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City
Climate
During June, the temperature in Orlando is between 71 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As the temperature in meeting rooms varies, it is advisable to bring a sweater or light jacket to ensure your comfort during the sessions.
Family Fun
Orlando is best known as the home of Walt Disney World®, and is also the center of the largest concentration of family entertainment attractions in the world. With numerous theme parks, museums, and entertaining restaurants, each day guarantees a new and exciting adventure.
Cuisine
From Orlando's fine to entertaining eating establishments, there is sure to be something to satisfy everyone's taste buds. World-renowned chefs Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse have restaurants in Orlando. You can also find more casual and lively fare in such restaurants as Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, the Motown Café, and the Hard Rock Café. The following link provides a list to many of the restaurants located on International Drive: http://orlando.diningguide.net/dl1ir.htm.
Shopping
Your visit to Orlando is more than just a chance to catch up with old friends, attend thought-provoking CMEs, and have fun at the opening party; it's the perfect opportunity to buy yourself something nice at one of the many malls located in the various resorts.
Shoppers beware! Enter Orlando and you enter a shopaholic's paradise! If traditional shopping malls aren't getting the job done, try shopping at various boutiques and one-of-a-kind stores in Orlando. Offering everything from antique stores to outlet shopping, Orlando promises to satisfy even the fussiest shopper. Located across the street from the Orange County Convention Center is Pointe Orlando, an open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with more than 60 specialty retailers for your shopping pleasure. With something for everyone, your whole family will enjoy shopping around the town with you, hunting for the next hot shop!
Culture
Long before Mickey, Shamu, and King Kong hit the theme park circuit, Orlando lived up to its name as The City Beautiful. Since hundreds of lakes dot the landscape, it's not surprising that some of the city's cultural activities are adjacent to the water. Downtown boasts famed Lake Enola Park with its swan paddleboats and fountain that spurts ever-changing colors. If you think Orlando's cultural scene extends only as far as the Mickey's PhilharMagic attraction at the Magic Kingdom®, think again. The area offers a rich, diverse mix of museums, music, performing arts, and more. It's worth checking out the events that will be scheduled during your time in Orlando. Perhaps you can incorporate a night at the opera to go along with your days in the convention center.
Airports and Ground Transportation
The Orlando area is mainly served by Orlando International Airport (MCO), located eight miles southeast of downtown. It has numerous daily flights to and from major cities throughout the U.S. Orlando International Airport is the 15th busiest in the country, located only 15 minutes from the downtown area as well as all of the major attractions. Once on the ground, there are plenty of transportation options to choose from. The airport is home to all major rental car companies, and the city's Lynx public transportation system connects it to all areas of Orlando. Taxi and limousine service are available to any destination in the area as well. The I.Ride trolley service provides transportation from destination to destination along International Drive, with scheduled stops every 15 minutes.
Airport Shuttle
Mears Motor Shuttle is offering AAPA's 33rd Annual PA Conference attendees discount
coupons for transportation to/from the Orlando International Airport. The discounted
round trip fare is $21. Shuttles run
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every 30 minutes, and do not require a reservation
from the airport. Please
print this coupon and bring it with you to Orlando.
Taxis
There are numerous taxis leaving from Orlando International Airport at any time. An average taxi ride from Orlando International Airport to International Drive is $31. The cost for a taxi does not go up if you share. Wear AAPA logo items on your flight into Orlando if you wish to share a cab and look for others doing the same who may be staying at or near your hotel. Taxis are available on Level 1 on both the A and B sides of the Main Terminal.
The I.Ride Trolley
The I.RIDE Trolleys are your ticket to all the excitement and entertainment in the International Drive Resort Area. The Main Line, beginning at the north end in the Major Boulevard area, travels the majority of International Drive and serves the south International Drive Resort area with 78 convenient stops. The I.Ride Trolley does make frequent stops at the Peabody and Rosen Plaza. The trolleys operate year-round, seven days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Single fare is 75 cents; Senior citizen (65 and over) fare is 25 cents; and all children age 12 and under RIDE FREE when accompanied by a paying adult. (Fares are accurate as of September 2004 and are subject to change without notice). Go to www.iridetrolley.com to learn more about the I.Ride Trolley.
When you say you're going to Orlando, everyone assumes you're going to Walt Disney World®. But Orlando has much to offer in addition to Mickey Mouse® and Walt Disney World®.
| Orlando - Explore the Possibilities!
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Orlando is a city of sparkling lakes, distinctive neighborhoods, fusion restaurants,
innovative theaters, lively nightclubs, impressive museums, and lush gardens.
