Destinations
Orlando
Overview of Orlando
The most famous resident of this central Florida city is Mickey Mouse, the cartoon creation of animated movie tycoon, Walt Disney, whose vision has turned Orlando, and the adjacent Lake Buena Vista and Kissimee areas, into the world's busiest, biggest and best-known concentrated tourist Mecca. Disney bought up land in the area with the aim of establishing his dream theme park back in the 1960s. He died before the first park, the Magic Kingdom, officially opened in 1971, but his legacy has taken root and is still growing. Currently the Disney empire in Orlando includes four theme parks, dozens of smaller attractions, thousands of hotel rooms and holiday apartments, hundreds of restaurants and snack bars and even two cruise ships. It is not only the Disney dazzle that draws visitors to Orlando. There are other attractions here too, like Universal Studios and Sea World, all adding to the maelstrom of thrills and pleasure palaces that this city is now renowned for. Just a trip down attraction-rich International Drive is a mind-boggling experience.
The home of Mickey Mouse, it goes without saying that Orlando is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the United States for families travelling with kids. With plenty of sunshine and boasting such attractions as Sea World, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando is a children's playground and very often tops the list of places kids would most like to visit.
Universal Studios is great for older kids too as there are plenty of thrilling blockbuster-themed rides to enjoy as well as games and other interactive activities to enjoy, while the 'littlies' can enjoy a Fieval's playground, Woody Woodpeckers Nuthouse Coaster and a 'Day in the Park with Barney' a live stage production for little ones to sing along to their favourite songs. Kids will also love a visit to Gatorland, a theme park and wildlife preserve that is nicknamed 'the Alligator Capital of the World', where thousands of crocodiles and alligators can be viewed from a boardwalk suspended above the marshy swamps below.
Take the little ones to Water Mania or Wet 'n Wild to cool off in the hot Floridian sun, take them on a historic and educational tour of the Kennedy Space Centre, spend the day hiking and picnicking in the Turkey Lake Park, check out what's happening round Lake Eola or simply let the kids run around in the nearby playground while you take a breather.
With all these options and more, kids will have a fabulous time on holiday in Orlando, but parents should note that during the spring and summer months the main tourist attractions and theme parks are heaving with visitors and a better time to visit Orlando may be during the slightly cooler months of autumn or winter.
The ocean-front metropolitan area in central east Florida stretching 23 miles (37km) along white sand beaches south from Ormond Beach is known as Daytona Beach, America's favourite family beach holiday destination. Greater Daytona encompasses the towns of Holly Hill, South Daytona, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, Daytona Beach Shores and all of Volusia and Flagler Counties, all of which are dedicated to making the area an unequalled vacationers paradise. Without moving from the sands at Daytona Beach you can surf, jet ski, go boating, parasailing, feast on hot dogs and cotton candy, go fishing, bicycling, fly a kite and even take a drive in a hired beach buggy. Daytona's hard-packed sands have provided fun for speedsters ever since the early years of the 20th century when daredevils like Sir Malcolm Campbell set and broke records on the beach. Today beach-cruising is still permitted along an 18-mile (29km) section of the beach during daylight, but the speed limit is a strict 10 miles per hour (16km/h): speeding is reserved for the world-famous Daytona International Speedway where the annual Daytona 500 Nascar race is held. With so much to do on the beach, it is difficult to find time to move off it, but those who do are greeted with numerous recreational facilities and attractions in the string of towns along the intracoastal waterway and on the mainland. From archaeological sites to mini-golf, museums to haunted houses, and planetariums to chocolate factories there is never a dull moment in Daytona Beach. Best of all, Daytona Beach is within easy day-trip distance of Orlando with its thrilling Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and Epcot Center, to name only a few of the city's world-famous attractions. Also just an hour's drive away is the Kennedy Space Center. Little wonder that this versatile vacation hub receives an estimated eight million visitors a year.
