Orlando - Sightseeing
Shopping
Whether shopping in glitzy malls or cut-price outlet warehouses, shopping in Orlando is big business and there's little that's subtle about it. In Downtown you'll still find independent boutiques, jewellers and craft galleries – and Orlando's museums are also good places to find unusual gifts. Most shops are clustered around Church Street. 29 West Church Street's mini-mall features 50 speciality shops and restaurants.
But, for sheer theatre, Orlando's nine covered malls will satisfy the appetite of the hungriest shopaholic.
Mall at Millenia, Millenia Blvd., Orlando (10:00am-10:00pm, Mon-Sat, Sun: 11:00am-6:00pm)
Among the 150 stores in the mall you'll find Burberry, Gucci, Sisley skincare, Chanel, Cartier, L'Occitane and Lindt Chocolate. There's a decent array of options in the food court too – and anchor stores of the US favourites, Macy's and Bloomingdales.
Orlando Fashion Square Mall, 3201 East Colonial Dr (10:00am-9:00 pm; Sunday – 11:00am-6:00pm)
Good value and designer threads on offer here at this bright and breezy collection of stores selling everything fashion, accessories and shoes.
Belz Factory Outlet, 5401 West Oakridge Road (10:00am-9:00pm; Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm)
Two busy malls featuring big-name and US favourites such as Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Guess and Reebok among many others.
Orlando Premium Outfits, 8200 Vineland Ave. (10:00am-9:00pm; Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm)
The daddy of them all. Over 110 stores featuring genuine discounts from big names such as Banana Republic, Burberry, Coach, Cole Haan, DKNY, Kenneth Cole, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Versace and more.
Festival Bay Mall at International Drive, 5250 International Dr Orlando, (Mon-Sat: 10:00am-9:00pm / Sun: 11:00am-7:00pm)
Not only shopping, but plenty of dining and entertainment options too at this huge complex. Shops are big on surf and sportswear and the theme is carried over into diners such as Fuddruckers & Murray Bros. Caddy Shack. Perhaps you've always wanted to play a round of golf in the dark? Try the glow in the dark course at Putting Edge.
Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Dr. (Mon-Sat: 10:00am-10:00pm / Sun: 10:00am-9:00pm)
Pointe Orlando crams in over 50 different retail stores, licensed restaurants, a 21-screen cinema and the upside-down fun house WonderWorks. With tropically landscaped promenades, open air seating and a good selection of stores, Pointe Orlando is a popular spot – even more so now it's completed a multi-million dollar renovation.
Mercado, 8445 International Dr, Orlando (Open 10am - 10pm, bars open until 2am)
A Mediterranean-style marketplace where the stores are smaller, speciality shops rather than the huge multi-nationals filling out the area's other malls. Fine dining restaurants, an English pub and an international food court with free nightly concerts from 7:30pm-11:30pm.
Disney World Resort
As big as a town, but much more fun than your average metropolis, Disney World Resort is a super-charged theme park that simply dazzles. To really do Disney World Resort justice you're going to need a comfortable pair of shoes, at least a couple of days and a good map! Here though, are just some of the highlights we wouldn't want you to miss.
The heart of the resort, Main Street USA is the gateway to the Magic Kingdom, lined with shops, restaurants and vantage points for the nightly parade. It leads on to the park's themed 'Funlands', each set up to resemble a complete eco-system with rides, attractions and eating spots to match.
Home to Cinderella's castle, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and too many attractions and events to mention, this is the daddy of all theme parks and needs time, planning and sturdy shoes to do it justice. Get here early and spend the day – ending with the 'spectromagic' rainbow-illuminated parade of all your favourite Disney characters.
Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland and Liberty Square are just some of the locations for the resort's rides and attractions with wild-west villages, sci-fi zones, tribal forest clearings and medieval townships all faithfully (and expensively) kitted out with some of the most thrilling, state-of-the art rides. By far the most popular land in the park for younger children, however, is Fantasyland, where Disney's roll-call of famous characters rule the roost. Rides to look out for include Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Frontierland), Space Mountain (Tomorrowland) and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Tomorrowland).
Disney's ®Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Only Disney could feature a water-park ride called Humunga Kowabunga and (just about) get away with it. Thrilling, world-beating water rides, and the world's largest artificial wave. It's what a water park would be like if Disney designed it.
Disney's Animal Kingdom ®
Take a Kilimanjaro safari, enjoy the Lion King festival, navigate the river rapids on a creaky raft or board the snow train in search of a Yeti, at the park's latest million dollar ride, Everest, complete with Himalayan village recreation. High thrills aside it's the animal attractions that steal the show here.
