Welcome to our Florida Guide. Your one-stop shop for vacation planning for that trip of a lifetime to Florida! http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/dining-in-florida.aspx Florida hosts a wealth of diverse dining experiences. You can eat inexpensively to the Fine dinning experience. Whatever your choice you are sure to find suitable alternatives From the inexpensive buffet style Golden corral, this is very hard to beat. It has a huge salad bar with the usual different types of lettuce tomatoes cucumber cottage cheese , cheese, beetroot, plus other things such as potato salad. Tuna. Salad. Coleslaw ect They also have a selection of soups and crackers Then you progress to the hot buffet where there is different meats Steak, chicken, ( done to different recipes my husband particularly likes their meatloaf , but I like the beef pot roast stew ( the meat is exceptionally tender). The fish selections are all very good they range from seafood, salmon to white fish. On a Saturday night there is a steak night where different cuts of meat are available; and cooked to your preference also there are many different vegetables, some plain some in sauces they do ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/shopping-lake-buena-vista.aspx For a nice leisurely shopping experience the lake Buena Vista Outlet shopping Mall on the 535 is a nice choice. This outlet is not as large as the neighbouring Premier outlet mall; however it offers a nice selection of stores for your retail therapy experience. If you like bargain shopping you will find some here. The already discounted prices can be purchased for even less if you pop into the Character Outlet store and ask for a discount coupon book. While in the store browse the available merchandise, I picked up some nice Mickey Mouse pens, note pads and pencil cases on my last visit at very reasonable prices. For purchase total of $40. 00 + you will receive a $5. 00 discount. They stock a variety of goods from tee shirts to backpacks; new merchandise comes in daily, worth a look! ! ! I have found on recent visits that most of the shoe stores were offering buy one gets one at 50% off. These offers can be found in Nine West … Rack Room Shoes… Converse …Reebok Nike and many mo... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/disney-dollars.aspx To add to the excitement of your families Disney vacation why not have your children’s spending money delivered to your vacation villa (please ask permission from the villa owner first) in Disney Dollars? /b Disney introduced in March of 2008 a new image to the Disney Dollars commemorating Mickey’s 80TH Birthday, with various pictures of Mickey Mouse from his first $ bill appearance through to the present time. Imagine the joy your child/children will have opening their own mail with their very own Disney Dollars inside. Disney dollars may be ordered by mail, for non US residents you can call 714-781-4025 for instructions on how to place a mailing order. In order to have them delivered to your villa by Fed Ex (with owner’s permission) there is a $10 fee. Please place your order in plenty of time; delivery requires a minimum of seven working days. The Disney Dollars can also be purchased from any Disney Store or from any of the Disney Theme Parks. Your children will love hav... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/independence-day-4th-july.aspx Independence Day is a big celebration in America and there are always lots of events taking place. This is just one suggestion of a place to visit for the afternoon and evening - Kissimmee Downtown Lakefront. And it’s totally FREE. We have visited this location on the 4th July twice now and just love it. It really has that Old Fashioned American feel, with the locals, young and old all taking part. It is said to be the largest 4th of July event in Central Florida, with approximately 35, 000 to 45, 000 people attending. The whole area is turned into a super festival, with arts and crafts, games, activities, food festival and competitions. There are three stages where different types of show are put on. We have spent time watching famous Country and amp; Western singers, Barber Shop singers, Pop and Rock groups, Comedians, Jugglers, Mime Acts, Stilt Walkers and Extreme Sports Shows. For $5. 00 you can purchase a wristband from the information kiosk, which entitles you to priority ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/mannys-chop-house.aspx We have heard good reports about Manny’s Chop House from numerous sources, including the forums on this site and decided it was time to give it a try. Manny’s is located on Highway 27. Going south on Highway 27 from the Disney area (Highway 192) it is on the right hand side just before Haines City. We arrived to a half full car park and had no problems in parking. On entering we were welcomed and guided to our table. The décor was typical old American diner style, with the walls being covered in old car number plates and related items. The atmosphere was very friendly and we noticed just how many locals were using the restaurant. We knew they were locals because they were greeted by name as they came through the door. We have noticed just how good some Americans are at remembering names and faces Our server came over to introduce herself. Her name was Michelle, which she wrote in big letters onto the paper table cover. She also wrote the manager’s name for us – Manny. A menu was l... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/downtown-disney.aspx A little bit of Disney Magic that anyone can access! Downtown Disney is an eating/shopping/entertainment area within Walt Disney World that offers a huge range of different attractions to while away some time. It is built around a lake and there are two distinct areas to Downtown Disney, Marketplace and West Side. In between these areas is Pleasure Island, a night venue with several different music clubs and a comedy club. There is no charge for entry into Downtown Disney and there is plenty of free parking available, although it can be busy. When we are on vacation, we tend to do Downtown Disney on days that we have not done the parks. For us it is probably a little too busy and full on to enjoy on a park day. On days away from the parks, however, it is an excellent way to get some Disney magic at the end of the day. Dining options for vary from a Cuban restaurant to a seafood crab house in the upscale range and for a quick bite there is a McDonald’s and a sandwich shop. A word ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/flying-into-sanford-airport.aspx You may see that flights from the UK to Orlando do not all fly into Orlando International Airport. The majority of charter flights will land at Sanford International Airport. Sanford International is about thirty minutes drive further away from Kissimmee than Orlando International, but in our opinion it is a far easier and quicker airport to pass through. We have just returned from Orlando and had no problems whatsoever both in and out of Sanford. After landing we passed through Immigration, no hold ups with plenty of desks open. From here we were directed to baggage reclaim. After a slight wait the bags came sailing through, without any hassle at all. It was now on to car hire. We had pre registered with Budget Car Hire, from the UK, prior to travel. There was no queue at all and, as we had pre registered, the keys were waiting for us with no further forms to fill in, just the required credit card swipe, and a quick check of the lead driver’s licence. The car was just along ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/mount-dora-visit.aspx The large, beautiful lake which the town overlooks is named after Dora Ann Drawdy (1819-1885). In 1846, Federal Surveyors named the lake and quot; Lake Dora and quot; after her, and in 1883, the small but growing town was named after the lake. Today, Mount Dora is home to around than 10, 000 people and retains a small town feel with many historic buildings still standing. For an afternoon of peace and quiet relaxation away from the theme parks, Mount Dora is the place for you. As you wander around and quot; downtown and quot; , you will be amazed at how many craft and antique shops as well as eateries can be fitted into such a small place. We found a warm welcome in every establishment we visited. Straight through thetown runs the railroad. There are regular 1+1/4 hour train excursions (with on board guide) on the vintage train to the next town and back at a cost of $12 per adult and $9 per child. The town of Mount Dora partly grew due to the railroad linking the town to Fort Myers... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/historic-bok-santuary-gardens.aspx The Historic Bok Sanctuary with its magnificent Tower and gardens is one of Polk Counties best kept secrets. Having visited the Orlando area over 18 times this is the first time we had heard of this place! The sanctuary is situated on one of the highest points in Florida at Lake Wales Ridge – 298 feet above sea level. It is a very peaceful and restful place with its large lawns and beautiful shrubs, flowers and of course lots of beautiful wildlife. In recent years they have been collecting endangered plants in an attempt to cultivate. The centrepiece is the Bell Tower itself, it stands 205 high and has a gothic and art deco Carillon tower. The tower holds 60 bronze bells that are all controlled from an elaborate keyboard. The tower building is in itself a masterpiece; it is made out of pink marble (brought in from Georgia) and natural Floridian stone. The Carillon piece at the top of the tower is created with various coloured tiles to make amazing pictures of birds and wildlife. The ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/florida-place-names-origins.aspx As you make your way around Florida I’m sure you will wonder where some of the interesting and unusual names for towns and cities came from. I finally got around to doing some research of my own and have discovered that many of them come from the Native American Indians. For example one of the best known tribes were the Seminole; the town of Seminole can be found on the west coast south of Clearwater. The Seminole tribe shared there land with the Creek and the Miccosukee people. The place “Osceola” (as in Osceola County) comes from one of the best known Seminole war leaders that refused to leave his homeland and gained the respect of the U. S army for his bravery. The city of “Orlando” came about after the second Seminole battle which ended in 1842. Settlers gathered around Fort Gatlin near downtown Orlando which at that time was called Jernigan. It was renamed in 1857 to honour a soldier Orlando Reeves who was on sentry duty and injured by an Indian arrow, however he still managed... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/calabay-parc.aspx Calabay Parc is one of the most elegant, stylish and celebrated vacation communities in the Disney Area. It is a highly exclusive development, which nestles quietly amongst conservation woodlands and orange groves. Its impressive entrance is easily distinguishable with its towers either side of the road which are sounded by brightly coloured flowers and shrubs. It is ideally and conveniently located on US Highway 27 (north) between the junction of Interstate 4 (junction 55) and Highway 192. Travelling distances to all the major attractions are excellent with Walt Disney World being only 12 miles away, taking around 15 minutes to get there. As for the airports it is no more than 25 minutes easy drive from Orlando International Airport, 40 minutes from Sanford and 55 minutes from Tampa. The whole community is designed and set up for ‘short-term rentals’ all homes have private pools and are finished to an exceptionally high standard. All the homes were planned, designed and decorated so... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_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.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/day-at-busch-gardens.aspx Busch Gardens is approximately an hour’s drive from Orlando down the I-4 at Tampa and is well signposted. We left the villa at 8. 30 to get there early for the park opening. A small ride on a ‘train bus’ takes you from the car park to the entrance. The park is split into areas – Bird gardens, Stanleyville, Congo, Nairobi, Timbuktu, Serengeti Plain, Eqypt and Morrocco. Stanley ville is an older part of the park and has a a huge double wooden roller coaster named Gawazi. Red and yellow coasters named Lion and Tiger intertwine along 7000 feet of track! Try both and see which one comes out top in a vote! On from there to SheiKra, a high speed, floorless ride which twists and turns at 70 mph, with 90 degree turns and a plunge into an underground tunnel, the ride ends through water! ! Great fun and you will get wet! ! The next port of call is Kumba is in the Congo area. The ride is enormous and takes you through weightlessness, a 360 degree turn and a 135 foot drop! ! After a ride on t... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/relaxing-sunday-in-winter-park.aspx In days gone by, way before Walt Disney even had his dream, tourists had been visiting Central Florida to enjoy the simple beauty, mild climate, natural springs and crystal clear rivers. Wealthy Americans left the cold northern states to enjoy Florida and rsquo; s warm winters, hence the names Winter Park, Winter Haven and Winter Garden. Winter Park became a mecca for winter wealthy tourists and is now home to many wealthy families. Winter Park is a beautiful, picturesque town well worth a visit. Stroll down the main high street and browse in the many unique boutiques or stop for lunch at one of the quaint pavement cafe and rsquo; s. The heart of the town is home to the railroad which today is Amtrak and still sees several arrivals daily. The main tree-lined road is Central Avenue with the pretty park on one side and shops, cafe and rsquo; s and restaurants on the other side. Park anywhere on the side streets and wander along Park Avenue - you will eventually come across The Mors... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/deleon-springs.aspx For some beautiful natural Florida countryside, head out a little to DeLeon Springs - a beautiful state park an hour or so north of Orlando. One of Florida and rsquo;s earliest and rsquo;resorts and rsquo;, the springs were opened as a small tourist centre in the 1880 and rsquo;s and the area was hugely popular with vacationing families. In 1925 the Clyde Beatty Circus started to spend whole winters here and in 1925 an inn and casino were built. A major development took place in 1953 when the resort was opened as an official theme park when gardens, a jungle adventure and water cruises were added as family entertainment. Their star attraction was an elephant that performed on water skis! The State of Florida purchased the whole area in 1982 and today it is a haven of peace and tranquility offering nature trails, swimming, river boat rides, canoes, kayaks and paddlboats. You can also fish for bass and bream either from the shores of the river or from the fishing pier. (A Florida fr... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/tarpon-springs-sponge-capital.aspx Over on the Gulf Coast and an hour and a half away, Tarpon Springs is a delightful and historic town comprising new communities and old mansions blending together around waterways and bayous. The city, named after the tarpon fish which is found in abundance off the coast, was originally developed as a winter haven for wealthy Northerners. The arrival of the Greek sponge divers in 1905 was just the beginning for the sponge capital of the world. A red tide algae hit the area in 1947 virtually wiping out the sponge fields in the region and many of the divers switched their trade to fishing. The sponge docks, although more active in the last twenty years, are now mainly home to restaurants and shops but new sponge beds were discovered in the 1980 and rsquo;s and the industry underwent a welcomed revival. The Greek influence is prevalent in the street music and themes of the stores, many of which have been in the same families for generations. The hub of the town is the Sponge Docks... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/see-orlando-by-helicopter.aspx There can be little doubt that the best way to get a feel for a place is from the air and a helicopter is the ideal way to do it. There are a number of Helicopter companies operating in the Orlando area. There are two operators on Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy (192) and one on International Drive. We flew with Orlando Helitours who are based on the 192 near Old Town Kissimmee. Orlando Helitours fly Bell Jet Rangers which accommodate 4 passengers and offer a number of tours, taking from a few minutes to half an hour flying time and ranging in price from $15 to $150 per person. There is a reduction for children age 11 and under. Arranging a flight could not be easier. On most occasions you can just turn up, decide which tour to take and fly, or if you prefer you can book in advance. Orlando Helitours fly everyday weather permitting and in Florida, that is pretty much everyday. They also do some night flights. The tours extend over the Orlando area and particularly the parks. Disney fro... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/tips-for-first-timers-to-orlando.aspx Things to do in Orlando? The list is endless. For older children and adults Universal Studios is usually the most popular. There are lots of thrill rides there and the rides are based on films they will have seen such as ET, Terminator, Spiderman, The Mummy, Back to the Future, Jaws. . . . . . . . . Universal is split into two parks and you can get special tickets to cover both, plus other parks. This is called a Flexi Ticket. It allows 14 days access from day of first use to: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Aquatica and Wet and Wild Water Park). You should also visit Universal in the evening as the City Walk is full of restaurants, bars with live music and shops. It is great fun to walk around them in the warm evenings and soak up the atmosphere. If you are visiting in October, Universal does the best Halloween Fright Night ever seen. It is worth travelling in October just to go to this! Disney has 4 main parks, which are Magic Kingdom, Epcot Centre, Hollywood ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/driving-tips-for-florida.aspx 1. Always stay on the RIGHT of the road. 2. Safety belts are required for all front passengers, regardless of age. Children 5 years of age and younger MUST be secured in child restraint devices. Children 3 years of age and younger MUST be placed in infant carriers or child car seats. Children aged 4 and 5 MUST be in a safety seat or wear a seat belt in the rear seat of the car. 3. Turn on you headlights at dusk, in fog or in rain (this is a legal requirement). Be especially careful while driving during or after rainfall. Slippery road conditions could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. 4. NO drinking and driving. Always have a designated driver who will remain alcohol free. 5. On approaching a “STOP” sign, your vehicle must come to a complete halt before proceeding. At 4-way STOP signs, the vehicle that arrived at the cross-section first has the right of way first, then the next vehicle and so on. 6. You may turn RIGHT on a red light after you have come to a complete ... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/eating-out-for-families.aspx If you are anything like our family, you’ll spend your vacation trying to find great places to eat at a reasonable price. Here’s a few recommendations for eating out at restaurants in the US 192 and Hwy 27 areas: Golden Corral Buffets (US 192 Markers 4 and amp; 5) These restaurants are great for a low cost buffet with a great choice of food. They are ideal for a meal after being at the parks or even for a big breakfast to keep you going all day. Prices are very reasonable and include the whole buffet …. salads, chicken, steak, pizza and amp; desert. Make sure to take your vouchers! Appleby’s (Hwy 27 beside Publix) Friendly and amp; good value! Lots of villas on Hwy 27 have benefited from this new restaurant and amp; bar. It’s well located and the staff are really friendly. Menu is varied and includes a section for the kids. Beef O Brady’s (Hwy 27 at junction with Ronald Reagan Parkway) Ideal for those looking for a meal in a friendly atmosphere. It’s a bit ‘burgers and amp... http://www.villasflorida.com/orlando_guide/are-we-nearly-there-yet.aspx This is something that always makes our family laugh when we recall the story. It happened on our first trip to Orlando in Aug. 2004, we had been there about a week and had decided to give the parks a rest and do a days shopping. It was a gloriously sunny day and we had decided to go to the Beltz shopping outlets on International Drive. There were 5 of us in the car, husband, wife and 3 children Fern was 10, Josh 13 and Charlotte 16, needless to say I was driving (Dad). I suppose we had to travel about 20 miles before we hit the bottom end International Drive, traffic was not too bad at that end, but anyone who knows International Drive knows that it gets very busy. There are lots of things to see on I-Drive, Wonder Works, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Wet’n Wild to name but a few, we saw them all, from the front anyway. We only had about 4 or 5 more miles to go, but the further we went along the denser the traffic got until in was nose to tail and grinding along at a snails pace. ...