Centre of Florida's 'Space Coast' around Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach has become one of the Sunshine State's prime holiday resorts, boasting the top attraction of the Kennedy Space Center and close proximity to Orlando's major theme park attractions 46 miles (74km) away. Sited on a six-mile (10km) long barrier island, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River Lagoon, Cocoa Beach offers the chance to watch a space launch from the beach or ride the waves on which several surfing champions have cut their teeth. The town of Cocoa Beach has a large permanent population made up largely of retirees, but this more than doubles during peak season when the local hotels, motels, timeshares and condominium rentals are filled with holidaymakers and sightseers. The quintessential beach town, Cocoa Beach has an oceanfront running the entire length of its city limits, fronted by numerous dining spots, shops and cafes. There is also an historic pier, stretching 840ft (256m) into the ocean, lined with restaurants, boutiques and souvenir shops and providing for good fishing. A few minutes away is man-made Port Canaveral, port of call for numerous cruise liners, where there are also operators offering day sails, casino cruises and deep-sea fishing charters. Cocoa Beach is connected to Port Canaveral and various stops in-between by the Beach Trolley service.
Map
Hidden Gems
Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux
3022 Corrine Drive,Orlando, FL 32803 ph: 407 427 1440 café Offers a wide selection of organic, vegetarian and low-fat menu items. It has trendy atmosphere and close ties to the cycling community. |
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
8625 International DriveOrlando, Florida 32819 ph: 407-248-2222 café Offers exotic dishes from around the world in small, appetizer-sized portions. The walls of Café Tu Tu Tango are covered with original paintings by local artists. |
Infusion Tea
1600 Edgewater DrOrlando, FL 32804 ph: 407 999-5255 café Infusion Tea is an urban tea house and a vegetarian cafe located on Edgewater Drive, Orlando. |
Java Lave Coffee Shop
47 East Robinson StreetOrlando, FL 32801-1661 ph: (407) 770-1888 café Java Lava Coffee Shop offers unique hot and cold coffee drinks, breakfast, and gourmet lunch at the restaurant. |
Roys Restaurant
7760 West Sand Lake RoadOrlando, FL 32819 ph: (407) 352-4844 restaurant Roy's restaurant offers a unique Hawaiian fine dining experience with a lively atmosphere and excellent service. |
Getting around Orlando
Anyone staying at a Disney resort or official Disney hotel need have no qualms about getting around the Orlando magic kingdom. An unlimited free transportation network runs throughout, with buses, monorails, ferries and water taxis connecting all the parks and attractions before, during and for a couple of hours after opening hours. The I-Ride Trolley operates exclusively in the busy International Drive resort area; the fare is $1 per ride, and various passes are available. Those wishing to take a break from the world of Disney and travel elsewhere are advised to hire a car, particularly as during peak holiday seasons, buses are likely to be crowded. Mears Transportation runs a bus service covering all Orlando's surrounding attractions, even as far away as Busch Gardens in Tampa. Taxis queue for passengers in front of most of the resorts in the area; they can also be ordered by telephone. Fares tend to be high, however.
Travel Info
Airports
Orlando International Airport
Location: The airport is situated nine miles (11km) southeast of Orlando.
Transfer Terminals:
City Transfer: Public transport facilities are to be found on the Ground Transportation Concourse on Level 1 of Terminal 1. Lynx buses numbers 11, 41, 42 and 51 depart every 30 minutes, between 5.30am and 11.30pm, for downtown Orlando, the trip taking about 40 minutes and costing $1.50. Many hotels provide free shuttles for guests. Taxis are available on Level 1 on both the A and B sides of the Main Terminal, and may carry up to 9 passengers with metered rates.
Facilities: Passenger services at the airport include ATMs, currency exchange, information centres, Internet kiosks and postal services. There are a wide variety of bars, restaurants and shops, including duty free. The Kennedy Space Center, Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World all have their own branded shops. Facilities for the disabled are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance.
