Central Florida

Blackwood State Park. April 1986. Legends about the so-called Beast of Blackwood – which may or may not be the result of a government-funded experiment – have circulated for some time, prompting five local youths to go “investigate” in what is really a glorified camping trip. They, of course, disappear, and now it’s your turn […]

When it comes to roller coasters, a lot of people sometimes say bigger isn’t better, yet the theme parks, year after year, continue to push the envelope with just how high and how fast their coasters can go. Orlando is home to one of the best collections of roller coasters in the world; the theme […]

April is National Autism Awareness Month and LEGOLAND Florida Resort is doing their part by announcing the addition of ‘Quiet Rooms,’ No-Wait Passes and Employee Training to assist guests with Autism Spectrum Disorders. LEGOLAND Florida recently partnered with the North and Central Florida chapter of Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to better serve […]

One of the biggest problems facing tourists when they arrive in Central Florida is transportation; the last thing a number of visitors want to do while on vacation is having to drive around Orlando’s heavily-congested roadways (hence Disney offering its Magical Express service from the airport to its on-site hotels), and those who hail from […]

One of the most perennial, most fundamental questions to tackle during vacation planning has always been: do I take my children out of school for our Orlando trip? The pros and cons make the issue more fraught than one might otherwise assume – waiting until a school break means bigger crowds and more expensive rates […]

LEGOLAND Florida Resort has officially opened its latest expansion at its resort in the shape of  83 colorful bungalows. Each bungalow features 166 separate rooms that sleep up to five people, including an area just for kids with a bunk bed, trundle bed and privacy curtain, you know, because kids need their alone time too. […]

If you’re a fan of the new LEGO Batman Movie, which has already grossed over $136 million at the box office since its February 10th debut, you may want to head to LEGOLAND Florida starting tomorrow for their new event featuring the caped crusader. The event takes place over the next two weekends, on March 4-5 […]

One of the biggest frustrations of a road trip is trying to entertain the kids so you and your kids don’t go crazy. LEGOLAND Florida Resort has a new app that will help entertain your kids, at least for a little while, that involves c. Here’s how it works. You go and download the free ‘Quest […]

Skyplex on International Drive, the massive thrill ride tower complex that is scheduled to start construction later this year, just announced yet another thrill ride to its arsenal, called Sky Jump. The attraction is described as a “free fall” experience where guests are strapped to zipline mechanism 500-feet in the air and “freefall” to the ground. […]

When planned correctly, wearing a cute dress on your vacation to the Orlando theme parks can be another memorable and fun aspect of your vacation. To help make the most of your trip, I’ve compiled some tips and ideas for wearing a theme park inspired dress on your next Orlando trip! How to pick the […]

Note from the Editor: This is by far the hardest article I’ve ever had to publish on our site. However, when Dani pitched the idea, there was no way I could turn her passion down. Our entire team at Orlando Informer is devoted to counteracting this senseless attack on our Orlando community however possible. As […]

Orlando’s tallest, fastest, and longest coaster is now open at SeaWorld. This week, Orlando Informer took on Mako and filmed the result. However, we weren’t interested in doing just another normal ride camera. Our fearless editor Max helped keep things interesting by sharing five facts you might not know about sharks. The attraction is inspired by […]

If you’re planning your first visit, you want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible! If you’re responsible for creating the perfect trip, the weight on your shoulders can feel a little heavy. But don’t worry, because here at Orlando Informer, we want to take a little of that weight off. After reading these […]

So you had enough of the theme parks. Or to begin with, you were never a fan of the parks. Or maybe you just want to find a cheap drink without having to pay a ridiculous admission fee. Well, whatever your reason or reasons, Downtown Orlando may be the right place for you. Not to […]

Today during a Orange County Board of County Commissioners public hearing, the request to rezone SkyPlex’s development plot to allow for it to be the world’s tallest roller coaster was unanimously approved. SkyPlex will be constructed on International Drive. The session included upwards of 40 comments from citizens, including multiple Universal Orlando representatives. Universal has […]

When it comes to visiting Florida from another country, the two most popular airports tourists will arrive at will be Orlando International (MCO) or Sanford International (SFB). Orlando International is located in the southeast of Orlando, making it close to the attractions and main tourist areas — around 25 minutes to Universal Orlando and Walt […]

Editor’s note: this article has been contributed by Joe, a timeshare insider and a fan of Orlando Informer. Everyone wants to save the most amount of money on hotels when vacationing so they can spend more money on entertainment! In this article, I will share how you can possibly save hundreds, if not thousands, of […]

It happens to the best of us. We’re happily planning an upcoming vacation – we diligently do our research, read an overwhelming amount of reviews, and maybe even take to social media to ask our family and friends for their advice on what they’d recommend doing while in Orlando. While these recommendations are always well-intentioned, […]

Busch Gardens Tampa is known for its amazing thrill rides, including the Falcon’s Fury drop tower that delivers a one-of-a-kind ride experience. But the park is more than thrills and rides – when it first started, the only attraction (other than a brewery) was the Bird Gardens, and even now, with the growth in the […]

