Straddling north and south Florida, Orlando is the gateway for many visitors, primarily because it's close to all things Disney.
It's also about two hours east of Tampa (home to yet another theme park, Busch Gardens) and an hour southwest of Kennedy Space Center. Edging Orlando to the south is Kissimmee, with home-grown attractions like Gatorland. The pace slows considerably 20 miles northeast of Orlando in the charming Winter Park suburb.
To have a rich Orlando experience, you need at least a week. And good timing is key. Avoid crowds by planning around school vacations - particularly important when traveling without children or with just preschoolers.
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Spring is gorgeous: sunny and temperate. April and May can be nippy and/or warm enough for the water parks. Avoid the weeks before and after Easter (spring-break times). May, excluding Memorial Day, and early June are good bets.
Come in summer if water parks are a must; they're the only way to keep cool. Crowds are thick and lines are long, but hours are extended. There are slightly fewer people in early June and late August.
Late summer and fall comprise hurricane season, but late in September through November, days are bright and beautiful, temperatures cooler, crowds lighter, and hotel rates lower.
It's too chilly for swimming in winter, and at least one water park is closed. But, holidays excluded, crowds are thin and room rates low.
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A Bit of Fantasy: There's nothing like passing beneath the WDW Railroad to enter the Magic Kingdom, leaving behind reality to enter a world filled with pastel, gingerbread-trim buildings, sparkling sidewalks, and chance encounters with your favorite characters.
'Round the World in a Day: Take an entire day to stroll through Epcot's 11 countries, complete with perfect replicas of foreign monuments (the Doge's Palace, anyone?), intimate performances, and traditional cuisine.
Animal Planet: Go on safari in Disney's Animal Kingdom, let Shamu splash you at SeaWorld, kiss a dolphin at Discovery Cove, and watch gators wrestle at Gatorland.
Shopping Opps: Orlando's upscale malls offer one experience; Winter Park's Main Street boutiques another. In Disney, it's hard to resist classic souvenirs like mouse ears or a silver Tinker Bell necklace.
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