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US Gas/Petrol stations and filling your car
Generally when you collect your car from your nominated car rental company ? book through the car rental section of Orlando Villas for the very best deals, you will drive away with a full tank of petrol/gas. The American ?gallon? is 0. 83 of an Imperial Gallon ? only 16 fl oz to the pint ? therefore you may find that you are running lower in fuel within a few days whereby in the UK a full tank for your size car would last longer. Gas stations are similar to UK petrol station although the pumps do have a few differences. Diesel is not available at every gas station so the likelihood of you filling with the wrong fuel is almost eradicated. Most gas stations have pumps where you pre-pay. This can cause a problem as the pumps now require a Zip Code/Post Code relating to the address of the cardholder. Should you wish to pay by UK credit card the alternative is for a member of your party to go into the cash area, present the card with the pump number and state the $ value that is requi...
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Changes at Epcot 2010
The year 2010 will see some new store and restaurant openings at Epcot. Their restaurant expansion plans will mean that the amount of dining seats in Epcot will increase by about twenty per cant which will be good news for guests who have failed to get seated in the past. It is hoped that both restaurant expansions will be open in time for the 15th annual Food and Wine Festival. It is more than more than 25 years since Mexican cooking was introduced at Epcot and it has proved very successful. So popular was it that you really did need to book in advance to dine in the casual candlelight atmosphere created in the restaurant. Now a new restaurant is planned that is nearly four times bigger than the original. Cantina de San Angel restaurant will be located directly in front of the Mexico pavilion in the World Showcase. This will open later in the year as a 400-seat waterside restaurant and quick-service food location specializing in Mexican cuisine. The restaurant will serve as the fi...
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The Loop Shopping Experience
Situated at the junction of John Young and Osceola Parkway are the twin locations of The Loop and The Loop West, providing a shopping experience that will fill a couple of hours or a full day and which, because of its location , can easily be combined with a trip to The Florida Mall for a serious shopping experience. The Loop, home to 70 stores, 5 restaurants and a cinema complex is all open air and pleasant to walk around when the weather is not too hot. There is plenty of parking and you have the option of moving your car as you hop from location to location or leaving it in one place. However, if moving between The Loop and The Loop West it is probably advisable to move your vehicle as crossing the busy road is not easy. Within The Loop there are several large stores ? Kohl?s, Michaels, Sports Authority and Bed Bath and Beyond are amongst the familiar names and there are also many , smaller more specialised retail opportunities, Pier 49 imports, Yankee Candle, Kirkland?s home an...
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Popeye and Blutos Raft Ride
Popeye and Bluto?s Raft Ride at Universal Islands of Adventure Florida Do you want to get wet? No, I mean really, really wet. This ride is the most fun that you can ever experience, the rafts sit around ten people who strap in with lap seat belts before the raft is released, beware, put all cameras, shoes, wallets, purses and all items of value in the central dry zone, otherwise they will get soaked too. The ride is held round a revolving platform in order to space the barges, and then away you go, first down a five foot or so drop into a maelstrom of churning water, the barge bouncing off the side and spinning so that everyone gets their share of the water coming over the sides of the barge, past a galleon which is set high up with water cannons on it so that people can spot anyone they know and wet them some more, or, wet people they don?t know, it?s all part of the fun. Down some more smaller but equally as wet drops trying to dodge the automatically operated water cannons on the...
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Celebration at Christmas
One of our favourite places to visit, apart from the numerous theme parks in and around Orlando, is called Celebration. Celebration is a little town just south of the US 192 adjacent to Interstate 4. One of the best ways of finding it, if you have never visited Celebration before, is to follow the directional signs around Walt Disney World. I think we like it so much because of its beautifully clean streets and gorgeous houses with white picket fences and huge verandas. It feels safe and friendly, the sort of place you?d like to live in, in a perfect world. Some people may think it is too perfect, but this is why we love it so much. We like to stroll around the lake viewing the wildlife, sit in the wooden rocking chairs on the edge of the lake watching people fish. Walk around Celebration and view the million dollar homes especially during the holiday season and at Halloween. The residents love to dress their houses up, I?ve never quite seen anything like it anywhere and they certain...
