The "Real Orlando."

[SanFranciscan]

I am working my way around to my own tour company in Orlando. I have some ideas for tours outside of the theme parks. Curiosity is killing me. What would you consider the "real Orlando"? If I used your ideas, you would deserve a cut of course; but my business is still in its embryonic stages.

 

[dougsmom98]

Orange picking and going to an orange grove is classic "Florida." There are some groves in neighboring cities/towns.

 

[Jason71]

Anything east of Millenia. Millenia is sort of the No Man's Land between "tourist" Orlando and "real" Orlando.

 

[bankr63]

There are several things I think of when I am in Orlando that I would love to find out; leave it up to you to pull it into a tour:

1) What makes Orlando tick? What are the major industries outside of tourism that make the place run?
2) What would Orlando be if Roy and Walt had decided to buy ranchland in Texas instead of swampland in Florida? How big would it have gown, what would it be like.
3) What are the effects on the fabric of the area from being one of the top tourist destinations in North America?

I don't think "real" Orlando can ignore Disney; I think the storey may be how Disney made Orlando what it is, and what might have happened if they hadn't moved to town. Now how you work that into a tour?

A bit of Orlando history would be fun too. I remember reading an article in one of the tourist rags about how Orlando got its name; interesting storey.

Good luck!