Orlando, Florida:
not just a mouse pad anymore
by Sean Fulton | Photography by Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
 Orlando is a kid-friendly version of Las Vegas. And just like Vegas, where people go to party and party hard, Orlando is a place where people with kids go to play, and they play hard.
In fact, rain or shine, unless there’s a thunderstorm in the area, the theme parks and amusement rides in Orlando run from early in the morning until late at night. There’s even a cottage industry in rain ponchos which visitors buy in a vain attempt to stay dry while getting their photo taken with Mickey or Spiderman.
Orlando has become synonymous with all that central Florida has to offer, from Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast, to Tampa/ St. Petersburg on the west, including points in between such as Kissimmee, Vero Beach, Sanford, and Lake Buena Vista.
Although children are not required equipment for a trip to Orlando, it’s hard to imagine going to Orlando without them. There are five main points of interest in central Florida: Walt Disney World Resort, the Kennedy Space Center, Sea World, Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, and the Wet ‘N Wild Water Park. There are also hundreds of lesser-known attractions as well, from Gatorland on Route 17, to airboat rides at Boggy Creek. All of the attractions are kid-friendly, and all geared for the warm tropical climate central Florida offers year-round.
 Most GA pilots land either at Kissimmee (ISM), which is south east of all the attractions, or at Orlando Executive (ORL) which is north east, both of which are about a half-hour from the major attractions. One often-overlooked landing is Orlando International (MCO), which despite being a large International airport has no landing fee and tie-down fees are just under $9 per night.
There are really two sides to Orlando. The city itself, which is a flat, urban sprawl with little differentiation from any of hundreds of towns across the United States, and the “new Orlando” that is slowly spreading out along International Drive.
And much like the Las Vegas strip has separated itself from downtown Las Vegas, International Drive has become its own tourist mecca, with high- and mid-priced hotels interspersed among hundreds of restaurants, food stores, discount outlets and tourist attractions. The street is tree-lined and elegant, hiding many of the one-story buildings and acres of parking lots behind lush trees and well-groomed bushes.
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Photo by: Walt Disney Company
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Because of their location, nearly all of the hotels on International drive are pretty good; all are clean and hospitable, and many include breakfast in a room that can be had for as little as $65 per night. Not surprisingly for Florida, all of the hotels have swimming pools, but indoor pools are an exception, so when it rains or is too cold to strip-down outside, don’t count on being able to go for a swim.
The large resorts, Universal and Disney, have a number of hotels both on the property and just outside the gates. These range in price from expensive to just north of absurd in terms of price, but their proximity to the park and amenities make them good places to stay if money isn’t a concern.
 International Drive is anchored by two major shopping experiences—Belz Factory Outlets on the northern-end, and Orlando Premium Outlets to the south. Belz claims to be the largest outlet center in the world, with 200 stores spread over seven separate shopping complexes, any one of which would be respectable shopping mall for a small to mid-sized town.
The Orlando Convention Center sits roughly in the middle of International drive, and not surprisingly, the bulk of the restaurants and hotels that line the road are centered there as well.
Event organizers have discovered that they can increase conference and trade show attendance by holding events in Orlando during the winter months, so International Drive has become an active hub for business travelers who combine a family vacation with a conference.
Born out of the mosquito-infested swamps of central Florida in 1857, Orlando was founded around an army fort and named after a soldier who was killed during the second of two wars the settlers fought with the local Seminole natives.
The city itself was incorporated in 1875 with a population of just 85 people, and its primary industry in those early days was cattle, which were slaughtered and sold as beef to Cuba.
Orlando also became known for growing cotton during those early years, but by the 1870s, the cotton industry had given way to citrus crops as Orlando’s main crop.
Today, the Orlando region boasts more than 90 attractions, 100,000 hotel rooms and 3,800 restaurants. The staff at Walt Disney World alone is estimated to be more than 55,000.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, converting acres of otherwise useless swamp land into a kid-friendly, family safe vacation destination that continues growing to this day. There are currently 15 hotels on the Disney property.
SeaWorld opened next, in 1972, followed by Universal Studios in 1990. In 1999, Islands of Adventure opened, offering thrill and theme rides as an alternative to the traditional Disney fare.
Almost every restaurant in Orlando welcomes children with open arms, an unusual tendency that can make it difficult to enjoy a romantic dinner alone. But there are moments to be had if you know where to find them.
Christini’s, on Dr. Phillips Boulevard, is an up-scale, Italian restaurant that features a rose for every lady and an accordion player who serenades the tables as you dine. Fish Bones, on Sand Lake Road, features an outstanding wine list and a large, open cooking pit where chef’s prepare prime steaks and fresh seafood in front of patrons waiting for tables. Other nice places to eat that cater to adults include Everglades Restaurant and Bar at the Rosen Centre Hotel, Moon Fish and Antionio’s on Sand Lake Road, and Dux at the top of the Peabody Hotel.
