No matter if you’ve been to the “City Beautiful” multiple times or are thinking about visiting for the first time, there’s always something to learn! They say we “learn at least one new thing a day”, right? You’ll find 10 fun facts about Orlando that we think you’ll find interesting, especially if you’re just starting to discover the city.
1) The origin of how Orlando received its name remains a mystery. There are four stories that have been told for years, but no conclusion has ever been made. Legend has it that the city was named for the character in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” Others assume that the iconic city was named after an exemplary soldier named Orlando Reeves. He fought in the Seminole War and met his demise in 1835 while trying to warn his fellow soldiers.
2) Orlando has approximately 233 days of sunshine per year. No wonder Florida is called the “Sunshine State”!
3) Exploring nature is easy here! You’ll find over 100 city parks in Orlando. They offer a wide range of activities from sports, camps, and other social programs.
4) There are also more than 100 lakes located in Orlando. Lake Eola, located in downtown Orlando, is surprisingly a giant sinkhole and is home to over 50 swans! At 80 feet at its deepest point, it’s a popular place for paddle-boating and other water-based activities. If you’re looking for a hotspot to take a quick dip in the water, head over to DeLeon Springs State Park (about an hour away from most of our vacation homes). You’ll be able to go for a swim and enjoy their expansive butterfly garden!
5) Speaking of sports, golf is one of the most popular sports to enjoy in Florida! There are 24 golf courses within the city of Orlando and an additional 39 within a 20-mile radius of the city — including 27 public courses, 3 municipal courses, and 8 private courses. Golf fanatic? There are over 1,250 golf courses throughout the state!
6) The first theme park in Orlando opened in 1949 — Gatorland, known as “The Alligator Capital of the World®.”. The main attraction upon opening was a 15-foot alligator, which was supposedly one of the largest in the world. The 110-acre park is still open and is home to over 2,000 American Alligators!
7) Walt Disney purchsed thousands of acres of swampland in Kissimmee, Florida — which is now home to what we lovingly call Walt Disney World. He started doing this in 1955 after Disneyland opened in California. Walt Disney World, the theme park in Orlando, did not open until 15 years after he died in 1971.
8) Universal Studios opened in Orlando in 1990, and the main attraction areas were Back to the Future, Nickelodeon, Ghostbusters, E.T., and a reconstructed version of The Bates Motel.
9) The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010 at Universal’s Island of Adventures. Even though Disney has the rights to Harry Potter, some sources say that J. K. Rowling chose Universal instead due to more significant collaboration. Between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, it’s reported that the area cost more than half-a-billion dollars to design, build and construct. Looking for a Harry Potter themed vacation? Check out a beautiful home that’s close to all of the parks with a Harry Potter themed bedroom.
10) There’s a citrus farm, located just west of Walt Disney World, where you can pick fresh Florida oranges straight from the tree! The Showcase of Citrus is a working farm where Florida orange juice is made, and there are a ton of activities for everyone in your family to enjoy. As one more Orlando fun fact, Dr. Philip Phllips once owned 5,000 acres of citrus and ended up selling his company to Minute Maid in 1954 for $50 million.
Explore Orlando with family & friends
If you can’t tell from these 10 fun facts about Orlando, there are so many fun things to do here! From visiting some of the most popular theme parks in the world to taking an afternoon stroll through groves of ready to pick oranges. Ready to visit and see for yourself? We’d love to help you plan your next Orlando adventure! Just give us a call or send us a message. You can also browse through our wide range of vacation rental homes.
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