Sunshine and blue skies are almost always a fact of life in Florida, at any time of year. There are, however, two climatic zones - subtropical in the south and warm temperate in the north.
Summer in the south (Orlando and below) is humid with afternoon storms; the peak season is
in the winter when temperatures are warm and there is little humidity. Summer is the peak
season north of Orlando but temperatures are usually comfortably warm; the crowds arrive in
the summer when the weather gets hotter and more humid. The hurricane season is between
June and November.
Various types of accommodation are available in Florida, Hotel rooms normally have two
queen beds as standard +en-suite bath/shower; also suites are available with separate childbed areas.
Apartments normally 1 bed and 1sofa bed in lounge area(other layouts are available) complete
with full kitchen.
Villas have a private pool 2,3,4,5,6&7 bed well equipped just like being at home see last page
for villa locations if you decide to stay in a villa take a small torch for seeing the lock box on
the villa front door to get your key out at night.
There are several different types of hotels on WDW property. First are the hotels owned and
run by Disney. They fall into four categories: Value (the least expensive), Moderate, Deluxe,
and Disney Vacation Club. The Value resorts offer pretty much your basic hotel rooms with
outdoor corridors, except they have really cool Disney theming that is visually Appealing, to children especially. The Value resorts are Pop Century and the All-Stars (Movies, Music and
Sports -- and those are their themes). Dining at these resorts is limited to a food court
The Moderate resorts are Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs and Port Orleans, which have
rooms that are a bit larger than the Values. Although they also have outdoor corridors, they offer a few more amenities than the Value resorts, including more dining options.
The Deluxe resort hotels are just that. They are comparable to other 4- or 5-star hotels except they also have beautiful Disney theming. Many rooms in the deluxe hotels have private
balconies, and all are larger than rooms in the Value or Moderate resorts. In these hotels you
can get concierge service, dine at full service restaurants, and order room service -- basically
all the bells and whistles. The Deluxe hotels are the Contemporary, the Polynesian and the
Grand Floridian (all three are "on the monorail line," meaning they have private monorail stations in the hotel itself and subsequently have quick access to the MK); the Wilderness Lodge, which is close to the Magic Kingdom; the Yacht Club, Beach Club and the Boardwalk, which are within a very short walk to the back gate of Epcot; and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which (of course) is right next to the Animal Kingdom -- it actually has an African savannah behind the hotel, and
from many rooms you can see giraffes, gazelles, ankole cattle or other animals.
Universal Studios has three on site hotels Portofino Bay Hotel,Royal Pacific Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel all with water linked transport.
Fly Drive with accommodation
Driving in the U.S.A is similar to U.K except they drive on the right, all cars have automatic
gearbox As well as air conditioning. Car hire is included in the price of your tickets, you have
to pay Car insurance package. You pick your car up at airport, make sure you get directions
Sanford airport is the airport most charter airlines use its approx 50 minutes from
accommodation locations, (Virgin use Orlando International which is a lot closer)from
Sanford you travel on a highway known as The Greenway (SR417) this is a toll road, have
some small dollar bills with you for the tolls there are two types of booths at the toll points
one is exact monies (you throw in basket). The other is manned and they give you change
make sure you have at least $10 in small notes, for maps and directions have a look at this
You are advised to drive with your doors locked, if you get lost always go to a gas station or supermarket to ask for directions (do not ask people who are just passing). flight time to
Orlando approx 8.5 to 9.5 hours depending on weather and plane type .
your own tea bags, I normally use Publix they have a large choice you can buy a ready meal
from the deli/salad counters, Publix chicken 8 pieces ($8.59) is very tasty. American bread
is sweet if you want bread similar to home look for Italian sliced or Chicago rolls at the bakery.
