Get in
By air
Those traveling by air can enter via Orlando International Airport (), . 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 (TPA) to the southwest, and Melbourne International Airport (MLB) to the southeast.
Flights enter Orlando International Airport from all over the United States, but travelers coming from international destinations will likely have to fly into Miami or Atlanta before transferring onto a domestic airline.
By bus
Greyhound, 555 North John Young Parkway, . Visitors arriving by Greyhound can go south on SR 423 to Interstate 4 to get to the major Attractions.
Shuttle Services
Running from the airport to various points, including Kissimmee, theme parks, University of Central Florida, and the cruise port at Port Canaveral.
By train
Orlando has an Amtrak station that provides service to Miami or points north up to New York via the Silver Star and Silver Meteor lines. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Orlando served as the eastern terminus for the coast to coast Sunset Limited that provided service to Los Angeles via Jacksonville, New Orleans, and San Antonio. Due to extensive track & bridge damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Sunset Limited is not currently operating east of New Orleans and the timetable for repair is several years away.
In nearby Sanford, the southern Terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Orlando to the Washington, DC Metro Area.
Get around
By trolley
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 in tolls.
In Orlando, the main tourism area is International Drive, a strip of road that runs parallel to I-4 for about 10 miles.
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.
Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world and is known as capital of car rental companies, with all major car rental companies easily accessible from the airport. All major car rental companies are located inside the Orlando airport or nearby.
Car Rental Companies include:
By bus
Orlando's public transportation is the Lynx bus service. Approximately 60 routes serve the metro Orlando area and costs $1.50 per ride (transfers included) except for the Lymmo bus service as noted above. Check out Go Lynx for routes and fares.
Taxi
Taxi companies include:
See
Gardens & Parks
Do
Major Attractions
Orlando is one of the biggest tourist destinations because of the nearby theme parks and resorts. Close to International Drive is Universal Orlando, which includes two theme parks, three hotels and a large shopping district. SeaWorld Orlando is a marine theme park featuring Kraken, the biggest rollercoaster in the Orlando area, as well as Believe, the all-new Shamu adventure. About 40 minutes outside of Orlando is the well-known Walt Disney World. Comprised of four theme parks, two water parks, dozens of hotels, three shopping and dining districts, eight golf courses and much more, it is the largest privately managed tourist destination on the planet. Not far from Disney World lies the Alligator Capital of the World: Gatorland. Also, don't forget about water park Wet 'N Wild, located right on International Drive.
Minor Attractions
Downtown
Despite the proximity of theme park haven Lake Buena Vista, the City Beautiful has a lot to offer on its own. Downtown Orlando is a growing area centered around Orange Avenue that is packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as theatres and concert venues. The main strip on Orange Ave. is closed most nights because of the large volumes of pedestrians. But just a few blocks over is Lake Eola, a picturesque park situated around a swan-filled lake. In the middle of the lake is a lighted fountain that has been established as an icon of Orlando, and on one side of the lake stands the historic outdoor shell theatre, where tourists and locals alike can see a version of the Nutcracker every year in December. Swan-shaped paddle boats are available for rental as well. Taking over for Church St. as the main night time hot spot is Wall St. It is a small pedestrian only alley off of Orange Ave. that houses several restaurants and bars. They also have frequent concerts on Wall St. as they set up staging for bands to play for everything from Cinco de Mayo to the Capital One Bowl celebration week.
Buy
Major malls
Florida Mall - The biggest mall in Orlando located at the crossroads of Orange Blossom Trail and Sandlake Road. Home to hundreds of shops and anchored by Saks 5th Avenue, Macys, Dillards, Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, JC Penney and Sears. You can go an entire day in this mall and still not finish.
Mall at Millenia - This is Orlando's most upscale and beautiful mall. Find everything from Tiffany's to Hugo Boss and Gucci. Also home to upscale department stores like Macy's, Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus. This mall is part of the very new and trendy Millenia area of Orlando. Located conveniently on the Conroy Road exit off of I-4 a few miles south of Downtown.
Altamonte Mall - Located in the northern suburb of Altamonte Springs.
Fashion Square Mall - Located on east Colonial Drive just north of downtown.
West Oaks Mall - Located on West Colonial Drive in the western suburbs of Ocoee and Winter Garden
Oviedo Marketplace - Located in the eastern suburb of Oviedo
Outlet malls
Orlando Premium Outlets - Home to the biggest designers such as Armani, Fendi, Burberry, Ferragamo, Lacoste, Coach. Also home to Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Polo, Nautica and many more. Located off of 535 and visible from I-4 closest to the Disney World area. This is the best mall to pick up bargains from all the name brands and designer wear.
Prime Outlets (formerly Bellz) - Home to many designers such as Polo, DKNY, Nike, Reebok, and Liz Claiborne. The mall is currently undergoing major renovation but the outside centers are still open and have the above stores.
Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlets - Select from over 300 designer and name brands such as Gap, Reebok, Carters and Eddie Bauer. Stores offer factory direct, quality merchandise at savings up to 75%. Located off of SR 535 near International Drive and Disney.
Ethnic enclaves
Little Saigon - Located on Colonial Drive just east of downtown. Here you will find about 100 stores that stock items from
China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, etc. Also home to many Asian restaurants. The shops will mainly consist of Asian grocery stores and gift shops and a few herbal healing stores.
Little India area - This area is a bit spread out. You will find many Indian stores in the South Orange Blossom Trail area on the main streets and side roads. Starting with Lancaster Road, which houses a video store and Indian restaurant, and then traveling south you will see a few Indian shops in clusters every mile all the way to 417 where you end at the local Indian movie theatre.
Eat
Splurge
Drink
Orlando Nightlife away from the theme parks is centered mostly around Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. Here you can walk and find many bars and several dance clubs from the chic urban Rhythm and Flow to the Mulvaney's Irish Pub. A short walk away is the tiny Thornton Park District, located near/around the intersection of Washington and Summerlin. Among the dozens of cafés 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, or sample the hip urban environment at the trendy HUE at the corner of Washington and Central.
At the theme parks, there is Pleasure Island at Disney World and the CityWalk at Universal Studios. For a nominal admission fee, both sites offer numerous venues for libations and entertainment. If you're staying along International Drive, there are plenty of bars, pubs, and clubs.
Sleep
With a hotel around virtually every corner (actually 4 or 5 around every corner) it seems impossible to throw a rock and not hit a hotel. There are hotels to meet every traveller's need, whether it be a hostel or a 5-star resort, although many visiting families often prefer to rent a their own private villa as they usually provide much more personal space and have their own private facilities. Many villas are located conveniently for the local attractions and often provide extremely good value for money, becoming increasingly popular with business as well as vacation visitors.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Vacation Rental Homes
Privately owned vacation rental homes or "villas" are also very popular especially with families and larger groups, usually offering significantly more space than hotel rooms, and often at a much cheaper price.
Contact
Stay safe
Typical rules of tourism common sense apply. Hotel room invasions do occur, 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.
Pets are better off left with a friend or in a kennel. If you choose to bring your pet, note that most theme parks and hotels prohibit pets. DO NOT LOCK YOUR PET IN YOUR CAR! Due to the high temperatures in the area, it is extremely dangerous and is forbidden by law in Florida.
Cope
Get out
The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. According to the 2000 census, the city population was 185,951. A 2006 U.S. Census population count gave the city population as 224,223 , making it the sixth largest city in Florida. It is also the principal city of Greater Orlando. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA is Florida's third-largest metropolitan area, behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, which is the second largest university in Florida.
The city is best known for the many tourist attractions in the area, in particular the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located in Lake Buena Vista about 20 miles south of Orlando city limits via Interstate 4. Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort. The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando is the second largest city in the country for number of hotel rooms and one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions, with the Orange County Convention Center the country's second largest in square footage. It is also known for its wide array of golf courses, with numerous courses available for any level of golfer. Despite being far from the main tourist attractions, downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers. Talks are currently underway to build a new performing arts center, Orlando Arena, and a refurbishment of the Florida Citrus Bowl. Its symbol is the fountain of Lake Eola. The current mayor is Buddy Dyer.
History
Some historians date Orlando's name to around 1836 when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area, during the war against the Seminole Indian tribe. It seems, however, that Orlando Reeves (sometimes Rees) operated a sugar mill and plantation about 30 miles (50 km) to the north at Spring Garden in Volusia County, and pioneer settlers simply found his name carved into a tree and assumed it was a marker for his grave site. They then referred to the area as "Orlando's grave" and later simply "Orlando."
During the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Army established an outpost at Fort Gatlin, a few miles south of the modern downtown, in 1838. But it was quickly abandoned when the war came to an end.
Prior to being known as its current name, Orlando was known as Jernigan, after the first permanent settler, cattleman Aaron Jernigan, who acquired land along Lake Holden by the terms of the Armed Occupation Act of 1842. But most pioneers did not arrive until after the Third Seminole War in the 1850s. Most of the early residents made their living by cattle ranching.
Orlando remained a rural backwater during the American Civil War, and suffered greatly during the Federal Blockade. The Reconstruction Era brought a population explosion, which led to the city's incorporation in 1875.
The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's "Gilded Era," when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. But a great freeze in 1894-1895 forced many owners to give up their independent groves, thus consolidating holdings in the hands of a few "citrus barons" which shifted operations south, primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County.
