Welcome to our Florida Guide. Your one-stop shop for vacation planning for that trip of a lifetime to Florida! http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/ en-us Copyright 2004, Orlando Villas LLC. All Rights Reserved. info@orlandovillas.com http://www.orlandovillas.com/pictures/rss/logo.gif http://www.orlandovillas.com/ 75 50 http://www.villasflorida.com/vacation_guide/vacationing-in-orlando.aspx If you are looking for the perfect family holiday, then try Orlando, Florida. Orlando Florida is America and rsquo; s premier vacation spot for fun. Home to some of the world and rsquo; s best theme parks, there are also numerous other attractions such as great restaurants, shopping, golf courses, lakes and more. Enjoy a family vacation in Orlando and have the experience of a lifetime. Orlando is easy for you and your family to go beyond the standard theme park trips and to visit both the east and west coast of Florida, both of which you can reach within 45 minutes or so. Hundreds of thousands of people vacation in Orlando every year; many come for the entertainment. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and Animal Kingdom are just a few of the theme parks located in Orlando. While the major Orlando entertainment parks are the magnet, along with their non-stop nightlife and linked attractions, there is no shortage of other Orlando highlights and attractions. Theaters, p... http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/orlando_guide/toddling-around-orlando.aspx Many families avoid Orlando as a holiday destination when they have small children. After all what can a toddler do in Orlando – can’t go on a rollercoaster and how much will they appreciate the Theme Parks. Well the answer is there’s lots to do and oh yes they will appreciate it! And it doesn’t have to cost the earth! Florida should be an easy choice with small children. The Orlando area is packed full of things to do for the whole family. Firstly lets explore the Theme Parks. All of the major Theme Parks cater for Pre-schoolers. There are plenty of attractions that your little ones can participate in. Disney is does this extremely well. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom is great fun. Our 18 month old was in awe of “It’s a Small World” and Peter Pan. The Disney Website is packed full of information as to what is available for pre-schoolers so its very easy to plan your time. On the Disney site you can select Pre-schoolers and it will clearly show the different attractions suitable ... http://www.villasflorida.com/vacation_guide/virgin-premium-economy.aspx The decision to use Premium Economy as your travel class is an often debated one on travel forums. For some people the flight is simply a means to an end, get on the plane, get your head down and get on with it. Save the money that the upgrade would cost to enjoy on your holiday. For others the flight is very much integral to the whole holiday experience. Premium Economy was introduced by Virgin as an enhanced economy experience, rather than having a business class offering. Initially you got the advantage of increased seat space, without any additional services or benefits. Since then it has evolved, you now receive a different meal service, dedicated check-in and prioritised luggage delivery when you arrive. Virgin are also currently upgrading the premium economy cabin with new wider and more comfortable seats, but this has not yet begun to happen to any of the aircraft based at Gatwick, so doesn’t affect the Orlando route. If you fly from Heathrow to Miami then you may very well g... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/trails-end-restaurant.aspx Although we have never eaten here friends of ours visited this restaurant and have recommended it. They went to it by boat from the Magic Kingdom and I believe you can also travel by boat to it from Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary Resort. As with other Disney venues the Disney transportation probably goes here but this you would need to enquire about. A parking lot is also located in the area for those who wish to drive. These were the hours of opening and prices when my friends went (summer 2006). Breakfast: 7:30 - 11:00 a. m. Adults: $11. 99 Children (3-9): $7. 99 Lunch: Noon - 2:30 p. m. Adults: $12. 99 Children: $8. 99 Dinner: 4:30 - 9:30 p. m. (10 p. m. on Friday and Saturday) Adults: $17. 99 Children: $9. 99 Reservations are advisable for breakfast and dinner. However, apparently if you show up for dinner between 4:30 and 5:30 p. m. , you should be able to get a table without too long a wait. The Trail and rsquo; s End Restaurant can be found just to the right... http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/florida-trips/cirque-du-soleil.aspx This is an expensive evening out and we had visited our villa in Orlando for several years before we went to see a performance. Cirque Du Soleil is located in Downtown Disney and rsquo; s West Side. From Downtown Orlando take I-4 West to exit 68 Lake Buena Vista. Turn right off the exit and then your first left heading towards the Disney Marketplace. Follow to the end and turn left at the light. Turn right into the 4th parking entrance for the AMC/Downtown Disney. Cirque Du Soleil is on the far left corner of Downtown Disney next to House of Blues and amp; Disney Quest. It is a tall white building you really cannot miss it, it seats nearly 1700 people. This is a huge car park and no matter how busy it is here