Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens ……as the song goes, these are actually a couple of our “favourite things”. But that got us thinking – what are our favourite things about Orlando? – apart from ALL OF IT! So here they are, in no particular order, our top five favourite things about Orlando and/or Florida.
Favourite thing number 1 – The people
The people who work and live in the Orlando area, and indeed all over Florida, are just lovely. You may well say that the majority of these people work in the service industry and are paid to be nice to you, and that is probably partly true, but that is also the case all around the world and in our experience that doesn’t necessarily mean people are nice to you. People seem so sincere in the Orlando area, maybe it’s the glorious sunshine – but either way we love it. Staff in theme parks are happy and helpful and go the extra mile to make your visit or show or experience or meal just that extra bit special. It makes you feel like they really do care – when they say “have a nice day” they really do mean it! Florida residents have that gorgeous southern accent, we never tire of being called “honey” or hearing a hardworking waitress say “y’all need some more coffee” – and Mrs OhOrlando has a real soft spot for being called “maam”.
Performers in shows, bands, parades and characters are fantastic. Not only are they incredibly hard working, they are supremely talented and make you feel like the show/parade whatever, is the very first performance that day, when in fact they have probably performed several times, in a very hot and humid atmosphere. They are great at involving and engaging with children and adults alike and they always look so smiley and happy to be there.
Shop staff walk around the pay counter to hand bags to you, and if you ask for help finding something or need to ask for some help they are so accommodating and helpful, like nothing is too much trouble. They pack your groceries and greet you and say goodbye on your exit – fantastic service.
Waiting staff and serving staff deserve a special mention, they work so so hard and are totally dedicated to ensuring you get the meal and service that you expect. Cleaning staff in restrooms and theme parks are amazing, the sheer volume of people that must pass through their facilities, but they seem to take great pride in keeping everything clean, and well stocked and looking pristine.
So the people we encounter on our holidays to Florida and the Orlando area add so much to our visits there, and we love them – happy, helpful, friendly and fun!
Favourite thing number 2 – FOOD!!
Generally, we like our food! Food in Florida/Orlando is something else. We don’t really know where to start. We’ve already done a whole blog on food and we could do a million more, but hey the food is that good, and that plentiful and there’s that much choice.
Breakfast favourites – Cracker Barrel obviously, Denny’s and IHOP. Cracker Barrel is still our absolute favourite, Egg Sandwich, which is scrambled egg (with cheese if you like) on sourdough toast with one piece of toast having a slither or mayo and a delicious succulent slice of a giant beefsteak tomato, with a side of hash-brown or hash-brown casserole, which is not like a UK hash-brown, but more spoonful of shredded hash brown cooked on a skillet. The casserole version is cooked in bacon grease (so sadly not suitable for vegetarians) but is delicious. Our other go to favourite, pecan pancake stack, which get served with butter and the cutest little bottles of Cracker Barrel maple syrup, warmed up! How absolutely delightful. Denny’s and IHOP also do some amazing breakfasts – pancakes and bacon and the most amazing sizzling skillets of veggies and breakfast potatoes and meats. Breakfast is probably our very favourite meal whilst on holiday. Oh heavens we didn’t even mention the Golden Corral yet – wouldn’t even have enough blog space or time to get us started on Golden Corral – so much choice it will blow your mind.
Snacks, sandwiches, cakes and treats are always large and as they can be a bit pricey in the theme parks, you can easily share them. Anything you could want to try as a possible snack, you can bet its available here – donuts as big as your head, cupcakes to match almost every festival, holiday or Disney character, hot dogs every size and with every possible topping, loaded fries – you name it they’ve got it.
Restaurants for dinner go from cheap and cheerful – still very good quality food in our opinion – such as burgers and pizza and the like, to high end very beautifully prepared and tasting dishes and everything in between. We can, and will, continue to blog about the fantastic array of food in Orlando and Florida. Food glorious food. Talking of which, we had better start losing weight now before we pile it all back on when we next visit. 
