palms Resort. This resort features a "biosphere"
-- 4.5-acres of soaring glass-covered atriums, all themed
to the Sunshine State (including free animal exhibits,
like alligators!) The resort features the popular Sunset
Sam's Fish Camp, set inside a 65-foot sailboat (sailing
in an indoor lagoon), Old Hickory Steakhouse,
and the very popular Villa de Flora buffet (named
"Best Sunday Brunch" several years in a row!) Features
free valet parking for diners. http://www.gaylordpalms.com/
The House of Blues, Planet Hollywood,
Wolfgang Puck Cafe and Coco Bongo are
at Downtown Disney West Side, by the AMC Pleasure
Island 24 Theatre. There is also a Rainforest
Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Drink
Nightlife in the "real" Orlando is centered
mostly around Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in downtown
Orlando. Here you can walk and find something for everyone
from the chic urban Rhythm and Flow to the Mulvaney's
Irish Pub. Downtown Orlando is vibrant and fun, with many
bars and several dance clubs.
A short walk away is the tiny Thornton Park District,
located near/around 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, just be warned that the person next to you at the
bar may have been occupying the same seat for over 20
years. Sample the hip urban environment at the trendy
HUE at the corner of Washington and Central.
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Sleep
Top choice for lodging is the art-filled Westin Grand
Bohemian, however it is rather far from the attractions.
There are many excellent resort-style hotels. Orlando
has more hotel rooms than any other City except Las Vegas.
Try to avoid the tourist trap hotels on portions of Internatinal
Drive and U.S. 192 in Kissimmee. Both have nice hotels
as well... do your homework.
Here are a few options:
Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn,14500 Continental Gateway ,Orlando, FL
32821. In addition to the Nickelodeon colors and themes,
the hotel has added over $25 million in amenities
and features: Two amazing pool complexes with waterpark
features like slides, flumes and wet/dry play areas;
The Lagoon and The Oasis pools are completed and offering
live Nickelodeon entertainment pool side.
Omni
Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate ,
1500 Masters Blvd. Orlando/ChampionsGate. Phone: (888)
444-OMNI (6664). The hotel is located within minutes
of Walt Disney World, Sea World and a myriad of water
parks and other attractions. ChampionsGate Golf Course
has been honorably mentioned in Golf Magazine's "10
Most Distinctive Places to Play".
DoubleTree Guest Suites Orlando Hotel in the
Walt Disney World Resort 2305 Hotel Plaza Boulevard.
(407) 934-1000. Within the Walt Disney World Resort®.
Orlando Airport is 15 miles away and within minutes
of Disney Marketplace, Pleasure Island, and Disney's
West Side. http://dtsuites-orlando.felcor.com/
Embassy Suites North Orlando Hotel 225 East
Altamonte Drive. (407) 834-2400. 19 miles from Orlando
Airport and six miles from downtown Orlando - close
to the business district, shopping and the many local
attractions, and there is a complimentary shuttle
within a five-mile radius. http://esorlando-north.felcor.com/
Embassy Suites Orlando Hotel & Convention
Center on International Drive 8978 International
Drive. (407) 352-1400. 244 Two-Room Suites, ten miles
from Orlando Airport MCO, and just minutes from Walt
Disney World®, Sea World and Universal Studios. http://esorlando-international-drive.felcor.com/
Holiday Inn Nikki Bird Orlando Hotel 7300
West US 192. (407) 396-7300. One mile from Disney's
Main Gate and 15 miles from Orlando. Magic Kingdom
Park, Epcot and Walt Disney World are all within one
mile. http://hinikkibird.felcor.com/
Holiday Inn International Drive Orlando Hotel
6515 International Drive. (407) 351-3500. A 13-acre
playground just steps away from great restaurants
and shopping. Sea World, Universal Orlando, and Wet
'N Wild are just a short ride away along International
Drive. http://hiorlando-internationaldrive.felcor.com/
Holiday Inn Select Orlando Hotel at the Orlando
Airport MCO 5750 TG Lee Boulevard. (407) 851-6400.
Just outside the exit of Orlando Airport and 8 miles
from downtown - well placed for many of the major
Florida attractions, including Disney World. http://hisorlando-airport.felcor.com/
Gaylord Palms Resort & Spa, located five
minutes from Walt Disney World, 6000 W Osceola Parkway.
(407)586-0000. This amazing resort includes a 4.5-acre
glass-covered atrium that celebrates the entire state
of Florida. Features restaurants, La Petite Academy
Kids Station, Canyon Ranch SpaClub, shops and live
animal displays. You have to visit this hotel to believe
it!
Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in the WALT DISNEY
WORLD® Resort 1900 Buena Vista Drive. (407) 827-2727.
Within the world-renowned Walt Disney World® Resort,
and is an Official Hotel in the Downtown Disney Resort
area. http://palace-resort.wyndham-hotels.com/
Wyndham Palms Resort, Hotel & Country Club
7900 Palms Parkway. (407) 396-1311. An easy drive
from the Orlando International Airport and just minutes
from Orlando's major attractions - including Walt
Disney World®, Magic Kingdom®, Epcot® Center, MGM
Studios®, SeaWorld® and Universal Orlando®. http://palms-resort.wyndham-hotels.com/
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors
Bureau 8723 International Drive. (800) 972-3304.
The official sales and marketing organization for
the Orlando and Orange County area. http://www.orlandoinfo.com/
Stay
Safe
Typical rules of tourism common sense apply. Hotel room
invasions are fairly common, especially open-air hotel
and motel rooms when the victim leaves their hotel room
unlocked and undeadbolted. When you are in a hotel room,
lock your doors behind you.
Never leave valuable items in your car unattended; get
any purchased items to your hotel room as soon as possible.
Also, do not leave small children unattended for any length
of time, especially at a pool. Most hotel pools do not
have lifeguards.
Get
Out
Parents sometimes feel guilty separating from their children
on a family vacation. But with facilities like La Petite
Academy Kids Station (407-586-0000) your kids won't notice
your absence. Leave the kids for an hour or two while
mom and dad have a dinner or enjoy a spa treatment! (Facility
on the grounds of the Gaylord Palms Resort)
This
entry is from www.wikitravel.org,
the leading user-contributed travel guide. See
full License. See Wikitravel for specific authors.
