What do you want from Florida?
We would like to help make your vacation in Florida very special with memories that will last a lifetime. The area around Orlando and the list of all the possibilities and 'must-sees' would be too vast. We would therefore like to share
with you some of our guests' and our favourite places and views, not to limit your choice, but to give some guidance on what is available and present you with an insight into this wonderful part of the world.
It would seem a shame to come all this way and not take full advantage of your time in Florida. We can provide you with a well placed base to take full advantage of this with a 'home from home' experience. This will enable you to explore and take a break
at any time, relaxing by the pool, in the spa, taking in the local wildlife, with a book or ......... the choice is completely yours.
Theme Parks
All of the theme parks are truly magical. You could spend a lifetime just exploring these parks and there is something for everyone whatever your age.
Unfortunately, part of the theme park experience is a lot of people and queues in high season. Our advice is to arrive at the parks early, fully utilise the fast pass processes and try to avoid the crowds. This is easier than
it sounds and with foresight and planning the parks are a much better experience.
Walt Disney World
If you were expecting this to be a glorified amusement park then think again. There are 45 square miles (111 Sq. Km) with 4 of the world’s most elaborate and visited parks. These include:
Magic Kingdom
Check out this wonderful video from YouTube - turn up the volume, sit back, relax and admire (just 3 minutes).
I know that it makes me want to return!
They say ”created from a series of photos snapped inside the Magic Kingdom Park. It's a sunrise-to-sunset story told without words. But the message is clear; celebrate”.
We say “it shows a small part of the magic that keeps you wanting to return”. Whether this is to see your children’s faces when they first see Mickey Mouse, to admire the sheer scale or to admire the attention to detail, everything is scripted
and it seems that nothing is too small to be overlooked.
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Epcot
A set of worlds: If you like your theme park experience to also contain a sprinkle of education then this maybe the park for you.
We like the world showcase with a small look into the cultures of countries from around the world like Mexico with its small night time market theme or France with its magnificent food (check out the patisserie). Also, 'Mission: Space' beware
if you suffer from motion sickness and 'Soarin' which is a very tranquil but stunning ride over the land. Lastly, the fireworks display is one of the best.
The Epcot park is much larger. Three times larger than the Magic Kingdom and has three times less visitors so it feels much less crowded than other parks. It takes a full day with the wind behind you to see all of the park.
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Animal Kingdom
Set in 500 acres (200 hectares) this is currently the largest of the Disney Parks. It is also one of the parks where arriving early is essential, the animals are much livelier in the morning and this park operates shorter hours
than the other parks.
All of the theme parks have many different shows, check-out what is happening before you travel. These are continually being updated.
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Hollywood Studios
Recently renamed from MGM Studios to Hollywood Studios this park is one of the better parks for adults and older children with lots of good quality shows and a couple of thrill rides thrown in. Don't get us wrong they still have things for the little ones like, 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' movie set adventure, plenty of places for character autographs and most of the shows should have something for them. It is just that it feels a little more grown-up than the other parks.
Other Disney Attractions:
First: check out the Google/Disney 3D tour of the Walt Disney World, just follow the instructions in the video.
I will discuss Downtown Disney in the other tabs as this is less theme park and more shopping and nightlife. Although, the Disney Quest is a giant amusement arcade and worth some of your time if arcade games are your thing.
There is a lot more to discuss but it is almost time to move on, just want to share a few words on the water parks. These are Blizard Beach and Typhoon
Lagoon. Both Disney water parks are great places to take some time out from the parks whether for a complete day or just an hour or so. The water is always warm so these parks are great at anytime of the year.
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Universal Studios
Universal Studios
A working film production including parts of the facility that double as sets and some fully working production units. This is 
the park where everybody gets to ride
and see how movies are made.
They have some excellent shows here that take you backstage and give an insight into the business of making movies.
They also have some good rides from Men in Black through to the Revenge of the Mummy or for the younger members of your group, including those young at heart, the E.T. adventure.
What we particularly like about this park is that they have a wide variety of things to do, with updates coming all the time that keep the park feeling fresh.
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Universal Island of Adventure
Rollercosters, shows and interactive games are the main cutting edge attractions at this park. If you like your rides wild and like a bit of an adventure then this could be the right one for you.
This park brings Myths, Cartoons and Comics to life with lots of thrills and the wonders of Green Eggs and Ham.
We like Seuss Landings not for the Green Eggs but the wackiness of it and the rides which are some of the best in Orlando.
”The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” with Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and some state of the art attractions.
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The Remainder of Universal Studios
Like Disney, Universal Studios also has a shopping and nightlife area called CityWalk this is also good for an evening out with nightly music, bars dining.
They also have a water park WetnWild. Again this is an ideal place to take some time out from the parks.
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SeaWorld
SeaWorld
Sea World, from the feeding times with the dolphins and rays to the shows, they are all spectacular. Most of these parks will take you approx one day to explore.