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Andretti Thrill Park
The Andretti Thrill Park is a real boys day out and a good opportunity for the girls to go shopping while their menfolk are looking the other way! ! ! Take the credit cards, girls! There are several Go Kart courses to choose from: Super Speedway is a figure of 8 shape and you can travel this as a pair; one adult, one child. The J R Indy is an oval track with sharp turns. You need to be between 48 inches and 55 inches to ride this course. F 1 Extreme Track is based on the European road style with up hill sweeping turns. Now to the jewel in their crown; The Andretti Challenge is a difficult course that allows you to go at speeds up to 40 miles an hour. You need to be 16 years old at least and hold a driving license. There are strict rules and regulations for this track. A real thrill seekers experience! Now you have had your fill of Go Karting what else is there to do? well plenty and I will run through them for you. Rookie Row is for the younger ones and here there is a sli...
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The Ormond Art Gallery and Gardens.
The Ormond Art Museum and gardens have the double benefit of an interesting gallery to look at and a beautiful garden to view. For 64 years this museum has been dedicated to the work of artists connected to the two World Wars. It all started in 1946 when the well known artist Malcolm Fraser offered his work to a city that would properly exhibit his work and continue to offer access to the public. Ormond was very keen to win this honour and the local community banded together to make this happen. A suitable building was found to adapt and servicemen gave an hour of their time each week to use the donated materials. It is said that 9 out of 10 citizens of Ormond did something or gave something to help this project. Malcolm had given them 6 months to complete this project and they were finished with only 2 days to spare. Now a little about the artist; Malcolm was born in Chicago but loved to winter in Florida. He served in World War One and he was awarded many honours. He ...
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Carrabas Italian Grill
If you like Italian food why not try Carraba?s Italian Grill? This South West chain was founded in Houston Texas and is growing all the time. It is a family run chain that was started by two Sicilian?s, Damian Mandola and Johnny Carraba. The recipes served daily at Carraba?s have been handed down through generations and 80% of the recipes used today were from the founders? mother?s and grandmother?s own cookery books, indeed some of the dishes bear the name of Rosa Mandola, for example, Pollo Rosa Maria, chicken stuffed with fontino and prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and a basil, lemon butter sauce or Mama Mandola?s Sicilian chicken soup, both absolutely delicious! The menu changes periodically and varies from one location to another to take advantage of the local fresh meat, seafood, and vegetables. The old favourites, however are ever present; Pasta Carraba, Pasta Weesie, and Lasagne to name just a few. The meat dishes are equally delicious and their Marsala sauce is one of th...
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Disney Quest
Disney Quest is located in Downtown Disney, and is usually included as one of the extra options, alongside the Water Parks, and Disney?s Wide World of Sports complex. It might be something you could consider visiting if the weather is inclement. However, it does get busy when it rains. This interactive attraction has four fun zones ? Explore, Score, Create and Replay. There are five floors of entertainment, and there is also a cafe and restaurant, should you feel a little peckish after playing all the games. Whilst there are video games everywhere, plus large virtual games and simulators, younger children are not forgotten as there is a section dedicated to those children aged between 2 and 7. Here the games are easy enough for them to play on their own. The four game zones are entered via an elevator called the Cybrolator. Aladdin?s Magic Carpet Ride is great fun, and it uses virtual reality 3-D technology. You have to sit on what looks like a bike, and you use handles to steer a ca...
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Villa or Hotel
Why rent a villa instead of staying at a hotel? There very many reasons why this choice of accommodation is the best way to go. 1st: Cost. A hotel room will only accommodate 2 people plus probably 1 child and you will pay per night somewhere in the region of $150. With a one week stay that amounts to $1050 for just 3 people. For a family of 4 needing 2 rooms then the cost goes up to $2100 just for accommodation. The rates are exclusive of tax. The best well equipped villas which are properly licensed, insured and taxed and have private pools will cost in the region of $1100 per week exclusive of tax. And this is for 8 people! 8 people staying in a hotel for 2 weeks will come to the princely sum of $4200 plus tax where the villa for the same 2 weeks will cost between $2000 and $3000 plus tax depending on the level of amenities offered. 2nd: Convenience A villa offers complete freedom to come and go as you please. You have the ability to lounge around at home if you feel like havi...
