Home to world famous theme parks, Orlando is only an hour from both east and west coast beaches of Florida and the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, and can be a destination worth considering even if you are not enamored with cartoon mice.
Stay at - Portofino Bay Hotel
Go shopping - Mall at Milennia
numerous outlet malls in the greater Orlando area, including on International Drive
specialty shops in Downtown Disney, Universal's Citywalk and inside the theme parks
Eat at - Bice in Portofino Bay Hotel
The Brown Derby at Disney MGM Studios
Le Cellier Steakhouse and The Rose and Crown Pub at EPCOT
Take side trips to - the Space Coast
Busch Gardens in Tampa
Tampa/St. Petersburg
Be sure to visit - World Showcase at EPCOT
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Sea World
Best time of year to go - November through April
(EPCOT holds a Food and Wine Festival annually in November and a Flower and Garden Festival in April)
Best things to buy - Designer products at Millenia, theme park souvenirs, country-specific products in World Showcase in EPCOT (the Japanese pavillion particularly has an impressive array of Japanese products)
Best indulgence - Sitting outside at sunset at Portofino Bay and listening to Musica della Notte, then taking water taxis by moonlight
Fly into - Orlando (MCO)
Transportation - Rent a car or take a taxi to your hotel and use shuttles to and from the parks
