| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
In the beginning, Orlando may have been a sleepy little southern town filled with farmland as far as the eye could see, orange groves galore, and only two attractions to its name (a water-ski show and some great big gators). Then came the Mouse. More specifically, a mouse named Mickey and his creator, a man of fantastic imagination and vision named Walt Disney. Life in Orlando would never be the same. Since the opening of Walt Disney World back in 1971, Orlando has grown to become one of the world's top vacation destinations. Almost 49 million people from all parts of the world make their way to this city each year to sample its unending array of exciting, unique, and diverse activities. Those of us who continue to return year after year can count on each new visit to provide a host of new experiences and memories. When Disney World first opened its gates to the public, I doubt if anyone but Walt Disney, the original Imagineer, could have predicted what lay ahead. Disney, searching for an East Coast location for his second theme park, decided Orlando was just the place he was looking for. In 1964, in a covert operation that would have made James Bond proud, Walt Disney began quietly purchasing large quantities of land in and around the Orlando area, and within months he had acquired property nearly twice the size of Manhattan. In 1965, Walt announced to the public his plans to bring to Orlando the world's most spectacular theme park. Fashioned after Disneyland in Califor
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Florida's history stretches back to the 1500s. On Easter Day in 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon came ashore at what is now St. Augustine in the northeast corner of the state. What Ponce de Leon and the early settlers found in the Sunshine State—mosquitoes, swamps and native tribes with little interest in sharing the land—was sufficiently daunting to discourage the growth of other settlements. As so often happened in the Americas, the Seminoles who settled in Florida weren't thrilled with the bands of newcomers. In the early 1800s, the Seminoles fought two bitter wars to retain their land. When the second of those ended in 1842, Orlando's history began. Settlers followed soldiers into Central Florida, and a settlement grew around an old Army post known as Fort Gatlin, located at what is now Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. Originally named Jernigan after an early settler, Orlando changed its name in 1857 to honor soldier Orlando Reeves, who, while on sentinel duty at the fort, was felled in 1835 by an Indian arrow as he raced to warn of an oncoming raid. Orlando was born on July 21, 1875, population 85. In Orlando's early days, the three C's drove commerce in the city: cattle, cotton and citrus. As Cuban demand for Florida beef grew, cattle ranches spread across the flatlands, cattle rustlers fought gunfights in the streets, and little Orlando became a rough-and-tumble town. Soon, tired settlers turned to cotton, a considerably less threatening cro
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There Air Orlando International Airport ( MCO ) +1 407 825 2001 http://www.orlandoairports.net/ MCO is located 6 miles from downtown. Airlines at the airport include: ATA ( +1 800 435 9282 / http://www.ata.com/ ) Aeromexico ( +1 800 237 6639 / http://www.aeromexico.com/ ) Air Canada ( +1 800 776 3000 / http://www.Aircanada.com/ ) Air Jamaica ( +1 800 523 5585 / http://www.airjamaica.com/ ) British Airways ( +1 800 247 9297 / http://www.british-airways.com/ ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212 / http://www.delta.com/ ) Northwest ( +1 800 225 2525 / http://www.nwa.com/ ) Southwest ( +1 800 435 9792/ http://www.southwest.com/ ) United ( +1 800 241 6522 / http://www.ual.com/ ) U.S. Airways ( +1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usairways.com/ ). Virgin Atlantic ( +1 800 862 8621 / http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/ ). From the Airport Car Rental: Avis ( +1 800 230 4898 / http://www.avis.com/ ) Budget ( +1 800 527 0700 / https://rent.drivebudget.com/ ) Shuttles: Numerous other rental car companies have courtesy shuttles to take you to off site locations. Lynx ( +1 407 841 2279 / http://www.golynx.com/ ), buses 11, 41, 42, and 51 can be found on side A of the Main Terminal, commercial lanes 38-41. They operate daily from 5:30a-11:30p and depart every 30-60 minutes for downtown and International Drive. Rides, depending on traffic, last approximately 40 minutes to downtown and 60 minutes
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | If you're looking for amusement in Orlando, the fun doesn't stop at the parks. Orlando's nights are just as jam-packed as its days. Orlando definitely has something for everyone, from comedy clubs to a Texas two-steppin' rodeo bar with live bull riding, from Polynesian luaus to cartoon character dinners. Families can check out fireworks and parades, themed dining events and high-stepping Lippizaner stallions. Music-wise, local and national talent runs the gamut from rock 'n roll, disco and blues to jazz, country and DJ music. Nightlife For a virtual smorgasbord of entertainment, check out the Victorian-themed Church Street Station, spread out across several downtown blocks and centered around an old railroad track no longer in use. In its varying showrooms, Church Street features rock 'n roll, dancing and plenty of dining. A host of entertainment spots have grown up around the attraction and now line Church Street and Orange Avenue. Topping the list is Ybor's Martini Bar . For an laid-back International Drive diversion, Cricketers Arms features 15 imported beers and four hand-drawn ales, and is tucked into cobble-stoned streetscapes, amid 75 shops and restaurants. For fans of Irish beer: the Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub is just down the street on International Drive. There's still more to be found on International Drive: Pointe Orlando is an entertainment complex featuring an IMAX 3-D theater, a 21-screen movie complex, outdoor entertainment and 70 s
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