Discover Orlando, FL: Guide For Tourists, Best Things To Do, Dining And Tips Before You Go

If you are thinking about going to Orlando then this article is just for you, you will find interesting observations of locals about this city, which can help you make a choice.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting Orlando, FL

Don’t plan your trip around the last two weeks of December this is by far the most important tip that you’ll ever learn about visiting Orlando.” A former theme park worker explained: “the last two weeks of the year are called hell weeks especially the week between Christmas and New Year… why spend a crazy amount of money for it to be wasted and standing in long lines traffic and crowds everywhere.”

Pretty much. “95% of people that live in Orlando have a car and the average Orlando resident has about a 28-minute drive to work.” While there’s some public transit, “Orlando is really car dependent.”

“We’ve got 230 days of sun here in Central Florida which means we got about a 100 days where it is going to rain and that’s typically in the summertime.” The best weather? “Between like February and may that’s really probably the best time… that’s right before the summertime hits and it rains for like an hour every single day.”

“Only an hour away 50 minutes depending on where you’re at in Orlando you have new Smyrna beach you’ve got Coco Beach.” For the Gulf side, it’s “clear water in St Pete that’s just a little over 2 hours away from us.”

Theme parks definitely are – you can “easily spend $300 to probably $800 a night” for hotels near parks. But “Orlando is an expensive place I’m not going to lie to you about that but there are deals to be found and you just have to look for them.”

“Because we’re so far inland the wind has pretty much died down before it hits us” and “other than some of the downtown areas that have some of the older infrastructure we don’t really have issues with flooding.”

Yep. “Afternoon thunderstorms, you can almost set your clock to and they only make the humidity worse.”

TL;DR – Going To Orlando Esstentials

  • Best time to visit: “Between March and may that’s really probably the best time” – right before summer heat hits
  • Avoid at all costs: “The last two weeks of December” – locals call these “hell weeks”
  • You’ll need wheels: “95% of people that live in Orlando have a car”
  • Weather reality: “We’ve got blazing hot hot and then not as hot pretty much throughout the year”
  • Food scene: “We’re actually named one of the best foodie cities in the country”
  • Traffic heads up: “Orlando traffic is pretty ridiculous I’m just being honest”
  • Beach access: About an hour to either coast – “perfect for day trips”
  • Theme park costs: Can “easily spend $300 to probably $800 a night” for families
  • Rain pattern: Summer means “it rains for like an hour every single day”
Visiting Orlando Floridia: Guide For Tourists

Where Orlando is Located

Orlando sits right in the heart of Central Florida, about an hour inland from both coasts. As one local put it, you’re looking at roughly “50 minutes or so from East Orlando to the coast,” whether that’s hitting New Smyrna Beach or Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic side. For the Gulf Coast, “clear water in St Pete that’s just a little over 2 hours away from us.” The sweet spot about being inland? “Because we are Inland you have access to both but you’re not having to worry as much in regards to hurricanes.”

Orlando Florida On Map

What To Do (Beyond the Theme Parks)

  • Discover the Real Food Scene Orlando is “named one of the best foodie cities in the country with places like Mills 50 and ottobon park with a lot of local places.” You’ll find “roughly a dozen different little downtown areas from Mount Dora to Winter Park Winter Garden” each with their own food personality.
  • Natural Springs and Water Adventures Hit up “the springs over in W Kiva Springs or the Rock Springs and take out a kayak or maybe check out the manatees there.” The water stays 72 degrees year-round, perfect for cooling off when it gets gross outside.
  • Explore Chain of Lakes “If you want to do boating you’ve got multiple different chains of lakes you’ve got the butler chain the harrish chain there’s so many different beautiful lakes throughout Central Florida.”
  • Downtown Lake Eola Experience “Come check out downtown Orlando with Lake Yola ride a swan boat” – it’s a classic Orlando experience that feels way more chill than the theme park chaos. Read More About Lake Eola.
  • Hidden Local Neighborhoods Check out areas “from Mount Dora to Winter Park Winter Garden” where “there’s something always going on here in Greater Orlando.” Winter Park especially has this upscale vibe with great walkable shopping.
  • Gatorland Adventure “Gatorland isn’t your average theme park it’s 110 acres of pure old Florida charm cranked up to 11” with “thrilling ziplines an off-road adventure and even a chance to meet some caparas.” Read More About Gatorland.
  • International Drive Scene I-Drive has “tons of restaurants mini golf courses attractions and shops all lined up along one stretch” – perfect for wandering and finding random stuff to do. Read More About I-Drive.
  • Theme Parks – Read Our Orlando Attractions Guide.

Housing Market (Short-term Stays for Tourists)

Hotel Location Strategy

  • International Drive: “This bustling area is close to Universal Orlando and numerous dining and shopping spots hotels range from budget friendly to Luxurious averaging 100 to 300 USD per night”
  • Lake Buena Vista: “Ideal for Disney fans this area offers Resorts with shuttle services to the parks with prices ranging from 150 to 350 USD per night”
  • Downtown Orlando: “If you’re looking for a blend of night life and attractions the downtown area is perfect with boutique hotels averaging around 120 to 250 USD per night”

Transportation from Airport “Fly into Orlando International Airport MCO the main airport Hub with convenient access to the city’s attractions” and “book your transport in advance for a smooth transition from the airport to your accommodation especially during busy periods.”

Short-term Rental Options The vacation rental scene is huge, especially “six to eight bedroom homes that have pools behind every single one and a resort amenity offers with large pools and water parks.” These are mainly concentrated in areas that allow short-term rentals.