Parking: There are three parking lots adjacent to the main terminals, and three more further away. It is generally quicker to park in the off-site lots and take the free shuttle bus to the terminals, as the parking lots nearby the terminals are often full. There is also a cell phone parking lot.
Activities
Walt Disney World
Orlando's most familiar landmark is undoubtedly the turreted Cinderella Castle that stands in the centre of the original Disney Florida theme park, the Magic Kingdom, at Lake Buena Vista. The park was opened in 1971 and has been making childhood fantasies come true ever since. Today it is just one of four Disney parks that cover more than 28,000 acres of Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida, with accompanying resorts, shopping complexes, hotels and waterparks. Apart from the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Orlando now includes Epcot, a futuristic showcase of the world's different cultures and traditions; MGM Studios, a working animation and television studio; and Animal Kingdom, where a huge variety of animals are kept in themed surroundings along with a cast of Disney characters.
Opening: Open daily, generally from 9am, but park hours vary according to the month and day. It is best to check their website for up-to-date information
Admission: Admission to any one park: $87.33 (adults), $78.81 (children 3-9). Park Hopper tickets can be added to the price for $40 for access to all parks. Various other packages and combination tickets are also available
Universal Studios
Experienced theme parkers recommend that it takes at least two days to fully appreciate all the delights on offer at the Universal Orlando entertainment complex, which includes two theme parks: the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The movie-themed park with its thrilling, innovative fun-rides, production studios and film sets also has three superb luxury on-site hotels so spending a night is a good idea. At Universal Studios visitors are invited to go behind the scenes and become involved in the movie action, while Islands of Adventure offers thrilling rides, shows and attractions from five different islands.
Opening: Daily from 9am, but closing hours vary according to the month, closing earlier in winter
Admission: Single-day access to each park is $82 (adults) and $74 (children 3-9). Multi-day and multi-park combination tickets are also available.
Wet 'n Wild
One of Orlando's numerous water parks, Wet 'n Wild has the distinction of being the most popular water attraction in the area and also the world's first amusement park devoted solely to water flumes, pools and slides. The park was designed by George Millay, creative genius behind the Sea World parks in San Diego and Orlando, and has been operating since 1977. Thrilling rides like The Storm, The Surge and The Bubba Tub are there to be enjoyed, along with numerous other attractions and facilities.
Opening: Open daily year-round, but hours vary according to the season. Generally the park opens between 9am and 10am and closes between 5pm and 7pm, with longer hours during June and July
Admission: $47.95 plus 6.5% sales tax (adults), $41.95 plus 6.5% sales tax (children 3-9). Other concessions apply, and passes are available. Half-price admission is available on most afternoons
Orlando Odditorium
Housed in an odd-looking building that is tipped to one side and apparently sinking into the ground, the Orlando Odditorium contains a remarkable collection of weird and wonderful exhibits, amassed over a period of 40 years by explorer Robert Ripley. Examples of the exhibits are shrunken heads and a scale model of a Rolls Royce made entirely of matchsticks. Ripley's 'Believe it or Not' collection is world-renowned and has been documented in television series and best-selling books.
Opening: Open daily from 9am to 12am (midnight)
Admission: $18.99 plus tax (adults), $11.99 plus tax (children 4-12). Tickets are cheaper if bought on-line
Discovery Cove
In recent years, Discovery Cove has supplanted its sister park Seaworld as the premier marine theme park in the state of Florida. What makes the experience of visiting Discovery Cove so unique, is the level of interaction that it offers: guests can swim with bottlenose dolphins, snorkel alongside a coral reef teeming with exotic fish, and hand-feed tropical birds in a free-flight aviary. Potential visitors should not baulk at the hefty price-tag involved: the "all-inclusive package" certainly is full, and includes breakfast, freshly-prepared lunch, and unlimited snacks, drinks and select alcoholic beverages; as well as a free ticket to Seaworld Orlando, Aquatica, or Busch Gardens in Tampa. Discovery Cove consistently earns rave reviews, and visitors are sure not to be disappointed.