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Advice for taking small children and babies to Orlando.
First, I would always suggest a villa rather than a hotel. Most have cribs, strollers and high chairs and you have so much more freedom than in a hotel room. For example, baby can be put down to sleep in his/her own room while you can have the freedom to enjoy the evening by the pool in the garden or the Jacuzzi with a glass of wine, rather than sitting quietly on a hotel bed. Orlando is very baby and small child friendly so all the usual foods are there without having to worry. Remember the sun is very, very strong in Florida, even when it is cloudy so do keep small children well covered up and always with a hat and sunglasses. When they are in swim wear they will need at least a factor 30 sun block. Make sure they drink plenty of liquid all day as they will dehydrate quickly ? as will you. The water in Florida is perfectly safe to drink so no need to buy lots of bottles, just by a flask with a thermal cover to keep it cool, fill it from the tap and give each family member their own...
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The Atlantic Ocean Grille
The Atlantic Ocean Grille is open from 5 p. m. daily and is on the Cocoa Beach Pier in Brevard County. Cocoa Beach is on the Atlantic Coast of Florida and is the closest beach to Orlando. It is always fun to dine on a pier and British visitors will be amazed at the quality of the food here. The menu is extensive, but I always feel you should eat fish when you are eating by the sea so this is what I am concentrating on. Clam Chowder is always a good choice as a starter and this costs $3. 99. Otherwise there is shrimp cocktail at $7. 99 or Coconut beer Shrimp at $6. 99; this comes with an orange marmalade sauce. Now for the mains; if you are really hungry you should try the combination platter. This has crab cakes, clam strips, shrimp, tilapia adn sea scallops all bread crumbed and fried. The sides for this are salad, fries, baked potato, rice, veggies and freshly baked bread. Fried Flounder ia also on offer at $13. 99 and comes with the same sides as the platter. However, ...
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Cocoa Beach Pier.
We have spent many happy hours on Cocoa Beach pier and I thought I would tell you a little about it to whet your appetite. Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando. The pier was originally constructed in 1962 and in those days you could drive your car right onto the pier. 21 years later there was a refurb that cost in the region of two million dollars and at the same time the pier was extended to reach 80 feet. Nowadays there are 5 restaurants and bars, an ice cream parlour and 2 shops for you to enjoy and of course wonderful fishing opportunities for anglers. Our favourite restaurant is The Atlantic Ocean Grill. For 5 consecutive years this has been voted the most popular restaurant with a view in Brevard County. This restaurant specialises in seafood and steak and opens from 5 p. m. daily. Make a note that on sundays you can get a champagne brunch from 10 p. m. to 2 p. m. Oh Sucks seafood bar is a casual eaterie that is completely al fresco. Marlins is good for lunch...
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A days sightseeing in Tarpon Springs
If you fancy a little flavour of Greece during your Florida holiday then head off to Tarpon Springs. Greek people were brought to Tarpon Springs to dive for sponges in the heyday of that industry. Today, Tarpon Springs has more Greek/ American residents of any U. S. city. This is very evident as you walk round the town. What to do when you get there? Well, if history is your thing, well they have it in spades. Of course, a lot of it is based on the sponge trading and there are still a couple of sponge packing houses to visit. Apart from tourism, sponge trading has always been their main income generating trade. Shopping; enough for even the most confirmed shopaholic and not the chains either! Natural sponge outlets, gift shops, jewellry shops and even an olive oil cosmetics store. In all there are over 100 shops to choose from. We found some of the more interesting ones were off ' the front' Water sports are good here; wind surfing, of course and my favourite way to spend a cou...
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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Hogwarts: the one place that pretty much every child secretly hopes he or she will be invited to attend when the heralded eleventh birthday rolls around. Unfortunately, I did not receive my green-inked letter, and to my utter astonishment and very real disappointment, I have never met anyone who has. So when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened and I heard that Universal was planning on building Hogwarts, I decided I would have to settle for the amusement park experience of our favorite magical school. A visit to the park is considerably shorter than seven years of Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and History of Magic, so I suppose that?s a plus. What I was not expecting was Hogwarts to be presented to the hoards of Potter fans as a ride entitled Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Gee, J. K. Rowling, why didn?t you name one of your seven highly acclaimed books that? I can?t for the life of me see why. Anyway, so Harry Pott...
