Orlando, FL, USA
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Orlando is the number one tourist destination in the world, largely because of the Walt Disney World resort complex. Since the opening of the Magic Kingdom in 1971, seven additional major theme parks have come to the area:
1. Walt Disney World - EPCOT Center
2. Walt Disney World - Disney MGM Studios
3. Walt Disney World - Disney's Animal Kingdom
4. Universal Studios Florida
5. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
6. Sea World
7. Busch Gardens - Tampa (I know, this isn't strictly in Orlando, but you wouldn't know that from the advertisements).
Each of these parks has its strengths and weaknesses. I would advise avoiding the Walt Disney World parks from between the end of May and the beginning of September because of the very large crowds (the best marketing in history was Walt Disney convincing people that Central Florida was a good place to visit in the summer), with the only possible exception being the World Showcase section of EPCOT. The best parks for thrill rides are Islands of Adventure (known as IOA to the locals) and Busch Gardens. The Disney parks still have the best themeing, but this has declined in recent years due to corporate cost-cutting. Universal Studios Florida is not as good as the original Hollywood location, but rides such as Men in Black: Alien Attack, Back to the Future, and Terminator 2: 3D are worthwhile.
Orlando has a lively nightlife, concentrated around four areas: Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island, Universal's CityWalk, International Drive, and Downtown Orlando/Church Street Station. The first three of these are mainly tourist destinations, and most of the locals avoid Church Street Station (although with the recent sale, this may change), preferring instead to visit the other Downtown clubs, such as Cairo and Zuma Beach. The band Blue Stone Circle, who plays most nights at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in CityWalk, has a large local following. The large gay/lesbian community in the area has resulted in several alternative clubs, most notably Parliament House and Southern Nights.
Most of the smaller attractions in Orlando are located in the International Drive cooridor, such as the Wet 'N' Wild water park, Wonderworks (a science-themed hands-on museum), and several dinner theaters.
Traffic during rush hour is as bad as in much larger cities, due to the failure of city planners to expand the main roads quickly and the failure of the rapid transit system to reduce the load. Accordingly, most visitors to the city should try to stay on the southwest side of downtown to avoid the traffic.
My number one recommendation to tourists would be to plan their day so that they enter a theme park first thing in the morning, leave shortly after lunch (since that is when the crowds are largest), then return in late afternoon (when the crowds have diminished), using the time in the middle for a nap so that the nighttime attractions can be properly enjoyed.
A far too common sight is that of the severely sunburned British tourist, so fair skinned tourists are hereby warned to use sunblock liberally and often, even if it is not very hot or seemingly partly cloudy.
1. Walt Disney World - EPCOT Center
2. Walt Disney World - Disney MGM Studios
3. Walt Disney World - Disney's Animal Kingdom
4. Universal Studios Florida
5. Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
6. Sea World
7. Busch Gardens - Tampa (I know, this isn't strictly in Orlando, but you wouldn't know that from the advertisements).
Each of these parks has its strengths and weaknesses. I would advise avoiding the Walt Disney World parks from between the end of May and the beginning of September because of the very large crowds (the best marketing in history was Walt Disney convincing people that Central Florida was a good place to visit in the summer), with the only possible exception being the World Showcase section of EPCOT. The best parks for thrill rides are Islands of Adventure (known as IOA to the locals) and Busch Gardens. The Disney parks still have the best themeing, but this has declined in recent years due to corporate cost-cutting. Universal Studios Florida is not as good as the original Hollywood location, but rides such as Men in Black: Alien Attack, Back to the Future, and Terminator 2: 3D are worthwhile.
Orlando has a lively nightlife, concentrated around four areas: Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island, Universal's CityWalk, International Drive, and Downtown Orlando/Church Street Station. The first three of these are mainly tourist destinations, and most of the locals avoid Church Street Station (although with the recent sale, this may change), preferring instead to visit the other Downtown clubs, such as Cairo and Zuma Beach. The band Blue Stone Circle, who plays most nights at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in CityWalk, has a large local following. The large gay/lesbian community in the area has resulted in several alternative clubs, most notably Parliament House and Southern Nights.
Most of the smaller attractions in Orlando are located in the International Drive cooridor, such as the Wet 'N' Wild water park, Wonderworks (a science-themed hands-on museum), and several dinner theaters.
Traffic during rush hour is as bad as in much larger cities, due to the failure of city planners to expand the main roads quickly and the failure of the rapid transit system to reduce the load. Accordingly, most visitors to the city should try to stay on the southwest side of downtown to avoid the traffic.
My number one recommendation to tourists would be to plan their day so that they enter a theme park first thing in the morning, leave shortly after lunch (since that is when the crowds are largest), then return in late afternoon (when the crowds have diminished), using the time in the middle for a nap so that the nighttime attractions can be properly enjoyed.
A far too common sight is that of the severely sunburned British tourist, so fair skinned tourists are hereby warned to use sunblock liberally and often, even if it is not very hot or seemingly partly cloudy.
