Disney World - The Online Guide

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2003
(UK customers)

Fast Facts About Orlando

Accommodations
More Than 105,000 Rooms
Accommodations range from luxury resorts and economy hotels/motels to campsites and recreational vehicle parks. Vacation ownership units, condominiums and houses are also available.

Attractions
Breathtaking & Memory Making
Orlando is home to more than 95 unforgettable attractions that keep visitors coming back for more. With the excitement of the major theme parks and unbelievable exhibits, sensational ski shows and thrilling rides at attractions, it would take you more than 57 days to see of all the entertaining offerings in Orlando.

Arts/Culture
Enlightening Excursions
Orlando's numerous year-round art exhibits and cultural diversity add an extra dimension to make it the perfect vacation or meeting destination. From the world's most comprehensive collection of Tiffany stained glass at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art and 19th- and 20th-century American art at the Orlando Museum of Art to Eatonville, the nation's oldest incorporated African-American municipality, insightful excursions await Orlando's visitors. Children of all ages can also embark on an exciting expedition into the world of science at the Orlando Science Center, relive the early days of Orlando's citrus farming at the Orange County Regional History Center, or become a thespian at the Orlando/UCF Shakespeare Festival.

Shopping
Something Old, Something New
With more than 50 million square feet (4.5 million square meters) of retail space and expanding, Orlando is one of the fastest growing retail markets in the United States. The destination offers an astonishing array of shopping options that include everything from the latest in electronics and fashion to fine jewelry and antiques galore. Outlet centers, flea markets and wholesalers offer great bargains, while themed shopping villages mix retail shops with dining and entertainment for a unique experience. Eight regional malls offer the convenience of having brand-named department and specialty stores under one roof.

Dining
More than 4,300 restaurants serve up continental and ethnic cuisine in unique settings.

Meeting Space
Board Meetings To Citywide Conventions
Orlando is a world-class meeting destination with a variety of meeting facilities that accommodate small meetings as well as large citywide conventions and trade shows.

Orlando's Orange County Convention Center
is ranked second in the United States in terms of exhibition space with more than 1.1 million square feet (99,000 square meters). The Center also offers 250,958 square feet (22,586 square meters) of meeting rooms. It is currently expanding and will add an additional 1 million square feet (90,000 square meters) for a total of 2.1 million square feet (189,000 square meters) of exhibit space by fall 2003.

Recreation
Water, Greens, Courts and Teams

Lakes - More than 300 named lakes, springs and rivers provide swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing in the warm Florida sun.

Golf - Tee off on one of more than 150 area golf courses in the Greater Orlando area.

Tennis - Orlando serves up more than 800 tennis courts.

Sports - In addition to the National Basketball Association's world-renowned team, the Orlando Magic, Orlando offers professional baseball spring training (Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros); Orlando Rays AA Baseball League; Orlando Predators arena football; and the Women's National Basketball Association's Orlando Miracle.

Special Events
More Than 180 Special Events Annually From rodeo performances and celebrity concerts to ethnic festivals and art shows, Orlando has year-round events to please every penchant and add more vacation variety.

Performing Arts
Beethoven to Shakespeare
The Orlando Opera Company, Orlando Ballet, Orlando/UCF Shakespeare Festival, Bach Festival, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Festival of Orchestras, The SunTrust Broadway Series and local theatre troupes provide year-round entertainment.

Transportation
Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Orlando International Airport - The airport is the 15th busiest in the nation and 24th busiest in the world with approximately 900 commercial operations per day. More than 49 scheduled airlines and 41 charters provide nonstop service to 69 U.S. destinations and 17 international cities as well as direct service to more than 100 cities worldwide. It is easily accessible and within 15 miles (24 kilometers) of major attractions, meeting facilities and downtown Orlando. Shuttle vans, buses, taxis, limousines and rental cars are readily available. The airport has won numerous awards for its architectural design and aesthetics. For two consecutive years, Orlando International Airport was named the number one airport in North America and number one in the world for overall passenger satisfaction for airports serving more than 30million passengers annually by the International Air Transport Association survey. For the second time, the facility finished highest in overall passenger satisfaction in the large-airport category in J.D. Power and Associates 2000 and 2001 Reports. It recently opened its fourth airside terminal, which consists of 16 gates and is constructing a fourth runway.

Roadways - Major highway networks provide easy access for visitors to reach their destination and for traveling in and around the Greater Orlando area. Major highways include Interstate 4, the Florida Turnpike, Highway 528 (Bee Line Expressway), Highway 408 (East-West Expressway) and Highway 417 (Central Florida Greeneway).

Train Service - Amtrak serves Orlando with four daily trains originating from New York and Miami with stops in downtown Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford and Kissimmee, as well as with a tri-weekly train originating from Los Angeles. Amtrak also offers its popular Auto Train, which transports passengers and their vehicles, and features the comfort of bi-level Superliner sleepers, a diner and a lounge. The Auto Train runs daily between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, leaving each town at 4 p.m. and arriving at the destination at 9 a.m. the next morning.

About town - Besides taxi and limousine service to anywhere in the Greater Orlando area, the city's Lynx bus system provides economical public transportation around Orlando. Bus stops are marked with a "paw" print of a Lynx cat. The downtown Orlando Lymmo bus system provides free transit reaching from the T.D. Waterhouse Centre to City Hall. The 11 stations are designated by kiosks and the eight Lymmo stops are indicated by a small sign. The I-Ride Trolleys serve the popular International Drive Resort Area year-round, seven days a week, from 7 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. with scheduled stops every 15 minutes. The 79 route stops are designated with numbered "I-Ride" location markers. Returning to the horse-and-buggy days, carriage rides are also available through local vendors in downtown Orlando.

Climate
Warm, Sunny Days & Mild Nights

October - May Average Daily Temperatures
Days - Low 70s F (22 C) to mid 80s F (27 C)
Nights - Low 50s F (10 C) to mid 60s F (16 C)

June - September Average Daily Temperatures
Days - Upper 80s F (27 C) to mid 90s F (32 C)
Nights - Upper 60s F (16 C) to mid 70s F (22 C)

Regional Offerings
Best known for its world-famous theme parks, Central Florida offers a wealth of vacation options all within an hour's drive from Orlando. Sun-drenched beaches with refreshing water; scenic nature preserves filled with rare species of wildlife; high-energy spectator and participatory sports; unique cultural, educational and historic attractions; out-of-this-world technology; retail, antique and boutique shopping; nightly entertainment options; and a wide-range of dining options create the world's most amazing vacation destination.

Time Zone
Orlando is in the Eastern time zone.

Population
More than 1.6 million people now reside in the Greater Orlando area, which consists of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties.

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