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 2012, Orlando Villas Ltd. 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/irlo-bronson-who-was-he.aspx I am sure most of you will have travelled the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and wondered who Irlo was; well I decided to find out and now I can tell you. Irlo was born in 1900 to George and Spicey (yes, really) Bronson who were a well respected family of cattle ranchers in Kissimmee. Their story merits a brief mention as well since George and his family had originally travelled to Florida from North Carolina. And their method of transport? well it was an ox cart! They gradually acquired land but it was during the 1920s depression that they had their best luck when they acquired 50, 000 acres by the simple measure of paying off the delinquent taxes of the owners of the land. Later, Irlo would further add to the land holding by paying $1 an acre to further swell their ranch. When Irlo was 24, he married a local girl called Flora Belle Bass and they went on to have 2 children, Inelle and Irlo junior. His grandfather had served on The Florida House of Re... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/epcot-flower-and-garden-festival-2012.aspx Epcot’s Annual Flower and Garden Festival 2012 I went to take a sneak preview at the 2012 Annual International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot, just before it officially opened This is the first time that my stay had coincided with this event. I had been to their Food Festival in October so knew what to expect in terms of renewed atmosphere and activity. I must admit to having a love of Epcot anyway but I have to say this festival, which takes place for approximately 2 months every year in spring, could turn out to be my favourite season for a visit to this particular theme park. I think that Epcot is not quite as popular with children but the fabulous topiary of so many of their favourite characters might make it more appealing to some. The topiary figures were mostly around world showcase whilst the area between there and future world was ablaze with sweeping colour and flower butterflies. New topiary for this year included the’ Cars ‘figures positioned in Japa... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/epcot-rsquo-s-miniature-railway-train-garden.aspx Disney put on certain events at quieter times of the year to attract more guests to EPCOT. The major two are the Food and Wine Festival in the fall and the Garden Festival in the spring. While many of the popular things do appear for many years they try to keep up attendance by adding new and interesting items each year while retiring other things that have been around for some time. This is how Epcot' s miniature railway train garden came to be in existence. The miniature garden was originally created for the 1995 Epcot Flower and amp; Garden Festival. However the display turned out to be so popular that the management at Disney decided that it would not be a seasonal thing. They decided it should now become a permanent fixture of the German Pavilion. The model railroad and village is located to the right of the main German pavilion and has been built into what was once the landscape area between Germany and Italy. One of the reasons that the model village was built... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/homeland-heritage-park-bartow.aspx When a Reporter for a Local Polk newspaper was attending a meeting of the school board -he noticed an item on the agenda that caused him concern. The old Homeland school was to be disposed of as it was no longer needed as a functioning school. The newspaper and other local historical groups joined forces and became the leaders in saving the school. Their work resulted in 5 acres of school board property being made over to Polk County in 1985 . The enthusiasts worked hard and refurbished the school building and one by one other buildings of importance were brought to the site in 1990 Offering a glimpse into the past, this five-acre site is Polk County’s only historical park. It includes the Homeland School (1878), the old Homeland Methodist Church (1887), the former Methodist parsonage and church annex, the Raulerson House (1880), and the English family’s log cabin and barn (1888). In fact the log cabin is one of the last remaining of its type and was built by the English brother... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/seaside-the-truman-town.aspx Jim Carey' s Seaside in Florida I dare say if it were not for the attention Hollywood brought to the coastal town of Seaside then it would just be be of a number of small towns dotted along the 30A in the Panhandle , but the fact it was chosen as the back drop for the Jim Cary film “The Truman Story “ has brought this lovely little town into the minds of thousands of tourists. Once just a waste land that happened to be on the coast it spawned a dream for one man- J. S. Smolian, owner of a department store in Birmingham, Alabama. He paid $8, 000 for an 80-acre parcel in 1946. His family were not amused thinking it was a waste of money as the land was useless. Years later Smolian grandson who had spent his summers in the area his grandfather loved , had the vision of a new town so he -along with others set about overseeing the birth of a new town selling homes for $15, 000 -which by the way are now in $1m bracket! The town has a feel of the town of Celebration near to ... