Orlando, Florida Pickleball Report: 15 Courts in 21 Days

You're not imagining that this post is out of order. We were in Orlando quite a few months ago. This post was written and sitting in the draft folder and never published. When I found it there, I couldn't just let it sit. Hope you enjoy and let us know if you decide to go to Florida. It's worth the visit.

It’s no surprise to those who know us — we might be just a little hooked on pickleball. 🥒💥 Wherever we go, we’re always on the lookout for new courts, new friends, and new adventures.

On our move from Ft. Lauderdale to Orlando, we couldn’t resist squeezing in some pickleball playtime along the way with friends! First stop: Melbourne, where we got to catch up with Diane & Carter. We met them a couple of years ago while pet-sitting their dog, Dinky — yes, Dinky, the big dog with the tiny name. Their backyard happens to have two pickleball courts, which we put to good use. Diane and Carter were kind enough to host 11 of us for some fun games this visit. They always have neat people playing at their house, so it was a pleasure.

After leaving Melbourne, we rolled into the Orlando area for two different pet sits. Both homes we stayed in were extremely nice. One was for two cute cats, on a lake with a boat and two kayaks. The other unfortunately turned in to just a home sit. The dog we were to sit for unexpectedly had to be put down. We were so sad for the owners, who so generously offered for us to stay anyway. We were thankful that it didn’t happen while we were sitting for them. After over 65 successful pet sits in nine years, we have never lost a pet, and we hope to keep an unblemished record!

If you want info about having highly trustworthy sitters who come to your home for free, or how to find great pets to care for in beautiful homes around the world, check out the website we use to find sits.

Pet Sitting Info

Over the next 21 days in Orlando, we had the absolute best time meeting and playing with so many awesome players on 15 unique courts (some multiple times). Everyone was so welcoming — it’s one of the best things about this sport! If you’re looking for advanced play around Orlando, here’s a little highlight list and reel of the places and people we loved.

After writing this post, we’re shaking our heads about how it was even possible!!! All of the courts we visited are in central to east Orlando; there are more on the west side we did not have time to visit.

🗺 Map of all 15 court locations of our Orlando Pickleball Highlights: 👉 Google Map link

 If you have trouble opening the link, copy and paste: https://shorturl.at/mAo7b

Here is. a quick video with so many of the courts and people we enjoyed. We hope you enjoy it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnEB6mV2K60

🏓 Fort Gatlin Recreation Complex — small fee. Played with neighbors. 4 courts with temp nets on tennis courts.

🏓 East Lake Park — Free 4 nice courts. Just across the street from homes. These may be short lived due to noise complaints. We met Carol & Glenn. Carol invited me to a women’s day at Central Winds Park!

🏓 USTA Campus - Drop in fee. This major tennis facility has adopted pickleball in a big way! They have 12 dedicated pickleball courts that are the most impressive in all of Orlando. After playing there one day, we went another day and watched the MLP pros play (We needed a break from playing LOL! ).

🏓 Orlando Racquet Sports (ORS) — Indoor, with drop in fee. We didn’t know a soul walking in. Met Pete, in the middle of a private mixed doubles day. After one more match, he worked us in with the group! He also told us about the men’s group day at ORS, and about Lisa, Kimi, and Anna who play in a women’s group there. Invites were also offered for more games at other locations.

🏓 ClearOne Sports Centre — Indoor, with drop in fee. I joined a women’s ladder group thanks to the ORS ladies. We met the owner, John, and chatted with him about the cool history of his place and all the pros that come to visit there.

🏓 Cypress Lakes HOA — Free to homeowners and guests. These were the courts in the neighborhood where we were staying. Temp nets on tennis courts with pickleball lines marked. Shoutout to Kim and Truc, who connected us with Alicia’s fun Downey Park group and also gave us Vu’s number.

🏓 Downey Park — Free public. Alicia’s group is such a blast, and these gorgeous courts are rarely busy. Seriously, how are they not packed all the time? Bring your own four players usually.

🏓 Central Winds — Carol, whom we me our first day in Orland, runs a fun women’s group here on beautiful new courts.

🏓 Cady Way — Free public. This is a local favorite for pickup play. With two challenge courts. Met LaLa, Becky, and Adrien (tall, young, long-legged, with a killer serve — young legs are tough to beat!). Great place to go to meet new people. Win on the challenge court and stay up to 3 games. So fun!

🏓 Stoneybrook Community Courts — Free to homeowners and guests. Ky joined Vu’s men’s group here while I took a much-needed break!

🏓 Avalon Village Private Community — Free to homeowners and guests. Both of us played with Vu’s crew of nine — solid players, fun energy.

🏓 Pickle X — Indoor. Membership available, or Invite only with a member. Got an invite to this awesome two-court, air-conditioned private club. The surface was easy on the body, the music was bumping, and the women players hit hard. Loved it.

🏓 Westgate Park in Eastwood — Free to homeowners and guests. We invited our friend David (met him in Maui on another pet sit). He had just finished playing 11 US Open matches in brutal Naples heat, silver medal in hand, but he still rallied to play with us and 5 of the people we met through Vu’s group. One of them lives at this community!

🏓 Candyland Park — Free public. We landed at Candyland because, after driving 45 minutes to the Picklr grand opening, it was still closed and the opening had been delayed again (without notice — oof). Luckily, locals tipped us off to Candyland, where we met Luis and Yale — two super nice guys who stuck around to play even after over three hours on court. Bonus: it was Luis’s 51st birthday, and Yale is about to turn 70! 🎉 Happy birthday, guys — you rock!

🏓 Fort Christmas Park — Free public. This little gem popped up on our way to the Orlando Wetlands (a must see). . Just one tennis court with pickleball lines, but a perfect spot for some drilling practice — plus, the park has cool historical settler cabins and old Florida history.

💡 Final Thoughts: Orlando really knows how to build courts! The public designs are top-notch, with fenced-in individual courts and plenty of room around each. If you’re dreaming up the ideal eight-court layout, check out Downey Park for inspiration.

Thanks again to everyone who made our Orlando pickleball adventure unforgettable — we can’t wait to come back and play again soon! 🥳