Orlando is
possibly the best example of what tourism can do for a town’s economy. With
almost 50 million visitors enjoying Orlando family holidays each year, the sub-tropical
climate and theme parks are clearly a draw-card. Orlando has more entertainment
parks than anywhere else in the world and there really is something to suit
everybody.
Epcot
The Walt Disney
Resort dominates Orlando with seven different parks. Personally I have no
interest in Disney, but fortunately there is more to Disneyland than Mickey and
his pals. Of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s
Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney, Epcot was
my favourite park.
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| Gearing up to go on the scary space ride at Epcot, Orlando, Florida |
Epcot offers rides and excitement, but is also designed to
celebrate human achievement, innovation and international culture, so appealed
to me (and my inner science nerd). Epcot themes include space, innovations east
and west, energy, the land, the seas and others. The World Showcase enables you
to enjoy the food, architecture and attractions of several countries, and walk
from one to another in only a few steps including Japan, Italy, Mexico, UK,
Norway, China, Germany, Morocco and America. Clearly it is all fake but the
traveller in me still enjoyed it.
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| 'Japan', Epcot, Orlando, Florida, USA |
Universal
As a movie fan I
also enjoyed Universal Studios Florida, which is part of Universal Orlando, and
features Universal Studios Florida, CityWalk and Islands of Adventure. Universal
runs in conjunction with a movie studio and offers rides and entertainment that
make guests feel like they are part of the films. For die-hard fans of certain
movies the Islands of Adventure park features several separate ‘islands’ themed
around specific movies, such as Jurassic Park and Harry Potter. CityWalk is
like a mall and offers rest and recuperation in the form of shops, a cinema,
bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
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| 'Italy', Epcot, Orlando, Florida, USA |
Wet ‘n Wild water
park offers several different water slides for swimwear-friendly water-based
fun but is not really my sort of thing. Controversial Seaworld Orlando features
several parks and shows based on marine wildlife. But while I love marine
wildlife, and respect certain educational benefits of such parks, I prefer to
see the animals in their natural habitat.
Have you been to
Orlando and do you have a favourite park?
