It was a tropical welcome to the 'Sunshine State', but not the one I expected. Instead of blue skies and tall palms waving us a greeting, there was a thunderstorm raging over Orlando International Airport. It was ferocious and sent mists rolling up the runway.
We were stranded in the A350 Airbus. The airport didn't allow bridges to be attached for passengers to disembark during thunderstorms. So we sat and waited for a good hour or so before we could leave the jet, after an eight hour flight.
Upon arrival in check- in, like the criminals we were for daring to visit Florida, they scanned our fingerprints! I have it in the back of my mind now that somewhere, on a U.S database, my prints are stored away. Oh well, it's out of my hands now.
The warm tropical air of Florida takes some getting used to. In September it's usually a balmy mid to low 30 degrees, and by afternoon, the heat gets pretty unbearable, especially for a British family.
The pinnacle of an Orlando holiday is the Walt Disney World Resort, a fun, innocent getaway for children and adults alike. In fiscal 2021, The Walt Disney Company, fronted by that nonchalant mouse, made $67.418 billion in revenue across their parks, experiences and products, according to Market Realist.
It's no wonder how these figures were reached. It was $25 for general car parking at places such as Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on top of your admission ticket. Food and drink was also overpriced, with a bottle of water costing $3.50. But it's Disney water, right, with a sprinkling of fairy dust inside?
The highlight of the parks had to be Hollywood Studios, which had a really nice 'golden era of cinema' theme, in its music and surroundings. The main attraction for our family was the Star Wars area, which was a fantastic experience. It was even more immersive in the Floridian heat, which drew a comparison to the warmth of Tatooine and its binary suns.
The 'Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run' was an incredible simulation ride, and both times I went on it I was helping pilot the ship. It was the closest an earth-bound human could be to feeling they were actually 'riding' the iconic Falcon through the galaxy.
I found Magic Kingdom to be a tad disappointing in places. I know that a Disney Park is meant to be a bit goofy, but there was something tacky in the buildings that made me think it just required an update.
We found our first alligator in a nearby town called Celebration, which was a beautiful getaway, with shops, a lake, some wildlife and incredibly neat houses.
The Kennedy Space Center is a must-see as well. The included coach tour is very interesting, and the moon landing artefacts and display spacecraft are brilliant to see.
A wildlife hotspot in the Kissimmee area was Lake Tohopekaglia (also known as Lake Toho). It's simply huge, with a 42-mile circumference. We spotted many species, including herons, egrets, birds of prey, butterflies and dragonflies.
We went to a small marina here where a local described to us the heatstroke he had experienced and how that day we visited 'mild' weather.
These Floridians are used to brutal conditions. You can't help but admire them.
For details on the Walt Disney World Resort click here.
For more ideas on things to do on an Orlando holiday, click here.
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