By Rob McFarland and Jane Richards
Drawn to Life: Classic Disney animation is re-imagined with trademark Cirque du Soleil whimsy.
THE ONE SHOW
A collaboration between Disney and Cirque du Soleil (why hasn't that happened before?), Drawn to Life is a heart-warming tale of a young girl's quest to bring her father's unfinished sketches to life. Classic Disney animation is re-imagined with trademark Cirque whimsy to produce a show that's both emotionally heartfelt and jaw-droppingly spectacular (the unicycle act has to be seen to be believed). See cirquedusoleil.com
THE ONE PERFORMANCE VENUE
Ever been disappointed with the acoustics at a concert venue? That won't be an issue at the recently refurbished Steinmetz Hall in the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando. The 1600-seat venue has been awarded a coveted N1 sound rating (meaning no humanly detectable background noise), making it one of the world's most acoustically advanced concert halls. See drphillipscenter.org
THE ONE EXPERIENCE
The ultimate adventure for Star Wars fans, "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser" is an immersive two-night experience that sees guests board the starship Halcyon for a journey to the planet Batuu. It's a choose-your-own-adventure affair, so you may end up steering the ship, learning how to wield a lightsaber or embarking on a secret mission. Best of all, you get to bed down each night in a Millennium Falcon-themed crew cabin. See disneyworld.disney.go.com
THE ONE RESTAURANT
Of the four Orlando eateries awarded a star in this year's inaugural Michelin Guide to Florida, our pick is Soseki, a 10-seat omakase-style restaurant in the suburb of Winter Park. Chef Mike Collantes honed his skills working for the likes of Joel Robuchon and Masa Takayama before opening this intimate Japanese eatery, which serves a 15-course tasting menu using the finest regional produce. See sosekifl.com
THE ONE RIDE
It spins. It plummets. And it starts backwards. If that's not enough to sell you on EPCOT's inaugural indoor rollercoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it also features cameos by Chris Pratt and Glenn Close. That Disney chose to debut its most exciting new ride at its least thrill-filled park says a lot about how it sees EPCOT developing over the next few years. In short, Cosmic Rewind is a blast. Think Space Mountain 2.0. See disneyworld.disney.go.com
THE ONE PARK FOR LITTLE ONES
With many parks focusing on bigger and bolder thrills, it can be difficult to find suitable options for pre-schoolers. Enter the world's first Peppa Pig theme park, which opened in February at Legoland Florida. Little ones will love the six age-appropriate rides, including Grampy Rabbit's Dinosaur Adventure, not to mention the two playgrounds, maze and splash zone. There's even a cinema where they can re-watch their favourite Peppa Pig episodes. See peppapigthemepark.com
THE ONE OUTLET MALL
With the US dollar riding high, your best bet for a bargain is to head to an outlet centre. Conveniently located near Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, Orlando International Premium Outlets is a sprawling complex of more than 180 stores, with discounts of up to 65 per cent on well-known brands including Armani, Kate Spade and Polo Ralph Lauren. When you hit your browsing threshold, take a break at one of 20 eateries. See premiumoutlets.com
THE ONE DISTRICT
Named after the T.G. Lee Dairy processing plant that opened in the 1920s, the Milk District is a funky neighbourhood east of Downtown that offers a gritty respite from the relentless theme park cheeriness. Pick up a retro souvenir at vintage specialist Etoile Boutique, feast on tasty street treats at the A La Cart food truck centre or try a local craft brew at Barley and Vine Biergarten. See themilkdistrict.org
THE ONE FOOD TOUR
Credit: Alamy
Best known for its 122-metre-high ferris wheel, ICON Park is an open-air entertainment district with several noteworthy attractions, including a Madame Tussauds and a SEA LIFE aquarium. Less heralded is that it's also home to more than 50 restaurants, including eateries by Gordon Ramsay and Blake Shelton. During the two-hour Flavors of ICON Park food tour, you'll sample signature dishes from eight venues and finish with a celebratory lap on the wheel. See originalorlando.com
ONE MORE THING
People are often surprised to discover Orlando is home to the world's largest collection of works by acclaimed US glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Housed alongside many other art nouveau treasures in The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, the collection's highlight is an exquisite chapel interior designed by Tiffany for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. See morsemuseum.org
Rob McFarland was a guest of the US Travel Association (ustravel.org) and Cirque du Soleil.
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