This major city in central Florida attracts vast numbers of tourists every year. But in times gone by, Orlando was just a small farming village with citrus plantations.

Until cartoon producer Walt Disney arrived in the 1960s, and changed the region forever. In addition to the Disney World theme park complex, Universal Studios and Sea World are also located in the Orlando area.

Together, these draw millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Dozens of smaller parks try to keep pace with the entertainment giants.

But this dazzling world of fun and thrills also has its dark side. Negligent safety measures have resulted in accidents, some of them fatal. In one accident in 2022, a teenager tragically died on the Free Fall ride.

And for park employees, life in the Sunshine State of Florida is often far from rosy. Many struggle to survive on minimum wage, while others are homeless. All this in Orlando, the amusement park capital of the world.
 

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