Overview:
The most famous resident of this central Florida city is Mickey
Mouse, the cartoon creation of animated movie tycoon, Walt Disney,
whose vision has turned Orlando, and the adjacent Lake Buena Vista
and Kissimee areas, into the world's busiest, biggest and
best-known concentrated tourist Mecca. Disney bought up land in the
area with the aim of establishing his dream theme park back in the
1960s. He died before the first park, the Magic Kingdom, officially
opened in 1971, but his legacy has taken root and is still growing.
Currently the Disney empire in Orlando includes four theme parks,
dozens of smaller attractions, thousands of hotel rooms and holiday
apartments, hundreds of restaurants and snack bars and even two
cruise ships. It is not only the Disney dazzle that draws visitors
to Orlando. There are other attractions here too, like Universal
Studios and Sea World, all adding to the maelstrom of thrills and
pleasure palaces that this city is now renowned for. Just a
trip down attraction-rich International Drive is a mind-boggling
experience.
Getting Around:
Anyone staying at a Disney resort or official Disney hotel need
have no qualms about getting around the Orlando magic kingdom. An
unlimited free transportation network runs throughout, with buses,
monorails, ferries and water taxis connecting all the parks and
attractions before, during and for a couple of hours after opening
hours. Those wishing to take a break from the world of Disney and
travel elsewhere are advised to hire a car, particularly as during
peak holiday seasons, buses are likely to be crowded. Mears
Transportation runs a bus service covering all Orlando's
surrounding attractions, even as far away as Busch Gardens in
Tampa. Taxis queue for passengers in front of most of the resorts
in the area, or can be ordered by telephone. Fares tend to be high
though.
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Courtyard Inn & Suites Lakes Buenavista
Courtyard By Marriott
Doubletree Hotel At Universal Orlando
Hampton Inn Pointe Orlando
Disney Pop Century
Rodeway Inn International
Quality Inn International
Parc Corniche
Liki Tiki Resort
Best Western Movieland