For children, buying theme park souvenirs can be one of the very best parts of their Universal Orlando vacation. But for parents, the constant barrage of merchandise at the end of every ride and around every corner can mean there’s no escape from the pleading eyes and “Can I have this?” requests. In an effort […]

Today’s the day! I-Drive 360, home of The Orlando Eye, is officially open to the public. Last week, Orlando Informer was on hand to experience The Eye. Today, we have everything you need to know about the attraction before you and your family “take flight” on an upcoming vacation. A look at the 400-foot wheel […]

“Never give up,” 36-year-old Nik Wallenda’s tagline, shone through as much as ever as the daredevil took a walk atop The Orlando Eye with no harness on Wednesday. The Orlando Eye is the tallest observation wheel on North America’s east coast, coming in at 400 feet. Opening this upcoming Monday, May 4, the wheel required […]

If I could give just one dining tip to Orlando visitors, I think I‘d have to go with making Restaurant Row a culinary must-do. Tucked in between the attractions area and the edge of the residential area sits Orlando’s Restaurant Row, a two-mile stretch of Sand Lake Road that is a foodie’s dream come true. […]

An Orlando vacation is pretty incredible in itself, but there’s a way to take it to uncharted territory. With Orlando’s ideal location in the middle of Florida (we don’t call it Central Florida for nothing!), it is easy to get to one of the nearby cruise ports and head out to the high seas for […]

Welcome to THE BIG 5, a definitive top five list of various Orlando related, uh, stuff. THE BIG 5 is wide ranging, and will run the gamut from the top five reasons to go to Downtown Disney, to the top five places to get a drink at Universal Studios, to the top five reasons Avatarland […]

Every hotel is different. In fact, as a hotelier, I like to say that finding the right hotel for you is liking finding your spouse. Every guest is different, and not every hotel is going to fit the needs of each guest. In order to find the right hotel to fit your needs, it takes […]

It was my sister, Stefanie, who first experienced Yard House at a South Florida location of theirs, as well as one in Los Angeles. When she caught wind that they were expanding into the Central Florida market, she was supremely excited and began sharing the details with me as we awaited their grand opening. The […]

Theme park vacations are tons of fun, but they can be spoiled in an instant once someone in your party gets the sniffles. Nothing ruins a good vacation like having to stay in the hotel tending to a sick and miserable child, or trying to enjoy the rides when your head is pounding from a […]

After months of delays at Busch Gardens Tampa, Falcon’s Fury was opened to the public at noon on Tuesday, September 2. Three days later, it went down again for “routine maintenance” (that’s the official story, but several employees say it was struck by lightning) and stayed down for four days. To say this ride has […]

Sometimes the fantasy of a theme park vacation and the reality of it are worlds apart, especially when your family is larger than average. Dealing with various ages and interest levels – and struggling with ride height requirements – means that a large family needs a battle plan for managing a day of theme park […]

Orlando is known for many things, but, until recently, it hasn’t always been known as a culinary destination. Which is a shame – Orlando has lots of unique cuisine to sample and colorful neighborhoods to visit. Thankfully, Orlando Food Tours makes it fun and easy to explore one of the city’s best neighborhoods and try […]

It may be the fantasy and thrills of the major theme parks that lure so many vacationers to Orlando, but if that’s as far as your vacation goes, you’re missing out on some of our truly novel amusements. Just outside of Universal and SeaWorld, International Drive (commonly referred to as I-Drive) serves as a playground […]

If you thought Orlando was all about the mighty theme parks, eating delicious food, and 90-degree temperatures, you’re missing out on a big feature in the world’s number one vacation destination: shopping! Whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s designer clothes, sportswear, electronics, beauty products, or another suitcase to fit all that stuff in, Orlando has […]

Yesterday morning’s media event at I-Drive 360 finally provided the details so many of us have been anxiously awaiting – opening dates, prices, and a look at the famous faces of Madame Tussauds! Let’s get right into it. The Orlando Eye opens After months of watching The Orlando Eye develop and grow to its full […]

Orlando is chock full of big amusements; towering icons, colossal entertainment, and ginormous thrills are just a few of the reasons tourists and locals alike love “The City Beautiful.” Lately, however, Orlando is beginning to look more like “The City Growing,” as International Drive is gaining steam as the newest amusement hub – and, arguably, […]

My husband and I ended up with the same weekday off of work, so we used this rare opportunity to visit Busch Gardens Tampa without the teenagers. What a difference visiting the park on a weekday makes – crowds were nonexistent, even with the beautiful weather! As we entered the park, we stopped to pay […]

There’s no two ways around it: 2014 was one of the single biggest years in Orlando history. From the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida to the completion of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, from Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica to Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens […]

A New Year is about to dawn, and many people are contemplating how they want to improve themselves in the coming year. How about resolving to have a better Orlando vacation? It is important to research and plan, but there are decisions you can make – resolutions, if you will – that will ensure you […]