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Discovery Cove
This is not a cheap experience but it is another one of those wow moments and again, your memories will last a lifetime. I would therefore like to suggest that
if you can afford this then you will not be disappointed as it is a great experience.
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Aquatica
Like all of the other major parks SeaWorld has its version of water parks. This is one of the newer parks with some great rides and again can be used as a great respite from the busy days. Just relax on the beach and take in some
of that wonderful Orlando weather.
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Bush Gardens
Busch Gardens is around an hour from Orlando. This is an animal park with everything from travelling across the Serengeti to coaster rides. These are both old (one of the largest and fastest double wooden coasters on the planet)
and new . This is worth the trip and an opportunity to include a visit to the gulf coast.
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GatorLand
Gator Land
We can't comment too much about Gator Land as we have not
personally experienced the park. We can say that this park gets great write-ups at Trip
Advisor - review of Gator Land. We should also add that Trip Advisor is a good source for reviews on all of the activities
listed.
Back to the park, it is set on a 110 acre site including a wildlife reserve and education centre with many things to see including shows. The only reason we have not visited is that we truly never have enough time to fit in what we want to do.
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Final Words
The theme parks are vast with many different styles to suit all. Our last comment on this is to do your homework before travelling. This should include parks, tickets and what is happening at the time of your visit.
If you choose your ticket purchases wisely you will be able to come and go whenever you wish. This will give you rest time and allow you to come back home with a feeling that you have had a vacation. We prefer to come out of the parks for lunch and
dinner, not every day, but as a respite and to get proper meals. Not saying that the meals are bad, just not as good as some of the surrounding restaurants.
Last of all, we wish you a wonderful theme park experience.....
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Golf
With so many golf courses it is very difficult to give guidance on this subject as it really depends on what you are looking for. Whether you are a pro, novice or somewhere in between I am sure that Orlando will have just what you
have always been looking for. I suggest that you take a look at all of the different courses available before you depart, a good place to start is Golf Guide Web.
There are also over 30 golf courses including the Jack Nicklaus Grand Cypress Golf course within the vicinity of our Villa.
Shopping
The opportunities for shopping in Orlando are huge. These range from malls and outlets to boutiques and theme park shopping. We suggest that you checkout
the list at the Orlando visitor bureau .
We particularly like the atmosphere at DownTown Disney, and the shopping at the Orlando Premium Outlets.
Links to a few of the others:
The Florida Mall
The Mall at Millenia
Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
Space
Should the The Kennedy Space Center be included in the Theme Park section? I guess that is for you to decide. This is a great place to be especially at launch time. If you get a chance to see a launch up close then we suggest that you take the opportunity. The closest public viewing place is some eight miles from the launch pad but it is one of those places where the earth does move for you (at least during initial take off). The official visitor centre is like a museum for space and worth a look if you have the time. They have some excellent guided tours of the facility. Check out the launch time table for further details.
Beaches and wildlife
Both coasts (Atlantic and Gulf) are around one hour’s drive from the Villa. These both have some great beaches and are great for a day out. My preference would be for the Gulf coast just because of the clear waters and the wonderful white sand beaches. You could incorporate a trip to the beach with another activity like Busch Gardens or The Kennedy Space Center.
You are also very close to the everglades and a lot of local swamps. You can make this a large part of your vacation if you wish. We prefer just to take half a day out on an airboat at Boggy Creek. Here they provide a guided airboat tour
with a great local guide.
I feel like I'm repeating myself again so will only say this one last time, so much to do, so little time...
Other items to consider include:
Wildlife continued - Diving with manatees, or in the gulf.
Nightlife - dinner shows, clubs, bars, restaurants, comedy clubs, live music.
The list could go on and on and on.......
A great Orlando trip planner can be found at The Orlando Visitor Bureau.
I hope that this little bit of information helps you with your holiday plans. If however you have any further questions on the Villa then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Local Amenities
The Villa backs on to a conservation area with good unspoiled views of the natural woodland. This is a great place to view some of the local wildlife.
Supermarket
The local supermarket is Winn-Dixie and is just 2 minutes away from Villa. There is also a 7-eleven and Publix just at the junction of the 192 which is about 2 miles away.
We also have a Wal-Mart within 3 minutes from the Villa.
Pharmacy
There is a Pharmacy at the local Winn-Dixie, Publix and Wal-Mart stores.
Restaurants and home delivery
If you would like to take a rest and stay in for dinner then we have a range of take-away companies that will deliver directly to the Villa. We keep a range menus for these at the Villa.
We are also very close to a good selection of
restaurants should you want a evening close to the Villa with a broad selection of cuisines from Beef O’Brady’s, Mughila Indian Cuisine, Shang Hai Chinese Restaurant, Lil’ Anthony’s Pizza, Pupa John’s and many more wonderful places to eat.
Children’s Play ground
There is a playground with swings within easy walking distance of the Villa.
Maps and local searches
Check out the location page. If you go to the search section on the map, this will list and show you the results for searches local to the Villa. We also have a selection of maps with driving directions to both the local amenities and major attractions..