With its main attractions including Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios, tourists take flights to Orlando more than any other place in Florida.
Walt Disney’s vision turned Orlando, and the adjacent Lake Buena Vista and Kissimee areas, into the world’s busiest, biggest, and best-known theme park, Disney World. The park opened in 1971 and has been making childhood fantasies come true ever since. Today, Disney World includes Epcot, a futuristic showcase of the world’s different cultures; MGM Studios, a working animation and television studio; and Animal Kingdom, where you see animals in themed habitats. SeaWorld gives visitors an interactive look at the sea and all its facets, featuring themed animal habitats, up-close encounters with animals, and performances by the famous aquatic SeaWorld stars. Universal Studios is a movie-themed park with thrilling rides, production studios and film sets, and onsite luxury hotels.
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The mild season is October through April with warm temperatures and low humidity. May to September is a time of high humidity and afternoon storms. The hurricane season is June through November. Late autumn tends to have the best weather.
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Orlando’s theme parks are popular year round, regardless of the weather.
Peak Season:
More than the weather, school vacations determine Orlando’s peak seasons. The busiest times for Orlando flights are Christmas, March spring break, Easter week, and mid-June to mid-August.
Off Season:
The best time to find a cheap flight to Orlando is late May or early June (excluding Memorial Day weekend), as soon as the school year ends; late August, if you must go in summer; or Thanksgiving, which is not as busy as other holidays. There are fewer tourists at the parks from early September until just before Thanksgiving, as well as in early February and early May.
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Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Distance: nine miles south of downtown Orlando
Drive time: 20 mins
Most visitors stay at one of the motels along Highway 192 (15 miles south of Orlando) or hotels on International Drive (5 miles southwest of the city). Shuttle buses run 24 hours and go to any hotel on International Drive. Taxis are available for the International Drive and Highway 192 hotels and downtown Orlando.
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The local Lynx buses or the I-ride trolley service go from one Orlando theme park to another, but require careful scheduling and timing. The pricier Mears Transportation Group runs shuttle buses between the main accommodation areas, the airport, and Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. Anyone staying at Disney World or an official Disney hotel has unlimited, free access to a transportation network — buses, monorails, ferries, and water taxis — that runs through Disney World, connecting its parks and attractions.
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- Make a plan before you get off your flight to Orlando — there are so many possibilities. Purchase theme-park tickets online to avoid standing in line at many of your favourite attractions. If you need to buy tickets after you arrive, get to the park an hour before it opens to queue up for tickets.
- Check out the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau website. It provides international guides and maps; advance ticket sales, including Magicards; links for booking hotel rooms and transport; information on the Orlando night life; restaurant cuisines; and links to goings-on at the theme parks and in Orlando.
- To beat the crowds at Disney World, use the FastPass system to schedule a ride time rather than waiting in line. For all parks, start at the far end of the park and work your way back to the entrance. Also, go to the big rides first so you miss the mid-afternoon rush.
- Other attractions you might want to visit are Wet N’ Wild, Orlando’s most popular water attraction; the Kennedy Space Center, just an hour’s drive from Orlando; and Busch Gardens, also an hour’s drive from Orlando.
- Orlando is hot and muggy in the summer and mosquitoes and no-see-ums (tiny bugs with a big bite) love that weather. Make sure to pack or pick up insect repellant, especially if you’ll be near the water.
- Don’t forget to pack or pick up suntan lotion with a high SPF rating (30 or higher), a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
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