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/2012-at-busch-gardens.aspx Busch Gardens is a lovely blend of what seems like all of the Orando area theme parks and well worth the rather longer drive to get there. And in 2012 there wil be even more reasons for visiting this colourful theme park. A lot of thrill seekers have been anxiously waiting for the debut of the newest coaster and, at last, it is here! The ride is called ' Cheetah Hunt' and is a multi launch coaster that takes you through African terrain at dizzying speeds of up to 60 miles an hour. As if this were not enough, it then dumps you 37 metres down an abyss. This ride takes three and a half minutes but feels like lifetime! Adrenaline junkies will love it! For those of you visiting Florida before the 24th of march there is a concert series taking place. These take place on 4 days of the week (not sunday to tuesday) Here is a rundown of the remaining dates February 29th to march 3rd The Ventures March 7th to march 10th Rita Coolidge March 14th to march... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/estate-homes-at-celebration.aspx Many people visit Celebration just to look around the shops. Some make a trip to the town to visit one of the many well know restaurants that are on Front Street which is in the town centre and borders on a large lake. While both activities are well worth doing you can miss out on an interesting but tucked away section of the town that is very interesting. Most visitors to Celebration enjoy just driving round, looking at the great range and style of homes, villas, and the large stately mansions. All of the residential properties in Celebration feature pre-1940' s architecture for a look that will stand the test of time. The architectural styles include Classical, Coastal, Victorian, Craftsman, Mediterranean, French and Italian. There are single family homes, townhouses modelled on Georgian rows seen in many towns throughout the US, also sections of the town are built in village, cottage, garden and bungalow styles. In the main town you also have modern condomini... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/rhino-rally-at-busch-gardens-tampa.aspx Rhino Rally opened at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida in 2001 at a cost of twenty-five million dollars. In excess of sixteen acres of land was used for the attraction and a special divide had to be constructed to keep the animals separate from each other and from the guests! We had visited Busch Gardens during the building of Rhino Rally and so on our next visit to Florida we couldn’t wait to try it out! To avoid long lines I would suggest heading over to the ride as soon as you arrive at the park or perhaps later in the day when everyone else has already visited. The entrance to Rhino Rally is at the western end of Nairobi. Rhino Rally seats up to seventeen passengers and a driver on an off-road journey, aboard a modified Land Rover, through the wilds of Africa. If you are lucky you may be picked to be the navigator and sit up front alongside the driver. Beware though; any mistakes and you will get the blame! During your ride you will encounter up-close animal e... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/e-t-adventure-at-universal-studios.aspx The E. T. Adventure has always been one of my favourite rides in Universal Studios in Florida. The very first time we visited it with our young children was back in the early 90’s. The ride is located in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. It may not be the thrill ride that you are looking for but for families with young children it ticks all the right boxes. Before entering the ride, guests attend a pre-show where Steven Spielberg explains that E. T. ’s teacher has requested that he come home because his planet is dying. It is only E. T. ’s healing touch that can save this world named “The Green Planet”. It is you, the guests, that need to bring him home and the journey will be made on bicycles. To do so you will need a special pass. As you enter you must give the assistant your first name and you will then be given a card. You must hand this card in before you ride your bicycle. Your surroundings are a dark forest and as you travel through it, it becomes evident that the police a... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/tower-of-terror.aspx This ride is, without doubt, the most fun ride at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you have ever been on it, or near it, you will know this from the number of screams echoing from the building! Opened in 1994, the ride is based around the television show, The Twilight Zone. The ride features a simulated freefall ride in an out-of-control elevator. The actual building which houses the ride is the second tallest attraction in Walt Disney World at one hundred and ninety nine feet tall, having recently been surpassed by Animal Kingdom' s Everest Expedition which stands at one hundred and ninety feet and six inches - allegedly! As a point of interest the attraction is this height as FAA regulations require a fixed red beacon to be added to the top of any 200-foot or taller building. Disney thought that the beacon would not be compatible with the hotel' s 1939 theme and so the height was kept below the maximum. The attraction has been constructed to resemble the fictional Hol... