The community of Waterford Lakes was master-planned in the late 1980s as a massive, family-oriented suburban neighborhood centered heavily around a vast chain of freshwater preservation lakes. Developed during the tech boom of eastern Orange County, the neighborhood expanded rapidly to house thousands of families working at the nearby University of Central Florida and the Research Park. Today, the absolute top attraction is the expansive Waterford Lakes Town Center, a world-class, open-air retail destination featuring beautifully landscaped pedestrian avenues, major entertainment complexes, and diverse global restaurants. The community takes great pride in its emphasis on outdoor recreation, maintaining numerous neighborhood sports complexes and scenic lakefront walking paths. Popular things to do include shopping at the open-air commercial avenues, jogging around crystal-clear preservation lakes, playing tournament sand volleyball, and attending outdoor community movie nights. Logistically, Waterford Lakes is situated roughly 16 miles northeast of Orlando International Airport (MCO). The town is positioned about 18 miles south of Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). Commuting southwest to the vacation and retail avenues of Disney Springs requires a drive of approximately 27 miles. To reach the nearest ocean tide, a drive of 38 miles east brings travelers straight to the sand of Cocoa Beach.