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The Blue Man Group Reviewed
Ever since James Cameron?s highly acclaimed movie ' Avatar' was released, at least a few mentions of floating mountains, Pocahontas, and blue people are going to crop up. So, naturally, as I was strolling through City Walk at Universal, Orlando on my way to see the Blue Man Group, I had aliens on my mind. I was disappointed to find that these blue men do not come from Pandora and are not nine feet (ten feet? eleven feet? ) tall. Instead, their blueness comes from some sort of latex and paint film on their faces and hands while the rest of their bodies are conveniently covered in nondescript black clothing. The Blue Man Group has been around far longer than Cameron spent filming ' Avatar, ' which is definitely saying something. The show is known throughout the States as family friendly and highly amusing entertainment. The advertisements always show men who are ostentatiously blue-skinned and staring wide-eyed at the viewers as though we should clearly have cobalt skin too. So n...
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Orlando Dining for Celiacs
My best friend suffers from celiac disease and the daily challenges of eating a gluten free diet can be very inconvenient. It is particularly hard for her when she has to travel as is the case for anybody who has this disease or has to live with any other type of diet restrictions. Spending as much time with her as I do, I have become particularly sensitive to her particular diet restrictions and am always on the look-out for accommodating restaurants, shops and products. Just like me, she has visited the Orlando area many times, so she has passed on some valuable information. Finding restaurants in the Orlando area can be tricky. Most won?t be able to accommodate a gluten free diet even if they say they can. As you well know, you need to be very cautious because unfortunately, you will find that most restaurant staff will be uninformed about proper handling of gluten free food and there is a risk with foods that are normally considered to be gluten free selections because they cou...
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The Mote Aquarium.
The Mote aquarium is loceted in Sarasota on the Gulf Coast of Florida. This is a good place for anyone who really wants to learn about sea life and there are more than 100 different varieties of marine life. Here there are interactive exhibits, touch pools and most interesting of all a view of their scientific labs. The exhibits are divided into distinct categories: RAY TOUCH POOL always a big favourite with all ages. The rays positively welcome human contact. MOLLUSK HALL where you see a 27 foot long squid (yes, really twenty seven! ) BAY HABITAT see all the creatures that thrive in waters where the rivers meet the sea. SHARK TRACKER here you find out how the boffins track the shark for scientific purposes. FLORIDA REEF full of the fish that inhabit reef areas. RIVER TO SEA takes a look at the fish that inhabit the freshwater areas of Florida. CONTACT COVE up close and personal with sea urchins, sea stars, crabs and the like. SEA HORSE CONSERVATION LAB at the Mote ...
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Florida Pioneer Museum.
If you are interested in the history of Florida, then the Florida Pioneer museum is well worth a visit. The inception of this museum was in 1961 when the Country Fair association was given 37 old vehicles and tools. This encouraged 37 interested locals to form a charter to create this museum. They have saved several old buildings from being demolished and had them lovingly restored. The Overstreet House is presented and furnished in the style of the period. Here you can see how the pioneer wife would spend her day at cooking, spinning, weaving, washing and churning butter. All the while the men would be building dwellings, raising crops, making leather goods and doing the work of a black smith. The old Lacoochee School was saved from demolition in 1976. This school was built in the 1930s but styled in the earlier way of the single room school. The packing house that is here was abandoned in 1989 which was a very harsh winter that decimated the orange crops. As I write they ...
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Lowery Park
A day at the zoo is always the perfect family day out and Parents magazine has just voted Lowery Park Zoo the number one in America. This zoo is located in Tampa; an easy drive from your holiday villa. They have just completed Ituri Forest and here you can see zebra, giraffes, elepahants, wallabies and more. In the Wallaroo Station Habitat look out for pygmy goats, kookaburra, zebu cows and llamas. The free flight aviary is designed as a rain forest and is complete with a river and waterfalls. Here you can spot purple swamp hen, blue bellied roller and red legged honey creeper in lovely surroundings. It would not be Florida without some manatee, would it? and they have them. They are proud of their record of looking after injured manatees and have saved around 200 of them. Florida should be proud of their work with manatees in many different locations. Make sure to check your schedule so you catch the Birds of Prey Show. They have 3 different kinds of owl, bald eagle and of c...
