Orlando/Disneyworld Thread (Part 3)

jeanniebeanie_2

shinyahashimoto1 wrote: »

Are there any nice drives in Orlando/Florida? I had a convertible whilst in Califoria and quite fancy getting one again, however looking up information about it there's a few daying all the drives around the area aren't anything special. Since it would cost more dough, just wondering if anyone could recommend it.

I can't think of many drives from central Florida where the entire drive would be nice, after all, you are in a very popular location.

The drive up the A1A coastal road is very nice once you get past Daytona Beach. You can pull in at several points to watch the Atlantic Rollers and the fishermen who fish from the beaches - sometimes catching small(ish) sharks. If you end that trip at St Augustine which is about 2hr 15 min away it's VERY different from Orlando - very Mediterranean in feel with a lovely old fort. We usually stay for a day or two, the restaurants are good and the cuisine is more Deep South, Shrimp and Grits, Creole etc. Some of the B and Bs are lovely.

You could drive down the other coast to the barrier island of Anna-Maria (about 1hr 40 the quickest route) the nicer, if much longer, route could take you through St Petes and over the Sunshine Skyway bridge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pTvYtHWqX0&feature=related, which is particularly spectacular at sunset. Again we usually stay over for seafood restaurants and lovely quiet beaches.

Another place I love is Cedar Key - yet again a very different small town. Not a great drive until you get across state, but you can take in a National park on the way or go via Hommossassa Springs and the manatees and as Cedar Key is remote you quite often would not see another vehicle for the last 20 miles. About 120 miles though, and again we stay. If you can take in a Fri/Sat night there the place is buzzing with live music of a really good standard and there is accommodation actually on the water where you can watch the dolphins from your balcony or even your bed!

Just had to edit because I nearly forgot to mention Tony's Clam Chowder at Cedar Key! Multi award winning chowder from a small restaurant, well more of a diner, which is shipped all over the U.S. You buy it by the pint, quart or gallon to take out, or eat in the diner, and it's to die for!


I suppose I'm saying that the destinations are better than the drives, so on that basis not sure about convertible. Your call.

Feel free to PM if you want to know anything else.

busymum1

HI

we planning to disneyworld in april for easter holidays. can someon suggest hotel or resort not to expensive with partial kitchen if possible. we will not be driving so want to stay close to the parks. And where is the best place to book hotels.

We will be flying to Texas first then need a internal package from there.

Thank you in advance

jeanniebeanie_2

Unless you have absolutely no choice I would reconsider Disney at Easter, it gets incredibly busy and the queues are huge with parks sometimes at capacity and refusing entry by early afternoon.Take a look around The Dibb http://www.thedibb.co.uk/ for some more detailed advice or some tactics if you decide to go for it.

If you do go then I would avoid the parks on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend itself, the crowds will lessen a bit in the surrounding days. I'm sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear when you are planning a trip, but better to be forewarned then at least you know what to expect.

I can't advise on accommodation, we hire villas and drive, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to help with that.

amanda40

We go to florida in just over 2 weeks!!! Looking at www.orlandoattractions.com for our tickets - they were recommended on the Diss boards. They do a 14 day 'Real Steal' pass that covers Disney and 2 Universal Parks ( 2 seperate tickets) for £313 for adults and £276 for under 9's - This seems to be the cheapest i can find - can anyone advise me otherwise - It does not include Seaworld so not sure whether we would just buy tickets for that seperately.

Thanks All

JSP

Hi all,

I know that some one has probably asked this before, but I can't seem to find it. I'm off to Florida in the next couple of weeks and I'm looking for a good website that I can print off restaurant discount vouchers for International Drive (something like this web site would be fab)

I've had a quick google, but not sure which ones are legitimate etc. (don't fancy going into a restaurant and handing over a voucher that isn't a valid one)

Would some one be able to point me in the right direction.

Many Thanks

jeanniebeanie_2

There are websites out there, but the easiest way to get current vouchers is to pick up the free guides and maps that are everywhere. You should find them at the airport, Denny's, Ponderosa, Sizzler and other chain restaurants etc. by the entrances. They also have them in all the supermarkets, Gas Stations, gift shops and in vending-type machines (although they are free) that stand at the roadsides. The maps themselves are quite good and the brochures, I think they are called See Orlando and Visit Orlando, are updated every couple of months.

Just remembered, there is a free printable discount card "Orlando Magicard" too: http://www.orlandoinfo.com/magicard/

Iwork2shop

Last visit to Orlando was in 2008, what's new since then? :hello:

Hi, I last visited Florida in 2008 and we've just booked another trip travelling in June this year. :cool2: This will be our 5th visit and during our previous visits we've visited all the parks at some point, many several times. In order to help with planning for this years trip could someone tell me what's been added to the parks in the last 3 years?

I know that there is a Harry Potter land at Universal Studios - should I include that in my 'must visit list'? Other than that I really don't know what to include, but more importantly, what NOT to visit.

Thanks a lot :j

blue_monkey_2

Iwork2shop wrote: »

Last visit to Orlando was in 2008, what's new since then? :hello:

Hi, I last visited Florida in 2008 and we've just booked another trip travelling in June this year. :cool2: This will be our 5th visit and during our previous visits we've visited all the parks at some point, many several times. In order to help with planning for this years trip could someone tell me what's been added to the parks in the last 3 years?

I know that there is a Harry Potter land at Universal Studios - should I include that in my 'must visit list'? Other than that I really don't know what to include, but more importantly, what NOT to visit.

Thanks a lot :j

YES!!!!!!!

Aquatica is new as well

vivatifosi

DH is in Orlando at moment (I am here:(). He called me to say that anyone going soon must look out for the castle in Magic Kingdom in the run up to the Wishes evening fireworks. They've put in a new pre-show and in his words "it's phenomenal, as good as the fireworks and I want to meet the imagineer who thought it up and shake his hand". Starts about 15 mins before Wishes, so any old timers like me who turn up last minute and just look up Main Street, don't you'll miss out.

blue_monkey_2

Oooh, viv, don;t say that. Can you find out what it is called and I'll see if I can find a youtube link. Now I wnat to go but it's a long way for one show

DLP for us in June this year though. Yeah, at least we get our Disney fix, even if it is a small one. And we can go on Crushes Coaster which is brilliant, our favourite!! We are buying shares and are joining the shareholder club too!! LOL!!