From Tony de la Cruz
for Orlandoescape.com
Orlando is the number one tourist destination in the world. No one will argue that. From suburbanites in New York City to natives in Burma and the Amazon recognize the name “Disney”. Just the mention of the name is enough to cause anyone in the planet to smile.
It’s no wonder that millions of people will come to the Sunshine State for fun and relaxation every year. For twenty years it was my job to show tourists everything there was to see Behind the Scenes at Disney's Magic Kingdom and all the other theme parks that sprouted after 1971, the year the Magic Kingdom opened.
To give me the edge I decided to become a walking tour book. Anyone can walk around the park, get in line and ride. But I wanted to be able to tell people information like: when the attraction opened, where the hidden Mickey's could be found, who did the voices and how the attraction works.
So I bought and read every book I could get my hands on about the Magic Kingdom, the animated movies and attractions. On my days off I visited every corner of the parks and pestered every “cast member” at these parks with questions.
It was great!. Not only did people listen to me but even after they were left on their own they still wanted to hang out with me. As a teenager this was an important tool to meet the girls. This actually led to my meeting the girl who would become my wife.
Unfortunately, after fifteen years of marriage, the magic of Disney information has lost its spell on her, mainly because she has heard it all. So every time I start talking she tunes me out faster than the Spike Channel.
My son is my sound board and as he enjoys reading about Disney as much as I do. It’s been a bonding experience.
The most frequently asked question about Orlando is “Who was Orlando?” The follow up would always be “Why didn’t they call it after his last name, like Washington or Cleveland?”
The answer is simple; we’re not sure what the last name was. The original name of the settlement in 1838 was Jernigan, named after the first family that settled here. During the Seminole Wars in the 1840’s a young soldier named Orlando Reeves, or Rees, was on guard near Lake Eola. He spotted some Indians disguised as a log crossing the lake and recognized them as Seminoles.
He fired a shot that woke the other soldiers but was immediately felled by arrows. But his warning shot saved the lives of the others. According to legend he was buried on the South side of Lake Eola.
Years after, people would point at the grave and say “There lies Orlando.” When in 1857 the town was renamed, Orlando was agreed on.
In later reports I hope to give you more interesting information that will make your visit to Florida more interesting. Thanks for not tuning me out. Back to Orlando Travel Articles
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