There are a couple of notable homesteaders in the area. First is the Curry family. On their property in east Orlando there was the Econlockhatchee River and every time it had to be crossed the settlers would "ford the river". This leads its name to one of Orlando's roads, Curry Ford Rd. Also, just south of the airport in the Boggy Creek area was 150 acres of property homesteaded in the late 1800s by the Ward family. This property is still owned by the Ward family and can be seen from flights out of MCO southbound immediately on the south side of SR-417.
Orlando, as Florida's largest inland city, became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish-American War and World War I. The city was also host to several sanitariums, which serves as the basis for its hospitals today.
In the 1920s Orlando experienced a large housing boom. Land prices soared. During this period several neighborhoods in downtown were constructed leaving behind many bungalows. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 20s and by the depression.
During World War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Pine Castle AAF. Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families. In 1956 the aerospace/defense company Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) established a plant in Orlando. Pine Castle AAF was transferred to the United States Air Force, and in 1958 it was renamed McCoy Air Force Base after Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy.
Orlando is close enough to Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Kennedy Space Center for residents to commute to work from the city's suburbs. It also allows easy access to Port Canaveral, an important cruise ship terminal. Because of its proximity to the "Space Coast" near the Kennedy Space Center, many high-tech companies have shifted to the Orlando area.
Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World. Although Disney had considered the cities of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate in those cities was the threat of hurricanes. The famous vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy and Orlando is consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, now boasting more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.
Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1970, when the new Orlando International Airport was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base. Four airlines began providing scheduled flights in 1970. The military base officially closed in 1974, and most of it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO). It is considered a world-class facility, and it is one of the most heavily traveled airports in the world.
In addition to McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando also had a naval presence with the establishment of the Orlando Naval Training Center in 1968. Providing training to recruits as well as being a base for selected post basic training programs, the base had a prominent presence in the area. In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered that the base be closed. The base continued in a diminished capacity until the base closed for good with the last graduates of the base's Naval Nuclear Power School leaving in December of 1998. The former base has been developed into tracts for upscale housing called Baldwin Park.
The SunTrust Center, the tallest building in Orlando at 441 ft. (134 m), was built in 1988. The next tallest buildings are the Orange County Courthouse (1997, 416 ft./127 m), the Bank of America Center (Formerly Barnett Plaza, 1988, 409 ft./123 m), Solaire at the Plaza (2006, 359 ft./109 m) and the Orlando International Airport ATC Tower (2002, 346 ft./105 m). The VUE at Lake Eola, currently under construction, will become the second-tallest building in Orlando upon completion at 426 ft. (130 m) tall, but with 35 stories it will have more stories than the SunTrust Center. (
The SeaWorld SkyTower, at 400 ft. (122 m) tall, is the tallest tower in Orange County that's not in Orlando proper. There are also several tall transmission towers in Orange County, the tallest of which is the WFTV transmission tower in Christmas at 1,617 ft. (491.6 m) tall.
In the hurricane season of 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne battered the Orlando area, causing widespread damage and flooding and impeding tourism to the area.
Topography
Orlando is located at (28.533513, -81.375789).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (100.9 mi²). 242.2 km² (93.5 mi²) of it is land and 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it (7.39%) is water. Orlando is, on average, 106 feet above sea level.
Climate
Orlando has a warm and humid subtropical climate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from May until October (roughly coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season). The other is a cooler season (November through March) that brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall. The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation and its position relatively close to the Tropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of the Gulf Stream.
During the height of Orlando's very humid summer season, temperatures rarely fall below 70 °F (21 °C), and daytime highs average in the 90s (32-37 °C). Although the city rarely records temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C), extreme humidity often pushes the heat index to over 110 °F (43 °C). The city's highest recorded temperature is 102 °F (39 °C), set in 1998. During these months, strong afternoon thunderstorms occur almost daily. These storms are caused by air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean colliding over Central Florida, and they often bring high wind, damaging hail, heavy rainfall (sometimes several inches per hour), and violent lightning. The humidity also prevents temperatures from varying much from day to day.
During the winter season, humidity is lower and temperatures are more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. Average lows in January are around 50 °F (10 °C), and the highs average near 72 °F (22 °C). Temperatures rarely reach below 32 °F (0 °C), though the city does drop below freezing once or twice a year. Because the winter season is dry and most freezing temperatures occur after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, Orlando experiences no real snowfall. Although no measurable amount of snow has ever fallen (though areas just west recorded up to 2" in 1977), trace amounts were officially observed on December 23, 1989, and trace flurries of ocean effect snow were also reported in nearby coastal Brevard County on January 24, 2003.
