Things to do in Orlando

Orlando's tourist corridor splits into four distinct areas, and picking the wrong one can add an hour of driving a day.

International Drive runs north-south around ICON Park, walkable without a car over short stretches; Lake Buena Vista and the Walt Disney World area sit west, a private district roughly 110 square kilometers wide with its own road network; downtown around Lake Eola is where residents live, about 20 minutes from the parks off-peak; Winter Park, north of downtown, is an older suburb built around Park Avenue.

A rental car is standard, and the I-4 that connects all four gets congested at peak hours. MCO airport is 30 to 45 minutes from most of the corridor by shuttle. Winters run dry and mild, summers bring daily afternoon storms.