The Ultimate Guide to Living in Orlando
Are you considering living in Orlando, Florida this year? Home of amusement parks and a great place to vacation, our community is also the best place to call home! Storage Sense is here to help you move to the neighborhood with available storage units and resources, such as a guide of things to do nearby. We offer two convenient locations outside of the Orlando area: Storage Sense in Ocoee, Florida, and Storage Sense in Apopka, Florida. Moving is a busy time and you may not have a chance to explore for a little while. Check out our definitive mover’s guide to Orlando FL for all the local favorites!
Rent or reserve today at Storage Sense in Apopka, FL!
Explore the Economy
Population: 287,442
Median Home Value: $240,000
Median Household Income: $51,757
Economically, a significant portion of the city is built off of the tourism and entertainment industries. Notably, the city is host to a number of prominent entertainment companies and schools, including Universal Studios Orlando, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Full Sail University, UCF College of Arts and Humanities, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, and other entertainment companies and schools. The presence of these companies, as well as the subsequent tourism destinations produced by them, ultimately serves to bolster the city’s substantial tourism industry. Indeed, Orlando features 7 of the 10 most visited theme parks in North America, as well as 4 of the most visited water parks in the US. Visit Orlando helps to highlight the tourism industry’s effect on the Orlando economy, noting the following:
- The region’s largest employer, tourism supports 41% of the workforce (463,004 jobs).
- Overall, Orlando’s tourism industry generated $5.8 billion in local and state tax revenue in 2018.
- In the last five years, a 20% growth in visits has spurred nearly 25% growth in spending, supporting 13% growth in employment in Central Fla (2014 vs 2018).
Additionally, Orlando and its surrounding metro area is a major industrial and hi-tech center, featuring a number of nationally recognized digital media, agricultural technology, aviation, aerospace, and software design companies. A number of these companies are housed in Orlando’s Central Florida Research Park, the 7th-largest research park in the country, including Lockheed Martin, Cisco Systems, AT&T Inc., Bank of America, Hewlett-Packard, and General Dynamics, among others. In addition, Metro Orlando is home to the simulation procurement commands for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Subsequently, the city is host to the Naval Air Warfare Center, the United States Army Simulation and Training Technology Center, and the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation.
Considering living in Orlando, FL this year? Be sure to consider the city’s thriving and bustling economy prior to planning your move!
Explore the Culture
Orlando is known as “Hollywood East”, a nickname given to the city due to the numerous studios headquartered within the area. Subsequently, much of Orlando’s culture centers around the film and television industry. Indeed, the city is host to a number of celebrated and significant film festivals, including the Florida Film Festival, and the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival.
Of the aforementioned, the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival is the most prominent, and is the oldest US Fringe Festival in the country. Originally founded in 1992, this festival is a 14-day annual arts festival held during the month of May, featuring more than 850 ticketed theatrical performances, and a free outdoor music festival. The festival ultimately seeks to unite local, national, and international artists with the Central Florida community, creating a uniquely diverse arts experience. Since its original inception in 1992, this festival has grown tremendously, and in 2015 it was reported that the festival reached an attendance of nearly 72,000. Fittingly, Orlando Fringe has been named “Best Festival” for 25 consecutive years in Orlando and has won many numerous local and regional awards and is celebrated as “the most unique cultural event in Florida”.
Additionally, Orlando is host to a number of prominent theaters, and performing arts centers such as the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, and the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts. Notably, the city is also host to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Central Florida’s resident professional orchestra that appears in more than 125 performances each season. Founded in 1993, this professional orchestra features a diverse program schedule that includes classical concerts, pop concerts consisting of Broadway musicals, and cinema and popular music, chamber music concerts, and much more. Considering taking in a show this summer? Be sure to consult the performance center’s calendar prior to planning your trip!
Considering living in Orlando, FL this year? Be sure to spend some time visiting some of the city’s notable theaters and performance venues this year!
Explore the Cuisine
Largely due to the city’s close proximity to the Atlantic Coast, Orlando is host to a number of exemplary and celebrated seafood restaurants, highlighting locally-sourced, fresh seafood catches from the nearby waters. Still, that is not to say the city lacks variance in its culinary scene. We’ve gathered a list of some our favorite Orlando restaurants below. Be sure to plan a visit!
- Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa – Consistently voted “Best Barbecue in Orlando”, Pig Floyd’s is a rustic counter-serve joint that offers globally flavored BBQ dishes, and an extensive local craft beer list. New visitor? Be should be sure to order one of the restaurant’s signature Barbakoa platters!
- Bar Harbor Seafood – A restaurant and seafood distributor, Bar Harbor is one of the largest fresh, frozen and live seafood providers in Florida. Notably, this Orlando institute offers over 800 fresh, frozen, live and specialty items, and features an exemplary lunch menu that includes seafood staples such as Maine Lobster Rolls, New England Clam Bakes, Blackened Salmon, and their famous, Whole Fried Snapper.
- Kadence – A small, reservations-only upscale and elevated multi-course sushi restaurant. Kadence was opened by michelin-trained owners and chefs Lorderfer Lalicon, Jennifer Banagale, and Mark Berdin, and the restaurant is consistently named one of “Orlando’s Best New Restaurants”.