Wine purchased from supermarkets, if you require liquor you have to go to a liquor store, you must transport any wine/liquor (Vodka 1 .75 litre $19.99 in 2011 ) in the trunk of your car it is State law
You can visit without a car look in travel brochures for accommodation with the no car option,
there is a good bus Service
The hotels normally have a Courtesy bus to Theme Parks
You can purchase your tickets prior to departure either through your travel agent, the
internet or tickets can be obtained at the parks but you may have to queue and pay sales tax. Disney adult gate price September 2011 was $251 Adult, child 3-9yrs $232.00 for 5-day base ticket to convert to hopper add $55 plus tax.
I recommend you purchase Hopper Tickets you can hop between any park on the same day either use Disney Transport, which is free or go in your car you only pay once for parking $14
September 2011.Most theme park’s have water type rides you will get wet(soaked) a tip
take a zip bag with you and place monies e.t.c in to keep dry.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World consists of four theme parks and 2 water parks; days in the parks are long
and tiring. Sits on 27,000 Florida acres or about 43 square miles.Make sure you have
comfortable shoes and light clothing, t-shirts and shorts are worn in the sunshine state 95%
of the time drink plenty of water, park hours vary depending on time of year. You can go
back to your accommodation and return to park later in the day if you have a Hopper ticket.
There are plenty of places to eat (fast service meals approx$6-9 each plus drinks $2.39)
and drinking water fountains are all over the parks.
On entering any of the parks pick a meeting point should any members of your party go
missing all should head back to this point, or purchase 2 way radios from Walmart
they are cheap(UK ones do not work) .
On entering the park pick up a guide mark off which ones you have visited, if there is a queue
go on to the next one and return later in the day or get a fast pass, Magic Kingdom has
illuminated parade Usually on a Saturday night and a parade in the day do not miss these or
the Firework display every night. Check your guide for times and details of the other parades. Epcot at 9pm have a laser/light/firework /music display every night.
The first of the four WDW theme parks, the Magic Kingdom is separated into sections called "lands,"each with a different "theme" (get used to hearing that term, as almost everything
around WDW is built with its own special theme, or motif). There are Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Liberty Square, Main Street USA and Mickey's Toontown Fair
(currently closed until 2013 major revamp)you can pretty much guess the theme of each land
from its name.
Each land has a variety of themed "attractions," many of which are based on Disney movies. Although MK is the park usually thought of as being for "the kids," it is by no means a "kiddie" park.
There are plenty for adults to do.
Attractions are the rides or shows -- the roller coasters, the carousel, the
slow "dark" rides, like Pirates of the Caribbean, or Peter Pan's Flight. An attraction can also
be a short movie, a live show, or a 3-D show. There are also a few attractions that are not
rides or shows, like the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, which is a walk-through. Disney
has a huge variety of attractions, so whether you are a thrill-ride lover or get motion sick
on a porch swing, there is plenty to do for everyone.
The second park is Epcot (which used to be an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community
of Tomorrow, but now it is just used as a name). This park has two sections (or "worlds") -
Future World and World Showcase. Future World is mostly about science and technology,
while World Showcase is a small-scale walk around the globe. It consists of pavilions arranged around a lagoon, with attractions, restaurants and shops from 11 different countries. I know,
I know – it sounds stuffy and "educational," and a lot of people will tell you that kids will be
bored here -- they are wrong. There is plenty of fun to be had on the rides such as Spaceship Earth,Mission Space, Test Track, Soarin,The Seas with Nemo and Friends as well as Captain EO
The Disney-Hollywood Studios(formerly MGM Studios) is the third park and, as you might
assume from the name, it is themed around movies. Again, some people think there is not
much in this park for kids, but that is not true either. I actually think this park has the best
balance of attractions aimed at people of all ages. Shows include Indiana Jones,Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Muppets and new for 2008 Toy Story ride,The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ,
The American Idol Experience and new for 2011 Star Tours 3D simulator experience.