we have always managed to park. However should you prefer Valet parking is also available although I do not know the cost of this. Performances are held from Tuesday through Saturday at 6 p. m. and 9 p. m. There are no performances on Sundays and Mondays. There are four c... http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/florida-trips/pirates-of-the-caribbean.aspx My niece and I love this ride at Magic Kingdom and first discovered it one very wet Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party night. Initially we went in just to get out of the rain but have returned several times since. The ride takes about ten minutes and is over far too quickly. There is so much to see with the Audio-Animatronics figures that include pirates, villagers, animals and birds. Each time we go we spot something that we have not seen before. Although this ride is noisy and there is the odd skeleton about there always seem to be quite a few young children on the ride and they do not seem to be frightened. I think there is so much going on it is easy to distract them from potentially scary bits. Everyone loves the music “A Pirates Life for Me! ” You travel back in time to the West Indies of the 1700s, when Spain brought gold from the New World back home and Pirates ruled the waters. Pirates of the Caribbean is located in Adventureland, in the Caribbean Plaza. The architecture r... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/olive-garden-italian-restaurant.aspx The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant is one of our family’s favourite places to eat and there are several branches to choose from according to where you are staying. We usually visit the restaurant on West Irlo Bronson Highway (the 192). You can telephone the branch to make a priority reservation for a table but we always just turn up and have never had to wait any longer than ten or fifteen minutes – just long enough to slowly sip a glass of wine whilst sitting in the evening sun in the garden of the restaurant! The interiors of the restaurant are bright and spacious and we have always found the servers to be very friendly and polite. The menu is large and varied and utterly delicious. You can start with a variety of soups and appetisers but we always opt for the refillable Olive Garden house salad which is tossed in their own signature Italian salad dressing. This dressing is so delicious that they also sell it by the bottle for you to take home – it really is worth it and we ... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/downtown-disney-west-side.aspx Orlando is a mecca for shopping and dining but there is one place that has it all –sprinkled with some Disney magic pixie dust. That place is Downtown Disney. Downtown simply means the centre of the town or city and Downtown Disney is a fun area, full of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. It is free to visit. You do not need a Disney Park ticket to enjoy it, and you don’t pay for parking either. In my opinion this gives it the edge on the similar concept owned by Universal Studios which does charge. Downtown Disney is split into three areas- Marketplace, West Side and Pleasure Island. Each area has it’s own atmosphere and they are all three linked together with very pleasant paths and walkways. As you become more familiar with Downtown Disney you will choose the right car park for your needs. It can take about 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other if you park at the wrong side to where you want to go! ! The West Side area has a range of shops and restaurants. It is the pl... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/popeye-blutosbilge-barges.aspx I am not normally a great fan of the water rides at the theme parks in the UK as you either get wet and don’t dry out, or the ride is not that good. In Florida you don’t have that problem (the weather is very good) and the water rides are great. My favourite water ride has to be Popeye and amp; Bluto’s Bilge – Rat Barges located at Universal Islands of Adventure. The ride is a raft type ride that can hold up to 10 people per barge. The main aim of this ride is to get you all soaking wet. You first start off by winding through a dockyard while you wait to board the barge, this is all part of the ride and ensures that the time goes quickly. We have been on this ride in Both Jul and Nov and have never queued more than 45 minutes. I must say going on this ride in Jul is really good as it cools you off! Once you are on the ride you are put into your seat by the attendant and then wait for the off. Looking at the first drop the barge is moving around and it is down to pot luck who get... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/nasa-kennedy-space-centre.aspx The NASA Kennedy space centre is located on the east coast of Florida near the World famous Cocoa Beach. The drive the space centre is around 1 hour from the centre of Orlando. Getting there could not be easier as the main freeway takes you directly there. The area is full of history about space travel and is where they launch the Space Shuttle aircraft. These can often be seen from various vantage points around the area. In the Space centre is the astronaut Hall of Fame where you can find out information on all of the people who have been into space. This is located at the visitors centre. All the activities at the space centre are normally included in the price of the admission ticket. If you are into the history of space travel you will not be disappointed, you can get up close and personal with all the types of space craft, including the Apollo and space shuttle. My favourite part was the walkthrough of the space shuttle itself. In 2007 they added a new ride called ‘Shuttle L... http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/florida-trips/disney’s-blizzard-beach.aspx I have to admit to being rather nervous around water and for this reason it was quite a few years before I decided to venture to a water park with my family. I had absolutely no need to be afraid of anything. My visit to Disney’s Blizzard beach was truly special and I took away very treasured memories. So, what is so special about a water park as opposed to having fun at a real beach? Disney magic of course. Disney has very cleverly landscaped the park do you have the impression that somehow you are enjoying snowy, cold activities under the heat of the Florida sun! The park is divided into different areas so that there is plenty for all ages and confidences to enjoy. Activities range from white knuckle rides to simply bobbing about in a shallow pool! Firstly, you and your family need to organise yourselves on entry to the park, with towels, some seats, and a place to change. Everywhere is wonderfully signposted and we had no problem hiring towels, finding a locker and basing ours... http://www.villasflorida.com/vacation_guide/romanos-macaroni-grill.aspx As regular travellers to Florida, no trip to Orlando for my family is complete without a visit to Macaroni Grill. Romano’s Macaroni Grill is a Chain of Italian restaurants that manages to strike that difficult balance between a quality “grown up” décor, while remaining fun and welcoming for children. The layout is similar for all their restaurants with dark wood furnishings and the kitchen partially exposed showing the clay ovens. These Ovens are where the bread and pizzas are cooked on site. There is an unobtrusive soundtrack playing in the background adding to the Italian ambiance. Those familiar with “The Godfather” and other such films will recognise some of the tunes. You will be shown to your table and your waiter/waitress will introduce themselves by signing their name upside down, so that you can read it, on the white “table cloth” with crayon. This is the cue for my children to start creating an artistic masterpiece with the supplied crayons. No risk here of getting bored ... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/magical-mount-dora.aspx Theme parks and excitement are what a holiday in Orlando is all about. But for many families, after a few days of the hustle and bustle of rides and parades, it’s time for a break. And where better than the sleepy town of Mount Dora? Mount Dora is situated just forty miles northwest of Orlando and it is a very easy drive which takes around an hour on well sign posted roads. Mount Dora is how you imagine an old US town to be, with quaint shops, small homely restaurants and a generally slower and quieter pace of life. We headed straight for the best hotel in town, the one hundred and twenty year old Lakeside Inn. It really is ‘lakeside’ and the views from the restaurant and other public rooms are beautiful. It has an old fashioned ambience with a wide veranda, and old wooden rocking chairs. This overlooks the landscaped lawns, leading to a huge swimming pool and then Lake Dora. We arrived for breakfast and enjoyed a freshly cooked A la carte meal in quiet and civilised surroundin... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/champagne-sunday-brunch-la-coquina.aspx After enjoying many Sunday Brunches at the Renaissance Hotel we were so disappointed when they stopped that we decided to try an alternative on our recent trip. We weren’t disappointed with our choice. For a stunning Champagne Sunday Brunch the La Coquina Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is well worth a visit. The hotel is located at One Grand Cypress Boulevard, just off of SR 535. It is themed as a French Marketplace. The quality and selection of food is fantastic. After seating you at your table your waiter will give you a guided tour of the buffet area, located in the kitchen. All items are buffet style except for the freshly prepared, made to order entrées. There are five choices and you can go back and order as many as you would like to (or can manage, I could only manage one but they all looked delicious). Also eggs, waffles and pancakes are cooked to order and accompanied with the usual toppings. The unlimited champagne and fresh orange juice mean you ne... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/lower-wekiva-river.aspx Lower Wekiva River State Park is situated both in Eustis and Sanford; the southern end is 9 miles west of Sanford off S. R. 46. and the north entrance is in Pine Lakes off S. R. 44. This park covers 18000 acres of wet lands and black water streams and forms an entrance to Ocala National Park. Native Americans were the first known settlers to this area drawn by the rich opportunities for hunting. Then of course the Spanish arrived in 1513 which spelled the beginning of the end for the Indians. There are many middens along the banks of the river which will reveal the secrets of these times. They are due to be excavated sometime in the near future. About 5000 acres of preserve were acquired by the State in 1976 and much later in 1994 and 1995 more acres were added to form what is now known as Lower Wekiva River State