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Photo by: Walt Disney Company
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If you’re a golfer, there’s no better place than Orlando to squeeze in a few rounds. Courses range from community golf-courses woven between single-story, cinder-block homes, to luxurious courses like the Palm or Magnolia that simply take your breath away.
Perhaps one of the most convenient course is the International course, a 6,775-yard, 18-hole course just off of International Drive for $65 per round. Hunter’s Creek claims to be Florida’s longest course, at 7,432 yards, and prices range from $57 to $75 per round depending on the time of year. Falcon’s Fire, just off Highway 192 in Kissimmee, boasts one of the top pro shops in the country, and 18-holes there will run you $71 to $135 per person.
Disney boasts five excellent, championship courses, including the Palm and the Magnolia. Or if you prefer an aviation theme, you can check out the Kissimmee Golf Club or The Oaks, both of which are close enough to Kissimmee Airport (ISM) to provide you with a view of landing planes.
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Want to know more about this memorable getaway, visit our AG Concierge for more information.
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For other diversions, you could try Aquatic Wonders, which offers a guided Eagle Watch Tour that will take you through the largest concentration of nesting eagles in the United States. Investigate central Florida’s cattle history at Forever Florida, a 4700-acre cattle ranch and nature preserve where you can tour the ranch by bus, horseback or covered wagon. You can spend hours hiking through Forever Florida or the Nature Conservancy Disney Wilderness Preserve. And you can rent an airboat or canoe to explore the backwaters and Everglades at Airboat Rentals, near Kissimmee airport.
If you’re an art buff, be sure to check out the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, which is about an hour away from Orlando by car, much less by air.
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Photo by: Walt Disney Company
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You can rent a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to cruise Orlando in style from Eagle Rider motorcycles, or embark on a fishing expedition run by Champion Pro Guide, which provides free tackle, lures, refreshments and transportation to and from many area hotels.
In short, if there’s anything you can think of to do in a warm climate this time of year, chances are you’ll be able to find it in Orlando. And if you have kids, that’s all the more reason to go. 
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Plan your route to Orlando with FlightPrep.com
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The Best of Orlando
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Best Season: Florida is notoriously hot and sticky from May through September. The best weather can be had from October to April, when temperatures are in the mid 70’s and humidity is relatively low. In January and February, when most schools have their winter vacations, Orlando becomes a zoo, and should be avoided if at all possible.
Best Landing: Orlando offers three excellent landing opportunities from Kissimmee (ISM) to the south, Orlando Executive (ORL) to the north, and Orlando International (MCO) to the west. ISM is favored for low-cost fuel, ORL is preferred for the top-notch service of its two, high-end FBOs, and MCO is often avoided in the mistaken belief that it is non-GA-friendly. But with generous AOPA discounts on fuel and overnight fees at less than $9 per night, MCO is an excellent option. Maps needed: Jacksonville VFR Sectional.
Best Tip: Discovery Cove offers one of the most unique Orlando experiences, allowing visitors to don a wet suit and swim with dolphins and stingrays. There’s also an aviary where families can interact with birds and other animals on land. Prices start at $219 per person per day, up to $400 per person for special weekend packages that include “Dinner With Shamu.”
Best Places To Stay: Portofino Hotel at Universal offers a taste of the Italian Riveria. The Grand Floridian at Disney World offers the elegance of a Victorian mansion. The Renaissance Orlando Resort, situated across the street from Sea World, features a 10-story high, sun-lit atrium with a large aviary in the center. The 1400-room Gaylord Palms Resort features shops, restaurants and walk-through dioramas, providing visitors with virtual tours of everything from the Florida Everglades to an old Spanish castle. The Rosen Hotel and the Peabody offer elegant, corporate-hotel accommodations within walking distance of the Orlando Convention Center.
Best Way To Get Around: Rent a car. If you book on the Internet or by phone, prices will range from $60 to $90 per day. It pays to call the FBO at the airport you intend to land at, because most offer crew rates that are substantially lower, with one FBO reporting a $25 per day crew rate. Hotels offer shuttle services to and from attractions, but getting to restaurants and non-shuttle attractions will be difficult. There is also the Lynx bus system which costs $1 per ride.
Best Planning Resources: The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. www.orlandoinfo.com. Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, www.orlando.org.
Walt Disney World Resort & Theme Park, www.disneyworld.com, Discovery Cove, www.discoverycove.com, www.floridakiss.com.
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