The fourth park is Disney's Animal Kingdom Although this park is themed around animals and, in fact, has many live animals, it is not a zoo. Attractions in this park are either rides, show’s or
live animal exhibits. Kilimanjaro Safaris is actually a ride through an animal habitat. Warning:
AK covers a lot of ground and seems to end up being the hottest of the four parks, so try to
go early in the morning.Do not miss the live Lion King Show excellent entertainment and Tough
to Be a Bug,Kali Rapids you will get wet. Expediton Everest Legend of the Forbidden Mountain come face to face with the Yeti. Their is a Affection Section a petting yard of domesticated
rare breeds.
In addition to the attractions, each park has ongoing entertainment throughout the day,
usually including a parade in
the afternoon and fireworks of some kind at night (except for the Animal Kingdom).
When you enter each park, be sure to pick up a park map and entertainment schedule for
Sea World
Home of Shamu killer whale (One Ocean) don’t miss this show, the Blue Horizon show with
the Dolphins should not be missed .
They also have Atlantis ride, which is two rides in one! and Kraken which has a
144ft plunge at 65mph not forgetting Manta roller coaster, well worth the visit
if you like to get close to sea creatures.
SeaWorld has perfected an excellent recipe for adventure – take spectacular entertainment,
combine it with animal interactions, and add thrilling rides to have a "fin-tastic" time.
As the world's premier marine adventure park,
SeaWorld Orlando features 200 acres of world-class shows, thrilling rides and unforgettable
animal encounters.
Sea World guests can get splashed by Shamu, dine eye-to-eye with sharks, sleep next to
manatees, or be suspended mid-air on a state-of-the-art roller coaster – all in one adventure-
packed day.
Parking 2011 $13.
Busch Gardens Africa
Follow the signposts for "fun" and you'll probably end up in Tampa Bay's Busch Gardens.
It's a park that epitomises the claim that everything is done on a much grander scale in
the US of A.
A much more attractive proposition than its presidential namesake, the Busch Gardens
offers visitors unadulterated entertainment. From the water rush of the Congo River Rapids
to the 360º spin and 60ft drop of the Scorpion
rollercoaster, these attractions are not for anyone who prefers their motion to be kept to
a minimum.
In addition to the rides, the park also offers visitors the chance to admire animals from all
over the world. Crocodiles, baboons, meerkats and vultures are a selection of the creatures
in the Edge of Africa section, while the three aviaries should keep all ornithologists happy
For many though the highlight will undoubtedly be the Rhino Rally, a jeep journey
that is essentially Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs ,Jungala and Cheetah Hunt
There are numerous other attractions on offer at the park, including the recently opened
Timbukto 4D action cinema Pirates 4D with other effects.With King Tut's Tomb,
the Land of Dragons and a view-providing Skyride, parents will be begging their kids to
allow them to visit the park.
Parking 2011 is $13
Aquatica Water Park at SeaWorld
A huge, 59-acre water park, Aquatica offers a highly themed South Sea Islands atmosphere,
lush landscaping, lots of water rides and attractions for all ages and thrill levels,
including some with unique features.
And, because it's SeaWorld, there will also be opportunities to interact with animals.
Perhaps its most unique attraction will be side-by-side clear water slides that will shoot riders underwater wherethey will encounter black and white Commerson’s dolphins.
Aquatica also offer twin wave pools that can produce two different wave patterns or
work in tandem to create dueling waves and enormous combined waves.
The park has two lazy rivers as well, one that will gently send riders past live exotic birds and
into a cave, and a more adventurous ride that will zoom passengers into geysers and rapids
With its many attractions, 80,000 square feet of beach area, and other amenities, SeaWorld
Orlando promises that Aquatica will have lots of capacity and that lines should be kept to
a minimum.
Universal Studios
Consists of two separate parks one is mixed rides and shows the other Islands of Adventure
is divided into themed lands in this case, "islands": Toon Lagoon,Jurassic Park,
The Lost Continent, Seuss Landing and Marvel SuperHero Island.
