Orlando, Florida — Where to Go
Orlando Sightseeing Overview
Just about everything in Orlando starts with Walt Disney World Resort. Almost a city in its own right, this 111-sq-km (43-sq-mile) resort wonderland boasts four theme parks and a host of other attractions. You can easily spend a week or more exploring the four parks, and while most of it is firmly family orientated, there is plenty to amuse and entertain adults.
Outside Disney, the International Drive area is the other main draw. Both SeaWorld Orlando (which has its flagship main park, an exclusive Caribbean-themed hands-on dolphin park, and a brand new water park) and the Universal Orlando Resort (which consists of two theme parks and a dining/shopping/entertainment district) are located here, along with a raft of smaller-scale attractions like Wet ‘n Wild water park, Skull Kingdom haunted house, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum and a host of good restaurants and shops.
Just to the south is Kissimmee, which adds more attractions and some more natural diversions, like airboat rides, horse riding, tremendous mini golf, fishing and hiking.
Orlando Tourist Information
Orlando/OrangeCountyConvention&VisitorBureau(CVB)
Suite 100, 6700 Forum Drive
Tel: (407) 363 5872.
Website: www.orlandoinfo.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
The CVB also has an Official Visitor Center, open seven days a week, offering attraction tickets, maps, hotel offers and other discounts.
Visitor Center
Suite 101, 8723 International Drive
Tel: (407) 363 5872.
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1830.
Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau
1925 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee
Tel: (407) 944 2400.
Website: www.floridakiss.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700 (except major holidays).
Orlando Sightseeing
The Orlando/Orange County CVB offers the free Magicard, with discounts for many of the attractions, restaurants, sports and shops. Download and print online or apply online for home delivery (USA only).
Orlando Sightseeing
The Orlando/Orange County CVB offers the free Magicard, with discounts for many of the attractions, restaurants, sports and shops. Download and print online or apply online for home delivery (USA only).
Key Attractions in Orlando, Florida
WaltDisneyWorldResort
This vast resort combines four superb theme parks (including the essential Magic Kingdom), two water parks, a sports complex, a downtown district of shops, restaurants and nightlife, golf courses, water sports, tennis, spas and over 30 hotels on site, 20 of them themed and Disney owned.
Lake Buena Vista
Tel: (407) 824 4321.
Website: www.disneyworld.com
Universal Orlando Resort
Another resort development (although only a 10th the size of Disney), Universal offers two more theme parks, three resort hotels and their CityWalk nightlife and shopping district. It also owns the nearby Wet ‘n Wild water park. A Harry Potter-themed area is due to open in late 2009.
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Tel: (407) 363 8000.
Website: www.universalorlando.com
SeaWorld Orlando
The marine life park is hugely popular in Orlando with its mix of dolphin and whale shows, aquariums and other animal habitats, rides and other live entertainment. Opened in 2008, Aquatica is SeaWorld’s entry in the growing list of Orlando swimming-oriented water parks, this one boasting live fish and marine mammals.
7007 SeaWorld Drive
Tel: (407) 351 3600.
Website: www.seaworld.com/orlando
Discovery Cove
An exclusive swim-with-dolphins park next door to SeaWorld, this is available to just 1,000 guests daily and features realistic marine environments and other animal encounters as well as a laid-back high-class resort style.
6000 Discovery Cove Way
Tel: (407) 370 1280.
Website: www.discoverycove.com
Kennedy Space Center
Just a 50-minute drive east of Orlando, the home of NASA offers daily bus tours of the space center, static and hands-on exhibits, astronaut encounters and giant-screen film shows. The newest attraction, the Shuttle Launch Experience, simulates the sights, sounds and sensations of a launch.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, State Road 405
Tel: (321) 449 4444.
Website: www.kennedyspacecenter.com
Further Distractions
FantasyofFlight
An aviation-themed museum with a difference, this one-off attraction just south of Kissimmee offers a clever ‘immersion experience’ into the history of flight, with flight simulators, an extensive vintage aircraft collection and fascinating behind-the-scenes tours. Stay for lunch or dinner at their lovely Compass Rose 1930s vintage diner.
1400 Broadway Boulevard SE, Polk City
Tel: (863) 984 3500.
Website: www.fantasyofflight.com
Boggy Creek Airboats
For a journey out into the real Florida, head to one of Boggy Creek’s two locations in Kissimmee for their half-hour airboat ride around one of the local lakes, taking in the alligators and other animal life of the area. Better still, try their one-hour night tour when they go out to find ’gators in the dark - and their eyes glow red!
3702 Big Bass Road, Kissimmee
Tel: (407) 304 9550.
Website: www.bcairboats.com