Below are just a few of the many things that Orlando has to offer. Fees vary.
| Theme Parks |
| On
the main menu, click on Tickets to
find discounted tickets to Walt Disney World theme parks and Universal Orlando Resort for you and your family. |
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- Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is the interactive and educational theme park located next door to Sea World®. Discovery Cove has family-friendly activities in a tropical island setting, including swimming with dolphins, snorkeling in a reef environment, and an aviary. Experience sharks, barracuda, stingrays, shipwrecks, and natural wonders while you explore underwater mysteries. For more information, go to www.discoverycove.com.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Orlando's newest theme park lets you explore the unpredictable world of animals on safari, in a prehistoric world, or at stage shows that put the jam in the jungle. Animal Kingdom® is made up of five separate lands: Asia, Africa, Dinoland U.S.A.®, Discovery Island, and Camp Minnie Mickey. The center of the park is where the "Tree of Life" is located. Like the Magic Kingdom®, the Animal Kingdom® resembles a bike wheel with the spokes leading out to different lands. With many different rides and sights, this is sure to be a day full of fun! For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- Disney-MGM Studios
Have you always wanted to go behind the scenes of a television show or a motion picture? Disney-MGM Studios provides a backstage look at TV and movie productions as well as radio broadcasts and the making of animated programs. One of the best parts of this theme park is that it isn't all just for show, as the facilities are entirely functional. Many shows have been filmed in their studios, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Children enjoy strolling down legendary streets like Sunset Boulevard or Dalmatian Avenue as they make their way to the next attraction. Two of the most popular rides include the Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorT (a 13-story free fall) and Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- Epcot®
Experience life as it is lived in 11 different nations around the world, and as it may be years into the future. Walt Disney's Epcot® is a two-part project with no end in sight. Future World is a constantly evolving component that displays a continual focus on technological advancements that the times ahead may hold. World Showcase allows visitors to experience the customs and cultures of 11 different nations in a single afternoon. Additional attractions include a laser show and numerous other entertaining shows. At Epcot® the key elements are education and wholesome entertainment. What more could a parent ask for? For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- Magic Kingdom® Park
Contrary to popular belief, the Magic Kingdom® Park and Walt Disney World® are not one and the same. The Magic Kingdom® Park is, however, one of Walt Disney World's® foremost highlights. It consists of seven different lands, including Main Street USA®, Tomorrowland®, Fantasyland®, Adventureland®, Frontierland®, Liberty Square, and Mickey's Toon Town® Fair; each of these exciting realms brings a different figment of the imagination to life. Children and adults alike will enjoy a boat cruise through the jungles of the world, interacting with Pluto, Donald Duck, and all your favorite Disney characters. For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- SeaWorld®
SeaWorld® activities include rides, shows, and animal attractions. Experience a 15-story-high roller coaster that will whip and turn you upside down at 65 mph. Slow down and enjoy a performance of Cirque de la Mer-the Circus of the Sea. Be sure to leave time in your day for an hour-long behind-the-scenes tour. Choose from tours to see the predators, a polar expedition, or rescue tour. You will see and learn about the efforts of Sea World® to care for and rehabilitate sea life. For more information, go to www.seaworld.com.
- Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventures
This massive Orlando theme park is a never-ending hodgepodge of fun rides, entertaining exhibits, and five exciting sections. Indeed, the non-studio park's islands each feature a different theme: Seuss LandingT, Jurassic Park River AdventureSM, Toon Lagoon®, and Marvel Comic Superhero Island®. This is a great place to bring the entire family for a day of fun and adventure. For more information, go to themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website.
- Universal Studios Florida
This theme park has recreated a variety of movie sets and rides from comedy to horror, all of which have been tailored to give the guest the feeling of being in specific events from movies. Twister, Jaws, Back to the Future, and Terminator 2 are just a few of the exhibits worth trying. There is something for everyone here. For more information, go to themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website.
- Florida Aquarium
Set along the waterfront, this amazing attraction (housed in a structure modeled after a giant scallop shell) explores Florida's native sea life in a number of venues. More than 4,300 plants and animals are represented, highlighting both fresh- and saltwater environments. Exhibits document the movement of water from wetlands to ocean and include a million-gallon coral reef display that houses fish of all kinds. Twice each day, divers feed sharks living in the aquarium, and other exhibits showcase sea life from around the world. A gift shop and restaurant are on the premises, and the IMAX Theater next door presents a film documenting ocean life. For more information, go to www.flaquarium.org.
- Gatorland
Gatorland has thousands of alligators, animals, and birds. You can pet them, learn fascinating facts about them, and observe their natural habitats. Although guests may not buy a baby croc or gator to take home, they can still participate in the Adopt-a-Croc program-check at the gift shop for details. For more information, go to www.gatorland.com.
Museums
- Orlando Museum of Art (OMA)
OMA's purpose has been to enrich the cultural life of Florida by providing excellence in the visual arts. To meet this objective, OMA has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving, and interpreting notable works of art; to presenting exhibitions of local, regional, national, and international significance; to developing first-rate educational programs; and to presenting creative and inclusive programs to reach every segment of a diverse community. For more information, go to www.omart.org.