Park. The southern end of this park comprises of 5000 acres and has a nature trail of about two and a half miles. There is a good self guide map available to help y... http://www.villasflorida.com/vacation_guide/more-than-theme-parks.aspx I love Florida. Of course we all know about Disney and Universal etc. etc. My favourite park is Seaworld and the pirate show, so clever and so funny, but I’m sure that the Magic Kingdom is a firm favourite with the kiddies. Meeting Mickey Mouse and friends must be awe inspiring, oh! to be young again. But there is much more to Florida than theme parks, A veritable haven of plant, bird and other wildlife. How about spending a lazy day at beautiful Clearwater. The sand is white and feels like flour, the sea is calm and safe for children. Everynight at sunset people gather on the pier to watch the famous Florida sunset while all kinds of entertainers keep you amused. Craft stall line up along the pier to sell you that little bit different souvenier. Clearwater also has a lovely harbour with a variety of boats taking you to see the dolphins, a pirate ship that has a fun show while you sail the seas. At night you have the opportunity to take a cruise on one of the boats around the bay a... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/bennigans-restuarant.aspx Bennigans Grill and amp; Taverns are located in and around Orlando and other parts of Florida having over 300 locations. They are brilliant family restaurants. There are two on International Drive and one on Hwy192 so really convenient for most of the communities. They were founded in 1976 the food being American with a hint of Irish influence. These family restaurants can be used for a normal meal out, but have a great atmosphere for that special occasion too. There is a seating area and a bar in the center, enabling you to relax and sample the Guinness or a cocktail while waiting to be seated or deciding which of the mouth watering items you are going to order. Around the bar area there is several TV’s where many of the locals go to watch the baseball and basketball matches and the atmosphere if there is a live match is as thrilling as the UK world cup football matches with lots of cheering and happy banter. If you have never tried anything like it the Guinness glaze which a... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/lovers-key-state-park.aspx Lovers Key State Park is istuated in Lee County, between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach on County Road 865. We once almost lost these 4 barrier islands to the developers in the 1960s and indeed preparation work had already started when commonsense came to the fore and they were rescued by the State of Florida in 1983. Some damage had already been done, since they had already dug a canal system that damaged the mangrove wet lands of Black Island. The State combined these 4 islands with Carl E Johnson County Park to form what is now known as Lovers Key State Park. Why Lovers Key? well years ago these islands were so difficult to access that it was said that only Lovers took the trouble to find the peace and privacy that they afforded. The State Park now has over 1600 acres to explore and enjoy. The parks department is currently working hard to restore the natural flora of these islands. Black Island has many artesian wells that were used as a natural water source for the many fi... http://www.villasflorida.com/vacation_guide/buying-disney-souvenirs.aspx If you have children and even if you don’t, no visit to Disney is complete without a few souvenirs of a truly magical experience. From cuddly character toys to kitchen ware and the latest movie memorabilia, Disney has it all. The imagination of Disney merchandising seemingly knows no limits. The instantly recognisable trademark three circle mouse ears are everywhere; just how many places can a Mouse get! Although you can spend a fortune on these items there are amazing bargains to be had if you know where to look. The airport shops and souvenir shops along I - Drive and the 192 are best avoided as they are among the most expensive. For Disney character toys, T. shirts and small items such as key rings, mugs e. t. c, Walmart has a good selection at some of the best prices around. Surprisingly the best places to buy are at Disney’s own stores. Although it’s better to steer clear of the outlets within the parks, keep your eyes open and bargains can be found in the stores at Disney res... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/driving-safely.aspx Although we are all feel we are very capable and competent drivers whilst driving around during our daily lives here in the UK, driving when on holiday can be a very different experience. Nowhere better to start then, than in Orlando where the roads are big and wide and the speed limit is slower than here in the UK. Think very carefully about the type of car you would like to have for your holiday. Not only will it need to be big enough for all the passengers but you will need to ensure that it has enough space for your luggage too. Many families have been caught out because they had not allocated enough space for their suitcases! Driving is on the right in the US and although this seems a bit daunting at first, you will very quickly adapt. As all the controls are also the other way around – driving seat, gear stick etc, it’s amazing how your brain gets used to adapting to the change in orientation. A good tip is to ask the car hire representative