Holidays In Orlando Florida by Terry Hely
A little known citrus farming center called Orlando was paid a visit the 1960s by a gentleman called Walt Disney
who started buying land on the outskirts of the town.
The remainder of that story is now history and by 1971, that land had become Walt Disney World. Today, Orlando has
a resident population of approximately 200,000 people and visitor numbers swell that figure into the many
millions.
The words "Orlando, Florida" immediately conjure up images of fairy tale palaces, thrill rides, theme parks and
Disney characters loved the world over. The combination of the "big 3" Orlando entertainment parks of Walt Disney
World, Sea World and Universal Studios have no equal anywhere else in the world.
Located on the the outskirts of Orlando, the towns of Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee are home to most of the major
entertainment park attractions. It's no surprise that the accommodation industry generates a major portion of the
Orlando economy and that it employs a high percentage of the local population.
The nearby towns of Winter Haven and Altamonte Springs offer a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Orlando
and the parks. Their quiet rural charm and sedate pace provides a glimpse back to the time before the area became
the home of the world's best known entertainment parks.
** Orlando Hotels And Resorts
Orlando has more beds to service the tourist industry than any other USA city except for Las Vegas. Orlando is the
fifth most popular USA city for travelers visiting from overseas. It is not surprising that the accommodation
industry represents a major portion of the Orlando economy and employs a high percentage of the local
population.
Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Orlando accommodation and every taste is catered for in every
price range. From themed luxury hotels, fantasy resorts, exclusive golf resorts, condominiums, vacation rentals,
bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels to luxury villas, it's all available in and around Orlando.
The parks have several entrances which can be separated from each other by quite a distance, so selecting
accommodation near the best gate for you can be an important consideration. Orlando accommodation is often named
for proximity to a particular theme park (Universal) or a particular gate (main gate east etc)
** Orlando Transport
At least 35 airlines and just as many charter operators fly into Orlando International Airport with the bulk of
these flights being Delta which accounts for around 25% of the flights that originate in approximately 160
different cities.
Other airlines serving Orlando are America West, American, Air Canada, British Airways, Continental, Northwest and
US Airways. The Orlando Airport website provides and excellent page about airport shuttle services and city
transport.
Amtrak is the USA rail service and it operates to and from Orlando with connections to many of the surrounding
towns such as Kissimmee, Sebring, Winter Haven, Sanford and Ocala.
The I Ride trolley service is an excellent way to get around the International Drive Resort precinct. The LYNX bus
service covers the downtown Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding cities.
The main highway through Orlando is I4, running directly from downtown Orlando to the Disney area. If you plan on
driving in Orlando, be prepared for traffic, especially at rush hour.
Copyright (c) 2008 Terry Hely
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