Attractions, shopping and fine dining are plentiful in America’s No. 1 theme park destination.
By William “Will” Young III, Vonda Jones and Ricky Rowell
When you book a trip to Orlando, Florida — even for APCO 2024, APCO International’s Annual Conference & Expo — the first thing that comes to mind is likely that big-eared mouse, a magical castle, princesses, extraordinary animated characters, roller coasters, killer whales, swimming with dolphins and even a volcano in the middle of a maze of lazy rivers and swimming pools. With a greater metropolitan area of just over 4,000 square miles, Orlando is more than “The Mouse”. The Orlando Magic professional basketball team and the Orlando City SC professional soccer team call the city home, as does the downtown sinkhole lake, Lake Eola. Rich in history and brimming with things to do when you’re not attending sessions at the conference, your host committee and APCO know that Orlando is the place to be for the 2024 conference.
A THEMED HISTORY
Most of the country knew little about Orlando until Walt Disney World Resort opened here in 1971. However, Orlando was incorporated in 1875 and, contrary to popular belief, Walt Disney World Resort is nearly 20 miles southwest of the downtown core of the City of Orlando, and it wasn’t even the first amusement park in the area. That title belongs to Gatorland, the selfproclaimed alligator capital of the world, which opened in 1949. But after Walt and Roy Disney took a chance on developing a large swath of swampland and pastures in what was then a sleepy corner of Central Florida, the Orlando that most of us know today was born and has grown to encompass a significant portion of multiple counties and towns. The Orlando-Metro area has many things to offer visitors who might be looking for something outside the typical Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World trio of destinations.
In addition to those three well-known attractions, the beautiful Atlantic Coast beaches are just an hour away. Cocoa Beach is the nearest, lying on the Space Coast.
If you enjoy learning about local history, Orlando is home to 51 historic buildings, sites and structures, including 12 on the National Register of Historic Places. You can take a self-guided walking tour of all the sites by visiting www. orlando.gov/Our-Government/History/ Find-Historic-Landmarks.
There’s a lot to do on your downtime while you’re in town for the conference. Just remember, in addition to your colleagues, there are likely hundreds of thousands of other visitors to the area so when you’re packing for the conference, be sure to pack a little extra patience as well.
What, in addition to Disney, Universal and Sea World, can you do on your downtime while you’re in town for the conference?
I-DRIVE
Your first option might be to head over to International Drive, where you can visit the Orlando Eye and see the city from 400 feet in the air, or perhaps even take a helicopter tour over the city. “I-Drive” as the locals call it, is also home to an array of other attractions, including several mini golf courses, escape rooms, museums, restaurants and even a lesser known, but just as fun amusement park called Fun Spot America, home to a multi-level go-kart track and Orlando’s only wooden roller coaster. I-Drive has something for everyone.
Here’s a sample of I-Drive’s delights:
- Chocolate Kingdom, the Factory Adventure Tour, is an interactive journey that uncovers how chocolate transforms from the bean into the creamy, dreamy chocolate bar. A personal chocolate tour guide joins forces with a handsome prince and his dragon sidekick to take guests through a cacao tree greenhouse, a one-ofa- kind chocolate museum, a mystical river of chocolate and a micro batch bean-tothe- bar factory using old world machinery.
- The Escape Game Orlando requires teamwork, following clues and solving puzzles to complete your mission and become the hero of these immersive 60-minute adventures. You might escape … you will have fun.
- ICON Park is a 20-acre, open-air, gate-free entertainment destination with adventures for the whole family. ICON Park offers more than 50 restaurants, funky bars, boutique shops and can’t-miss attractions anchored by The Wheel, a jaw-dropping observation wheel that stands 40 stories tall. Your vacation to Orlando isn’t complete until you’ve seen it from 400 feet.
- WonderWorks visitors experience over 100 hands-on, interactive exhibits and attractions at Orlando’s iconic upside-down house. It’s an amusement park for the mind. Feel a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, touch 100,000 volts of electricity, climb the three-story indoor ropes challenge course, ride in the 4D theater, compete in a game of laser tag and more. It’s fun for all ages.
- Sea Life Orlando Aquarium puts visitors face-to-fin with sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and more. Prepare for a world of glittering scales, humongous tentacles and razor sharp teeth. Plunge deep into the ocean, explore the 360-degree ocean tunnel and touch friendly starfish and anemones.
- Madame Tussauds Orlando at ICON Park lets visitors strut with the stars. Dazzle friends with the ultimate selfie by striking a pose with Taylor Swift, swinging punches with Muhammad Ali and saving the world with a superhero.
- Andretti Indoor Karting and Games offers a range of classic arcade and prize games as well as contemporary selections including the two-level laser tag arena, 7D Xperience Motion Theater, racing simulators and Spark Immersive Augmented Reality Duckpin Bowling Lanes. VR Central simulates other worlds with immersive virtual reality attractions.
SHOPPING
Maybe you love a great shopping deal. Orlando is home to four outlet malls, one of which is the state’s largest. At over 773,500 square feet of discounted shopping, Orlando International Premium Outlets on International Drive is just 15 minutes north of the convention center. Perhaps that’s too much shopping for you. Well, within 10-25 minutes of the convention center are the more moderately sized Orlando Outlet Marketplace, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets and Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores.
NIGHTLIFE AND DINING
Orlando has a vibrant nightlife with multiple concert venues, lounges, comedy clubs, breweries, wineries and even a few speakeasies. Four core areas, Disney Springs, International Drive, Universal Citywalk and the Downtown Church Street District, provide a night of bowling, stand-up comedy, live music and relaxation with friends. Perhaps you are considering expanding your culinary horizons. The number of restaurants unique to Orlando can help with that. In all, the Michelin Guide contains 51 metro-Orlando restaurants, including four Michelin-star restaurants, 11 Bib Gourmands and 36 recommended restaurants. From salami to sushi, Orlando has something for everyone’s palette.
GETTING AROUND
So what’s the best way to get to this multitude of attractions and amenities? The APCO 2024 conference location at the Orange County Convention Center is close enough to nearly all major highways that getting anywhere is easy if you have a car. Many conference attendees won’t have cars, of course, and visitors can use various well-known rideshare apps to get around town. In addition, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, or LYNX bus system, represents one of the most robust public transit systems in Florida. LYNX has multiple stops around the convention center and at local hotels. Learn more about LYNX and even plan some of your downtime destinations by visiting www.golynx.com.
WELCOME TO ORLANDO
Conference week holds valuable professional development and networking opportunities and opportunities to see the latest in public safety technology, learn about health and wellness topics and more. We hope you find time to enjoy Orlando as well. You can learn more by going to apco2024.org/hoteltravel/ visit-orlando/ and visitorlando.com. Welcome to Orlando and the 2024 APCO International Annual Conference & Expo.
William “Will” Young III is a Police Public Safety Telecommunicator for the City of Clearwater, Florida, Police Department. He’s a third generation Floridian who has called Central Florida home for his entire life.
Vonda Jones is Emergency Communications Manager for, Winter Park (Florida) Police and Fire and served as past president of the APCO Florida Chapter.
Ricky Rowell, RPL, is the Nassau County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office 911 communications manager and has served in numerous other county public safety communications positions. He is a Florida Chapter and APCO International Life Member and past Florida Chapter president. Rowell is executive council representative on the Florida APCO board and is the APCO 2024 conference chair.
