Well, I was expecting the worst, but I was pleasantly surprised by what an easy experience it was!…read moreHowever, a few caveats: Definitely make a reservation beforehand, because they ask you before you even enter the building if you have one. Also, arrive 30 minutes early- for 2 reasons: parking- while there are places around the building to park on the street, good luck finding a space. I ended up simply parking in the garage- which, by the way, costs $20 for 2 hours. Also, you can leave the garage through 2 doors, but those same doors are locked from the outside, so you have to walk all the way around when you leave to get to your car. Upon entering the building, you will be asked if you have a reservation, and you will have to show it to the security guard. Once in, be prepared for airport security- removing all metal, going through a metal detector, and being wanded. For me, anyway, after that, everything was a breeze. Upon entering the 3rd floor, I was again asked if I had a reservation and had to show it to the security guard, who in turn directed me to the kiosk where I signed in and was given a paper ticket. I was given a number that corresponded to a screen. I sat down in a very uncrowded room, and a few minutes later, my number came up; they also sent me a text. I had a very pleasant agent who helped me do a name change on my social security card, and I was done in less than 10 minutes! I headed back down and got in my car, paid for parking on the way out, and was on my way!

I highly recommend to make an appointment. I went there and had to wait forever and then inside…read morethere was also a lot of people waiting. It's like cattle waiting. I couldn't stand it so left. I had an appointment the next day and walked right in and out, such a difference!!

On 08/27/24 I went to get my license changed over to the new format license. When my name was…read morecalled I went to station number 3 and was greeted by Kim M. What a pleasant surprise I had when she greeted us with a big smile and a very welcoming greeting. I knew right away that we were going to have a great experience. She didn't disappoint. She was so helpful, pleasant and made the process so easy. I could tell she had a customer service background and I was right. How did I know because i also had a customer service background working over 30 years for for a large communications company and for Orange County (Retired from both) as a rep and as a supervisor. Kim is an exemplary example of how to deliver great customer service. She's a keeper and I just want to thank her for making my day a little brighter. Thanks Kim and keep up the great work.

On January 8th of this year, I scheduled an appointment to renew my drivers license at the Clarcona…read moreoffice. Everything went as scheduled and I was out of there in 15 minutes. The entire staff was very helpful but my primary contact, Sherrie, was absolutely fantastic. She was very professional as well as personal and most importantly most patient. I've always believed that my property taxes were the best bargain that money can buy and my recent experience at the Orange County Tax Collector office only strengthen my belief. Larry Van Sickle

Every time Ive had to come here the process has been so smooth and placid. All employees are very…read moreattentive and willing to offer the assistance needed. This time around I was my mothers translator and the officer was extremely patient and understanding.

This facility that tax payers pay for is not allowing people to enter w/o appointment. The people…read morethat need other services or questions have to wait outside in the heat while the security guard stands keeping the door shut in the cool AC lobby. What are my tax dollars paying for to have empty lobbies and overpaid workers doing nothing. All government agencies after Covid used this excuse to lock people out and it's going to get worse.

Facility~ 5 Stars Dickhead OPD that arrested me~ 0 Stars…read more I spent a relaxing night here a few years ago for allegedly violating article VIII section 18-411 Code 1986, 94.01 of the city ordinance, better known as "off premises canvassing". A local night club hired us to pass out free drink passes but failed to mention the law preventing it. The officer wanted to make an example out of me to show the club owners they wanted the fliering to stop. I was given no warning. It was my first (and perhaps last) time in a place of incarceration, and I must say that I was rather pleasantly surprised with the experience given the circumstances. My memory is a bit hazy--you'll have to excuse me as this was quite a few years ago. The facility was newly built, in a concrete-metal style that is elegant in its spareness and utility. It is, however, lacking in a certain fluidity. My particular cell was absolutely spic and span. A polished concrete floor and stainless steel fixtures complemented a minimal, Japanese-inspired interior. In keeping with its status as a public facility, individual dwellings were completely sealed from each other with little flow or openness betwixt them. A rolled up mat normally provides an additional level of comfort to the metal bunks lined nicely up against the walls. Staff was generally efficient and friendly. My fellow detainee's had lovely words of encouragement as this was not their first offence. A new, soft gray blanket provided much needed warmth during the morning chill. Unfortunately, I was not able to turn off the fluorescent lights at my discretion. This, however, did nothing to disturb my inability to sleep because I was still in shock from the arrest . If I were to suggest one area of improvement--the food was severely lacking. In the morning, I was given a tray containing a carton of low fat milk, generic brand cereal, mushy grits and 2 slices of white bread. While the cereal was satisfying (the milk, in particular, was very refreshing for a very parched throat), the grits were inedible. The two slices of white bread, I later learned come with every meal. 42 pieces a week in fact. With all the fresh produce that is locally available in Orlando, I felt it would represent the city better if these were available to the facility's temporary dwellers.

My experience with Orange County Jail has been extremely negative. Many of the officers who control…read moreinmate movement and meal times appear to abuse their authority and treat inmates harshly. They often yell at and disrespect inmates instead of handling situations with professionalism. The meal schedule is also very irregular and inhumane. For example, breakfast is served around 6 a.m., but lunch may not be served until 5 p.m., and dinner as late as 8 p.m. This goes against the standard meal schedule that inmates should receive. In addition, I've encountered serious unprofessional behavior from staff, including being hung up on when calling administrative offices and receiving rude or dismissive treatment when trying to ask about inmate services. The people who work here are truly miserable and it'd be nice if there were some people who actually have empathy and patience to work here. There also seems to be a lack of fairness and transparency in how certain processes are handled -- for example, requests related to marriage or paperwork are denied for questionable reasons, such as claims about missing immigration stamps that have nothing to do with the marriage process. On top of that, they are very disorganized and you will get different information depending on who you ask. All the staff is NOT on the same page. Corporal Tinsley is an inconsiderate power hungry individual who is racist and not willing to accommodate or help out certain individuals with unique circumstances. Overall, the system feels broken, unaccountable, and deeply unprofessional. Orange County Jail needs oversight, accountability, and proper staff training to ensure inmates and their loved ones are treated with basic dignity and respect.

