<p><em>Travelling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” <br /> — Ibn Battuta</em><br /><br /></p>.<p>I grew up watching Mickey Mouse cartoons on TV. But I never thought I would ‘meet’ him and even get a hug from him. “Welcome, my friend from India...how do you do?” Mickey Mouse asked me as I entered his room at the Town Square Theater in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney Resort. I was told that coming all the way to Florida and not meeting Mickey would not be a good idea, and after a 20 to 25- minute wait, I managed to meet him.<br /><br /> The fairytale dreams come true for children of all ages at Magic Kingdom Park and also the generations who have grown up seeing Walt Disney cartoons. I got a similar surprise when I visited Universal Orlando Resort and entered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A recreation of the Hogwarts Express locomotive with a conductor greets guests when entering Hogsmeade, and this makes the experience thematic. <br /><br />Theme of tourism<br /><br />Having been invited by Visit Florida, the official tourism marketing corporation for the State of Florida, I got a memorable experience of all that Orlando had to offer. As I boarded the Orlando Eye, and was effortlessly lifted up to 400 feet, I witnessed a breathtaking 360-degree view of Central Florida. Located at I-Drive 360, the Orlando Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the east coast of the US. Here, one can hop into Madame Tussauds Museum to take selfies with wax statues of US President Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Muhammed Ali, Tiger Woods, Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson. And of course, Juan Ponce de Leon, the famous Spanish explorer who is most famous for leading the first European expedition to Florida, which he named. <br /><br />Just across the museum is Sea Life that takes its visitors into a magical underwater world, filled with an array of amazing aquatic creatures. From face-to-face encounters with sharks, to a hands-on touchpool experience, a 360-degree underwater tunnel gives a spectacular view of ocean life.<br /><br />Sights & sounds<br /><br />In the true sense of the term, Orlando is ‘The Theme Park of the World’ or ‘The City Beautiful’. Many told me that before Mickey Mouse made Orlando his home, this place was a leader in the citrus industry, fulfilling the country’s need for grapefruits, tangerines and oranges. As the citrus industry flourished, Orlando was officially incorporated on July 21, 1875, making it one of the oldest cities with a rich heritage. <br /><br />Besides the theme park, there are plenty of other things to be done in Orlando like playing golf or adventure activities. Orlando also boasts of a happening nightlife. <br /><br />The 4 theme parks and 2 water parks at Walt Disney World Resort — Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach Water Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Typhoon Lagoon; the 2 theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort — Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida; 3 parks from SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment — SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica — SeaWorld’s Waterpark and Discovery Cove; and Legoland Florida Resort, it can be anyone’s choice for holidaying. <br /><br />“With a unique mix of theme parks, water parks, museums, entertainment and rides and attractions, there’s fun for everyone cutting across age groups in Orlando,” says Lucille Spann, the global public relations manager of Visit Florida. <br /><br />Factfile<br /><br />GETTING THERE: Orlando’s major airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO), located within 15-miles of the Orange County Convention Center and major attractions. With 39 scheduled airlines, MCO provides nonstop service to 76 destinations in the US and 49 international cities.<br /><br />WHERE TO STAY: With over 450 hotels and more than 1,17,000 guest rooms, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any destination in the world. Accommodations range from luxury resorts and themed hotels to charming bed and breakfasts, economy hotels/motels and campgrounds. <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p><em>Travelling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” <br /> — Ibn Battuta</em><br /><br /></p>.<p>I grew up watching Mickey Mouse cartoons on TV. But I never thought I would ‘meet’ him and even get a hug from him. “Welcome, my friend from India...how do you do?” Mickey Mouse asked me as I entered his room at the Town Square Theater in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney Resort. I was told that coming all the way to Florida and not meeting Mickey would not be a good idea, and after a 20 to 25- minute wait, I managed to meet him.<br /><br /> The fairytale dreams come true for children of all ages at Magic Kingdom Park and also the generations who have grown up seeing Walt Disney cartoons. I got a similar surprise when I visited Universal Orlando Resort and entered the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A recreation of the Hogwarts Express locomotive with a conductor greets guests when entering Hogsmeade, and this makes the experience thematic. <br /><br />Theme of tourism<br /><br />Having been invited by Visit Florida, the official tourism marketing corporation for the State of Florida, I got a memorable experience of all that Orlando had to offer. As I boarded the Orlando Eye, and was effortlessly lifted up to 400 feet, I witnessed a breathtaking 360-degree view of Central Florida. Located at I-Drive 360, the Orlando Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the east coast of the US. Here, one can hop into Madame Tussauds Museum to take selfies with wax statues of US President Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Muhammed Ali, Tiger Woods, Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson. And of course, Juan Ponce de Leon, the famous Spanish explorer who is most famous for leading the first European expedition to Florida, which he named. <br /><br />Just across the museum is Sea Life that takes its visitors into a magical underwater world, filled with an array of amazing aquatic creatures. From face-to-face encounters with sharks, to a hands-on touchpool experience, a 360-degree underwater tunnel gives a spectacular view of ocean life.<br /><br />Sights & sounds<br /><br />In the true sense of the term, Orlando is ‘The Theme Park of the World’ or ‘The City Beautiful’. Many told me that before Mickey Mouse made Orlando his home, this place was a leader in the citrus industry, fulfilling the country’s need for grapefruits, tangerines and oranges. As the citrus industry flourished, Orlando was officially incorporated on July 21, 1875, making it one of the oldest cities with a rich heritage. <br /><br />Besides the theme park, there are plenty of other things to be done in Orlando like playing golf or adventure activities. Orlando also boasts of a happening nightlife. <br /><br />The 4 theme parks and 2 water parks at Walt Disney World Resort — Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach Water Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Typhoon Lagoon; the 2 theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort — Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida; 3 parks from SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment — SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica — SeaWorld’s Waterpark and Discovery Cove; and Legoland Florida Resort, it can be anyone’s choice for holidaying. <br /><br />“With a unique mix of theme parks, water parks, museums, entertainment and rides and attractions, there’s fun for everyone cutting across age groups in Orlando,” says Lucille Spann, the global public relations manager of Visit Florida. <br /><br />Factfile<br /><br />GETTING THERE: Orlando’s major airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO), located within 15-miles of the Orange County Convention Center and major attractions. With 39 scheduled airlines, MCO provides nonstop service to 76 destinations in the US and 49 international cities.<br /><br />WHERE TO STAY: With over 450 hotels and more than 1,17,000 guest rooms, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any destination in the world. Accommodations range from luxury resorts and themed hotels to charming bed and breakfasts, economy hotels/motels and campgrounds. <br /><br /><br /></p>
