Overview
Once a quiet inland city, Orlando was transformed when Walt Disney World opened nearby in the 1970s, and it now draws tens of millions a year to the largest cluster of theme parks on earth. Beyond the resorts spread lakes, gardens and a growing downtown, but for most visitors the parks are the point, set in the flat, warm country of central Florida. Hot and humid in summer, it is built for families, with the beaches of both Florida coasts a drive away.
Highlights
Walt Disney World spreads four theme parks and water parks across a vast resort, from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot. Universal Orlando answers with its own parks, thrill rides and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and smaller parks add water and wildlife. Away from the queues, Lake Eola and the downtown, and day trips to the Kennedy Space Center on the coast, round out a stay.