- Mennello Museum of American Art
The Mennello Museum of American Art endeavors to preserve, exhibit, and interpret its outstanding permanent collection of paintings by Earl Cunningham (1893-1977). The museum's Cunningham collection was donated by collectors Marilyn and Michael Mennello of Winter Park, Florida. The museum also seeks to enrich the public through special exhibitions, publications, and programs that celebrate outstanding traditional and contemporary American folk artists. For more information, go to www.mennellomuseum.com.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum
The Orlando Odditorium appears to be sinking into one of Florida's infamous sinkholes. For more than 40 years, Robert Ripley-the modern Marco Polo and real-life Indiana Jones-traveled the world collecting the unbelievable, the inexplicable, the one-of-a-kind. All of it is amazing and much of it is extremely amusing. His collection is housed in more than 27 museums in 10 countries. Each museum's collection is 90 percent unique and different. As Ripley's ghost says, "Come in... look around... and see if you Believe It or Not!®." For more information, go to www.ripleysorlando.com.
- Kennedy Space Center
Ever wonder what it takes to make it to space, what it feels like to be cramped in a real space capsule, or how big the biggest rocket is? Have these questions and more answered in a hands-on experience that will leave you looking to the stars. About one hour from the Orange County Convention Center, the Kennedy Space Center is home to the real adventure of space travel as well as an opportunity for visitors to witness firsthand all that is involved with the program. From massive launch pads and Apollo/Saturn rockets to a five-story video perspective of space, out of this world excitement is a sure-fire bet. For more information, go to www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
- WonderWorksT
The WonderWorksT building, a research laboratory from an uncharted island in the Bermuda Triangle, has landed upside-down and completely intact in Central Florida. The swirling vortex that transported it was created by some of the world's greatest scientists who studied and experimented at the top-secret, highly advanced facility called WonderWorksT. This interactive attraction features hands-on demonstrations and activities such as the Physical Challenge Arena, where you can test your strength and agility; Wonder Coaster, which allows you to design a roller-coaster and actually ride it; and Earthquake Experience, which recreates one of history's most renowned earthquakes. For more on WonderWorksT, go to www.wonderworksonline.com.
- US Astronaut Hall of Fame
In honor of the men and women who have contributed so much to the nation's knowledge of outer space, this captivating museum provides great insight into the responsibilities and role of astronauts. Among the Hall of Fame inductees are the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab astronauts. Additional attractions found here include the original space capsules of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, as well as a variety of space simulators. From landing a space shuttle to navigating across the surface of Mars, these simulators allow children and adults to experience a hint of what the astronaut's job encapsulates. For more information, go to www.kennedyspacecenter.com/visitKSC/attractions/fame.asp.
Entertainment
- Metropolis and Matrix
Dance the night away at Metropolis and Matrix, two of central Florida's hottest nightclubs. Metropolis features a 13-foot video wall, 15 televisions, seven hand-carved billiard tables, and today's best dance music. Matrix, home of Orlando's largest dance floor, has surreal décor and multi-million dollar lighting. Watch the newest releases in one of Pointe Orlando's 21 theaters, including first-run movie showings in a large-screen format theater. All theaters feature wall-to-wall curved screens, amphitheater-style seating, superior sight-lines, and digital sound systems.
- XS Orlando
XS Orlando has more than 100 of the newest interactive video games and simulators for all ages. Breed, train, and race your own thoroughbred horse; spin 360 degrees in an exciting war-bird environment; drive a racecar at 150 mph; and step into the ring where world-class boxing opponents stare you down from the opposite corner. For more information, go to www.orlandoattractions.com.
- Downtown Disney®
Located along the banks of Lake Buena Vista, Downtown Disney® is comprised of numerous shops, dining establishments, a movie complex, and nightclubs. Cirque du Soleil®, the Wild Horse Saloon, Wolfgang Puck Café, House of Blues, and LEGO® Imagination Center are among the list of attractions you will find. Every day is a day worth celebrating, and Disney seizes the opportunity by providing live festivals in the street- to the delight of adults and children alike. Even the landscaping is festive, complete with fountains for the children to run through and well-maintained garden areas. For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- Pleasure Island
Located in the heart of Lake Buena Vista and a neighbor to the Downtown Disney® complex, Pleasure Island is about a 20-minute drive from the Orange County Convention Center. Spanning more than 72,000 square feet, the collection of nightclubs, shops, and restaurants are open to all with the purchase of a single ticket. Pleasure Island features the latest and greatest in club entertainment as all the clubs are tailored with their own unique theme of music, style, and atmosphere. Feel free to laugh it up at the Comedy Warehouse or cool down from dancing at the Pleasure Island Jazz Company, featuring the best of the best from the '30s till today. With eight unique clubs all contributing their own blend of live bands, DJs, or dancers, you'll be partying all night. For more information, go to www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
- Universal Studios CityWalk
The numerous eateries, nightclubs, theaters, live entertainment, and shopping venues located in this 30-acre complex will reel you in and keep you for the entire afternoon and night. Casual and fine dining establishments such as the NASCAR Café and Emeril's are found throughout the area, offering a wide variety of choices to suit all different preferences. Live entertainment includes celebrity appearances, cooking demonstrations, and amusing street performances-sure to keep you entertained. As nighttime approaches, you can choose to dance the night away in one of the many nightclubs or reflect upon the day's experiences in one of the laid-back bars. For more information, go to themeparks.universalstudios/orlando/website.
Last Revised: 12/1/05
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