- Café Tu Tu Tango – A quaint and eclectic restaurant that specializes in colorful and flavorful tapas dishes, this restaurant features live entertainment, and numerous art exhibits throughout its dining area.
- Pio Pio – Founded nearly 20 years ago, Pio Pio Orlando serves as a representation of the Columbian heritage of the restaurant’s owners, Olga Raad and Juan Diego Isava. Subsequently, this restaurant’s menu highlights Peruvian culinary staples that include Empanadas, Arepas, and a traditional Rotisserie Chicken Meal with rice and beans.
Alternatively, beyond the city’s restaurant scene, Orlando is host to a number of innovative and exciting breweries, brew pubs, and bars such as:
- Hourglass Brewing – Hourglass brewing produces world class beer, utilizing the best of local and exotic ingredients from across the globe, with an emphasis on turning outlandish ideas into nuanced drinkable brews. Founded in 2012, Hourglass Brewing currently owns and operates two breweries within the central Florida area, with its flagship location running out of Orlando.
- Bowigens Beer Company – Coming to fruition in 2015, Bowigens is the joint effort of life-long friends, Kevin Wigen and Bobby Bowen, two craft beer enthusiast that met while touring in the Orlando music scene. Since its opening, this brewery has received numerous awards within the beer community, including a Gold Medal at the Best of Craft Beer Awards for their 7 Layer Stout.
- Tactical Brewing Co. – Tactical Brewing Co. was founded by veterans with a love of craft beer. Ultimately, this brewery seeks to produce “Strategically Chaotic Beer”, or creative flavor profiles within a traditional beer style portfolio. Beyond their beer, this brewery is known for their charitable work within the Orlando veteran community.
Considering living in Orlando, FL this year? Be sure to take some time to visit one of the city’s many acclaimed restaurants or breweries this year.
Explore the Excitement
As pictured above, Orlando, FL is synonymous with Walt Disney World Resort, a resort comprised of four theme parks (the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks, and a number of themed resort hotels, golf courses, a camping resort, and other entertainment venues. Opened on October 1, 1971, this park was originally designed to supplement Disneyland in Anaheim, California, a park which had opened in 1955. Since its opening, the resort has been the flagship destination of Disney’s worldwide corporate enterprise, and has become a popular staple to American culture. Indeed, Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of more than 58 million.
Previously mentioned, Disney World’s flagship theme park is its Magic Kingdom, a theme park fittingly nicknamed, “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” This park is divided into six themed “lands”, including Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Ultimately, the six themed areas of this resort serve to highlight numerous Disney classics, such as The Little Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Additionally, this resort is host to a number of spectacular thrill rides, the most prominent being Space Mountain, an indoor dark outer space themed roller coaster in Tomorrowland.
Additionally, beyond the city’s famed Disney World park, Orlando is home to Universal Orlando Resort, a theme park and entertainment resort complex consisting of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure), as well as a water theme park (Volcano Bay), a night-time entertainment complex (Universal CityWalk Orlando), and a number of luxury hotels and resorts. Originally opened on June 7, 1990, Universal Studios (and its additions) serves as an extension of Orlando’s previously discussed film industry, and is composed of themed areas and attractions based on the film industry, including themed rides and attractions from Harry Potter, Despicable Me, Jurassic Park, Shrek, and Spider-Man, among others.
Of the aforementioned, perhaps the park’s biggest draw is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a Harry Potter themed area of the resort consisting of four rides: Flight of the Hippogriff (a junior rollercoaster), Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (a motion based indoor ride that explores Hogwarts Castle), Escape from Gringotts (a 3D dark ride/simulator based on Gringotts Bank), and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (a multiple-launch steel motorbike roller coaster). In addition to the rides, the area also features a recreation of Hogsmeade Village that contains numerous gift shops and restaurants from the novels including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, Zonko’s Joke Shop (though it houses Honeydukes), the Three Broomsticks, and the Hog’s Head tavern.
Considering living in Orlando, FL this year? Be sure to take some time to visit Disney World or Universal Studios!
Self Storage Units in Orlando FL
As seen, Orlando, FL is an exciting city, that is notable for its thriving economy, and its abundance of attractions, including its flagship theme parks: the Walt Disney World Resort, and Universal Orlando Resort. So, now that you’ve read our definitive Orlando city-guide; are you considering living in Orlando this year? Storage Sense in Orlando, Florida can help you with your move!
Rent or reserve today at Storage Sense in Apopka, FL!
Storage Sense in Apopka, Florida
Conveniently located 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando, Storage Sense in Apopka, Florida is your premier destination for affordable storage units in Apopka, Florida, as well as the greater Orlando area. Amenities of this facility include temperature controlled storage units, indoor storage units, and drive-up accessible storage units. Additionally, for your convenience, this facility sells moving and packing supplies onsite. Did you know our large storage units can help you store your vehicle? Storage Sense in Apopka FL offers large storage units that you can easily pull up to and inside for secure vehicle storage. Rent a drive up storage unit in Apopka FL today for your vehicle or personal items. Choose a storage unit online now with contactless storage units!
Katie Mest
About the Author: Katie Mest is a Content Marketing Specialist at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. She specializes in writing about the self storage industry, including storage tips and helpful resources. Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors and snuggling in with a crochet project and her cat, Billie.
