Orlando, Florida

===Tourism in history===

Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when [[Walt Disney]] announced plans to build [[Walt Disney World]]. Although Disney had considered the regions of Miami and [[Tampa]] for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate there was due to [[hurricane]]s – Orlando's inland location, although not free from hurricane damage, exposed it to less threat than coastal regions. The vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange, [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole]], [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]], and [[Lake County, Florida|Lake]] Counties. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy. Orlando now has more [[theme park]]s and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Best Hotels in Orlando for AARP Members in 2017|url=https://www.expedia-aarp.com/Orlando-Hotels.d178294.Travel-Guide-Hotels|website=AARP Travel Center|publisher=Expedia|access-date=May 5, 2017}}</ref>

Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1962, when the new Orlando Jetport, the precursor of the present-day Orlando International Airport, was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base. By 1970, four major airlines ([[Delta Air Lines]], [[National Airlines (NA)|National Airlines]], [[Eastern Airlines]], and [[Southern Airways]]) were providing scheduled flights. McCoy Air Force Base officially closed in 1975, and most of it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO).