By Laura Lea Miller,
When Walt Disney chose Florida for his theme park in the 1960s, Orlando was a sleepy little town surrounded by orange groves. Today 49 million people visit Walt Disney World annually, making Orlando one of the world's top vacation destinations. From Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom to the 3-D Terminator special effects at Universal Orlando, and from the Mach 5 water slide at Wet 'n Wild to Dolphin Cove at SeaWorld, Orlando rekindles your youthful spirit. Look closer and you'll still find an orange grove here and there.
Things to Do
SeaWorld draws visitors with walruses, polar bears and dolphins, while Universal Orlando transforms its aquatic stars into three-ton monsters at movie-themed attractions like Jaws. But Walt Disney World's scale trumps them all, with roller coasters, African safaris, Cinderella's castle and breakfast with Mickey Mouse. Away from Disney, take an afternoon of hang-gliding at Wallaby Ranch, skim across the Everglades at break-neck speed with Boggy Creek Airboat Tours or discover the charm and small-town grace of Winter Park and downtown Orlando.
Shopping
The family-friendly shops of Downtown Disney can provide free entertainment, or an expensive diversion. Build teetering towers and crazy spacecraft at the shopping center's LEGO store, or check out popular board games like Monopoly and Candyland recast with Disney themes. Grown-ups may want to splurge on linen dresses and funky flip-flops at boutiques along Park Avenue on the other side of Orlando in Winter Park.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Walt Disney World is unforgettable, with top marks going to the SpectroMagic Parade in the Magic Kingdom, a glowing procession of Disney characters covered with half a million lights. The over-21 crowd spends its evening at Universal Orlando's CityWalk. Pat O'Brien's and the Red Coconut are the area's hippest clubs for dancing and partying, and downtown, Church Street struts its stuff after dark.
Restaurants and Dining
At Walt Disney World, reserve breakfast with Mickey Mouse or Snow White for an experience children will never forget. Epcot Center highlights global dining in its World Showcase restaurants. Dine on savory lamb and couscous in Morocco or dig into a cheesy enchilada in Mexico. Orlando, like Vegas, has attracted at least the names of big name chefs, such as Emeril and Wolfgang Puck. Keep your eyes open -- roadside fruit stands around Orlando still sell Florida's juiciest oranges and grapefruit.
Five hundred smiling people gathered in Orlando to celebrate World Smile Day 2010 by setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest smiley face. (©PRNewsFoto/Orlando CVB, Rick Fowler)
