HIGHLIGHTS

• Guaranteed Low Prices on Orlando Rooms,
  Suites, & Resort Condos
• Information about Orlando, Florida Area
  Attractions and Special Events
• Orlando, Florida Area Dining
  and Shopping Locations

Situated in the heart of Florida, Orlando is considered one of the world’s most popular resort destinations. First developed as a citrus growing area, the sunny climate and year-round warmth made Orlando an ideal location for wintering east coast and Midwest snow birds. These visitors also enjoyed the nearby attractions of Cypress Gardens, Silver Springs and Tampa Bay's Busch Gardens. In the mid 60s, SeaWorld marine park opened in Orlando. About the same time Walt Disney and company decided the climate was right to pursue their own vision of a year-round east coast theme park. A large amount of acreage was quietly purchased to create something as special as Disneyland in Florida, plus quite a bit more.

Built on a grander scale than their park in Anaheim, Walt Disney World opened the Magic Kingdom in October 1971. Built in along the same format as Disneyland, Magic Kingdom was designed with natural spaces surrounding the park, not hemmed into an urban area like its California counterpart. One success followed another and in 1982, Epcot® Center opened as a perpetual worlds fair. The third phase of the Disney project, Disney's Hollywood Studios™ opened its doors to the public in 1989. A year later, Universal Studios added their own addition to the Orlando landscape with Universal Studios Florida. Recent park additions include Disney's Animal® Kingdom, DisneyQuest®, Universal Studios®Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld's Discovery Cove® Orlando and in 2001, The Holy Land Experience.

Orlando and the surrounding area are interspersed with water parks, smaller themed attractions and outstanding shopping facilities from name-brand outlet savings, to upscale and unique specialty stores. Fun in the sun can focus of a game of golf on some of the most fabulous courses in the nation, or it can mean exploring the wonders of the sub-tropical zone around central Florida. Eco-tourism is another growing attraction in the Orlando area and presents visitors opportunities in the form of canoe trips, air-boat rides and safari-type trips into the local flora.

America's spaceport is only an hour east of the area at Cape Canaveral, if visits to central Florida are timed right, one can see a brilliant night-time launch of rockets from the lawn of an Orlando accommodation. Take the cue - nightlife here can be real exciting, clubs and shows are ongoing until the wee hours throughout the year. From fun and fantasy to scientific achievements, Orlando is poised to take full advantage of the needs of its visitors well beyond the 21st century.

Whatever varied interests a family shares, there is a common denominator to be found here amid the awesome fantasy, challenging adventure, first class entertainment and outdoor wonders one finds in Orlando.