Welcome to our Florida Attraction Guide. A guide to all there is to do in Florida. http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/ en-us Copyright 2008, 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.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/kennedy-space-centre.aspx Kennedy was one of the first attractions that we visited when we first came to Florida over 10 years ago. On our recent trip to Orlando, we had our extended family with us so we just had to include Kennedy Space Centre on this trip some where along the lines. We set off early towards the east coast, following the directions we had from previous trips. It’s quite a nice journey upto the Space Coast and should take around one and a half hours from the Kissimmee Area. Parking is free when you arrive and it pays to buy your tickets before you arrive then you do not have to queue at the ticket booths. Once you have parked your vehicle, you can walk up to the entrance with your ticket. Security is stricter than most attractions and you must make sure that any electronics can be powered up. (Mobile Phones, Cameras etc). All electronics will be checked by security. Once we entered the main entrance, we decided to go on the first tour available, we didn’t want to have to wait around later... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/downtown-disney-florida.aspx Downtown Disney is an area of Disney separate from the theme parks made up of entertainment, shops and restaurants. There are three distinct areas; Downtown Disney Marketplace which is home to the largest Disney store in the world, Downtown Disney West where you will find restaurants, theatres, shows and amusements and Pleasure Island which comes alive each evening when the nightclubs open and live performances take place. Downtown Disney Marketplace /b There are eight restaurants in Marketplace ranging from fast food to themed dining. One of our favourite places for a mid afternoon snack is Ghirardelli Soda Fountain for one of their special ice-cream sundaes. To keep the children amused visit the Lego Imagination Centre where there is an enormous assortment of play sets, have your photograph taken with a life-size Lego model and visit the huge Lego sea monster, called Brickley, who swims in the nearby lake. Shop ‘til you drop in The World of Disney the largest Disney Store in ... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/rainforest-cafe.aspx There are two of these wonderfully themed restaurants in the Orlando area, the first is at the Marketplace in Downtown Disney and the second is just outside the entrance to Animal Kingdom. Both restaurants offer diners the chance to experience all the thrills on dining in a jungle with the sights and sounds of the animals as well as a simulated rainstorm. Larger than life Banyon trees, cascading waterfalls, tropical music, amazing rock formations and changing constellations all add to the ambience of this amazing eatery. During the rainstorms you will hear the trumpeting elephants and playful primates joining in with the sounds of the diners! Very often just outside the restaurant there will be handlers with exotic birds and they love to chat with guests about these beautiful creatures. They have a wide menu that is sure to appeal to all ages, appetizers include Safari shrimp skewers, Lava Nachos and Leaping Lizard lettuce wraps plus our family’s favourite the Rainforest Pita Que... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/sea-screamer-the-trip.aspx No sooner had we left the quay than the crew spotted two female dolphins with their young so we spent some thirty minutes circling in the harbour waiting for them all appear. We were rewarded a view of them on a number of occasions. We were told by the crew that it was fairly unusual for them to be seen in the harbour. We then proceeded out of the harbour where you were able to see all the development that has taken place along the waterfront. Amongst all the new development you will see one older house which used to be owned by a lady who refused to sell to the developers. They tried to place a compulsory purchase order on her home but she refused to buckle under the pressure of the big boys and was able to get her own order preserving the house from demolition. It is still there today surrounded by new developments but strangely enough it does not look out of place. Once we had cleared the entrance we picked up speed until we got about a mile offshore and then the boat slowed dow... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/sea-screamer-getting-there-parking.aspx On our last trip to Florida we went to Clearwater for a dolphin spotting trip on the Sea Screamer, something we had been promising ourselves for a long time. We had been staying down at Manosota Beach for a few days so instead of returning directly to the villa we diverted to Clearwater going over the spectacular Skyway Bridge. The departure we were aiming for was Noon but somehow the journey took a little longer than we thought it would, mainly because we stopped to take photos of the Skyway Bridge. It was certainly worth doing this as it is quite a spectacular sight. It also took a little longer than we remembered to actually reach to beach at Clearwater. The traffice was quite heavy. We then had not realised that parking at Clearwater Marina would be so difficult so you do need to allow plenty of time. Although there is plenty of parking we does take sometime to actually find a space. It was obvious they are providing more spaces I cannot say when it will actually be ready. We had... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/epcot-overview.aspx Whatever your age there is something to interest you at Epcot. I will give you just a taster of what to expect and leave you find out the rest when you visit yourself. Your are greeted by Spaceship Earth, a very large silver ball which contains a ride that takes you through a brief history of man and the achievements that have been made. From here you can choose your path to different worlds, You can choose to go to The Seas, this is a water experience, again you will find places to eat and rest but most important a glimpse into the underwater world of the fish. It matches the experience of scuba divers without getting wet and gives you and your children an opportunity to learn about a new world. From here you should go to “The Land” here you will see the methods used to grow our daily food, and the fascinating Hydroponic Gardens, where they grow food without soil. To tell you more might spoil the experience but suffice to say that if you do not consider how to do this at home yo... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/pal-mickey.aspx Have you ever thought to yourself “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have my very own personal guide to help me navigate my way around the Disney parks”? Well, help is now at hand in the shape of a talking Mickey Mouse, an interactive ten and a half inch soft toy. Using wireless communication technology Pal Mickey provides you with all the latest news and information regarding the parks attractions including all the parades and shows. Pal Mickey comes dressed in a golden bowtie and tuxedo jacket, both of which are completely removable and a lanyard, which you wear around your neck making him easy to carry around. If you prefer, you can also clip him to your belt as long as you make sure he is facing forwards. As you enter one of the Disney parks, whether it be Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, turn on your Pal Mickey, by pressing a button on his back, and every time he has something interesting to tell you he will giggle or begin to shake. When this happens squee... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/boggy-creek-airboat-ride.aspx We had all seen the photographs and TV programmes of the airboats whisking their way through the Florida wetlands and so we decided that this was a ‘must do’ on our next trip to Orlando. We did a little bit of internet research first and found that the nearest location was at Boggy Creek, which is situated just east of Kissimmee and immediately south of Orlando International Airport. Their website told us that reservations weren’t necessary for the continuous half hour tours so we arrived at around 11. 00am on a Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, after a forty-five minute drive, we were dismayed to find huge queues waiting in line. Upon further enquiry we were told that the earliest we could expect to ride would be around 1. 30pm, a wait of over two hours. After a brief discussion we decided to return the following day. The very friendly and helpful staff on hand suggested we made the effort to arrive first thing in the morning so as not to be disappointed again. Taking their advice... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/disneys-boardwalk.aspx A trip to the Boardwalk makes a pleasant and relaxing half day or alternatively an interesting evening out. The Boardwalk Hotel is between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and is one of the resort hotels around a lake. A lot of people go there just for a few hours and there is a separate car park for day visitors just across the main road from the hotel entrance. To go to the Boardwalk you take the steps just before the hotel, or if you have someone with a wheelchair or children in a stroller you go through the hotel and use the lifts. When you get down to the lakeside it is as though you have gone back to the seaside in the 1950s. It has a charming old fashioned feel to it with cabins selling drinks and ice-creams and similar and a variety of other attractions. One of the popular activities is to hire one of the family bikes complete with canopy to cycle around the lake. These come in 3 seater and larger sizes and create a lot of fun. It is even good exercise as there is quite an incli... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/mgm-becomes-hollywood-studios.aspx Disneyworld Orlando, Florida’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1st 1989 and stretches across 135 acres. Much of it is devoted to television and movie production, and this park has seen many attractions come and go, including the ‘Backlot Tour, ’ with the houses used in the ‘Golden Girls’ comedy series, and ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire. ’ It is also famous for its wonderful stage productions, including the unforgettable ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and the magical ‘Voyage of the Little Mermaid. ’ Most of us will have thrilled to productions such as ‘Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, ’ and more recently the fast moving and absolutely riveting ‘Lights! Motor! Actions! ’ stunt show. It is also the park which holds two of the most spine-tingling rides – ‘Tower of Terror, ’ which I have only just managed to try, and ‘Rock n’ Roller Coaster’ – which will remain one ride that I will never attempt! There are two icons which you simply cannot miss – the Earfull Tower, which is a tall water tower to... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/restaurants-downtown-disney.aspx Downtown Disney and rsquo;s Marketplace is a great place to visit whether for an evening out/a break from the parks or just a place to wile away the last few hours of your holiday before your evening flight. Here you will find over 20 venues with everything from the Rainforest Cafe to the ultimate Disney merchandise store. We have visited Captain Jacks Restaurant for lunch on one of the rare days in Florida when it did not seem to want to stop raining. Mother and I sampled the Strawberry Margaritas which were great whilst the adults opted for New England Clam Chowder which even my father who is quite a food critic said was delicious. The whole family then decided on the Crab Cakes which were equally as good as the chowder. The restaurant is open 11. 30am – 10. 30pm although we have not had dinner there. If you want a lighter meal, well slightly, try the Earl of Sandwich, which is part of a national chain. I defy anyone not to be able to find a sandwich to their taste from their v... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/kilamanjaro-safaris.aspx This safari ride is a must for us every time we go to Animal Kingdom. It is usually necessary to get a Fastpass to avoid the long queues. If you are at the Park when it opens it is best to head straight for Kilimanjaro and get a Fastpass and you usually do not have to wait too long. However we recommend you get your FastPass when you are ready for breakfast or lunch and about the time you finish eating, it and rsquo; s time to ride the Safari. If you have small children the Stroller Park is about half through the queue area, so be prepared to walk with or carry your little one approximately 40 feet. Guests in wheelchairs should follow the signs to head to the special boarding area. You will need to either transfer from your wheelchair to a seat, or transfer to a standard wheelchair. Walking through the queue area you find yourself in the Harambe Reserve. Overhead TVs explain that poaching has killed many animals. We find the best time to ride is in the afternoon, around 2 or ... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/bok-tower-sanctuary.aspx Should you wish for something completely different to Mickey Mouse, Water Parks or the beach, then Bok Tower Sanctuary is the place to go. It is approximately an hour and a quarter from Kissimmee, heading along the 192 due west and then going south on the 27, and follow the signs to Bok Tower Sanctuary. It is reported to be the highest point in Florida, some 298 feet above sea level and built on a mountain called Iron Mountain. Having arrived at the gate and paid your entrance fee, you start to wonder what you have paid for, as from the entrance gate to the parking lot it is over a mile of winding road through an orchard of orange trees and bears no resemblance to the destination. Once you have reached the parking area it is a short walk to the Visitor Centre, where it is recommended that you visit the theatre first for a 9 minute video film before getting your map which will then show you the various paths through the sanctuary. After you have collected your map you can look aroun... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/boma-flavors-of-africa.aspx Boma, Flavors of Africa is an all you can eat family buffet located at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge situated in Walt Disney World. You do not have to be a guest staying at a Disney Hotel to sample Disney Restaurants, they welcome any visitor with their customary Disney friendliness and are an experience to enjoy. It is best not to just turn up at the restaurant for a table as it is extremely popular and always busy – ensure you are able to get a table by making a priority reservation by telephoning Disney’s Customer Service department up to 180 days prior to your visit. The restaurant itself is set out as a bustling African market place, and is full of beautiful colours and wonderful aromas of delicious food being freshly cooked. The kitchens are all open view kitchens and you are able to see the talented chefs and their teams at work, busily preparing your meal and doing what they do best! A friendly server, who is dressed in African robes, takes you to your table and exp... 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.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.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/salt-island-chop-house.aspx We first noticed Salt Island Chop House and Fish Market when we were driving along International Drive and saw a rather large sculpture of an angler fish - possibly one of the ugliest fish you have ever seen - outside what looked like a really nice restaurant. Not having time to stop that day, we made sure it was on our list of places to go for dinner later in our trip. When we did finally make it to the restaurant, we discovered is that they do valet parking, which was great. The décor inside the restaurant is quite contemporary and, as the name of the restaurant suggests, it is based on a watery theme. On your left as you go in is a floor to ceiling aquarium and on your right are cabinets with fantastic displays of fish and steaks. The lighting is subtle and subdued and very inviting. We were shown to a table and were very attentively served by not one, but two, servers. Sometimes that could be confusing actually, but they certainly gave us excellent service. The menu offered a... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/florida-tpc-sawgrass.aspx There are two courses attached to the Marriott at Sawgrass which is near Ponte Vedra, both designed by the famous golf course architect Pete Dye there is the Valley course and the famous players Stadium Course which is home to one of the best tournaments on the US PGA tour it also has the world famous 17th Island Green. It is the host of the so called 5th major the players championship, one of the most sought after titles in golf. The Stadium course allows golfers to experience what the best golfers in the world endure. The Impressive clubhouse is accessed via the also impressive PGA Boulevard and is a short drive from the Marriott hotel (courtesy shuttle bus supplied), the Stadium Course has been renovated to improve all round year play and the clubhouse was completely rebuilt in an astonishing 9 months, video‘s of this feat are on the in-house TV at the Marriott hotel showing how it was done in time for the next players championship. There are foreccddies and walking caddies avail... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/disney-pirate-and-princess-party.aspx Most trips to Orlando will include a visit to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. It is the theme park where dreams are made and the most famous of all Disney parks. As seasoned travellers to Florida we have visited Magic Kingdom many times and although it is always fabulous, we felt that we wanted to try a different sort of Magic Kingdom experience, and how better to do that than at their Pirate and Princess party. We have a little boy who is mad about all things to do with Pirates of the Caribbean, and a little girl who is totally besotted with the idea of being a Princess! So the party seemed a perfect venue for us. So what is different about the party, to an ordinary day out at magic Kingdom? Well, the party is held on different days throughout the summer season, so check online with Disney as to the dates. We found, last year there were around eight party dates throughout July and August. The party starts at 6pm and goes on ‘till 11 pm so your time is shorter in the park than a normal day... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/disneys-animal-kingdom.aspx Whether you’re a big kid or a little one, and a theme park holiday is one for you, a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom has to be a priority during your trip to Orlando. Animal Kingdom really does cater for all ages with thrilling rides, amazing attractions and a majestic nature which takes hold of you and certainly provides a cultural experience for you and your children and family. The park is unique in the way it incorporates the best of natural beauty and opportunity with the thrilling, commercial theme park experience and even if it is just one visit in a lifetime, it certainly is worth it. The very best piece of advice for Animal Kingdom trekkers is to get their early. Animal Kingdom opens the earliest of all the parks to give you the opportunity to catch the animals before it gets too hot, so don’t waste your chance to get a glimpse of these wonderful animals! From experience doing the ‘Kilimanjaro Safari’ first sets you up nicely for the rest of the day with a whole new excitin... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/mannys-original-chophouse.aspx If you would like a meal with a difference – one from an original diner rather than one from one of the popular chain restaurants, try Manny’s Chophouse on the 27 at Haines City. Renown for its wonderful steaks and house salad its reputation keeps growing! The interior is designed in typical diner style – casual with friendly service. The walls are full of memorabilia and the atmosphere very lively but for us these all add to our dining experience and the food is just so tasty and speaks for itself! To start there is the Jumbo Onion Ring - it reminds me of one of those baby toys where you put rings on in order of circumference size …. This starter is very similar in size to one of those toys and can feed quite a few! There are Buffalo wings, shrimp, various potato starters from baked potato to fries as well as Mexican such as Quesadillas and soups. Make sure you leave room for the main course…. . The comes the famous Manny’s bottomless salad bowl with Ranch dressing followed by t... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/old-town.aspx Old Town is located at mile marker 9 on Highway 192 If you are like all our family (motor mad) you will certainly enjoy a night at old town . there are various evenings going on at old Town. Thursday evening has a themed night of all motor cycles. They are lovingly kept and the owners are justifiably proud of there bikes. And you don't want to miss the Friday Night Cruise where the vehicles are between 1975 and 1987 plus of course newer ones, but in my opinion the best night of all is the Classic car night they have hundreds of cars and the parade takes ages to go through the town, if you get there before it starts you can look around the cars and talk to the owners who are only too pleased you take an interest in there pride and joy. This is the 18th year this has been running and every time we visit we think there seems more and more cars. It is said that it is the largest cruise in America The owners do win prizes for various competitions but the workmanship these owners put i... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/la-nouba-cirque-du-soleil.aspx An evening at Cirque du Soleil I had heard much about La Nouba but despite several trips to Orlando had never found the time to go amongst everything else there is to do in Florida. This year as a Christmas/New Year treat I thought it would be the ideal thing to do with the children. I tried to book around one month in advance for Boxing Day but this was sold out and we managed to get tickets for New Years Day instead. There are two performances, 6pm and 9pm. Although 6pm may seem a little early, with fairly small children and still suffering the effects of 5 hours time difference between the UK and US (which meant no member of our family had managed to stay awake to see in the New Year) this performance was ideal for us. As always with Disney the event was very well organised with minimal queuing and no problem finding our seats. There was popcorn, candyfloss, soft drinks and even alcohol available to take in to the performance if you wished. A really nice touch was the availabilit... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/haunted-mansion.aspx Few of us who have visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom will have missed one of their oldest and most popular attractions, the Haunted Mansion. You cannot fail to notice this Gothic gem, surrounded by wrought iron fences, and with those spooky tombstones. Disney is constantly renovating their attractions, so this somewhat ‘elderly’ attraction recently received a face-lift. It was closed for 3 months and re-opened in September 2007. It is actually very difficult for Disney to close an attraction for renovation as such a closure causes disappointment to those who have never visited the park before, as well as those for whom it is a regular favourite. However, like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘It’s a Small World, ’ this classic attraction, which opened 36 years ago was certainly due for an upgrade, as technology has moved on so much in the intervening years. It was beginning to look a little dated and ‘twee. ’ Way back in 1970 Disney sent some of his ‘imagineers’ to visit the Harry Packer ... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/kennedy-space-center-tour.aspx Since our childhood we had been fascinated with space exploration, right from the early days of Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn, through the Apollo moon missions of the 60s and 70s, to the present day Shuttle programme. So, as you can imagine, we were full of excitement and eager anticipation as we set off from our Orlando base to visit the Kennedy Space Center, located on the Atlantic coast just east of Titusville. More seasoned travellers had told us to allow a full day to explore the site so, we decided it would perhaps, be prudent to work out a schedule to get the best out of our visit. First of all we spent a little time in the Visitor Complex to get our bearings, before deciding on our plan of action. We decided to do the guided tour straightaway and then spend the afternoon at leisure wandering through the exhibits around the main complex, which included the IMAX theatres and Rocket Garden. We had expected the tour to be one of the main highlights of our day and we have concentr...