Enjoy Orlando Like A Local!

This is a question we hear quite a lot at Debbie’s Villas. “How do we experience Orlando the same way the locals do?” It’s a classic issue, and one we’re happy to answer, as there is definitely a LOT you can do to make your holiday trip feel like a genuine taste of this wonderful destination, which is SO much more than just theme parks (as good as they are).

It also ties into an increasing holiday trend worldwide for a more experiential kind of travel, for holidays that get under the skin of the places they visit, and for visitors to get a look at the wider picture, not just the principal attractions.

And Orlando is tailor-made for that kind of experience. It helps that we speak the same language (for the most part!), and that it remains reasonably good value for money, which invites repeat visits. And it is also somewhere that absolutely welcomes visitors who get off the beaten track and seek out the alternative places and attractions of a city that continues to grow fast and occupy an ever wider slice of Central Florida.

So, where do we start?

Well, there is really no better advice than to make sure you SEE Orlando once you are there. It is a rather strange set of circumstances that many visitors to The City Beautiful don’t actually see the place itself, the city centre or “downtown,” that is. It is fast developing a wide range of attractions and delights aimed purely at the local market rather than anything overtly touristy and it is packed with fascination, lovely views and great restaurants.

The geography of the region is primarily to blame, of course. Virtually all the main attractions – theme parks, water parks, etc – are to the south and west of the city itself, hence most people never even catch a glimpse of it. In addition, the development of the villa communities was fully embraced by the areas south of the theme parks before anywhere else, hence that makes for an even bigger gap to downtown. But, if you head up I-4 as far as Exit 82B eastbound, you’ll discover the heart of this vibrant city and another part of what makes it special.

There is certainly a high-rise element, but it is not overwhelming like New York or Chicago, and it has a more human feel than many cities. It also boasts Lake Eola, which is actually the main icon for the city, with its signature central fountain, Swan paddle-boats and rainbow-hued amphitheatre, which stages free concerts and films periodically. See this link for a list of events and activities in and around Lake Eola Park.

At the very least you should seek out the essential back-story of Orlando at the Orange County Regional History Center, the great coffees of Craft & Common, the Downtown Visitor Center, the free Lymmo bus service and the 0.9-mile stroll around Lake Eola. For dinner, look no further than Kres Chophouse or the fab Boheme restaurant inside the chic Grand Bohemian Hotel.

In a villa? You’ve already made a start!

If you’re staying in a typical villa holiday home, you’ve already discovered the style of home that many Orlandoans enjoy. Locally, it’s called a single family home, and it will typically have anywhere from three to six bedrooms, most of them ensuite and with their own pool. Town homes, or terraced as we’d call them, are a growing trend as the need for less expensive homes expands throughout the region.

Most homes are also in modern, well-planned residential communities, often with a gated entrance. The newer ones will also have a central clubhouse and community swimming pool. A key component of Florida homes is their airiness, with high ceilings and essential open-plan design. This is to maximise the effects of the air-conditioning system, which every home has. This is vital in the warmer months of the year (typically from March to October). Kitchens are also usually open-plan and central to the main layout, and the large fridge-freezer is a notable component. There is also often a central island with the main sink and a breakfast bar. It is a super-abundance of space that extends onto the covered pool deck, or lanai. This is all just par for the course in Orlando!

Taking to the roads (and rail)

The other vital part of the Orlando experience is the road system, as public transport is limited to a plodding bus service and a commuter railway that only operates on weekdays (although they are discussing expanding to weekends). Little, if anything serves the villa areas, though, hence your main choices are a hire car or Lyft or Uber. And, when it comes to self-driving, you’ll need to do as the locals do and navigate by road numbers rather than names.

For instance, the main artery through the whole Orlando area is motorway I-4, while the expressway most people need heading south from the airport to the villa locations is the 417 (no-one locally calls it by its name, the Central Florida Greeneway). Head west from the airport and it’s the 528 (aka, Beachline Expressway). Increasingly a good route to know from villa territory to Disney is the 429 (or Daniel Webster Western Beltway – phew!). And then there’s the principal road through Kissimmee, the multi-lane 192 (or Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway).

Once you have memorised all these essential routes, you can navigate like a local, provided you also gen up on the toll roads, of which Florida has an increasing number (which the locals hate). Each of the 528, 417 and 429 all have tolls at regular intervals, along with the Florida Turnpike (the north-south highway between Orlando and Miami), while even I-4 now as paid-for Express lanes from the Universal Orlando area all the way through to north of downtown.

PS: The absolutely essential tool for all visitors likely to be on the toll roads a fair bit is the Visitor Toll Pass, available on Level 1 of Orlando Airport. It is a big money saver and hassle avoider.

Shopping (and not at the outlet malls!)

Of course, being in a villa is something that will require you do to your own shopping, and not the bargain-hunting kind at the main malls and outlet centres. Happily, none of our villa communities are far from the nearest supermarket, and you can enjoy the wide aisles and relatively crowd-free shopping at the likes of Publix (the big name in Florida food shopping), Winn-Dixie, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Fresh Market, the latter trio of which are where the cool kids shop, as long as they have deep pockets! Even the likes of Walgreens and CVS – the US equivalent of Boots – can offer food shopping basics, while the price-conscious head for Walmart and Aldi (with the German-originated company opening more stores throughout Florida all the time).

US supermarkets (and drug stores) are typically a pleasure to shop in, with smiling, helpful staff and convenience at every turn. Just be aware that, while the supermarkets will offer beer and wine, for spirits – what the Americans call hard liquor – you will need to find an out-and-out liquor store, of which ABC is often the best (unless you have Costco membership).

For something really different, though, and another genuine locals’ experience, you should seek out Korean-owned Lotte Market on Highway 50 west of downtown. It’s a cultural phenomenon in its own right!

Don’t forget the current booking bonus!

Need more insider information like this? Seek out the brand-new guidebook, The Best Orlando Villa Holiday Guide *, which is written by Orlando specialists Simon and Susan Veness (formerly of the Brit Guide to Orlando). And, to underline our belief in value for money and providing the best service in villa holidays, all current bookings will receive a FREE copy of the new book. We want you to have the best holiday possible, and we think the book will go a long way to helping you plan and have a great time.

*( 1 book per villa booking, subject to availability. UK customers only) * Now tell us what YOU like about the Orlando experience – and holidaying like a local – on our social media!.