The Orlando Real - Theme Parks

The Emergence of Theme Parks in Orlando: Orlando’s First Theme Park

Orlando, Florida is the theme park capital of the world and it is easy to see why. There is so much to do here that it almost seems impossible to do it all. With Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and so much more, this city is jam packed with fun around every corner. It is hard to think of a time before theme parks came to Orlando. Many people don’t know that there were theme parks here before Walt Disney World and Universal and one of them still exists today!

Orlando’s First Theme Park

Way before Disney and Universal came to Orlando and started the dawn of the big theme park era, there was Gatorland. In 1949, Owen Godwin founded this 110 acre theme park/wildlife reserve. Gatorland is aptly dubbed the “alligator capital of the…

362 Views, 0 Comments

International Travel Opens Up to Orlando

“I miss Disney at Christmas”

“I miss my holiday home in Celebration”

For the past 20+ months, these were things I heard on an almost daily basis from our UK, EU and Canadian clients. Now on November 8th, international travel will begin again. The Biden administration’s plan to open the US borders (which includes proof of covid vaccination for entry) will have a massive impact to our local economy.

White House spokesman Kevin Munoz confirmed the Nov. 8 date on Twitter, stating the policy “is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent.”

International Travel Means So Much to Orlando

There was a time where my personal real estate business was 20%+ from international clients. It wasn’t uncommon to deal with clients from…

53 Views, 0 Comments

Pros and Cons of Disney Transportation

Walt Disney World has so many fun and magical ways to get to the park. The question is: which one is best for you? Well, that all depends on where you want to go and how much time you have to get there. Come take a look at all the options that Disney offers to get you from point A to point B.

Monorail

Disney World and the monorail go hand in hand. You can’t imagine one without the other. The monorail has been the one of a kind “highway in the sky” since Disneyland opened in 1955. It was so popular and successful that it was used as the official park transportation of Walt Disney World when it opened in 1971. Walt Disney personally picked the monorail as the official ride system because he loved how…

160 Views, 0 Comments

Behind the Ride: The Rock n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith

Disney World Needs Thrills

It is hard to imagine that Walt Disney World was once seriously lacking in the thrill ride department. Many of the guests that came to Disney World throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s all shared one chief complaint- they wanted more thrilling rides for the park’s older guests. The Rock n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith was the answer that they were looking for. It was the perfect combination of rock n’ roll and thrill seeking that guests were craving. 

Like A Rolling Stone

In 1994, MGM Studios (now known as Hollywood Studios) unveiled their Sunset Boulevard expansion. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was the first thrill ride to open and it became a huge success. Next, there were plans to open up…

833 Views, 0 Comments

10 Fun Things to do Without a Park Ticket at Walt Disney World

Did you know that there are plenty of fun things to do on Walt Disney World property without having a park ticket? Whether you want to explore the many fun things that Disney Springs has to offer, watch a movie under the stars, or even eat a meal with Mickey and his pals- there is something fun for everyone. Here are 10 fun things that you can do at Walt Disney World without having to a ticket to the four main parks.

Up, up and away!

At Disney Springs, guests of all ages can board the Disney Aerophile Balloon for a breathtaking view of the Walt Disney World property. This unique experience allows guests to float above Disney Springs in the world’s largest tethered helium balloon. Once you take your place on gondola of the enormous…

124 Views, 0 Comments

Best Rides for Babies & Toddlers at Universal Orlando

When you think of Universal Orlando, its easy to imagine it being a place for teenagers and adults because of all of their thrilling attractions. In reality, there is actually quite a few fun things for babies and toddlers to do there too! Here is a list of everything that you and your little one can do together in Universal Orlando!

Seuss Landing

This adorable, colorful and fun land is themed after Dr. Seuss stories and is perfect for all ages. You can find this kid-friendly land in the Islands of Adventure side of Universal Orlando. There are four baby/toddler friendly rides here, character meet and greets and lots of fun shows.

Caro-Seuss-el

This fun and unique take on a carousel features Dr Seuss characters to ride upon rather…

116 Views, 0 Comments

Walt Disney Company Relocates 2,000 Jobs To Lake Nona

The Walt Disney Company is relocating 2,000 jobs from California to Lake Nona in Florida. It was just announced that Disney is investing a whopping $864 million into the new Lake Nona campus. Many of the employees relocating from California will be for jobs in finance, digital technology and product development. Josh D’Amaro, the Disney Parks chairman, said that the selected employees will have about 18 months to relocate. 

The proximity to the parks was just one of the many incentives in selecting the Lake Nona location. Disney has also been approved for a capital investment tax credit though the state of Florida. Florida does not have a state income tax which is said to have been another big incentive for the move. Lake Nona has a lot of…

62 Views, 0 Comments

Everything You Need To Know About Disney’s New Annual Pass Tiering System

Disney recently announced that they would begin to sell Annual Passes again, but everything you knew about their Annual Pass system before has completely changed. The new system is divided into tiers and many things that were once included, will now be considered an “add-on” (meaning it will be an additional price). The new system will now include four passes: the Incredi-Pass, the Sorcerer Pass, the Pirate Pass and the Pixie Dust Pass. Here is a complete breakdown of all of the new passes and what is included and will now cost you extra.

The Incredi-Pass

Much like the old Platinum Plus Annual Pass, the Incredi-Pass is the most expensive option of all of the passes. This pass will cost you $1299 plus tax! If you are a Florida resident, you…

116 Views, 0 Comments

50 Facts About Walt Disney World To Celebrate The 50th Anniversary

Photo by: John Cordero

Walt Disney World has been a constant source of joy and happiness for all of its guests since the moment it opened on October 1, 1971. The Most Magical Place on Earth has truly earned its name. On October 1, 2021, Walt Disney World will be celebrating 50 years of magic. Let’s take a look at 50 facts about Walt Disney World that you probably didn’t know.

1.Disney’s Magic Kingdom is actually on the second floor! You’d never know it, but there’s a huge Disney secret right below your feet. Magic Kingdom is built above a hub connecting the seven themed lands by 15-foot-tall tunnels called “utilidors”. Cast Members and maintenance workers use the utilidors to get around the park with ease, change costumes, remove trash and…

180 Views, 0 Comments

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is a hidden gem in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. It is the only attraction in all of Walt Disney World that Walt himself had a hand in creating. Take a ride back in time with John, his family and their dog Rover and revisit the history of technological advances starting at the beginning of the 20th Century. Here are 10 things that you probably didn’t know about the famous attraction.

The 1964 New York World’s Fair

The Carousel of Progress first premiered at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 in the aptly named area of “Progressland”. Walt Disney was hired by several funders to create four different attractions for the World’s Fair; one of them being the Carousel of Progress. The attraction was sponsored by…

211 Views, 0 Comments