Visting Orlando
The
city
is
also
sometimes
nicknamed
"The
Theme
Park
Capital
of
the
World",
as
it
is
best
known
for
the
Walt
Disney
World
Resort
(located
approximately
21
miles
(34 km)
southwest
of
Downtown
Orlando
in
Lake
Buena
Vista),
founded
by
the
Walt
Disney
Company
in
1971,
the
Universal
Orlando
Resort
(which
consists
of
two
parks,
Universal
Studios
Florida
and
Islands
of
Adventure,
as
well
as
other
attractions,
including
City
Walk),
SeaWorld,
Gatorland,
and
Wet
'n
Wild
Water
Park.
With
the
exception
of
Walt
Disney
World,
most
major
attractions
are
located
along
International
Drive.
The
city's
famous
attractions
form
the
backbone
of
Orlando's
tourism
industry,
making
the
city
the
most
visited
American
city
in
2009.[5]
The
city
is
also
one
of
the
busiest
American
cities
for
conferences
and
conventions.
Like
other
major
cities
in
the
Sun
Belt,
Orlando
grew
rapidly
during
the
1980s
and
well
into
the
first
decade
of
the
21st
century.
Orlando
is
also
home
to
the
University
of
Central
Florida,
which
is
the
second-largest
university
campus
in
the
United
States
in
terms
of
enrollment
(as
of
2012).
Orlando attracts over 51 million tourists a year (3.6 million of them are international tourists).[6] Its airport, the Orlando International Airport (MCO), is the thirteenth busiest airport in the United States, and the 29th busiest in the world. |