Orlando, Florida: Where Everyone Can Have an Unforgettable Trip

From the moment you arrive, Orlando International Airport sets the tone for an inclusive experience. It was recently recognized as a Certified Autism Center by IBCCES, a credentialing board that has created programs for the travel industry. The airport has several low-sensory rooms and offers hidden disabilities sunflower lanyards to travelers who may need extra assistance from specially trained staff.

Many local theme parks and attractions, including SeaWorld Orlando, LEGOLAND Florida, Crayola Experience Orlando and Peppa Pig Theme Park, are IBCCES Certified Autism Centers, as is the Dr. Phillips Center of the Performing Arts – one of just four performing arts venues in the USA bearing this designation. Orlando’s major theme parks and sporting arenas have planning guides and quiet rooms so everyone can get in on the fun.

Many more area attractions work hard to make their guests with autism and other disabilities feel welcomed. Get artsy with the Orlando Museum of Art’s free Creative Connections program, a series hands-on craft classes geared specifically toward visitors with developmental and intellectual disabilities, dive into the world of science exploration during Sensory Sundays at the Orlando Science Center, and visit WonderWorks during their dedicated Sensory Days, when exhibits are modified to provide reduced stimulation. These attractions, along with other major offerings such as the Kennedy Space Center and Central Florida Zoo, also offer a wide range of accommodations year-round, from noise reduction earmuffs to large-print maps and schedules.

Get ready for a smooth, barrier-free Orlando trip, starting with ADA-compliant public transit, hotels, restaurants and attractions. Enjoy unlimited rides on the accessible Gatorland Express Train around Gatorland, one of Orlando’s most popular sites, then soar over the park’s lake of giant alligators on the wheelchair-accessible Gator Gauntlet zipline. For low-sensory fun, the barnyard petting and feeding area provides a laidback experience.

Half an hour away, immerse yourself in the blooming beauty of the Harry P. Leu Gardens, a wheelchair-accessible attraction that offers complimentary wheelchairs. Pair your garden excursion with an accessible swan paddleboat adventure at nearby Lake Eola Park or marvel at the sharks in the 360-degree ocean tunnel at the wheelchair-accessible SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium.

Orlando’s cultural diversity is part of what makes the city such an incredible place. Discover the area’s rich African American past in Historic Eatonville, a suburb of Orlando that’s one of the oldest African American communities in the USA. Each year, the town presents its ZORA! Festival, which celebrates native daughter and author Zora Neale Hurston and the cultural contributions of other people of African ancestry. Don’t miss visiting the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, the St. Lawrence AME Church and other landmarks in town, then continue your exploration of Orlando’s African American heritage in the Wells’Built Museum of African American History & Culture and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center.

From Cuban and Puerto Rican to Brazilian, Colombian and more, Orlando’s many Latin restaurants showcase the culinary prowess of the city’s Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking residents.

To get a taste of Orlando’s vibrant Asian community, head to Little Saigon along Colonial Boulevard to sample Vietnamese and other Asian cuisines at locally owned restaurants. Through the year, celebrate the diverse cultures of the Asian diaspora at dozens of annual events including the Tet Festival and Central Florida Dragon Parade Lunar New Year Festival.

Sadly, not all cultural history is positive. At the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida in Maitland, learn about the atrocities committed against Jewish people and other minority groups during World War II through a series of exhibits and a virtual reality experience of the Anne Frank House.

Orlando has long been a welcoming destination for members of the Pride community, garnering several accolades from the Gay Travel Awards. Start your trip with a visit to The Center Orlando, a nonprofit organization that houses a community-focused history museum and art museum. Just south of The Center lies the Orlando Health Pulse Memorial Paver Garden, an interim memorial honoring the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016.

Orlando also hosts a number of pride celebrations year-round. The city’s premier event is the Come Out with Pride Parade every October, filled with colorful gear, exciting music, tasty food and eye-catching fireworks. During Pride Month in June, visitors will enjoy inclusive events around every corner, including Gay Days and One Magical Weekend celebrations at Walt Disney World, and Orlando Out Fest, a creative festival focused on artists.

Fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) or Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) and rent a car to see the area at your own pace. Public ground transportation, including the SunRail commuter train and Brightline high-speed passenger train, is also available.