Orlando Information

Orlando is the third ranking US destination for overseas visitors, after Los Angeles and New York, which is all down to a certain mouse and his friends. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World and a host of other attractions pulls in over 40 million visitors per year.

Few people head to Orlando proper, instead choosing to stay at one of the many motels along Highway 192, fifteen miles south or International Drive, five miles southwest. Despite enormous expansion over the last decade, the town itself remains free of the commercialism that surrounds it.

Of course it is these theme parks that attract the majority of the tourists that visit Orlando. Walt Disney World is a city within itself. Apart from the four main parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Centre, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom) there are three water parks, a shopping district, 22 hotels, countless eateries, a police force, transport systems, medical centres, even dog kennels!
In its opening year in 1971 Disney World attracted over 10 million visitors. It now attracts well over 20 million visitors a year confirming it as one of the world's top tourist destinations. It's also the world's biggest amusement resort, covering an area twice the size of New York's Manhattan.

Sea World is a combination aquarium and amusement park. If you leaping dolphins, sliding sea lions and crashing whales is your thing then you'll love Sea World. highlights include the Kraken roller-coaster, dolphin nursery, Terrors of the Deep aquarium and the ever-popular otters.
Also home to one of the best animal rescue outfits in the country, the Sea World Animal Rescue Team rescue endangered manatees and restore them to health and is partially funded by gate admissions.

Universal Studios is a combination of working movie studio and theme park. Some of the trademark attractions include Terminator 2: 3D, a spectacular 3D experience where you get to be Arnie, the time traveling Back to the Future, with phenomenal special effects, Twister the Ride where you're pitted against a tornado and of course the famous Jaws, a suspenseful boat trip through shark infested waters to name but a few.

There's plenty to see away from the theme parks, the Kennedy Space Centre off the coast of central Florida is well worth a visit. The centre attracts over 2 million visitors a year and gives you the chance to see actual space craft in the Gallery of Space flight. It was established in 1958 when the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) started Project Mercury to compete with the Soviets' successful launch of Sputnik. The US started launching it's spaceships from Cape Canaveral, a stone's throw from the Kennedy Space Centre.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the popular tourist attractions, there's a selection of national parks and forests near and around Orlando. The Blue Spring State Park is one of the best places to see the endangered manatees in their natural habitat. There are campsites and cabins available in the park, but its a good idea to book in advance.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is situated on unused land around the Kennedy Space Centre. As NASA only uses around 5% of it's land, it handed over unused land to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1963. Manatees, turtles and alligators inhabit the range as well as birds migrating to and from South America.

The Ocala National Forest is a gigantic, old established Florida park with several natural springs and lakes, and fantastic hiking, canoeing, fishing and swimming. You can camp anywhere in the park. Three major spring areas make up the park: Juniper Springs (at the park's centre), Salt Springs (at the northern end) and Alexander Springs (to the southeast).