Pros of Orlando for Visitors

  • Perfect Winter Weather “From October all the way to may we really have great weather most of the time.” You get “230 days of sun here in Central Florida” and those winter months are absolutely perfect for outdoor activities.
  • Amazing Food Diversity “We’re actually named one of the best foodie cities in the country” with “places like Mills 50 and ottobon park with a lot of local places that you could try out.” The international population means “fantastic arapas around here… Fantastic Indian and Chinese food throughout the Orlando area.”
  • Entertainment Beyond Parks “There’s roughly a dozen different little downtown areas from Mount Dora to Winter Park Winter Garden” and if you want activities, “there’s something always going on here in Greater Orlando.”
  • Easy Beach Access “No matter where you live if you’re going from Orlando to the east coast you’re going to find a 45 to an hour and 15minute drive almost anywhere in town” and you can hit both coasts for variety.
  • Arts and Culture Scene “We have a lot of that and it really is becoming a part of who we are as a community yes we’ve got the Dr Phillips Performing Arts Center we’ve got the Orlando Museum of Arts.”

Cons of Orlando for Visitors

  • Brutal Summer Heat “From may to September stretch is warm and at that time most likely pretty humid.” One local described it perfectly: “unbearable” for “the majority of the year.” The humidity makes everything feel sticky and gross.
  • Traffic Nightmares “Orlando traffic is pretty ridiculous I’m just being honest and it’s going to get worse.” Expect “90 minutes to 2 hours of really some tricky time if you have to come home during that time frame.” Even locals say “I four around the 535 Corridor is always a nightmare.”
  • Theme Park Costs Are Crazy A family can “easily spend $300 to probably $800 a night” just on hotels, before you add park tickets, food, and everything else. “Orlando is an expensive place I’m not going to lie to you about that.”
  • December Holiday Chaos “Don’t plan your trip around the last two weeks of December… why spend a crazy amount of money for it to be wasted and standing in long lines traffic and crowds everywhere… why would you want to spend 3 hours in line to ride the incredible hot coaster when you can wait less than 30 minutes on other days.”
  • Need a Car for Everything “Orlando is really car dependent” and while there’s some public transit, you’re pretty much stuck without wheels.
  • Afternoon Storm Pattern “It rains for like an hour every single day” during summer months, and “afternoon thunderstorms, you can almost set your clock to and they only make the humidity worse.”

Real Comments from Locals and Tourists

  • From Long-time Orlando Residents: “I’ve lived in Central Florida for about 9 years now” and “there’s no place in the world I’d rather call home than great Orlando.”
  • “There’s a lot of people that live here where theme parks are not their thing at all and yet they love living in Orlando.”
  • “We’ve got the best theme parks in the world right in our backyard between Universal epic universes opening up you’ve got everything going on at Disney but you also have SeaWorld and Gator land and Legoland.”
  • From Visitors During Peak Times: “The last two weeks of December are no joke… why would you want to spend 3 hours in line to ride the incredible hot coaster when you can wait less than 30 minutes on other days.”
  • “We made the mistake of visiting during hell weeks. Never again – spring is way better.”
  • Weather Reality Checks: “We’ve got blazing hot hot and then not as hot pretty much throughout the year.”
  • “Unbearable” – that’s how one lifelong resident described the weather “for the majority of the year.”
  • On Traffic: “Orlando traffic is pretty ridiculous I’m just being honest and it’s orally going to get worse.”
  • “I four around the 535 Corridor is always a nightmare.”
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Summary

Look, Orlando is way more than just theme parks and tourist traps. Yeah, the parks are there and they’re pretty amazing, but “there’s a lot of people that live here where theme parks are not their thing at all and yet they love living in Orlando.”

The real magic happens when you time your visit right. “Between March and may that’s really probably the best time” – you’ll get perfect weather without the brutal summer heat or the “hell weeks” of late December when everything is crazy expensive and crowded.

Here’s what really surprised me about Orlando: “we’re actually named one of the best foodie cities in the country.” The international community here means you’ll find incredible food that goes way beyond typical tourist fare. From Korean corn dogs to authentic Italian spots run by families from Italy, the food scene is legit.

The weather thing is real though. “We’ve got 230 days of sun here in Central Florida” but those summer months from May through September? One lifelong resident called it “unbearable… for the majority of the year.” Plan accordingly.

Here’s what might surprise you: Orlando has real culture beyond the tourist stuff. “We’re actually named one of the best foodie cities in the country” and “there’s roughly a dozen different little downtown areas from Mount Dora to Winter Park Winter Garden.” The international community creates incredible diversity you won’t find in typical suburban areas.

The community feel thing is interesting. Many residents say “everyone’s in their own bubble” and “it doesn’t feel the community” because so many people are transplants. But that also means it’s welcoming to newcomers – “we’re not going back we’re not going back” is how one recent transplant put it.

Getting around requires some strategy. “Orlando traffic is pretty ridiculous I’m just being honest” and you’ll definitely want to rent a car since “95% of people that live in Orlando have a car.” But hey, that car gets you to beaches on both coasts within an hour or two, which is pretty sweet.

Bottom line? Orlando works best when you treat it like locals do. Skip the peak times, explore beyond I-Drive, try the real food spots, and remember that “there’s something always going on here in Greater Orlando” beyond the obvious tourist stuff. The city has this weird mix of international culture, great weather (half the year), and easy access to everything Florida has to offer. Just don’t come in December expecting a relaxing vacation. Thanks For Reading – ShinyandSpotless

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