It's very convenient to have this office of the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in Orlando…read more They offer legal services, Dominican passport renewals, document translations, assistance with birth, marriage and death certificates and visas. This office is located on E. Colonial Dr., there is no parking in front, but there is plenty of parking in the back. They operate Mon-Fri, 8a-4p. Be mindful, they observe Dominican holidays. When they answer the phone, they are good with providing information and guidance. On arrival, there were not many people waiting, one of the people did get up to question how much longer the wait would be. I was given a form to complete. All the forms are in Spanish, and if like me you have difficulty with Spanish legal terms, they help. For services rendered, they do NOT accept cards, CASH ONLY. It is supremely inconvenient, the reason for the 3 stars. They do have an ATM inside BUT the service fee is $6.50, plus what, if any your bank charges for not using their ATMs. The entire process was quick, it took longer because went out to find my bank ATM.

El Consulado de la República Dominicana en Orlando cuenta con un personal muy amable y atento;…read moresiempre tratan bien a las personas. Sin embargo, el servicio es extremadamente lento, incluso cuando el lugar está prácticamente vacío. Mi poder notarial tomó 5 días laborables y, aun así, el día en que me indicaron que fuera a recogerlo fue cuando finalmente sacaron el documento para firmarlo, lo que me retrasó aún más. También me pidieron regresar a una hora específica para firmar, llegué puntualmente y aun así tuve que esperar. Además, casi nunca contestan el teléfono, lo que hace muy difícil obtener información o aclarar dudas. Sería ideal que mejoraran la eficiencia, la puntualidad y la atención al público para brindar una mejor experiencia a los ciudadanos.

Once a year (not so much like Willy Wonka's factory) the Orange County Landfill opens its doors to…read morethe public for a recycling day. This event was pretty well advertised and was recommended by friends who went in the past. We arrived at the landfill just after the event started at 10:00. There were signs all the way from Dean Road to point us in the right direction and once we pulled into the facility there were employees directing us where to go to park. We were greeted and asked to sign in for our group (we brought a bunch of Girl Scouts). Everyone was given a ticket for a free BBQ lunch (very nice!). We went directly to the line for the bus tour of the facility - the main attraction. We only had about a 10 minute wait but later in the day the line was MUCH longer. So go early! The gentleman who was our tour guide was a manager at the facility and was very informative. We drove past the area where yard waste is composted. It was interesting to see the process from the raw materials to the final product. The bus took us to the top of one of the completed landfill mountains (a pretty high point for Orlando). We got a nice view of the Orlando skyline. Along the way we saw a little alligator, about a dozen eagles, wild turkeys, cranes, and a raccoon. (The kids liked the animals the best.) There was a small exhibit area. There were recycling bins to take home. Lots of good stuff. Overall, it was a fun time. So early November of next year look out for recycling day at the landfill.

They're just lazy! I'm careful to always prepare my garbage properly. But soon we'll have to put…read moreour own rubbish in the truck!!! WHERE DOES OUR PROPERTY TAXES GO???

If you could imagine a turtle, crawling through sticky molasses and slowly drying concrete, all…read morewhile pulling 4,000 tons of bricks, you'd have a VAGUE idea of the speed at which Orange County operates. Most of the individual people I've dealt with seem level-headed, fair, reasonable, and timely. However, when you put them all together it's a painful concoction. You would think this county would want businesses to open, jobs to be created, additional taxes paid in to the county's coffers. You would be wrong. Seriously, I'd rather have my teeth pulled while being beat on with sticks embedded with nails, at least I could find something positive in the experience.

I've been here a few times to attend County Board meetings. Its a nice facility - easy to get in…read moreand out.

I was expecting to wait hours and I only had to wait about 20 minutes for my documents. I am…read moreimpressed with the organization and pleasant the security guards and receptionists were. One would think they would have been rude or anal. Better signage is needed on the second floor so that one knows on which side of the IRS they need to be.

Not only is it impossible to get a hold of someone on the phone, but once you manage to you get…read moredirected to an outsourced call center in another country. Had to do some deep research to make sure I called the right number to make sure I wasn't going to be scammed. So much for keeping jobs in America.

This trail is definitely underrated! I don't mind hiking through the woods and dirt paths; however,…read morethis boardwalk trail was very beautiful and serene. I loved how parts of the creek's landscape changed as you moved farther from the main stream. From low stumps, running water, and algae, the scenery transitions to large ferns and tall trees with patches of duckweed across the water below. It wasn't very crowded considering it was a weekend and a holiday, which is a plus when you just want to take a breather from the hustle & bustle of being in a tourist-heavy area. It's also connected to a regional park that gives you direct access to the creek for kayaking and other recreational activities. We didn't see much wildlife besides birds and squirrels, but I have no doubts that there are alligators and deer every once and a while!

The access point and parking is through the school. The trail is a place to get some steps in and…read morethere were several birds, fish and turtles we got to see. I would recommend paying attention to the map at the entrance to know where you're going once you're inside. The parking area can be a little tight since it's practically a one-way. I would probably return for some more exploring.