Jobless? Get paid $25,000 to ride everything in Orlando
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Career, Travel, Relationships
Pack your Dramamine: The tourist city of Orlando, home to seven of the most popular amusement parks on earth, is rolling out a job search for a couple who can take 67 days off to ride every ride, tour every attraction, get rubbed down at every spa, and generally explore every crevice (and line) of the Mecca of Mascots.The pay, to cover expenses back home during those two months, will be $25,000, and the winner will be put up in a one-bedroom condo of their own in downtown Orlando, the better to dabble in its arts district, cafés, and prime Vietnamese restaurant drag when theme parking wears out. All the job holders will have to do in return is document their grueling, turkey leg-packed adventure using a supplied set of cell phone, video camera, and still camera, and to post their doings online via hotspots such as Facebook and Twitter. Their jealousy-making life, Orlando hopes, will stir Americans to venture out of their recession caves and come play again.
The application process is pretty simple: Turn in two photos, a one-minute video, and be at least 21. Applicants can be of any nationality, and your twosome can even be the same sex -- which means you can be in a romantic couple or part of an Amazing Race-style team-up. But given the name of this promotion, 67 Days of Smiles, it's a safe bet that you'll need to be able to grin on cue as an official online ambassador of the area that supports Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. The latter two resorts, in particular, which run a combined five parks, are entering hard times thanks to precipitous tourism drops, despite the fact that both of them have just added mega-coasters to their lineups.
Like Queensland, Australia's recent search for someone to paddle about in its Great Barrier Reef (sorry, that's been filled), Orlando's Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to beef up its flagging tourism trade with this stunt. Partners can apply through the official, tourist tax-supported website.
I would love to take this job, but, in fact, I've already done it, when I wrote the Pauline Frommer's Orlando guide book to the city. Orlando was designed to be amusing and transporting, but the chief complaint about it, and its biggest weakness, has always been the high prices. Remove that from the equation, and get paid to see everything? What was that thing about wishing upon a star?



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-01-2009 @ 9:17PM
Adam Danky said...
Wow, where do I sign up. I want in on that action!
Reply
6-01-2009 @ 10:28PM
dmiami said...
25 Grand, we'll do it for free.
Reply
6-02-2009 @ 8:00AM
nn said...
whOrelando Sucks. If you visit you will be taxed to death on the highways around the city. It cost 10 to cross the city on some routes. Imagine living and working there?
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 4:47PM
Karla said...
NN: It does not cost $10 to cross the cities. You must be talking about the B line which is a toll road from the Orlando area to Coco Beach area & that actually cost $3 or $4 one way.
I live outside of Orlando in Polk County & spend most of my time in the Orlando area. Orlando is a great place to shop, live & work.
6-02-2009 @ 9:40AM
kim said...
Living and working in Orlando is AMAZING! Just imagine, having all those theme parks in your backyard. But yes, our toll roads are incredibly expensive, which is why everyone takes the other roads anyway. And the tolls just went up last month.
I would LOVE this job, and they wouldn't even have to put me in a condo anywhere, because I live downtown. I'll ride anything, and me and the hubby sure could use the money.
Reply
9-18-2009 @ 9:12AM
jason said...
wow thats sounds VERY good..... I could use that money right now to pay for my wedding?? where do i sign up
Reply
6-02-2009 @ 10:20AM
Diane said...
I hate contests that discriminate against single people.
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 9:44AM
Megan said...
so wait...you mean to tell me you don't even have ANY friends? i find that hard to believe...I'm single, yes, but still have people I could ask to join me in an adventure!!
6-02-2009 @ 6:07PM
Sue said...
Wow, that would be a much appreciated opportunity. I have twin sons going to College and two elderly in-laws to care for.
Reply
6-02-2009 @ 6:14PM
Marge said...
Sounds to good to be ture! But we do have the time as we both are uninployed and in need of a job real bad. Poor in Naples!
Reply
6-02-2009 @ 9:14PM
Sarah said...
I would so love to do this! How do I get in on this amazing job?
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 7:32AM
BEN said...
I would love to do that but I am single in Port Charlotte.If you are a lady that needs a partner to do this.I have the time and I love roller costers.(I'm 46)
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 12:25PM
Richard Lebert said...
How do we sign up where do I send the photos and the short video.
Reply
6-03-2009 @ 4:14PM
Amy said...
You can sign up by visiting www.VisitOrlando.com/67daysofsmiles. Good luck!
6-03-2009 @ 4:15PM
Amy said...
The application is online at www.VisitOrlando.com/67daysofsmiles. Good luck!
Reply
7-09-2009 @ 3:42PM
Mary said...
Does this opportunity apply to retired seniors citizens too? I'm a 64 year old female. I have a 20 year old nephew who would LOVE to come along! Looking for work in Palm Beach Florida.
Reply