to talk you through the controls... http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/florida-trips/downtown-disney-marketplace.aspx Orlando is a mecca for shopping and dining but there is one place that has it all –sprinkled with some Disney magic pixie dust. That place is Downtown Disney. Downtown simply means the centre of the town or city and Downtown Disney is a fun area, full of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. It is free to visit. You do not need a Disney Park ticket to enjoy it, and you don’t pay for parking either. In my opinion this gives it the edge on the similar concept owned by Universal Studios which does charge. Downtown Disney is split into three areas- Marketplace, West Side and Pleasure Island. Each area has it’s own atmosphere and they are all three linked together with very pleasant paths and walkways. As you become more familiar with Downtown Disney you will choose the right car park for your needs. It can take about 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other if you park at the wrong side to where you want to go! ! The Marketplace area has more to do for younger children. It houses t... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/places-to-eat-animal-kingdom.aspx On our first visit to Animal Kingdom our initial reaction was that there were not that many places to eat. However we have since revised our opinion and I have given details in this guide. Flame Tree Barbeque I feel this is the best counter service restaurant that we have been to in the whole of Walt Disney World. The aroma of the food as you pass by (or attempt to pass by! ) draws you into the restaurant. Try to get seated overlooking the lake. We have eaten both lunch and dinner here. When we went for lunch I had the Pork BBQ sandwich and the girls had the salad with BBQ Chicken both were delicious. We had got seats overlooking the lake and the girls were so excited to see the boat with Pluto, Goofy and Minnie go by. We had the dinner late and it was quite and so lovely to sit and relax away from the crowds. You would have had to see the onion rings and tasted them to understand how good they were, the baked beans had a great BBQ taste and the chicken was really good. Donal... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/buzz-lightyear.aspx When we get to Tomorrowland we usually head straight for Buzz Lightyear as this is a Fastpass attraction. This is a great interactive ride that is fun for the whole family, my Mother loves it and the girls laugh at how competitive their Nanny becomes! Even though the line moves quickly if the standby line is longer than 15 minutes we usually get a Fastpass. While waiting for our time slot we then jump on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, which is opposite, for a gentle ride around Tomorrowland. I must admit last year during heavy rain we also went on the Transit Authority for 20 minutes until the rain stopped! Back to the ride after winding through a brightly lit area Buzz Lightyear explains your mission to stop the evil Emperor Zurg from stealing the Universe and rsquo; s cystollic fusion cell supply (batteries). You then climb aboard your own XP-38 Space Cruiser and spin through 10 interactive scenes. You will become a Junior Space Ranger and you find yourself battling huge r... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/rainy-days-at-epcot.aspx Occasionally during your holiday in Orlando you may experience a rainy day. If you stay indoors and you are at a hotel it can be hard to keep the children amused in a confined space. If you are staying at a villa it is far easier to entertain the children although it seems a shame to waste part of your holiday indoors. You must take the weather warnings seriously and please do not go out during the rains of a hurricane or an electrical storm. However most of the time you can go get your ponchos and head out for the day. We tend to get our ponchos from Dollar shops or Publix where they are far cheaper than at the Parks. However if you get to the Parks without them do not worry they suddenly appear at all the Disney and Universal Attractions as soon as the rain starts! Cheap ponchos or even carrier bags are also useful for covering up you back pack. Poncho hoods are notorious for slipping off your head try and secure them with a pair if sunglasses. The ponchos will come in useful i... http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/places-to-eat-champions-gate.aspx We were very pleasantly surprised at the variety of eating out choices we had within 5 minutes of our Ashley Manor home. What was even better was that most of them would deliver if we were too tired to go out again in the evening. To start on the up-market, side, the Omni is well worth a visit. This imposing hotel sits in the middle of the golf courses and you can watch the play as you sit in David’s Restaurant. We particularly enjoyed the Italian Restaurant, which has a stately décor but is staffed by very friendly waiters. The flatbreads there are wonderful. The staff are also more than happy for a party to share the generous proportioned pizzas and flatbreads. The other advantage is that it never seems to be full, however, at very quiet times it can be closed so it is worth phoning first. Their Pool Restaurant is very relaxed and serves a variety of food. David’s Restaurant has a more traditional menu and is a relaxing place to sit. There is also a Japanese restaurant Within th...