IOA features edgy, high-octane, to-the-limits attractions. While its coasters you'll get completely soaked.have great themeing, they don't skimp on the thrills.Its river raft ride won't just get
you wet.
And Spiderman is so utterly amazing, you'll be scraping your jaw off the ground wondering
how in the world they did that.IOA is state-of-the-art (and then some) fun adventure playground.
Universal Orlando is now a destination resort in its own right.
The wonderful Islands of Adventure is the property's second park.
Its three highly themed hotels offer an incredible perk: front-of-the-line, immediate
access to most of the two parks' attractionsMore compact The City Walk entertainment
dining/shopping complex and the nearby Wet 'n Wild waterpark rounds out the resort.
The close proximity makes navigating around Universal a snap, water taxis
connect the hotels to the parks but lovely pathways make walking a viable option as well.
The Universal parks feature some of the very best attractions of their kind on the planet,
including Spiderman, the Hulk and T2: 3-D, Revenge of The Mummy ,
Men in Black Alien Attack ,ET Adventure.
The Simpsons ride,Disaster ride , Hollywood Rip,
Ride, Rockit and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter .
The CityWalk complex fairly throbs with a techno beat at all hours of the day.
Underwater speakers at the Hard Rock Hotel's pool ensure that guests never miss a lick
of a searing guitar solo. If it's solace you seek, head to the Bahamas.
If you want to pump up the action, head over to Universal. Parking 2011 $15 prefered
parking $20 covers both parks as they are adjacent to each other.
Universal is situated off I4 exit 75A&75B
There are 5 water parks 2 in Disney Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They both have
the same type of activities -- the big difference between the two is "theming."
Typhoon Lagoon has a tropical theme, while Blizzard Beach has a "ski resort melting in
the Florida sun" theme.
Aquatica up the road from Seaworld ,Wet&Wild & CoCo Key both on International Drive plenty of action fun filled day out,for more information go to web site .http://www.wetnwild.com/
Baby Swap
This enables parents with children who can't ride a particular attraction due to height
restrictions, age limits,or personal choice to ride just the same.To do 'Baby swap' on a ride
there must be 2 adults.
At all WDW attractions that offer Fast Pass, the adult and child waits outside, the rest of the
party rides, then the adult that didn't get to ride can take 2 more with them into the fast
pass line. Just tell the CM at the ride entrance that you want to do the baby swap.
Discovery Cove
Welcome to this exquisite tropical island paradise. Discovery Cove gives you the unique
opportunity to swim and play with a beautiful Atlantic bottlenose dolphin,snorkel amongst
tropical fish in the Coral Reef, glide with rays and relax on white sand beaches.
The dolphin swim is the center piece of your visit, you’ll get to know your dolphin through
hugs,kisses, and ultimately, a one-on-one swim together through the lagoon.
Then you have the rest of the day at your leisure to relax, explore and simply soak up the
indulgent atmosphere.
As a reservation only experience,
which is limited to a capacity of about 1000 guests a day, it’s a rare opportunity to set your
own pace. Offered on an all-inclusive basis with breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks
included nothing is going to tax you…Life is good!
It’s all about a day of wonderful discovery and a lifetime of memories.
There are three types of dolphin swim package to choose from:
· Discovery Cove Choice of Adventure Swim Package with SeaWorld
· Discovery Cove Choice of Adventure Swim Package with Busch Gardens
· Discovery Cove Ultimate Adventure Swim Package with SeaWorld, Aquatica and
Busch Gardens
All tickets are valid for 14 consecutive days from the first day of use, except Discovery Cove
which is a 1 day experience.
Guests of all ages are welcome at Discovery Cove, you must be at least 6 years of age to swim
with the dolphins.
Accompany the swimmer
The Discovery Cove non-swim packages offer all the same great inclusions (EXCEPT the dolphin
swim experience).
You can relax on white sand beaches, explore the Coral Reef full of tropical fish and rays.
