We all know Orlando is pretty awesome, but did you know these?...
- The Orlando Magic basketball team were almost called the ‘Orlando Juice’
In 1987 a local poll was taken to name the future Orlando basketball team. 4,296 entries were counted and the finalists were ‘Heat’, ‘Tropics’, ‘Juice’ and ‘Magic’.
- It’s estimated that it’ll take approximately 67 full days to experience all of Orlando
There are a total of 95 individual attractions in Orlando and hundreds of things to do at each one. To fully experience all that Orlando has to offer you’d have to enjoy 67 8-hour days of action-packed fun.
- There are over 100 lake in Orlando
And Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando is actually a large sinkhole with the deepest point dipping to a whopping 80 feet.
- To dine in every Orlando restaurant it would take a total of 5 years
With over 5,300 restaurants to choose from, you could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in a completely different dining venue for 5 years!
- Walt Disney World Resort is absolutely massive!
In fact, it’s so large you could fit the entire city of San Francisco and two of New York’s Manhattans inside!
- You may have seen Gatorland on the big screen
Filmed in 1984, part of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doon was shot at the 110-acre wildlife theme park which is home to hundreds of alligators including four super-rare leucistic gators.
- You can thank Orlando for the Backstreet Boys
The world-famous boy band were originally founded in 1993 in Orlando and actually named themselves after the city’s Backstreet Market – an old flea market where the singers used to hang out.
- Orlando was home to the world’s first ever water park
Opening in 1977, Orlando’s Wet ‘n Wild water park was the very first of its kind in the entire world. Sadly, the park no longer exists but has paved the way for innovative aqua fun at tonnes of other water parks in Orlando including SeaWorld’s Aquatica, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay.
- Orlando was originally known as ‘Jernigan’
The city was initially named after Georgia native Aaron Jernigan who settled in the region with his herd of 700 cattle. Jernigan built a cabin close to Lake Holden in 1843 and a thriving community eventually emerged around his property.
- Orlando is home to the world’s largest McDonalds
It’s even more than just your average McDonalds. Spanning 19,000 square feet this fast food/entertainment hybrid boasts more than 50 arcade games and a children’s jungle gym standing more than 20 feet high.
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