“Open world” video games allow players to freely explore the game’s setting, choosing their own goals and activities. Either before or after PayrollOrg’s 43rd Annual Payroll Congress this week, explore the open world of the greater Orlando area—one of the most exciting locations on Earth. 

 

Activate Orlando’s ‘Fast Travel’ System 

“Fast travel” is a convenient feature in video games allowing player characters to travel between locations automatically. Orlando has fast travel modes that attendees can take advantage of during Payroll Congress. 

For transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center recommends Mears, the Aviation Authority’s Ground Transportation Concessionaire. Mears Connect is a 24/7, Florida-themed shuttle transportation service operating between the airport and the Gaylord Palms. A one-way ticket costs U.S. $16. Mears can also arrange travel to other Orlando area attractions like Kennedy Space Center, LEGOLAND, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. 

Attendees arriving by rail can take Amtrak to the station at Kissimmee before hiring a Mears taxi or a rideshare such as Lyft or Uber to take them to the Gaylord Palms. From the Kissimmee Amtrak station, SunRail provides Central Florida with commuter rail service Monday through Friday. Fares start at U.S. $2 for one-way trips. 

It takes less than 20 minutes to walk to the nearest bus stop from the Gaylord Palms. The LYNX Bus Service provides transportation through Orlando and other areas like Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake Counties. The single-ride fare is U.S. $2, and all-day fare is U.S. $4.50. 

Finally, the Gaylord Palms offers complimentary shuttles to all four Walt Disney World parks and Disney Springs. Reservations can be made in advance. 

 

Complete a Side Quest on I-Drive 

In video games, “side quests” are missions that are not part of the main story—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun! You can choose from several side quests when you visit Orlando’s International Drive while attending Payroll Congress. 

International Drive, commonly known as I-Drive, is a major 11.1-mile thoroughfare in Orlando. Like the Las Vegas Strip, I-Drive is populated by amusement parks, dinner shows, nightclubs, restaurants, shops, and spas.  

Take your transportation of choice to the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, where you can board the I-Ride Trolley. The trolley service runs daily around the International Drive Resort Area every 20 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The trolley is an easy and affordable way to maneuver around Orlando, with fares of U.S. $2 per person/per ride, U.S. $1 per child aged 3-9/per ride, and U.S. $0.25 per ride for persons aged 65 and over. One-day passes start at U.S. $6. 

One fixture of I-Drive is ICON Park, a 20-acre walkable entertainment district. The park has more than 50 rides, restaurants, boutiques, bars, and attractions. Congress goers can ride ICON Park’s 400-foot observation wheel, visit Madame Tussauds Orlando to take selfies with wax replicas of movie stars and superheroes, take in a show with the Blue Man Group, or enjoy the Museum of Illusions. Admission to ICON Park is free with individual charges by establishment; you can save on venue admissions with ICON Park combo tickets. 

The Pointe Orlando on I-Drive caters to adults with a variety of nightlife and dining hotspots including Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar, the Funny Bone Comedy Club, and the Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. SeaWorld Orlando offers award-winning rides and Sesame Street Land alongside its world-famous animal experiences. And for shopaholics, I-Drive is bookended by Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets to the south and Orlando International Premium Outlets to the north.  

Whether you arrive in the Orlando area early, extend your stay, or just slip away in the evenings from the “main mission” of Payroll Congress, I-Drive offers plenty of side quests to experience. 

 

Chill Out at Lake Eola Park 

“Cozy” video games like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” and “Stardew Valley” are designed to simulate the experience of getting outside and enjoying nature—but why not savor the real thing? When you need to unwind from Payroll Congress, a half-hour drive into downtown Orlando will take you to beautiful Lake Eola Park. 

In the 1880s, cattle baron Jacob Summerlin discovered a sinkhole on his property. The sinkhole soon hit a natural spring and transformed into a 23-acre lake. Summerlin’s son Robert named it Lake Eola after his dear departed sweetheart. 

In 1883, Summerlin gifted the land to the city and Lake Eola soon became a respite from the Florida heat for the residents of Orlando. The park grew through additional donations over the decades and now includes the famed Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain, the historic Eola House, a Japanese rock garden, a monument to the Battle of the Bulge, a pagoda originally built in Shanghai, and the Walt Disney Amphitheater—home to outdoor concerts and movie screenings year-round. 

Relaxing activities await you at Lake Eola Park. Rent a swan-shaped paddle boat and cruise alongside actual swans from such diverse species as trumpeter swans, black-necked swans, and Australian black swans. Jog or take a stroll along the 0.9-mile sidewalk that circles the lake. Enjoy beautiful flower beds, the Art Orlando installations, and the spectacular view of the city skyline. 

Nothing beats the buzz and excitement of Payroll Congress, but when you need to chill out, Lake Eola Park awaits.  

Sean Tait Bircher is Writer and Editor of Membership Publications for PayrollOrg.