Copyright (c) 2008 Terry Hely
A little known citrus farming center called Orlando was paid a visit the 1960s by a gentleman called Walt Disney who started buying land on the outskirts of the town.
The remainder of that story is now history and by 1971, that land had become Walt Disney World. Today, Orlando has a resident population of approximately 200,000 people and visitor numbers swell that figure into the many millions.
Hear the words "Orlando, Florida" and your mind immediately conjures up images of entertainment theme parks, fairytale palaces, thrill rides and Disney characters loved the world over. The combination of the "big 3" Orlando entertainment parks of Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios have no equal anywhere else in the world.
Most of the major entertainment park attractions are located on the the outskirts of Orlando in the towns of Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee. These two towns have an incredible collection of accommodation and dining experiences together with shopping that caters to every possible taste, both inside and outside the entertainment parks.
The nearby towns of Winter Haven and Altamonte Springs offer a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Orlando and the parks. Their quiet rural charm and sedate pace provides a glimpse back to the time before the area became the home of the world's best known entertainment parks.
** Orlando Hotels And Resorts
Orlando has more beds to service the tourist industry than any other USA city except for Las Vegas. Orlando is the fifth most popular USA city for travelers visiting from overseas. It is not surprising that the accommodation industry represents a major portion of the Orlando economy and employs a high percentage of the local population.
Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Orlando accommodation and every taste is catered for in every price range. From themed luxury hotels, fantasy resorts, exclusive golf resorts, condominiums, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels to luxury villas, it's all available in and around Orlando.
The parks have several entrances which can be separated from each other by quite a distance, so selecting accommodation near the best gate for you can be an important consideration. Orlando accommodation is often named for proximity to a particular theme park (Universal) or a particular gate (main gate east etc)
** Orlando Transport
At least 35 airlines and just as many charter operators fly into Orlando International Airport with the bulk of these flights being Delta which accounts for around 25% of the flights that originate in approximately 160 different cities.
Other airlines serving Orlando are America West, American, Air Canada, British Airways, Continental, Northwest and US Airways. Details about airport shuttle services and city transport is available from the excellent Orlando Airport website.
Amtrak is the USA rail service and it operates services to and from New York and Los Angeles and all stops in between. Amtrak provides connections to many of the surrounding towns such as Kissimmee, Sebring, Winter Haven, Sanford and Ocala.
An excellent way for getting around the International Drive Resort precinct is the I Ride trolley service. The LYNX bus service covers the downtown Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding cities.
The main highway through Orlando is I4, running directly from downtown Orlando to the Disney area. If you plan on driving in Orlando, be prepared for traffic, especially at rush hour.
------
Terry Hely writes comprehensive destination guides as planning resources for holiday makers. For more about
Orlando vacations and the best options for
Orlando accommodation at his Go Florida website