Disney Hollywood Studios
Show business is the star here at this high-tech meets nostalgia luvvie-fest, which salutes the magic of the silver screen in a series of themed rides and attractions, from the Tower of Terror, a "rock'n'roller coaster" (to the tunes of Aerosmith - yes, really!) and sound and light spectaculars aplenty starring the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and friends.
Epcot
No longer a cutting edge vision of the future, but a charming period piece which still has the power to thrill and captivate young and old. Centrepiece of the park is the golf ball – the Spaceship Earth ride, but other, better rides include Imagination Institute, Mission Space (where every rider has a role to play in navigating a successful voyage) and Test Track's crash test dummies road race. The 'Reflections of Earth' lightshow is a nightly spectacle worth staying for.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios is more than a theme park, it's a city in itself, with its own hotels, winding waterways, spas, bars and a full range of facilities both on site and clustered close to the main gates. Certainly, if you've come to Florida to soak up more screams than sun – Universal's theme park is the place for you (and the neighbouring Walt Disney resorts, naturally).
Universal is actually two incredible parks – each stuffed with attractions, restaurants, shows and nightlife. Try Islands of Adventure for big thrills, seriously twisting roller coasters and heart-pumping white knuckle rides – all designed under the watchful eye of creative consultant, Steven Spielberg. Look for Marvel Super Hero Island's rides based on comic heroes, Jurassic Park's white-knuckle rides and Seuss Landing's kiddie-friendly thrills. Universal Studios, Florida gives film buffs the chance to be a part of the action, with totally immersive 4-D cinema shows (fancy cosying up to Shrek? This is the place to do it), live shows from the Blues Brothers, and creepy old Beetlejuice to push the fun factor up to 11.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Taking over some areas of Universal's The Lost Continent, and two existing attractions, the twenty acre site of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the latest multi-million dollar attraction to ensure Orlando's number-one status when it comes to theme parks. The park is a fantastically realised vision of JK Rowling's world, designed by the same team who created the award winning films. Richly immersive, nothing has been left out of this total Hogwarts experience, and together with the thrilling rides, including the breathtaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, there are shops, restaurants, Owl-post offices and broomsticks to buy by the dozen!
International Drive
You want the F in Florida to stand for Fun? You've come to the right place if you chose the Orlando suburb of I-Drive, named in honour of International Drive, the infamous highway where, on every block there seems to be a shopping mall, theme park, outlet store or entertainment complex.
So huge, and so devoted to fun, it makes Blackpool's Golden Mile look like a quiet cul-de-sac - one thing's for sure, if you're looking for subtle, you'd best look elsewhere. I-Drive doesn't know the term 'half measures'. From 'build your own burger' restaurants to 'murder mystery' dinners – you won't starve in this neighbourhood. And actually, foodies are often surprised at the quality and variety: globe-spanning cuisine is deftly prepared in some of Florida's best restaurants. By day, there's precious little reason to leave this stretch if you're looking for a thrilling day out – be that in the pool with the dolphins in Discovery Cove, sinking a few balls at the Hawaiian Rumble golf course, or shopping for (genuine) bargains at an Outlet Mall or two. But pace yourself - and your wallet! This glittering few miles can come on like a sugar rush, and you really don't want tears before bedtime do you?
But don't think of this resort as a strip-mall with little character, for I-Drive is a lushly planted, well-designed suburb with the pedestrian very much in control. Winding walkways, large open squares, water-features and parkland are as much of I-Drive's tapestry as parking lots and drive-thrus. You'll find more by foot too, from hidden boutiques, great ice-cream joints and friendly bars, from a 'traditional' Irish to Karma Korner, with its climbing wall and basketball court. Then, when you've found your friendly bar and enjoyed a cool beer or two, you can take the I-Drive trolley bus – which runs the length of the drive and on to Universal Boulevard and Theme Park - back to your hotel. See, they really have thought of everything here.
Other Attractions
Titanic: The Experience (Daily, 10:00 am–8:00 pm) 8445 International Drive, Orlando
Not the complete experience, thankfully, but a chance to stroll through full-scale recreations of the Titanic's state rooms and make a grand entrance down its famous staircase. Period-costumed actors add a dash of authenticity, although not as much as the 200 artifacts and historical treasures from the ship itself.
Train Land international (Open daily, 10:00am – dusk) 8990 International Drive
Florida owes its first flush of activity thanks to the railway lines which ploughed this far south around 150 years ago. This fun exhibition commemorates this with the largest indoor G-gauge layout in the country, weaving through a vast wonderland of forests, farmland, cities and mountains. Train enthusiasts will be hooked and their long-suffering companions can enjoy the little steam engine that takes you for a ride through the outdoor gardens!