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/birthday-treat-sailing.aspx Well had a funny sleep overnight as it seemed to be cold, cold in Florida! We have been over in November and Feb but never in January, so this was a first. Jeff got up early and turned on the heating for a while. We had some breakfast and the day started to heat up quite nicely. We hit the shops, then got back to the villa for some lunch. It was lovely and warm by now, well warm around 72 degrees just like our summer. Time for a bit of sunbathing around the pool, I had been left a bottle of bubbly and a birthday card in the villa, so this was another first, drinking bubbly on a Sunday afternoon by the pool. After a shower we are off to Appleby' s for some dinner, then an early night as we are still a bit tired after the flight the day before but then getting excited about the cruise tomorrow. Stayed in bed until around 7. 00 then got up, still very cold in the mornings, so turned the heating on for a while, had some breakfast then decided to pack. Well all set to go, we are lea... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/our-stay-at-treasure-island-part-5.aspx One of the original reasons my parents decided to stay at Treasure Island was its easy access to shops restaurants and beaches and it allowed different family members to do what they wanted rather than tagging along in a group. If you want to use a car St Petersburg, Madeira, Reddington, Indian Shores and Clearwater beaches are within easy access. There is also the Tyrone Mall with its excellent selection of department as well as smaller stores. Seminole Mall is a must for bargain hunters here you will find Ross, Steinmart and Bells. However you do not always need a car to get to most of these because Treasure Island has a great regular Trolley Bus service that stops practically outside the Thunderbird. If you want to go further a field you can go over the Sunshine Bridge (not for those who do not like heights! ) to Ellenton Factory Outlets. My parents spent a most enjoyable day at St Petersburg town and they highly recommend initially taking the Trolley Bus tour when... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/a-few-do-s-and-don-t-s-on-your-trip-to-florida.aspx It may be obvious but there are lot things you can and can not take or do in Florida. First of all we all now know the restrictions for security of things you can not take onto the aeroplane but not every one is aware of the restrictions that you can not take into the USA. For example some foods. Any dairy produce, meats or vegetables are strictly banned from being taken into the USA. You would probably be all right taking a bar of chocolate or an opened packet of biscuits but not an apple or the pack of cheese left over from your lunch, even if you have not unwrapped it. When you arrive, do not try to line up for the next available customs window behind the person in front, you will be made to go back behind the line. Do make sure you have filled out the customs form absolutely spot on, as any slight mistake and they will make you go to the back of the queue and start with a new form. When you collect your hire car, remember to keep your drivers licence on you or in the ca... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/birthday-treat.aspx I have just and i mean just celebrated my 50th birthday, we had already booked flights last year to go to Florida in January, to get some lovely sun as we know that just after xmas its dull gloomy cold and usually raining at home. I had decided to go for a chinese with my family to celebrate my birthday before coming away, my husband declared that he had booked a carribean cruise for a week to celebrate my birthday, well i was shocked and absolutley overjoyed. So i decided to write about our journey, we have been visiting Orlando for about 25 years, we have had many great times and lots of different experiences, the kids absolutley love the place but they are not with us this time as our youngest has a GCSE to take next week and the oldest is looking for a job! ! Well arrived at Orlando Int after a perfect flight with Virgin, we travelled on one of there new airbus 320' s. The inflight entertainment was excellant, lots and lots of movies to choose from not the usual 6 or 8. There... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/best-steaks-in-orlando.aspx Well this is a bit of an offbeat topic for a Florida guide but it is a question I get asked quite a lot by potential visitors to our Vacation home in Orlando Florida First I will say that I am not a steak expert in any way I am not a butcher or a cookery reporter merely a guy who loves a good steak and good service. The very best steak I have had on my last 2 visits to Orlando surprisingly has to be at Outback Steak Houses which are Australian styled steak house chain which offer a range of steaks along with a good range of other dishes including seafood. My dish of choice would be the Outback Special which is their signature sirloin which is lean and full of flavour very much like a good fillet steak that we would get at home here in the UK My second choice would be a TGI Jack Daniels Steak and Shrimp, this might not be the best choice for some people because they do not like the Jack Daniels sauce but fortunately I do and love the combo of the steak and shrimp, the Jack Dan... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/flat-island-preserve.aspx If you enjoy walking during your holiday and especially if you enjoy walking in the Old Floridan areas then this article will be right up your street! One area I would like to recommend to you is Flat Island Preserve (The Daubermile Trail) This was named after Jean and Rexford Daubermile who were keen botanists. They did much to ensure the preservation of this area for the enjoyment of future generations. There are some 2000 acres to enjoy here and they are divided into 3 distinct areas. First is Magnolia Island, then Flat Isand and finally Okhumpta Marsh. To get to Magnolia Island you wil need to hire a canoe from Fat Island Boardwalk (more of that later) The marsh is in an unusual situation, since it is sited on a hydrologic dividing point on the waters that take you to Ocawaha River one way and Withacoochee River the other. And for those of you that did not know (and I had to ask) a hydrologic divide is a boundary across which water cannot flow. So another rea... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/an-arty-day-out.aspx The Orlando Museum of Art is located in North Mills Avenue in Orlando. This will be roughly about an hours drive from your vacation villa. This museum has been up and running for around 90 years and the richness and depth of the exhibits is clear to see. One of the most interesting parts of this museum is the part devoted to The Art of the Ancient Americans. It always sends a shiver up my spine to see things crafted thousands of years ago and this section tells the tale from up to four thousand years ago showing the art and craft of many different Native American groups. Next, is a section devoted to American art from slightly more modern times (well up to the nineteen forties anyway) And finally a display of art up to the modern day . Perhaps the most interesting part of the museum is that devoted to African Art. This archetypically colourful display leans heavily towards art pieces created to decorate the person. Lots of fabric and beadwork from the... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/the-pirates-dinner-adventure.aspx In all the years we’ve been coming to the Orlando area, we had never gone to a dinner show. On this last trip, after researching the various options, we chose the Pirates Dinner Adventure. Ever since the release of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, my kids had become big fans of anything to do with pirates, so that was the first reason we chose this one. Secondly, though typically the food at these things is mediocre at best, I had read that this show had the best food of any dinner show in the Orlando area. After reading more about it, it sounded like it might and the fact that they offer you some options for the main entrée made it even more appealing. They suggested that we arrive an hour before the scheduled time for our seating which we did, however, it would have been better to arrive even sooner. We waited in line for about 20 minutes to check-in. Even though we ordered our tickets in advance, you still have to acquire your seating assignment. They offer you the opportunit... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/christmas-in-orlando-a-wonderful-treat.aspx The first thing you will notice about Christmas in Orlando is when you arrive at the airport, the enormous Christmas tree decorated in beautiful colours and lights. This is a sign of what is to come. Every where you go you will see decorations the like of which you will never have seen unless you have been to the United States at Christmas before. As Soon as Thankgsgiving day is over (on the last Thursday in November) then the decorating starts in earnest. The owners of the houses set to decorating their homes as per The Griswolds in National Lampoons Christmas film. The lights are every where, all over the front of the house, the front fences and the gates. On the front lawns are nodding reindeer, huge Santa Claus inflatables, nativity scenes, toy trains full of presents and even Disney characters in Christmas costumes. I would not like to get their electricity bills! In the shops, which actually start a bit earlier, there are Christmas trees as tall as two story buildings... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/villa-versus-hotel.aspx Packing for a holiday in a villa is quite different to packing for a holiday in a hotel. First and foremost, do check with the villa owner what they provide. The vast majority of good owners will provide all the essentials such as, towels, bed linen and kitchen equipment, utensils and tableware. However some of the better ones will provide, pool towels which you can use when you go to the water theme parks, bath robes, which are great if they have a hot tub and the evening is a bit chilly. It will save an awful lot of room in your suitcase if you do not need to take pool towels. They will often provide a computer or laptop or even just a free wi fi connection. Not having to take your own laptop will save a lot of carrying at the airport. Most will have a selection of paper back books left by previous guests and some have games for the children. There are some which will provide wash cloths (flannels) and the better ones may provide laundry detergent and dish washer detergent. ... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/orlando-premium-outlets-vineland-avenue.aspx If you have not been to this shopping outlet, then do give it a try. The Orlando Premium Outlet on International Drive, is rather a disappointment as after shopping in one area, you have to get in your car and drive to the next section, which is not very convenient. At the Vineland Avenue venue – at Lake Buena Vista- it is all under the one area. Although not under cover as a shopping mall is, it does have a type of cover over the entrances to the stores so if it rains you can keep to the edges and not get wet. It has recently extended to give even more high quality shopping. The extension now includes a multi story car park (a great improvement) and a childrens play ground. Most of the stores are discount stores that offer the same goods as the normal version but at huge discounts and at sale time even more discounts. The biggest sales are usually in November in the run up to Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving. This is the major sales day of the year for the Ameri... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/ride-guide-turtle-talk-with-crush.aspx Ride Guide – Turtle Talk with Crush Definitely more of a show or attraction than a ride, however, still worth a guide of its own. Turtle Talk with Crush is part of the “The Seas with Nemo and amp; Friends” pavilion at Epcot and really worth the time out to do, especially with younger guests. Before you go through to the theatre, the pre-show holding area has some tanks with fish in them and also some interactive monitors with quizzes to keep guests busy before the actual show. There really isn’t much else to see or do before the show, but we invariably do this show straight after the The Seas with Nemo and amp; Friends ride which you do as part of your entry into the pavilion. The Crush theatre is very close to the exit point of the ride. Usually there is only a short wait for the show to start, so hanging around at this point is fine, it’s nice and cool! When you enter into the main theatre you are guided into a slightly darkened room, with a large “Window to the Pa... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/shrek-4d-at-universal-studios.aspx I have been on all the 3-D rides in Walt Disney World and thoroughly enjoy them and so was intrigued by the thought of a 4-D ride and couldn’t wait to try it out on our next visit to Universal Studios. Also, an added bonus was that I just love the Shrek films. Shrek 4-D is basically a 3-D film (you will be given special glasses called Ogre-Vision glasses as you enter) but with an extra dimension of special effects added to it. This consists of a motion simulator where you will actually feel all of the action whilst sitting in your seat, and I do mean “feel the action”. If there is a bump in the road, you are definitely going to feel it! ! Your seat becomes part of the 4-D experience. The adventure begins where the first Shrek movie ended but before the sequel begins. There are no height restrictions for this ride but if you suffer from motion sickness, there are special seats available which are stationary. The pre-show lasts approximately six minutes and takes place in the... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/manta-seaworld-orlando.aspx MAMTA first opened in 2009 at Seaworld, Orlando to accompany KRACKEN as their flagship rollercoaster. Wanting to design something different the ride is based on a flying Manta Ray that faces the riders horizontal unlike the conventional rollercoasters. It is the first to be built in Florida. The ride itself can reach in excess of 60mph and has 4 inversions, not to mention numerous high speed spins and loops. It really is not for the faint hearted rider! The design of each car is like you are sat in a large Ray, but just before you are about to move the floor moves away and you are then moved through 90 degrees facing down to the floor. At this point most of the money that was sat in your pocket makes its way to the floor! Once you are rotated you then make your way up to 140 feet before making your first big loop. The speed really hits you at this point and just how smooth the ride actually is. Whoever made it really wanted people to enjoy the experience without feeling sick or... http://www.park-tickets.com/florida-attraction-guide/for-the-younger-members-of-the-family-animal-kingdom.aspx Animal Kingdom is the newest of all the Disney parks. Set around a large tree of life the park is small in comparison with other Disney parks. The park is aimed at the younger Children with lots of opportunities to look at animals and wildlife. There are a few rides thrown in to keep the older ones entertained. The main rides at Animal Kingdom are the Kilamanjaro Safaris and the Expedition Everest. Both are up there with the best Disney has to offer. There are plenty of other rides: 3-D action in its a bugs life, Dinosaur, Kali River rapids and amp; many walk through zoo style enclosures. Where some might think Animal Kingdom is the poor relation to the other Disney Parks, it does make up for it in the shows on offer. The best being the Lion King which has all the favourites from the film taking part. The energy of the performers really brings it to life and by the end most people are up dancing. One of my favourites is the Finding Nemo musical. This in my view was one of the h...