The average annual rainfall in Orlando is 50.1 in. (128 cm), most of it occurring in the period from June to September. The months of December through May are Orlando's driest season. During this period (especially in its later months), there is often a wildfire hazard. During some years, fires have been severe. In 1998, an El Niño condition caused an usually wet January and February, followed by drought throughout the spring and early summer, causing a record wildfire season that created Greater Orlando's first instances of unhealthy air quality alerts.
Orlando has a considerable hurricane risk, although it is not as high as it is in South Florida's urban corridor or other coastal regions. Since the city is located 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Atlantic and 60 miles (97 km) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes usually weaken before arriving. Storm surges are not a concern since the region is 100 ft (30 m) above sea level. Despite its relatively safe location, the city does see strong hurricanes. During the notorious 2004 hurricane season, Orlando was hit by three hurricanes that caused significant damage, with Hurricane Charley the worst of these. The city also experienced widespread damage during Hurricane Donna in 1960.
NOTE: The record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded at Orlando International Airport, and is available from AccuWeather.com. (historical data from July is only visible in July and August unless you buy into their premium services) WeatherBase only uses historical data recorded at Orlando Executive Airport. Both airports have official National Weather Service recording stations.
Cityscape
Neighborhoods
The city of Orlando has many neighborhoods in the city limits, some of which are:
Education
Public primary and secondary education is handled by Orange County Public Schools. Some of the larger private schools include Trinity Preparatory School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Bishop Moore High School, New School of Orlando, Orlando Christian Academy, and Forest Lake Academy.
Area institutions of higher education
Infrastructure
Airports
Orlando is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport is used for charter flights and General Aviation.
Roads
Its major freeway is Interstate 4, which crosses Florida's Turnpike southwest of Downtown Orlando. It is also served by the toll roads of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, particularly the East-West Expressway (SR 408), which crosses I-4 downtown, and Florida State Road 417, which serves east Orlando.
The East West Expressway (SR 408) is undergoing major construction with the addition of lanes, concrete barrier walls, sound walls, and a better scenic view. This project began in 2005 and is not yet complete.
Because of the massive, unchecked urban sprawl in the area and outdated and unplanned transit infrastructure including lack of any efficient public transport, traffic congestion is a growing concern. Fundamentally, the lack of east-west mobility in the area creates severe traffic issues every weekday and the lack of any free-to-travel (toll-less) freeways other than Interstate 4 (I-4). It is commonplace to encounter traffic jams on I-4, even late at night or on weekends.
Rail
The Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX Transportation's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line), and some spurs, mostly operated by the Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line. See also :Image:Orlando area railroads.png|a map of these railroads. In 2005 Federal and state funding was granted for the establishment of the Central Florida Commuter Rail service to operate on the CSX A line tracks between Deltona and Poinciana, passing through the downtown area and surrounding urban neighborhoods along the way. The service is expected to substantially reduce traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor, especially between downtown Orlando and the suburban communities in Seminole and Volusia Counties. The Federal and state funds would cover approximately 80% of the estimated $400 million cost for track modifications and construction of stations along the route. Pending approval by the county governments (Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola) involved and the set aside of matching funds, the line is projected to begin operations in 2009.
The following major railroad stations have existed in Orlando:
Buses
Orlando is served by LYNX, offering local transit service which covers the five-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole-Lake-Volusia).
Additionally Greyhound Lines offers intercity bus service from Orlando to multiple locations across the country.
Light rail
Several attempts have been made to bring a light rail system to Orlando, but each one has met with failure due to a perceived lack of public interest and various conflicts over a potential route. Walt Disney World officials have been particularly adamant that a light rail line run from Orlando International Airport to the resort, drawing opposition from other vacation destinations who fear loss of business. Some local residents also oppose the idea of funding a system they believe to be only for the benefit of out-of-town tourists. This is in addition to the statewide debate over high speed rail, the various plans of which all center around Orlando.
Another attempted route was a rail going between Tampa, Orlando, and Miami.
Many residents who have lived in Orlando for many years believe that a light rail system should be added to the cities growing economy to help cure the metropolitan area's difficult traffic problems. However several residents who move to the Central Florida area from other communities (specifically larger metropolitan cities) find it too industrializing for the city whose "quiet charm" would like to remain established. This creates a conflict between new residents and those who have been born and raised in the Orlando metropolitan area and other Central Florida cities.
Commuter rail
A commuter rail system, Central Florida Commuter Rail, is in active planning with a planned opening in 2009 along current CSX lines between DeLand and Poinciana, going through Downtown Orlando with stations at the LYNX Central Station and Church Street Station.
Sister cities
Orlando has eleven sister cities:
Seine-et-Marne, Anahiem, and Urayasu are connected to Orlando as homes of other Disney theme parks (Disneyland Resort Paris, Disneyland Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland, respectively).
Foreign Consulates
Due to its importance as a major international tourist destination and a large foreign population, many foreign governments have opened up consulates in Orlando:
See also
External links
