Orlando Hotels, Attractions, and Information

Written by Julie Greiner

Central Florida is a great place to visit and live. The vast miles of citrus groves, natural resources of water and canals and local museums and gardens are plentiful. More than 35-million people visit the area every year. The census report from the year 2000 put the population count at some 185,915 for Orlando. The metro area of Orlando has approximately 106, 815 hotel rooms... the second largest concentration of hotel rooms in the U.S. and the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center houses more than 1.4 million square feet of exhibit and meeting space.

Orlando, Florida - the Megalopolis

Orlando, Florida is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Once a sleepy town situated in the middle of Central Florida's citrus industry - Orlando is now part of a megalopolis. Believed to have been named after Orlando Reeves, a soldier who was killed by an Indian arrow while protecting an early settlement - Orlando's history dates back to 1838 and the height of the Seminole Wars. The Town of Orlando was incorporated in 1875 with 85 inhabitants... 22 of whom were qualified voters. In the year of 1967 the Florida legislature created the Reedy Creek Improvement District - which is known today as Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom. Reedy Creek Improvement District consisted of 42 square miles (27,400 acres) of land, twice the area of Manhattan. Disneyland in California, the predecessor, consists of 240 acres.

Metro Orlando includes some of the world's most popular tourist attractions which include: Walt Disney World, Disney-MGM Studios, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios of Florida and Sea World... to name just a few.

Cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud of Central Florida

Kissimmee was originally a small trading post, which after the Civil War was included in a purchase of 4,000,000 acres of marshland and plains by a Mr. Hamilton Disston, the owner of Disston Saw Company in Philadelphia for the approximate cost of 25c per acre. Retirees were attracted to the area in the 1950's and with the opening of Walt Disney World and all that followed... the population has grown to approximately 140,000 people living throughout Osceola County, Florida as of the year 2000. This area is also known for cattle, race horses and Tupperware.

Central Florida is the ideal vacationer's dream - fantastic warm tropical climate, beaches, world renown amusement parks, museums of every magnitude and guest accommodations to fit everyone's needs and desires. From Mickey Mouse and the citrus groves to the Tupperware Museum of Food Containers - Central Florida has it all!