You’ll even come Face-to-face with sharks and barracuda (safely housed behind glass partitions!).
Float along the Tropical River and find then get up-close and feed some of the many tropical birds
in the Free-Flight Aviary.
A continental breakfast, sumptuous 3-course buffet lunch, plus all drinks and snacks
throughout the day are included in your package and of course there are no crowds or queues,
as this is a reservations only experience for just 1000 people per day
There are three types of non-swim package to choose from:
· Discovery Cove Choice of Adventure Non-Swim Package with SeaWorld
· Discovery Cove Choice of Adventure Non-Swim Package with Busch Gardens
· Discovery Cove Ultimate Adventure Non-Swim Package with SeaWorld, Aquatica /Busch Gardens
All tickets are valid for 14 consecutive days from the first day of use, except Discovery Cove
which is a 1 day experience.
Guests of all ages are welcome at Discovery Cove, you must be at least 6 years of age to swim
LEGOLAND
Inspired by the ubiquitous LEGO brick,
dubbed “Toy of the Century” by Fortune Magazine,
the new 150-acre theme
park caters to kids ages 2 to 12 with more than 50 family-focused
rides,
shows and attractions, and a breathtaking botanical garden.
Just 45 minutes west of Disney and a
45-minute drive east from Tampa, LEGOLAND
Florida rests along the shores of Lake
Eloise in the city of Winter
Haven the former location of Cypress Gardens.
Guests will experience 10 easy-to-navigate and highly-themed zones:
The Beginning the park’s entry and features the Island in the Sky, a 100-foot rotating platform
ride
that offers a 360° view of the entire p ark. Also found here is The Big Shop
which is one
of the largest LEGO retail stores in the world and The Market Restaurant, which includes
a
coffee shop with freshly baked pastries, espresso, milk, juice, fruit
and yogurt, as well as freshly prepared, healthy family meals served
throughout the day.
Fun
Town offers families
a first hand look at how LEGO bricks are made from factory to finish.
This zone is also the location of a two-story Grand Carousel
with LEGO-themed horses and the Fun Town Theater, a 4D movie center that
seats 700 and shows three different 4D movies throughout the day. Fun Town
also features the Studio Store which sells licensed LEGO products.
Castle Hill is inspired by all things medieval and
takes kids back to a time of knights, princesses
and dragons. Major
attractions include The Dragon, an indoor/outdoor steel roller coaster
that offers a hilarious, behind-the-scenes view of life within the
enchanted LEGOLAND Castle;
and The Royal Joust where kids can storm the
castle riding LEGO-themed horses and challenge
other riders in a simulated
joust.
Miniland USA is the heart of every LEGOLAND Park,
and home to eight remarkably themed
areas that represent miniature
versions of landmarks found throughout the United States.
Florida. This version of the Sunshine State
spans the entire state from Mallory
Square in Key
West to antebellum mansions in the
Panhandle. Miniland Florida also includes expanded areas for Kennedy Space Center
and an interactive Daytona International Speedway® racing experience
where
guests can race LEGO brick cars;
Las Vegas
includes the world-famous Strip with casinos, a miniature wedding
chapel,
monorails and real-life sounds recorded in the city;
Washington, D.C.
features faithful re-creations of the White House (including the
first family
and “first dog”), as well as the U.S. Capitol building and
Smithsonian museums;
New
York City, where a fleet of animated yellow taxicabs navigates the
streets of Times Square, along with iconic landmarks like The Statue of
Liberty, Grand Central Station and a 21-foot Empire State Building;
California
showcases a San Francisco skyline complete with the Golden Gate
Bridge,
Lombard Street and painted row houses, as well as famous southern
California icons like Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, the
Hollywood sign and Madame Tussauds;
and Pirates, a themed section that hosts a full-on swashbuckling
pirate adventure and several large-scale ships.
