Orlando, Florida is one of those destinations that makes you feel like you have walked into another world. The scale is staggering, resorts that feel like towns, theme parks bigger than some Aussie suburbs, and experiences that leave you shaking your head in disbelief. It is a giant playground for kids and adults alike, even if it is a bloody long way from Australia.
My favourite place in Orlando was the Kennedy Space Centre. Standing under the massive Saturn V rocket or face-to-face with the Space Shuttle Atlantis is something I’ll never forget, and the shuttle launch simulator was the most realistic ride I have ever been on. For those few minutes I was strapped in I was convinced I was actually blasting into space!
You also get to meet a real astronaut! Veterans of the space program share stories, answer questions and pose for photos at the daily Astronaut Encounters and hearing firsthand what it was like to live and work in orbit takes the whole visit to another level.
The Space Centre sits inside a wildlife refuge so it’s not just about rockets. Staff swap stories about gators wandering across launch pads and in 2020 a SpaceX launch was famously delayed while a gator was escorted off the pad. We even saw a dugong moving lazily through a nearby waterway, a reminder that nature and technology meet here in surprising ways.
What I did not expect in Orlando was the strong Caribbean and Latin influence. It shows up in the food, the colours, even the music you hear in restaurants and hotels. It gave the whole trip a flavour packed twist and reminded us that Florida is closer to the Caribbean islands than we are to Sydney.
And then there is Disney World, the crown jewel of Orlando.
Nothing prepares you for the sheer size of it and you need a week at least to cover the four main parks and two water parks. My favourite were the water parks where the enormous wave pool and lazy rivers carried me away for hours.
Disney’s attention to detail shows up everywhere, even in the way it manages rubbish. An automated vacuum system whisks trash away through underground tubes at speeds of 60 miles per hour, while an advanced recycling program sorts and repurposes thousands of tonnes of waste each year. It’s the kind of behind the scenes magic that makes the parks run like clockwork.
We stayed at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, a budget friendly hotel that felt anything but boring. Giant sporting icons loomed over the courtyards, the pools were always buzzing, and the food hall was packed with options.
Disney’s range of accommodation is an experience in itself. Pop Century celebrates pop culture through the decades while Art of Animation has entire wings themed around films like The Lion King and Cars. Those after a little more comfort can choose Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans French Quarter, or to take it up a notch at Animal Kingdom Lodge where giraffes wander past your balcony.
And just when you think Orlando could not possibly get bigger, it has. Universal has opened its Epic Universe Park, home to Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter land. So, if you have been before you now have a reason to go again.
Orlando is not just a holiday. It brings together science, nature, culture and pure fun in a way you will not find anywhere else. It might be a long way from home but once you have been you will understand why people keep going back.
