Orlando
There is plenty to choose from in Orlando if you're into arts and culture. From Orlando museums and events that showcase Orlando's rich heritage and diversity to Broadway production. All are a thriving part of the Orlando cultural scene.
Located 20 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando, in the suburb of Lake Buena Vista, Disney World is a city within a city.
Spread among its 43 square miles -- an area roughly the size of Boston -- are four main theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach), five golf courses, 25 Disney-owned hotels, several bodies of water, as well as a handful of non-Disney hotels and a more densely packed downtown-like commercial area called, appropriately, Downtown Disney.
All this is connected by a complex system of roads, four-lane highways, buses, water taxies, ferries, in addition to the famous (but not very extensive) monorail system.
As you might expect, most (but not all) the hotels in Disney World offer a full-immersion experience -- larger-than-life characters circulating at breakfast, "It's a Small World" playing in the background, theme-driven entertainment and décor, and all manner of family-focused amenities. Disney hotels tend to be somewhat more expensive than hotels with equivalent levels of luxury and amenities outside the park. But staying at a Disney property gets you a range of special perks and privileges, including extended hours at certain theme parks on certain days of the week and free transportation to and from the airport and around the Disney property.
There are fabulous shopping outlets all around Orlando with prices that are hard to believe. You will find many reasonable seafood and other food chains offering great value for money particularly for families.
There are many other fun parks, water attractions in Orlando. The weather here is great almost all year round.
There is plenty to choose from in Orlando if you're into arts and culture. From Orlando museums and events that showcase Orlando's rich heritage and diversity to Broadway production. All are a thriving part of the Orlando cultural scene.
Located 20 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando, in the suburb of Lake Buena Vista, Disney World is a city within a city.
Spread among its 43 square miles -- an area roughly the size of Boston -- are four main theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach), five golf courses, 25 Disney-owned hotels, several bodies of water, as well as a handful of non-Disney hotels and a more densely packed downtown-like commercial area called, appropriately, Downtown Disney.
All this is connected by a complex system of roads, four-lane highways, buses, water taxies, ferries, in addition to the famous (but not very extensive) monorail system.
As you might expect, most (but not all) the hotels in Disney World offer a full-immersion experience -- larger-than-life characters circulating at breakfast, "It's a Small World" playing in the background, theme-driven entertainment and décor, and all manner of family-focused amenities. Disney hotels tend to be somewhat more expensive than hotels with equivalent levels of luxury and amenities outside the park. But staying at a Disney property gets you a range of special perks and privileges, including extended hours at certain theme parks on certain days of the week and free transportation to and from the airport and around the Disney property.
There are fabulous shopping outlets all around Orlando with prices that are hard to believe. You will find many reasonable seafood and other food chains offering great value for money particularly for families.
There are many other fun parks, water attractions in Orlando. The weather here is great almost all year round.
When it comes to filling up your vacation itinerary, Orlando offers no shortage of things to do. Take advantage of experiences that are uniquely Orlando, like flying through a swamp on an airboat or getting up close with wildlife at Gatorland or SeaWorld's Discovery Cove. Sports lovers can cheer on the Magic NBA basketball team at the new Amway Center or take a ride on one of multiple zip-lines in the area. And the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down: check out a show at Cirque de Soleil, Blue Man Group or one of Orlando's many dinner theaters for an entertaining nightcap.