Land
of Adventure entices
adventurers of all ages to explore this fun-filled zone. Major
attractions
include Coastersaurus, a wooden coaster that curves and dips in and around a
lifesized LEGO brick dinosaur; Lost Kingdom Adventure, a spectacular,
Egyptian-themed dark ride that lets guests fire laser blasters and
navigate an ancient ruined temple in all-terrain roadsters; and Safari
Trek which explores the wilds of Africa and
features amazingly life-like LEGO animals.
XTreme is the most “intense” zone in the park. Here
courageous youngsters and daring adults will brave the LEGO TECHNIC® Test
Track Coaster where they’ll harness the power of acceleration, braking and
maneuverability as they race a life-size LEGO TECHNIC vehicle along a
wildly twisting track. This area is also home to AQUAZONE® Wave Racers, which
lets riders zip in and out of waves as they dodge kid-powered water
blasters on their own LEGO jet skis.
LEGO
City is the perfect
place for youngsters to live out their dreams in a scaled-down
town created just for them. At Driving School (and its counterpart Jr.
Driving School), youngsters from ages 3 to 13 get to drive their own car,
navigate roads and earn a commemorative driver’s license. Other major
attractions include Boating School, a fun-filled ride that allows kids
to captain their own mini-vessels; Flight
School, a suspended rollercoaster that
simulates the thrill of flight; and the LEGO City Rescue Academy,
where families compete with one another in fire and police vehicles to be
the first to put out a simulated “blaze” and save the day
Imagination Zone is the most hands-on section of the
park, emphasizing exploration and creation. The zone is home to several of
the most visually exciting LEGO models in the world, including a giant
replica of Albert Einstein’s head. The Imagination Zone is where guests
can build a LEGO car they can test against the competition on the
digitally timed track; or build and program cutting-edge, computerized
LEGO MINDSTORMS® robots. It’s also home to Kid Power
Towers, where kids and
parents hoist themselves up to the top of a tower to get a great view of
the entire park, then enjoy a fun “free-fall” to the bottom.
DUPLO® Village is an ideal area for the youngest set
who get to fly a plane, drive a car or explore a whole town designed with
their height in mind. The little guys call all the shots here on Big Rig
Rally, Granny’s Jalopies and the Junior Fire Brigade where tots become voluntary firemen
and work together to extinguish “flames.”
Pirate’s Cove rests along the picturesque shores of Lake Eloise,
but alas, has been taken over by a host of swashbuckling LEGO “mini-fig”
pirates who star in a live-action, water-stunt show that will bring
families nose to nose with all the action.
In addition to the 10 zones, LEGOLAND Florida has taken
great care to preserve the soul of the park – the historic gardens
established on the grounds of its Cypress
Gardens
predecessor more than 75 years ago. The setting has been restored to its
pristine condition, and the collection of native plants, including azaleas
and camellias, has been reclaimed and combined with a range of exotic
species to create a horticultural masterpiece. And still standing sentinel
in the garden is the vast Banyan tree that was planted as a seedling in
1939. A full day of high-energy, memory-making fun awaits families at
LEGOLAND Florida, the ideal family vacation getaway with plenty of
heart-pounding rides and exhilarating attractions in quite possibly the
world’s most charming theme park setting.
Water Park
Scheduled to open in time for summer 2012, LEGOLAND’s new
Water Park will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body
slides and an interactive water-play structure – DUPLO Safari. It will be
located on a 5-acre site that previously was Cypress Gardens' water park and is
scheduled to open May 26th 2012.
Key areas of
LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:
• LEGO
Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this
perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to
enjoy.
• Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375
feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a
refreshing pool below.
• Splash Out – The thrill
seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park
attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot
drop and “splash out” into the water below.
• Joker
Soaker - A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types
of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests
can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a
300-gallon bucket
• Build-A-Raft River - Families
can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden
voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends,
flowering vegetation and palm trees.
• DUPLO Splash
Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and
interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures.
http://florida.legoland.com/
