Orlando - Orlando

Orlando downtown
Orlando
StateFlorida
Residents
280.257 (2017)
no tourist info on Wikidata: Add tourist information
location
Florida location map in the USA
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Orlando

Orlando is a city in Central Florida.

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Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

The city is part of and namesake of the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Areawhich spans Orange County, Seminole County, and Osceola County. Most important tourism factor in the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area are the gigantic amusement parks in the southwest, some of them (Universal and SeaWorld) still in the city of Orlando, others (Disney World) already in the neighboring city Lake Buena Vista lie.

getting there

By plane

The airport Orlando International Airport (IATA code MCO), about 10 km southeast of Downtown Orlando, is one of the busiest airports in the USA with numerous national and international connections. There are non-stop flights of the Lufthansa from Frankfurt am Main.

Since most travelers travel on in a rental car or are picked up by a hotel shuttle, public transport connections are underdeveloped. There is a city bus to various destinations in Downtown Orlando and Disney World, as well as taxis and commercial shuttles. There is an overview here.

A rail connection is under construction and should go into operation in 2020 [outdated] .

By train

See also: Rail travel in the USAThe long-distance trains Silver Meteor and Silver Star each run to Orlando once a day on their journey from New York (Penn. Stn) via Philadelphia (30th St. Stn), Washington DC (Union Stn), Savannah on their journey to Tampa and Miami, respectively.

The station is about two km south of Downtown Orlando (1400 Sligh Blvd) and has the standard of a German suburban station (platform roofing, ticket office, toilet).

By bus

In the street

By boat

mobility

Orlando map

Tourist Attractions

Theme and amusement parks

Walt Disney World

Orlando is main attraction Walt Disney World. The most visited tourist attraction in the world (52.5 million visitors annually). The 10,117 hectare facility, which is 20 minutes southwest of downtown, includes 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, several theaters, 24 theme hotels and the shopping and nightlife complex Downtown Disney.
Big Thunder Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
  • 1  Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom in the travel guide Wikivoyage in a different languageMagic Kingdom in the Wikipedia encyclopediaMagic Kingdom in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsMagic Kingdom (Q1324340) in the Wikidata database.The oldest park in the complex (opened in 1971). The park is designed for families with younger children and is teeming with well-known Disney themes. Among other things, the famous Cinderella Castle can be seen here, a replica from the cartoon from 1950. The park comprises 6 areas: Main Street USA, Adventureland (motifs from Disney adventure films), Frontierland (wild west motifs), Liberty Square (motifs from American history), Fantasyland (themes from classic Disney cartoons) and Tomorrowland (science fiction themes). The fireworks ("Wishes Firework") held every evening in the park are considered the best attraction in the entire Disney World complex. (Wikipedia).Price: Day ticket $ 95 (children 3-9 years $ 89).
  • 2  EPCOT. EPCOT in the travel guide Wikivoyage in a different languageEPCOT in the Wikipedia encyclopediaEPCOT in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsEPCOT (Q1052042) in the Wikidata databaseEPCOT on Instagram.Amusement park with scientific and technical topics. The EPCOT Park (short for: "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow"), which opened in 1982, is twice the size of the Magic Kingdom. In the park there is a show combining fireworks, lasers, water, fire and light every evening IllumiNations: Reflection of Earth presented, which is considered to be among the best in town. (Wikipedia).Price: Day ticket $ 90 (children 3-9 years $ 84).
  • 3  Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the travel guide Wikivoyage in a different languageDisney’s Hollywood Studios in the Wikipedia encyclopediaDisney’s Hollywood Studios in the Wikimedia Commons media directoryDisney’s Hollywood Studios (Q1345090) in the Wikidata database.Film-themed park opened in 1989. In an amphitheater with 6,900 seats, the show takes place every evening after dark Fantasmic listed, which is one of the most popular attractions of the Disney World complex. (Wikipedia).Price: Day ticket $ 95 (children 3-9 years $ 89).
  • 4  Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the travel guide Wikivoyage in a different languageDisney’s Animal Kingdom in the Wikipedia encyclopediaDisney’s Animal Kingdom in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsDisney’s Animal Kingdom (Q764186) in the Wikidata database.The fourth park of the complex opened in 1998. With over 200 hectares, it is the largest park. His topic is the conservation of the animal world and the whole thing is a zoo or wildlife park with all kinds of entertainment spectacles. (Wikipedia).Price: Day ticket $ 95 (children 3-9 years $ 89).
  • 7  Downtown Disney, 1490 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista. Downtown Disney in the Wikipedia encyclopediaDowntown Disney in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsDowntown Disney (Q659605) in the Wikidata database.Shopping, nightlife and entertainment districts on the eastern edge of Walt Disney World. The system includes a theater in which the Cirque du Soleil-Show La Nouba is listed. According to Tripadvisor, this is the best show in Orlando. (Wikipedia).Price: Tickets from $ 67.10 (Children 3-9 from $ 55.38).