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour (Daily, 10:00am – 4:00 pm) 312 East Morse Blvd., Winter Park
A one-hour narrated cruise through twelve miles of Winter Park's winding lake and canal system is just perfect for recharging your weary legs after a morning's sightseeing in the Florida heat. Azalea Gardens, swaying palms, the Isle of Sicily recreation and opulent private homes with their estates backing onto the shores make this a wonderfully lazy way of exploring another side of Orlando.
Hard Rock Vault, 8437 International Drive
Big on the glam and glitz of rock and roll, as personified in the careers of Little Richard, Kiss and Aerosmith, this collection gathers over 100 of music's most famous artists spanning the last half of the 20th Century. Arranged and displayed in nine different galleries, this is an amusing, if skewed look at rock from a very stateside perspective (Elton John excepted).
Orlando Science Center Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando, FL 32803
Informative and entertaining, the Science Center displays are big on the region's principal contribution to US advances – namely that of powered flight and its Touch the Sky exhibit explores the science and history of aeronautics.
Orlando Sea World (exit 72 off Interstate 4)
A major attraction with enough to keep your family entertained all day. Dolphins, whales, rays and sea lions are all trained to enthrall and perform on command. The Shark Encounter features the world's largest underwater tunnel – giving you an unparalleled up-close-and-personal view of the toothy predators. Tropical lagoons and rainforests give the land-based lovers something to smile about too. A must visit.
Gatorland, Highway 441, South Orlando
If the sharks don't scare you, the even toothier inhabitants of this fun theme park with added bite will! Alligator wrestling, a petting zoo (without Alligators) and a vast marshland swarming with birds make Gatorland a refreshingly different Orlando attraction.
Jungle Adventures, 26205 East Highway (S.R.) 50 Christmas, Florida 32709
Jungle Adventures is one of a recent crop of "eco- tourism," attractions. Really, the 'eco' bit relates to the fact that it bristles with native wildlife, not that it's any more environmentally friendly than other attractions. The park's animal exhibits include alligators, crocodiles, turtles, snakes, monkeys, Macaws, skunks, bobcats, panthers, bears and deer plus animal shows.
Wet 'n' Wild, 6200 International Drive
The obligatory water-chute and wave-machine park, this is a fun, family-friendly water park with lots of multi-passenger rides. Only in Orlando would a park have a new feature called 'Disco H20' – where you can apparently, 'boogie down a retro raft adventure'. No, we have no idea either!
Nightlife
Downtown Disney's entertainment, shopping and eating complex has few equals around these parts – Montreal's fabulous Cirque du Soleil's modern-day circus features jaw dropping acrobatics. DisneyQuest features five floors of rides, interactive gizmos and arcade machines while Pleasure Island features a range of nightclubs and bars. Comedy clubs, 80's discos and rock 'n' roll – if ever the term 'something for everybody' deserved an outing, it's in relation to this fun palace of a place.
Away from the dinner shows and pyrotechnics on offer every night at the large theme parks, Orlando presents a surprisingly diverse array of night-owl options. It's generally calmer in downtown Orlando than the throbbing clubs and discos of International Drive - but even here you can boogie the night away.
Nightlife along I-Drive is definitely for the young, the energetic or those who like a touch of glitter, and a dash of drama. Medieval banquets, ghostly castles, murder mysteries, middle-eastern Bedouin tents and all manner of globe-spanning themed bars present no shortage of options for those wanting to dress up, let their hair down and sample the bright lights.
Pirate's Dinner Adventure, 6400 Carrier Dr. Orlando, (Booking recommended): "Live the Pirate's Life!" at the "Worlds Most Unique Interactive Dinner Show!" Over-the-top claims aside, Pirate's multi-million dollar, Broadway- styled musical comedy theatre is a swashbuckling, action packed adventure, with Caribbean delicacies served on board an authentically replicated 18th century Spanish Galleon. Only in Orlando.
If the thought of a leisurely stroll from bar to bar is more appealing, head for Wall Street Plaza, with eight good-natured bars and restaurants lining a pedestrianised street, a great starting point for historic downtown adventure.
The Victorian-themed Church Street Station, spread out across several downtown blocks, has a disused railway track tying together a good range of entertainment spots between the station and Orange Avenue – good for themed restaurants, rock bars and Ybor's Martini Bar, a much needed shot of old-time glamour, where you'll get a fine cigar should you wish.
Here too, you'll find a massive, three-floored entertainment complex which has discos, a rooftop bar with great views of the city skyline and the Big Belly Brewery, serving a good range of beers – and huge, free buckets of peanuts (hence the big belly, we suppose).
Comedy lovers should try the Improv Comedy Club & Restaurant, again on Church Street, where headlining comedians share the stage with up-and-coming talent.