Opening: Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm
Admission: All-inclusive packages start at $199. Packages must be booked in advance, on the official website
Walt Disney World
Orlando's most familiar landmark is undoubtedly the turreted Cinderella Castle that stands in the centre of the original Disney Florida theme park, the Magic Kingdom, at Lake Buena Vista. The park was opened in 1971 and has been making childhood fantasies come true ever since. Today it is just one of four Disney parks that cover more than 28,000 acres of Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida, with accompanying resorts, shopping complexes, hotels and waterparks. Apart from the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Orlando now includes Epcot, a futuristic showcase of the world's different cultures and traditions; MGM Studios, a working animation and television studio; and Animal Kingdom, where a huge variety of animals are kept in themed surroundings along with a cast of Disney characters.
Opening: Open daily, generally from 9am, but park hours vary according to the month and day. It is best to check their website for up-to-date information
Admission: Admission to any one park: $87.33 (adults), $78.81 (children 3-9). Park Hopper tickets can be added to the price for $40 for access to all parks. Various other packages and combination tickets are also available
Sea World
Spread out between the Disney parks at Lake Buena Vista and the downtown Orlando area is the renowned Sea World attraction, which has been making a major splash in central Florida for more than a quarter of a century. The park, owned and operated by Annheuser-Busch, is designed to give an interactive look at the sea and all its facets, featuring themed animal habitats from tidal pools to iceberg lakes. In addition visitors can hug a dolphin or kiss a killer whale, and watch the famous aquatic Sea World stars go through their paces in various shows. The park also features fun rides like the very popular water roller coaster thrill ride called Journey to Atlantis. Neighbouring Discovery Cove (part of the Sea World group) offers visitors a chance to swim with dolphins, view wildlife, sunbathe on gorgeous beaches and snorkel amongst the coral.
Opening: Open daily from 9am, but closing hours vary according to the month, closing earlier in winter
Admission: $79.95 (adults), $71.95(children). Packages and combination tickets are available
Universal Studios
Experienced theme parkers recommend that it takes at least two days to fully appreciate all the delights on offer at the Universal Orlando entertainment complex, which includes two theme parks: the Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The movie-themed park with its thrilling, innovative fun-rides, production studios and film sets also has three superb luxury on-site hotels so spending a night is a good idea. At Universal Studios visitors are invited to go behind the scenes and become involved in the movie action, while Islands of Adventure offers thrilling rides, shows and attractions from five different islands.
Opening: Daily from 9am, but closing hours vary according to the month, closing earlier in winter
Admission: Single-day access to each park is $82 (adults) and $74 (children 3-9). Multi-day and multi-park combination tickets are also available.
Wet 'n Wild
One of Orlando's numerous water parks, Wet 'n Wild has the distinction of being the most popular water attraction in the area and also the world's first amusement park devoted solely to water flumes, pools and slides. The park was designed by George Millay, creative genius behind the Sea World parks in San Diego and Orlando, and has been operating since 1977. Thrilling rides like The Storm, The Surge and The Bubba Tub are there to be enjoyed, along with numerous other attractions and facilities.
Opening: Open daily year-round, but hours vary according to the season. Generally the park opens between 9am and 10am and closes between 5pm and 7pm, with longer hours during June and July
Admission: $47.95 plus 6.5% sales tax (adults), $41.95 plus 6.5% sales tax (children 3-9). Other concessions apply, and passes are available. Half-price admission is available on most afternoons
Orlando Odditorium
Housed in an odd-looking building that is tipped to one side and apparently sinking into the ground, the Orlando Odditorium contains a remarkable collection of weird and wonderful exhibits, amassed over a period of 40 years by explorer Robert Ripley. Examples of the exhibits are shrunken heads and a scale model of a Rolls Royce made entirely of matchsticks. Ripley's 'Believe it or Not' collection is world-renowned and has been documented in television series and best-selling books.