  • Spaceship Earth (EPCOT)

  • Hollywood Boulevard (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

  • Typhoon Lagoon

  • Blizzard Beach

  • Downtown Disney

Universal Orlando

There is immediate competition from Walt Disney World Universal Orlando. to which two theme parks (Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios), a nightlife and entertainment complex (Universal CityWalk) and three luxury hotels belong to the Loews Group. The universal parks include rides and elaborately made pseudo-film sets. Tripadvisor believes that the two parks - especially the Islands of Adventure - be even more entertaining than Disney's; However, Disney offers the best shows. The Universal Complex is a good 10 minutes southwest of Downtown Orlando.
  • 8  Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Universal's Islands of Adventure), 6000 Universal Blvd.. Universal’s Islands of Adventure in the Wikipedia encyclopediaUniversal’s Islands of Adventure in the media directory Wikimedia CommonsUniversal’s Islands of Adventure (Q2583112) in the Wikidata database.Popular park with themes from well-known movies. (Wikipedia).Price: Day tickets from $ 92 (children 3‒9 from $ 86).
  • 9  Universal Studios. An entertainment park opened in 1990 with themes from film and television. (Wikipedia).Price: Day tickets from $ 92 (children 3‒9 from $ 86).
  • 10  Universal CityWalk, 6000 Universal Boulevard. Complex of restaurants, bars, clubs and music stages that only really comes to life in the evening.

  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)

  • Hollywood (Universal Studios)

  • Universal CityWalk

Seaworld parks

The Seaworld complex is located 20 minutes southwest of downtown Orlando on the edge of the I-4 freeway.

  • 11  Discovery Cove, 6000 Discovery Cove Way. Tel.: 1 407 513 4600. Discovery Cove in the Wikipedia encyclopediaDiscovery Cove in the Wikimedia Commons media directoryDiscovery Cove (Q1228570) in the Wikidata database.Small water park owned by the Seaworld group. Modeled on a tropical island. Visitors can swim with dolphins or snorkel with rays and other fish under the guidance of an instructor. The most attractive park in Orlando according to Tripadvisor, and even better than Universal Orlando and Disney World. (Wikipedia).Price: Day tickets (all inclusive) $ 259,319 (without Dolphin swim $ 169,219). Advance reservation required.
  • 12  SeaWorld, 7007 Sea World Dr.. Large amusement park with marine mammals (whales, dolphins, walruses, etc.) and many other marine animals, 11 rides and other entertainment. Not worth the trip according to Tripadvisor, but people who really enjoy looking at animals may come to a different point of view. (Wikipedia).Price: Day tickets $ 82 (children 3-9 $ 77).
  • 13  Aquatica, 5800 Water Play Way. Large water park only opened in 2008 with water slides, flow channels, wave pools and other fun facilities. The main attraction is a transparent tube with which you can slide through a lagoon with dolphins and other aquatic animals. (Wikipedia).Price: Day tickets $ 46 (children 3-9 $ 41).

  • Discovery Cove

  • Aquarium at SeaWorld

  • Dolphins at SeaWorld

  • Roller coaster at SeaWorld

  • Flow channel in Aquatica

More parks

  • 14  Gatorland, 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail. This special zoo, which is particularly popular with families with children, is located in the south of Orlando, where you can study, among other things, what the difference between a crocodile and an alligator is.Price: Entry $ 26.99 (Children 3-12 $ 33.99).
  • 15  Fun spot, 5700 Fun Spot Way. This amusement park with rides is located a quarter of an hour southwest of downtown. The only plus point of this attraction is that access does not cost anything. Payment is made per trip.

Churches

There are 277 churches in Orlando. The Baptists are most strongly represented with 78 congregations. This is followed by the Protestant church with 60 church buildings and then the Catholic parish with 2 churches and 1 chapel.

Buildings

Monuments

Museums

  • Orlando Science Center, 777 E Princeton St. This large technology museum, which is particularly interesting for families with children, is located a little north of downtown. (Wikipedia).Open: daily except Wed 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Entry $ 19 (Children 3-11 $ 13, Seniors 55 $ 17.

Streets and squares

  • International Drive. In the southwest of Orlando you will find this 17 km long road, on which, in addition to countless hotels and restaurants, some of the main attractions of Orlando are located. The drive begins 13 minutes southwest of Downtown Orlando at the Orlando Premium Outlets, cuts twice along Universal Boulevard (which you can drive here instead because it passes the Universal Park Complex), then touches the SeaWorld Complex, and is only off Vineland Avenue irrelevant. If you still haven't had enough here, drive over to the other side of I-4, where the Disney World complex begins.

Parks

  • 17  Lake Eola Park, 195 N Rosalind Avenue. The most beautiful park in town, and for free.

various

activities

  • 1  iFly Orlando, 6805 Visitors Circle, near Florida Center. In this facility you can try "indoor skydiving", i.e. weightlessness over a large propeller.
  • AirHeads Trampoline Area, 33 W Pineloch Ave, 6 minutes south of downtown. Trampoline jumping until you drop. It costs nothing to enter and watch; If you want to hop, you can buy special socks for $ 2.85 and pay $ 16.95 for a day.

shop

  • 1  Florida Mall, 8001 S Orange Blossom Trail. Big shopping mall in the south of Orlando with posh addresses like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Food court with some interesting options not found in other malls.
  • 2  Lego Store Disney Springs, Downtown Disney Marketplace, 1676 E Buena Vista Drive. Large Lego shop with play options. One of the few places in Orlando where you can keep children busy (at least in theory) without spending any money.

kitchen

The Wasabi in the Florida Mall

Cheap

medium

  • Wasabi Modern Japanese Cuisine, 8001S Orange Blossom Trail, in the Florida Mall. The only sushi go-round in the region. Anyone who is blessed with children who like raw fish cannot avoid this restaurant.

Upscale

nightlife

accommodation

Cheap

medium

Upscale

Learn

Work

security

health

Practical advice

trips

  • Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island. Driving time in calm traffic about 1 hour.

literature

Web links

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