Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a large city located in Orange County (Florida)|Orange County, Florida.

Orlando, for most people conjures up the image of theme parks, mainly Disney World, but it has a lot more to offer than that. In fact, Disney is technically not in Orlando, but is in nearby Lake Buena Vista. Make sure that you don't miss downtown Orlando.

Contact

• Ten digit dialing is in effect in the Orlando area. All calls from or within the area, even local calls, require dialing the area code. There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time.

• Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 8723 International Dr, 1-800 972-3304, [1]. The official sales and marketing organization for the Orlando and Orange County area.

• ZIP codes in the city of Orlando begin with 328, and 327 in the surrounding areas.

• It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.

Stay safe

Visitors should be vigilant of their surroundings in downtown Orlando west of I-4 (known as the Parramore district). Orange Blossom Trail (north of Sand Lake Road) is also a notoriously dangerous part of town.

Tourists should tend to venture away from the Pine Hills neighborhood. This neighborhood is located around Silver Star Road and Pine Hills Road west of John Young Parkway. This area is notorious for high crime.

Typical rules of tourism and common sense apply. Hotel room invasions do occur, especially open-air hotel and motel rooms when the victim leaves their hotel room unlocked and not dead-bolted. When you are in a hotel room, lock your doors behind you.

Never leave valuable items in your car unattended, get any purchased items to your hotel room as soon as possible.

Also, do not leave small children unattended for any length of time, especially at a pool. Most hotel pools do not have lifeguards.

Pets are better off left with a friend or in a kennel. If you choose to bring your pet, note that most theme parks and hotels prohibit pets. Do not lock your pet in your car! Due to the high temperatures in the area, it is extremely dangerous and is forbidden by law in Florida.

Venues

• Orange County Convention Center, 9860 Universal Blvd, (407) 685-1061, [2]. With 2.1 million-square feet of exhibition space, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) serves as the area's convention and meeting center.