Opening: Open daily from 9am to 12am (midnight)
Admission: $18.99 plus tax (adults), $11.99 plus tax (children 4-12). Tickets are cheaper if bought on-line
Orlando Museum of Art
In true Florida style, Orlando's Museum of Art is not just another gallery but a fascinating world of creative themed exhibitions showcasing its permanent collections of American Art, Art of the Ancient Americas and African Art. The Museum also has an active programme of visiting exhibitions on display in the elegant building with its marble floors and glass ceiling. Group tours are made memorable and educational with commentary about art appreciation and the lives of the various artists represented.
Opening: Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. Closed on Mondays and major holidays
Admission: $8 (adults), $5 (children 4-17). Other concessions are available
Kennedy Space Centre
The John F. Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, 46 miles (74km) southeast of Orlando on Florida's east coast, is one place in this fantasyland state where fact is just as entertaining as fancy. Visitors to the centre follow the story of NASA's exploration of space through interactive exhibits, movies and tours. Guests can tour a full-size replica of the space shuttle 'Explorer'; walk through a giant model of a module from the new International Space Station; view films about Mars and the Pathfinder exploration; view historic authentic rockets, like that piloted by pioneer astronaut, John Glenn; and marvel at the Apollo/Saturn Centre, which houses all the artefacts from the historic moon landing. The Space Centre requires several hours to digest, and on the same site is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, established on the land NASA did not require for its space operations. The 220-square-mile (570 sq km) refuge contains more endangered species than any other wildlife refuge in the US, including the southern bald eagle and Atlantic loggerhead turtle. The US Astronaut Hall of Fame, in the nearby town of Titusville, is another of the area's attractions.
Opening: Daily from 9am to 6pm, with two-hour shuttle-bus tours departing regularly between 10am and 2.45pm. The Astronaut Hall of Fame closes at 7pm
Admission: General admission: $41 (adults), $31 (children 3-11). Astronaut Hall of Fame only: $20 (adult), $16 (children 3-11). Other options are available
Fantasy of Flight
Midway between Tampa and Orlando, about 20 minutes drive west of Walt Disney World, the Fantasy of Flight resort is billed as the world's greatest aircraft collection. The attraction began as a vision of aviation enthusiast and historian, Kermit Weeks, as a tribute to the pioneers of flight, and today it features many rare and vintage aircraft, which actually take to the skies. Visitors are treated to an 'Aircraft of the Day' flypast, as well as the chance to fly themselves in a simulator. The site also offers tours of the aircraft collection in hangars, a sight and sound presentation detailing the history of aviation, a tour of the 'back lot' where vintage aircraft are restored, and an Exploration Centre.
Opening: Daily from 10am to 5pm; closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Admission: $28.95 (adults), $14.95 (children 6-15). Other concessions are available
Discovery Cove
In recent years, Discovery Cove has supplanted its sister park Seaworld as the premier marine theme park in the state of Florida. What makes the experience of visiting Discovery Cove so unique, is the level of interaction that it offers: guests can swim with bottlenose dolphins, snorkel alongside a coral reef teeming with exotic fish, and hand-feed tropical birds in a free-flight aviary. Potential visitors should not baulk at the hefty price-tag involved: the "all-inclusive package" certainly is full, and includes breakfast, freshly-prepared lunch, and unlimited snacks, drinks and select alcoholic beverages; as well as a free ticket to Seaworld Orlando, Aquatica, or Busch Gardens in Tampa. Discovery Cove consistently earns rave reviews, and visitors are sure not to be disappointed.
Opening: Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm
Admission: All-inclusive packages start at $199. Packages must be booked in advance, on the official website
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Travel guide content from www.wordtravels.com, copyright © Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Specialist Holidays Group Ireland can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
