Orlando

Orlando, Florida, is the world's theme park capital — a city whose entire economic ecosystem is built around Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND, drawing 75 million visitors annually to a sprawling complex of resorts, entertainment districts and artificial lakes in the central Florida subtropical landscape. Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, 20 minutes southwest of downtown) covers 40 square miles and comprises four major theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — plus two water parks, a shopping complex (Disney Springs) and 30+ resort hotels. The level of operational excellence, storytelling and immersive world-building is genuinely remarkable regardless of age. Universal Orlando Resort (Volcano Bay, Epic Universe opening 2025) is increasingly the equal of Disney for ambition and execution. Beyond the theme park corridor, downtown Orlando (Thornton Park, the Mills district) has developed into a genuine urban environment with excellent restaurants and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art holds the world's most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's work — unexpectedly outstanding. Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral (1 hour east) is exceptional. The Central Florida natural environment — Silver Springs (glass-bottom boats over crystal clear springs), the Wekiva River, the St. Johns River wildlife — is the least-known great asset of the region.