Favourite thing number 3 – Roller Coasters
Roller coasters – you either love them or are petrified of them. Here at the OhOrlando love love love them. We’ve decided we are going to start doing our top 5 of everything for future blogs – it’s gonna be our new thing! – so we’re not going to review our actual favourite coasters at this point, but safe to say if coasters are your thing then this is the place to be. From Rip Ride Rocket at Universal, a coaster that you get off having absolutely no idea what has just happened to you and have to ride it again just to be sure, to Hulk at Islands of Adventure, which makes an amazing roaring noise as you fire out of a jet propelled tunnel straight into upside down, to Rockin Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios which is so fantastically themed and is wild and fast and dark, to the glorious Slinky Dog Dash, so cute and kitsch and is an amazing family friendly fun coaster. There’s lots of variety, lots of theming, lots of classic coasters and lots of newly imagined ones. Each time we go they get bigger and better and wilder – so much fun if you’re coaster fans like we are, and that’s just the coasters, we haven’t even mentioned the “rides” which are fun and thrilling and exciting but are not a “coaster” in the classic sense of the word – Hollywood Tower of Terror anyone?!
We are so looking forward to riding Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal’s Islands of Adventure park. We were pretty gutted at the demise of the Duelling Dragons double coaster as that was a firm favourite in the OhOrlando household, but the Hagrids replacement looks pretty cool, and is an example of the amazing work these theme parks are doing to keep things moving forward into new and exciting adventures. Sadly it looks like new Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster at Disney’s EPCOT park is not going to be open when we next visit (obviously we’ll just have to go again to check that out) but again, it shows how nothing stands still and roller coasters are developing and renewing every year in the Orlando theme parks. As coaster fans we will never tire of trying new ones.
Favourite thing number 4 – Shops and shopping
Even if you are not massive shoppers you will still find it great fun to look at the vast array of merchandise available in the parks and supermarkets and stores. If you’re film and tv fans the t-shirts and merch you can buy in Universal Studios stores and parks will delight you, and for Disney and Universal characters and rides are featured on lots of different merch, and if you’re travelling with kids expect to come home with a suitcase full of a dozen plush characters, mermaids and tv characters. Mr OhOrlando is particularly excited about the new range of Star Wars Merchandise following the opening of Black Spire Outpost and no doubt we will have every t-shirt available as they are probably only available in that location, and that makes then pretty unique when you get back to the UK.
Following on from that point, that is the reason Mrs OhOrlando shops like she does in Orlando – it’s buying things that you can’t or won’t find in the UK, from clothes to shoes to products and accessories. That’s part of the fun of it for us. Obviously some things are cheaper in the USA, and there are bargains to be had at the designer retail outlets, but the real joy is finding something different, something that not many people in the UK will have. Can’t wait to start mooching about to find something new.
Supermarkets can be a day out in themselves – we spend ages looking around at foods, clothes, electricals and make-up and products. It tends to be an evening thing we do, go for a nice meal and then walk it off in Walmart! We have to set strict time limits when we will meet up at the door so we don’t get too carried away time wise – and when our party does meet up at the door the astonishing and ridiculous things we are all holding in our hand is hilarious.
Favourite thing number 5 – the beautiful beaches and natural areas of beauty
From everything you read about Florida and Central Orlando we imagine lots of people think it is very built up and there is little or no space left for nature or empty coastlines, but this is a mistake. Vast parts of Florida are completely unspoiled and left as nature reserves and conservation areas. The beaches on the Gulf Coast side are unbelievably beautiful and we very often visit there on our many trips to Orlando. The sea is warm and crystal clear and the sand is as white as it gets. Miami is stunning – South Beach in particular is truly beautiful and Key West is a spectacular, interesting and unspoiled place of outstanding natural beauty, hardly any traffic and a relaxed and rustic style. Beautiful and we would highly recommend you visit there. Likewise the Atlantic coast has some fantastic places to visit and beaches to enjoy. Then there’s all of the waterways and the Everglades and country parks that are all over Florida and are a must if you visit.
So if you’re expecting all roller coasters, shops and restaurants and very little greenery or unspoiled areas then we are happy to disappoint you. Plenty of completely beautiful scenery and nature to enjoy – and we always do.
We’ve loved writing this blog – so many favourite things about Florida – and each time we go we add something to the list!
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