The Visit Orlando Magical Dining program partners with hundreds of fine dining and local restaurants to create culinary experiences at a low cost. Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, told WESH 2 News that this year’s lineup features 61 Michelin-recognized restaurants, including 38 new additions and a Michelin Star restaurant with a $60 menu, a first in program history. “That just highlights our culinary arts and what’s great is even if you’re not Michelin-recognized, we are able to tell the story of our amazing culinary scene in a much different way,” Matej said. Proceeds from this program also go toward local nonprofits benefiting the Orlando community. This year’s primary beneficiary is Opportunity Community and Ability, or OCA, which says these donations will do so much for families who are navigating the needs of those on the autism spectrum. “For families that are just receiving the diagnosis and they don’t know where to turn, somebody can be at a restaurant and they see our logo and they see our mission and they go, ‘Oh my gosh, this can help my sister, this can help my brother, that’s tremendous,'” said OCA co-founder and CEO Silvia Haas. According to Haas, OCA is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for children and adults with autism and other disabilities to learn, play, and grow alongside their peers. For Haas, Visit Orlando’s contribution to their organization is a result of hard work and dedication to their mission. “It’s overwhelming when the community understands the hard work that you’ve been doing day in and day out to help the families and to be recognized through Visit Orlando Magical Dining is just really a tremendous honor for our organization,” Haas said. Since adding its charity component in 2009, Visit Orlando said its Magical Dining program has raised $3.3 million for local nonprofits. Matej added Visit Orlando will also award $3,000 donations to one nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commissioned districts. “Part of our mission is to inspire people to come to Central Florida, but why we do it is to benefit the community and Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program really shines the light on the good the travel and tourism industry does for our community,” Matej said. Visit Orlando Magical Dining urges everyone to dig into its website to sign up for spots now as they go fast. Reservations will be available from Aug. 14 to Sept. 30.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

The Visit Orlando Magical Dining program partners with hundreds of fine dining and local restaurants to create culinary experiences at a low cost.

Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, told WESH 2 News that this year’s lineup features 61 Michelin-recognized restaurants, including 38 new additions and a Michelin Star restaurant with a $60 menu, a first in program history.

“That just highlights our culinary arts and what’s great is even if you’re not Michelin-recognized, we are able to tell the story of our amazing culinary scene in a much different way,” Matej said.

Proceeds from this program also go toward local nonprofits benefiting the Orlando community. This year’s primary beneficiary is Opportunity Community and Ability, or OCA, which says these donations will do so much for families who are navigating the needs of those on the autism spectrum.

“For families that are just receiving the diagnosis and they don’t know where to turn, somebody can be at a restaurant and they see our logo and they see our mission and they go, ‘Oh my gosh, this can help my sister, this can help my brother, that’s tremendous,'” said OCA co-founder and CEO Silvia Haas.

According to Haas, OCA is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for children and adults with autism and other disabilities to learn, play, and grow alongside their peers. For Haas, Visit Orlando’s contribution to their organization is a result of hard work and dedication to their mission.

“It’s overwhelming when the community understands the hard work that you’ve been doing day in and day out to help the families and to be recognized through Visit Orlando Magical Dining is just really a tremendous honor for our organization,” Haas said.

Since adding its charity component in 2009, Visit Orlando said its Magical Dining program has raised $3.3 million for local nonprofits. Matej added Visit Orlando will also award $3,000 donations to one nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commissioned districts.

“Part of our mission is to inspire people to come to Central Florida, but why we do it is to benefit the community and Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining program really shines the light on the good the travel and tourism industry does for our community,” Matej said.

Visit Orlando Magical Dining urges everyone to dig into its website to sign up for spots now as they go fast. Reservations will be available from Aug. 14 to Sept. 30.