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A History of Tarpon Springs
We first visited Tarpon Springs about 12 years and the charm of this historic dock town has never palled. The history of Tarpon Springs starts in the 1970s when a women called Mary Ormond named the town. However, what she thought were Tarpon playing in the bay were actually Mullet! Mullet Bay does not have the same ring about it, does it? The weell regarded lanscape artist called George Innes wintered in Tarpon Springs and there are occasional exhibitions of his work held here. We next move on to 1980, when a wealthy industrialist called Hamilton Disston bought 4 million acres of Central West Florida land. Would you care to guess what he paid for all this acreage? Well, your jaw will drop when I tell you that it was just 25 cents an acre. However, this purchase was to save the county from going bankrupt. Among the land purchased was Tarpon Springs. Seven years after this happened it was noted that 22 souls resided here; today, you can add 3 nought to that figure. This city al...
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A stroll around Celebrations lakes and residences. Part 3
As you reach the end of the path, the lake will disappear and after crossing the bridge you will find yourself in the heart of residential Celebration. Turn right and pass in front of half a dozen white clapboard houses with their fully furnished wrap around porches and balconies, before making a right in to East Lawn Drive (It will be obvious to see why it is known by the locals as Millionaires Row! ). You will now be able to pass in front of the houses which so far you have only admired from the rear and you may find that the house which had been your favourite when viewed from a different angle is pushed in to second place by its glorious neighbour. Admire the beautifully manicured gardens, awash with colour from hibiscus, bougainvillea, white lilac, and camellias, the pristine box hedges, the tidy lawns and the driveways leading in to small courtyards. Huge garages look large enough to house a small family! You may find some of the properties have ?For Sale? notices, dont ask the...
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A stroll around Celebrations lakes and residences. Part 1
If you fancy some time away from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks, then why not spend a couple of hours strolling around the lakes and the residential area of Celebration. Leave your car in one of the free car parks or in one of the many on street parking spaces and make your way to the front of the lake in the centre of Celebration. Avoid being seduced by the rocking chairs on the terrace of the lake; they will be your reward when your walk is complete! Set out walking clockwise around the lake, following the path and keeping the lake to your right. You will pass the fountains, where on days when there is even a suggestion of warmth, you will find children cavorting through the spurting towers of water. These were once described to me as the best free attraction in the Orlando area. As you walk along the shady bank keep your eye out for alligators which can often be spotted swimming in the lake or basking in the reeds along the edge of the bank. Don?t harass or feed them...
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A stroll around Celebrations lakes and residences. Part 2
When you have almost completed three quarters of the lake?s circuit take the bridge to your left and head away from the lake, cutting through the conservation area. You will emerge at Lake Evalyn where you can stop to admire the pretty houses on its opposite side. These houses may be decorated at various times throughout the year- 4th July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The inventiveness of the occupants of homes in Celebration knows no bounds when it comes to decorating them. The most impressive decorations we have seen have been at Halloween when one such home uses the whole of its frontage and some of that of its neighbours, to display a rock band of ghouls complete with stage, a pirate ship, gallows, coffins and the usual ghosts, spiders and witches! As you continue along the lakeside path you will find a further notice giving information about animal wildlife in the area. There are descriptive paragraphs about wild hogs, raccoons, armadillos and the nocturnal opossum a...
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The Wizarding world of Harry Potter
The Wizarding world of Harry Potter We were lucky enough to be offered the chance to go to universal studio this week on Monday for a preview of the new attraction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter As you walk through the archway that leads to Hogsmeade village the first thing that you see is the Hogwarts Express which is pouring out steam as if it had just arrived. We actually were told it would be best to go straight to the Hogwarts school for wizards and whichcraft where the forbidden journey ride is located. As you enter the castle you are greeted by Dumbledore quoting ?There comes a time when we must make a choice between what is right and what is easy, lets hope you make the right one?(or something to this effect). The castle is very realistic and the holographs so realistic you can believe it is the actual cast there. As you walk along the castles corridors the tour you are on goes through several rooms were portraits talk to each other about all of us Muggles coming in...
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