[UrbanGenious25]

I visited Orlando this past weekend from Omaha, Nebraska for the pro bowl and Olympic marathon trials. I was actually impressed with the city. I found the downtown area to be very vibrant at night and the surrounding neighborhoods to be quite walkable and charming.

The city has an underrated food scene. The town of Winter park has a street called "park ave" and man was it hopping. I was also impressed to see that they have a commuter rail called the Sunrail that runs north of the city to the south. I've been to Miami and south Florida, I feel like Orlando is a firm second when it comes to diversity. My question is, why does people think Orlando is just theme parks and sprawl?

After doing some research, I found a couple of articles highlighting Orlando's explosion.

https://bnnbreaking.com/lifestyle/th...ock-to-orlando


https://www.businessinsider.com/movi...rnia-ny-2024-2

[IceMonkey]

Downtown is nice but I don't think the food scene is underrated. It's pretty weak in most of Orlando.

[Arcenal813]

Glad you visited the actual city of Orlando! Yes, it’s a very underrated, if not overlooked place. Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods (Thornton Park, Baldwin Park, Colonialtown North and South, Ivanhoe, etc., are all wonderful, charming, walkable places, and as you said, quite vibrant and active. Winter Park I pretty much include in “surrounding neighborhoods,” as despite being its own city, pretty much seamlessly blends into those areas, particularly Baldwin Park and Colonialtown North.

As for your question (sprawl and theme parks,) quite simply put, it’s because 90% of people who visit “Orlando” never actually go TO Orlando. They get to the airport, and are shuttled straight to South Orange County/Osceola County, which jets them through hideous uninspired sprawl neighborhoods until they reach the tourist traps of I-Drive and Disney. They never venture North of the Turnpike, which is where you were, and where the majority of locals live and function.

Sunrail is adding a new line that will connect the current one to the airport and to the convention center, Sea World, and all of that tourist stuff to the south.
It’s booming rapidly. It doesn’t get much attention because it gets overshadowed by its reputation for theme parks, and it’s not throwing up a million useless skyscrapers… Although its skyline I feel is also vastly under appreciated here.

[IceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

As for your question (sprawl and theme parks,) quite simply put, it’s because 90% of people who visit “Orlando” never actually go TO Orlando. They get to the airport, and are shuttled straight to South Orange County/Osceola County, which jets them through hideous uninspired sprawl neighborhoods until they reach the tourist traps of I-Drive and Disney. They never venture North of the Turnpike, which is where you were, and where the majority of locals live and function.

.

I've never understood that. Especially since some are coming all the way from South America or even Europe, and only visiting theme parks? I guess it takes a certain type of tourist.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by IceMonkey

Downtown is nice but I don't think the food scene is underrated. It's pretty weak in most of Orlando.

A few years ago I’d agree here, but since I returned a few months ago, I can admit I have been pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely been deserving of its recent praise and attention.

[UrbanGenious25]

From what I've seen Orlando has any type of food you're looking for.

[IceMonkey]

Originally Posted by UrbanGenious25

From what I've seen Orlando has any type of food you're looking for.

It has some good Vietnamese food and a few independent restaurants in Winter Park. But overall it's dining scene can't hold a candle to many other cities in the US.

[UrbanGenious25]

I would have to disagree with you, and I've been to many cities across the country.

[UrbanGenious25]

I even visited some springs! it was a little chilly but nothing compared to what we deal with in Omaha.

[firmbizzle]

Because $100M is spent a year to get people to visit the theme parks. Orlando is a sprawl, its downtown core is small and weak. It grew during the 70s and 80s when suburbs were big, so everything is suburban.